2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Majorityof1]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

 

[Reality Czech]

In today’s practice lines we got both Saad and Bolduc in the lineup with Kapanen scratched, per Korac. So that’s a start.

That already makes them look a lot better on paper.

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

 

[Majorityof1]

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

I bet whoever plays poorly. You'd think Kapanen only being offered a $1m contract and being a potential healthy scratch would indicate he was not unfairly scapegoated when fans said he needs to be better. Seems like our GM and coach agree

 

[bleedblue1223]

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

Leddy already has it in the bag from some of the recent posts.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

Pretty much agree with all of this. For us to be able to develop the next young core, part of it will be dependent on the current young guys either becoming good enough to play on the top 2 lines without some of their current issues, or being able to lead a 3rd line themselves.

 

[Majorityof1]

Pretty much agree with all of this. For us to be able to develop the next young core, part of it will be dependent on the current young guys either becoming good enough to play on the top 2 lines without some of their current issues, or being able to lead a 3rd line themselves.

Agreed. This is a good season to put guys in slightly uncomfortable situations and see if they can grow. Ultimately, you will need to put more one-dimensional players in a position to suceed. Even if Neighbours never develops a mid-range scoring touch/ability to get open or playmaking, he still will have a great Mid-6 career as a banger if we pair him with the right players.

 

[Blanick]

Anyone wanna take bets on who the new scapegoat will be? I call Suter, but Leddy is the early favorite.

Leddy, the narrative is already been started on some social media sites. Only a matter of time before it bleeds on to this forum. That's not to say he hasn't had a few early season hiccups but overall I think he has played pretty well.

 

[Reality Czech]

Leddy, the narrative is already been started on some social media sites. Only a matter of time before it bleeds on to this forum. That's not to say he hasn't had a few early season hiccups but overall I think he has played pretty well.

Seems like some fans expect every player to dominate every night and make no mistakes. In other words, unrealistic expectations. Players are gonna get beat from time to time and mistakes will happen, especially when you're on defense taking the tough assignments every night. JayBo all over again. Blues fans used to complain about him all the time and look how that turned out.

Not saying Leddy is on JayBo's level but it's the same knee jerk reactions.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

Leddy has been really really good for the last few years, especially compared to his cap hit. He's been arguably our worst overall skater the first three games this year, but I think he'll come around. He's gifted the other team multiple goals in multiple games with poor defensive awareness and sloppy puck play. It's only game 3 though.

 

[MissouriMook]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

I don't see Saad as a 40-point winger in this context. He's averaged 24.5 goals/82 and 45.4 points/82 over the last three seasons with very little 5v5 time with Thomas. With him, I think Saad can be expected to score at a 30 goal, 55 point pace. Saad is the veteran shooter Thomas needs on that line to be effective and Neighbours can still be the guy crashing the net getting tips and rebounds. If anything, I think it will benefit Thomas by forcing him to shoot more, which is something he took steps with last season but could still be better at.

 

[Majorityof1]

I don't see Saad as a 40-point winger in this context. He's averaged 24.5 goals/82 and 45.4 points/82 over the last three seasons with very little 5v5 time with Thomas. With him, I think Saad can be expected to score at a 30 goal, 55 point pace. Saad is the veteran shooter Thomas needs on that line to be effective and Neighbours can still be the guy crashing the net getting tips and rebounds. If anything, I think it will benefit Thomas by forcing him to shoot more, which is something he took steps with last season but could still be better at.

40 points is short hand. 40 or 45, even if he gets a boost to 55, is a long way from Thomas's 80. Saad scores a lot from breakaways, not set offense. He does not shoot a lot at 5v5. Over those 3 years he has 10.23 iCF/60. That is 332nd out of 434 Forwards with 1000 minutes or the the 24th percentile. Roughly 3/4ths of the league shoots more than he does.

I actually don't have a problem with Saad and Thomas in a vacuum. I just don't like them with Neighbours as the 3rd. I'd prefer Kyrou on that line or even Bolduc so they can have a shooter and someone who can keep up with their speed. At 5v5 Saad is more likely to be crashing the net. His 5v5 heat map is a lot more red in the crease than Kyrou or Buchnevich. Saad could crash the net while Thomas distributes and the non-Neighbours forward can keep up and be the trigger man.

