2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Renard]

6 points out of the 16 possible. We're an average team. Average teams will occasionally go on stretches like that. They'll also occasionally go on stretches where they win more than they lose. We won 6 of 9 (13 of 18 possible points) from Nov. 21st to Dec. 10th.

Are you expecting us to be an above average team? Because we are not.

We sure look a lot better with Fowler in the lineup. Its causes me to wonder if adding a center would make us "above average."

My hope is that Dvo excels in the World Junior tourney, the Blues bring him up, and he rises to the challenge.

 

[Majorityof1]

We sure look a lot better with Fowler in the lineup. Its causes me to wonder if adding a center would make us "above average."

My hope is that Dvo excels in the World Junior tourney, the Blues bring him up, and he rises to the challenge.

It absolutely would if we added a legit top 6 C. But is above average the goal?

 

[StlBigFly]

I think I’m selfishly wanting Dvorsky to get the call up just cause I’m impulsive. I wonder tho if they’ll give Dvorsky a bit of a preview with Bolduc:

If Texier can hold down a top 6 winger slot for a month…We could call up Sylvegard for bottom 6 winger duty, send Bolduc down (not a demotion, because he’s waiver exempt, has nhl experience, and could dominate a little with how he plays) for about 4-10 games to skate as Dvorsky’s winger - have the two run through whatever basic offensive sets the nhl club will want and also have Bolduc really pushing with Dvorsky to dominate shifts.

If everything goes smooth a couple games later can bring Bolduc back, return Sylvegard, and at that point Dvorsky is ready to go, called up when convenient, likely driven by the club’s momentary health.

Really don’t want to bring him into a situation that isn’t stacked in his favor and would be nice to have a u20 tournament phase of domination followed by an ahl phase of domination followed by nhl test.

That’s one way id do it. Youd get a brief Sylvegard preview and know how far he is from contributing on the real depth chart, . Youd get a solid Texier preview and know where that’s at. You’d maybe see Bolduc, who I’m extremely impressed by, return with some big u know what energy after torching AAA - could promote him in Texier slot if Texier has been not so great or back where he was if not. Either way Bolduc is getting 12-13 min a game right now - a very small handful of 18-20 min ahl 1LW games, pp1 time wouldn’t hurt - nice way to set the table for the second half of the season.

 

[Majorityof1]

I think I’m selfishly wanting Dvorsky to get the call up just cause I’m impulsive. I wonder tho if they’ll give Dvorsky a bit of a preview with Bolduc:

If Texier can hold down a top 6 winger slot for a month…We could call up Sylvegard for bottom 6 winger duty, send Bolduc down (not a demotion, because he’s waiver exempt, has nhl experience, and could dominate a little with how he plays) for about 4-10 games to skate as Dvorsky’s winger - have the two run through whatever basic offensive sets the nhl club will want and also have Bolduc really pushing with Dvorsky to dominate shifts.

If everything goes smooth a couple games later can bring Bolduc back, return Sylvegard, and at that point Dvorsky is ready to go, called up when convenient, likely driven by the club’s momentary health.

Really don’t want to bring him into a situation that isn’t stacked in his favor and would be nice to have a u20 tournament phase of domination followed by an ahl phase of domination followed by nhl test.

That’s one way id do it. Youd get a brief Sylvegard preview and know how far he is from contributing on the real depth chart, . Youd get a solid Texier preview and know where that’s at. You’d maybe see Bolduc, who I’m extremely impressed by, return with some big u know what energy after torching AAA - could slide him in Texier slot if Texier has been not so great or back where he was if not. Either way Bolduc is getting 12-13 min a game right now - a very small handful of 18-20 min ahl 1LW games, pp1 time wouldn’t hurt - nice way to set the table for the second half of the season.

Cause the best way to motivate someone is to demote them. Oh, that's right. Its not a demotion. He should be happy he is getting the chance to dominate a lesser league and ignore the fact that:

1) It is a lesser league
2) He loses out on $4,180.55 in salary every day he is in the minors, roughly $29k a week.
3) He has performance bonuses worth an extra $400k linked to NHL performance which he cannot get in the AHL
4) He will have to ride a bus, stay in cheaper hotels and have a lower per diem on the road.

But we are doing him a favor. We have a really good reason. You earned your NHL role, but we really want to develop these other guys. So don't think of it as a demotion, think of it as getting royally screwed over. We'll call you back up after $100k or so in lost salary, ok bud?

 

[StlBigFly]

The blues should prioritize NHL checks and airplane travel over development? That seems like it would be negligent to the player and the team.

It is the blues responsibility to make the choices that result in the best future for Bolduc, not the best today. There are many less development opportunities as the season calendar turns. This phase of his career is a developmental time and the system is designed the way it is on purpose: he’s waivers exempt because this is normal.

The team has had virtually no practice time. I wouldn’t expect the nhl club, as practice time returns, to spend that valuable time centerpiecing Bolduc. It’s appropriate, normal, and overall beneficial that he does this in a developmental league for a small period of time prior to being asked to do it at the nhl level. If you just put him in a bunch of high leverage situations but do not give him the boost, and you don’t get results then you’ve done him a disservice. The teams role is to make decisions that give him the best chance at success.

 

[Xerloris]

The blues should prioritize NHL checks and airplane travel over development? That seems like it would be negligent to the player and the team.

It is the blues responsibility to make the choices that result in the best future for Bolduc, not the best today. There are many less development opportunities as the season calendar turns. This phase of his career is a developmental time and the system is designed the way it is on purpose: he’s waivers exempt because this is normal.

The team has had virtually no practice time. I wouldn’t expect the nhl club, as practice time returns, to spend that valuable time centerpiecing Bolduc. It’s appropriate, normal, and overall beneficial that he does this in a developmental league for a small period of time prior to being asked to do it at the nhl level. If you just put him in a bunch of high leverage situations but do not give him the boost, and you don’t get results then you’ve done him a disservice. The teams role is to make decisions that give him the best chance at success.

You don't send someone down that has earned their NHL spot to see how they play with someone else, you call that someone else up. The Blues prioritize NHL pay over AHL often as I am sure other teams do as well, it's considered doing a solid to the players that NEED the money and in some cases the better doctor care and insurance ala Thorburn

 

[Reality Czech]

The blues should prioritize NHL checks and airplane travel over development? That seems like it would be negligent to the player and the team.

It is the blues responsibility to make the choices that result in the best future for Bolduc, not the best today. There are many less development opportunities as the season calendar turns. This phase of his career is a developmental time and the system is designed the way it is on purpose: he’s waivers exempt because this is normal.

The team has had virtually no practice time. I wouldn’t expect the nhl club, as practice time returns, to spend that valuable time centerpiecing Bolduc. It’s appropriate, normal, and overall beneficial that he does this in a developmental league for a small period of time prior to being asked to do it at the nhl level. If you just put him in a bunch of high leverage situations but do not give him the boost, and you don’t get results then you’ve done him a disservice. The teams role is to make decisions that give him the best chance at success.

Personally I wish they had started Bolduc this season in the minors to dominate a few weeks or a month or two, but that ship has sailed. I can't see any good reason to send him down now that he's taken a step or two forward. Kyrou, Tarasenko and many others were sheltered to some degree their first couple of seasons but it certainly didn't stall their development. Just being around the team and learning from veterans is a valuable experience.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Hopefully Texier can keep the confidence up. I remember how terrible Sundqvist looked in his first season here, and had a massive turnaround the following season.

 

[Xerloris]

Hopefully Texier can keep the confidence up. I remember how terrible Sundqvist looked in his first season here, and had a massive turnaround the following season.

So what the f*** has Holloway done to not earn the right?

 

[bleedblue1223]

So what the f*** has Holloway done to not earn the right?

He's 6th in ice time among the forwards on the season, 3rd in 5v5 ice time per game for December, just behind Buchnevich. To me it's clear that he's highly regarded for 5v5 minutes.

 

[shpongle falls]

Texier has looked night and day different the past few games compared to how chaotic he looked initially. He looks like he still has top 6 potential and played great with Thomas and Buch. I’m rooting for him.

 

[Xerloris]

He's 6th in ice time among the forwards on the season, 3rd in 5v5 ice time per game for December, just behind Buchnevich. To me it's clear that he's highly regarded for 5v5 minutes.

Yet still hasn't earned the right to play with Thomas.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Yet still hasn't earned the right to play with Thomas.

Does that matter? He helps make sure we actually have 2 scoring lines. Holloway and Kyrou drive one, Thomas and Buchnevich drive the other. It's not like Monty having Texier with Thomas is Monty saying Holloway isn't good enough to be with Thomas or that he hasn't earned it. I'm sure Monty would say the team benefits from Holloway being on the other scoring line.

Somewhat similar to when we had guys like Sanford and Blais play with ROR and Perron. Thomas can produce with whoever the 3rd guy is, so might as well make the 2nd line better by having a lesser 3rd part with Thomas.