I also don't want Thomas to shoot too much more. He needs to not pass up good shots to make a play the other player isn't expecting. But hm slowing the game down in the O-zone and making a play is why he is as great as he is. Improving his shot and being willing to use it keeps Ds and goalies honest. But his super power is his ability to make plays for others. He needs someone who can and will convert on those plays. Just IMO of course.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

I think you could run either of Saad or Neighbours on Thomas's wing with a shoot first guy. But given the current roster makeup, I think Saad is the better fit between the two.

Thomas had 170 shots last season, which was a large jump from his previous career high of 115. 2ish shots per game seems like a good spot for him in terms of volume, though I think it could increase a bit if the team is able to not get cratered in possession on a near nightly basis.

 

[Brian39]

I don't like that top line. This is asking a lot of Thomas. Our 80-90 point C is flanked by 2 40-point wings.

Neighbours should be with a high-volume shooter to screen goalie and bang home rebounds. Thomas is very low volume (12th of Blues forwards last year in iCorsiF/60) and Saad relatively so (8th in same) All of our 3 most prolific shioters still on the team are on the Buchnevich line.

Saad I'd prefer we deployed in a defensive role which Neighbours is not suited for.

I get we are trying to break up our big 3 forwards to have more scoring depth. I get we can mix up lines until we find chemistry. So I'm not mad they are trying it. I just don't think it will be as effective.

I get what you are saying and it isn't a perfect line on paper, but I like it more than you do. I don't think you are giving Saad/Neighbours enough credit as shooters.

Saad was 7th among all Blues forwards in iCF per 60, but 3 of the guys he was behind played very sheltered minutes and/or a small number of games (Vrana, Bolduc, and Dean). He's not a volume shooter, but I think he is more capable/willing to shoot from distance than you are giving him credit for.

We need to be putting Neighbours in position to do more than crash the net and bang for rebounds. We need him looking to find space in other areas of the ice and then have teammates get him the puck when he does find that space. I like having him out there with a true playmaking center and a winger who can grind/cycle well. We also need him to be capable of being the 3rd defensive player on a line that has defensive responsibility. I haven't been too fond of his season so far, but I definitely look at this line as putting him in a position to succeed and grow simultaneously.

While Saad/Neighbours are both limited point ceiling guys, it is worth noting that they each had 18 goals at 5 on 5 last year, which was good for 2nd on the team behind Kyrou's 22. No one else hit 15. Only 41 guys league wide had more 5 on 5 goals than those two. They do more than just banging in rebounds. Both have strong shots from distance and putting them with Thomas could very well be (at least in part) an effort to get them to shoot more.

This isn't my ideal 1st line, but I do think it is a perfectly fine 1st line while making an effort to spread talent through the middle 6.

 

[Majorityof1]

I get what you are saying and it isn't a perfect line on paper, but I like it more than you do. I don't think you are giving Saad/Neighbours enough credit as shooters.

Saad was 7th among all Blues forwards in iCF per 60, but 3 of the guys he was behind played very sheltered minutes and/or a small number of games (Vrana, Bolduc, and Dean). He's not a volume shooter, but I think he is more capable/willing to shoot from distance than you are giving him credit for.

We need to be putting Neighbours in position to do more than crash the net and bang for rebounds. We need him looking to find space in other areas of the ice and then have teammates get him the puck when he does find that space. I like having him out there with a true playmaking center and a winger who can grind/cycle well. We also need him to be capable of being the 3rd defensive player on a line that has defensive responsibility. I haven't been too fond of his season so far, but I definitely look at this line as putting him in a position to succeed and grow simultaneously.

While Saad/Neighbours are both limited point ceiling guys, it is worth noting that they each had 18 goals at 5 on 5 last year, which was good for 2nd on the team behind Kyrou's 22. No one else hit 15. Only 41 guys league wide had more 5 on 5 goals than those two. They do more than just banging in rebounds. Both have strong shots from distance and putting them with Thomas could very well be (at least in part) an effort to get them to shoot more.

This isn't my ideal 1st line, but I do think it is a perfectly fine 1st line while making an effort to spread talent through the middle 6.

I said as much about putting Neighbours in a position to grow. I'm fine with testing things out this year and giving Neighbours stretch goals. I just don't expect results right away. There is a reason we keep putting the big 3 together every game.