 

[Xerloris]

Does that matter? He helps make sure we actually have 2 scoring lines. Holloway and Kyrou drive one, Thomas and Buchnevich drive the other. It's not like Monty having Texier with Thomas is Monty saying Holloway isn't good enough to be with Thomas or that he hasn't earned it. I'm sure Monty would say the team benefits from Holloway being on the other scoring line.

Somewhat similar to when we had guys like Sanford and Blais play with ROR and Perron. Thomas can produce with whoever the 3rd guy is, so might as well make the 2nd line better by having a lesser 3rd part with Thomas.

It does matter because Holloway has worked his ass off and Tex had one good game and now Monty is kissing his ass. Talk about a good way to discourage young talent.

 

[MissouriMook]

So what the f*** has Holloway done to not earn the right?

Nowadays coaches like to settle on forward pairs and move the third forward around from line to line to find chemistry. It appears that at the moment Monty has settled on Thomas-Buch and Holloway-Kyrou as his top two pairs.

At this point, I would much rather see Bolduc as the third wheel with one of those pairs instead of either Schenn or Neighbours.

 

[bleedblue1223]

It does matter because Holloway has worked his ass off and Tex had one good game and now Monty is kissing his ass. Talk about a good way to discourage young talent.

Monty was just singing Holloway's praise a little bit ago about how hard of a worker he is.

 

[StlBigFly]

I feel away / home is important here too - for arrangement of top 9. Last change matchups.

Versus some opponents in some conditions it will make sense to overload the top line and for others it will be to distribute scoring as much as possible or have certain types of guys down the middle or on the wings, or have a certain type of secondary scoring. Holloway is so versatile it would make sense he moves a lot for these types of reasons.

 

[Xerloris]

Monty was just singing Holloway's praise a little bit ago about how hard of a worker he is.

Words don't mean much when actions speak so much louder. Tex had ONE, ONE f***ing good game and gets promoted to the top line. f*** mouth service from the coaching staff.

 

[BlueMed]

Words don't mean much when actions speak so much louder. Tex had ONE, ONE f***ing good game and gets promoted to the top line. f*** mouth service from the coaching staff.

I don't see the big deal here. Within the hockey community, there's not an honorary distinction between playing on the first or second line as there is for playing on the third or fourth line. Patrick Kane played on Chicago's second line for a number of years because they wanted to separate him from Toews. Did Holloway say something during an interview that would make you believe he's upset about playing on the second line?

 

[DatDude44]

Nowadays coaches like to settle on forward pairs and move the third forward around from line to line to find chemistry. It appears that at the moment Monty has settled on Thomas-Buch and Holloway-Kyrou as his top two pairs.

At this point, I would much rather see Bolduc as the third wheel with one of those pairs instead of either Schenn or Neighbours.

I'd really like to see:
Buchnevich-thomas- Bolduc
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbours-Sunny/Joseph-Saad
Torpedo-Faksa-Joseph/Walker

 

[Xerloris]

I don't see the big deal here. Within the hockey community, there's not an honorary distinction between playing on the first or second line as there is for playing on the third or fourth line. Patrick Kane played on Chicago's second line for a number of years because they wanted to separate him from Toews. Did Holloway say something during an interview that would make you believe he's upset about playing on the second line?

it has nothing to do with anything Holloway said and who gives a f*** if Kane was on the 2nd line when Kane was the only everyone wanted to play with? We need scoring and not giving Holloway a shot with Thomas to see if they have chemistry Texier gets the shot, the dude that we mostly al agree we should put on waivers to get rid of. It's a f***ing dumb move and it's insulting not only to Holloway but to the fans that watch every game hoping for something good to happen.

 

[bleedblue1223]

He just had a hat trick playing with Schenn and Kyrou, he's getting a ton of minutes, he's fine.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I'm sure Holloway is fuming. Monty even had the audacity to start his line tonight.



Holy overreaction...

 

[BlueMed]

it has nothing to do with anything Holloway said and who gives a f*** if Kane was on the 2nd line when Kane was the only everyone wanted to play with? We need scoring and not giving Holloway a shot with Thomas to see if they have chemistry Texier gets the shot, the dude that we mostly al agree we should put on waivers to get rid of. It's a f***ing dumb move and it's insulting not only to Holloway but to the fans that watch every game hoping for something good to happen.

It's not that serious though, and I think you're projecting what you would want in this situation. A lot of players just want to play in the top 6, and he's getting significantly more minutes than last year in Edmonton. Plus, was Holloway's hattrick in Detroit not something good that happened? That wouldn't have happened without getting to play with Kyrou on the second line...

 

[MissouriMook]

I’m back on the train of Kyrou scoring 40 this year. He would need 25 in the last 45+, which I think is doable if he maintains his chemistry with Holloway.