2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[PocketNines]

I think if you're giving us about as many bursts a game as Ovechkin gives you need more production to go along with it. Robertson was fine when he was producing but now he's not. Slow players that struggle to produce are a real worry. I bring it up not to be conclusive but to raise more alarm with this player who isn't getting it done this year

 

[TheOrganist]

Can anyone post the DeFrank's article about changes coming for the Vegas game? It's behind a paywall. FlyGuy posted in the Trade thread that there's speculation Holloway will be put on Thomas's wing. Unfortunate to break up the Schenn line but I'm fine with it for now. We need to get RT going.

 

[LGB]

Can anyone post the DeFrank's article about changes coming for the Vegas game? It's behind a paywall. FlyGuy posted in the Trade thread that there's speculation Holloway will be put on Thomas's wing. Unfortunate to break up the Schenn line but I'm fine with it for now. We need to get RT going.

Schenn line is still together. Saad and Neighbours on Thomas’ wings. Bolduc scratched. I actually don’t mind these combinations besides Bolduc being scratched, but obviously not surprising after he was benched last game. Still not sure why he was benched though.

 

[TheOrganist]

Schenn line is still together. Saad and Neighbours on Thomas’ wings. Bolduc scratched. I actually don’t mind these combinations besides Bolduc being scratched, but obviously not surprising after he was benched last game. Still not sure why he was benched though.

You and me both...Buch deserves to be doghousin' it right now but Bolduc I don't get...he also seems to still be enamored with Sunny which no one seems to get but it's been beaten to death. Faulk also appears to be demoted...

 

[Reality Czech]

You and me both...Buch deserves to be doghousin' it right now but Bolduc I don't get...he also seems to still be enamored with Sunny which no one seems to get but it's been beaten to death. Faulk also appears to be demoted...

Buch was finally demoted to the third line last game so that's the first sign that coaches expect more from him. Regarding Sunny, I know he hasn't been great but we don't have that many true centers and he's at least used on the PK. I could say the same for Walker and Torpo (the PK part) and Bolduc isn't really much use on the fourth line anyway.

So the way I see it, Bolduc is competing for a third line wing spot with Saad, Joseph, and Texier. Two of those guys are scratched every game so it's a numbers game. In terms of usage, they often get less ice time than the fourth line, which can at least be deployed in defensive situations pretty well.

People have said Bolduc's defensive metrics are ok but it doesn't mean he's a good defender necessarily. That penalty he took in the last game was pretty horrible timing and he hasn't really come close to scoring much lately. So I'm guessing coach is rotating those guys in and hoping one or two can separate themselves from the pack.

 

[taylord22]

I give Thomas the benefit of the doubt. A cold Buchnevich and a rotating cast of underperformers on his other wing. It's hard to do everything yourself in the NHL. Tough defensive assignments, centering the top line that gets the most defensive attention and carrying the corpse of 2 underperforming wings. From the eye test, Thomas is not the one pulling that line down.

Agree - and the add here, 1.) Thomas was somewhat vocal about his irritation earlier in the year of having to play with so many different combos/wingers. Hard to blame him when you're being expected to play top defensive minutes (albeit somewhat down from last year) and be one of the primary offensive drivers. 2.) Our lack of a meaningful 3rd line has a significant trickle down effect, particularly on any line getting big defensive assignments like the Thomas line.

That 3rd line can't get any sustained pressure and is getting caved, which leads the opposition to throwing out their top line to capitalize on momentum, which forces the Thomas line to come onto the ice defending more times than not. I think Monty's frustration with Bolduc is he wants him to make plays that lead to an extended cycle vs. off the rush offense, which they were doing when Neighbors was opposite Bolduc. The 3C and 1RW are major and related issues with this roster.

Not making excuses for the last game - it was a horrendous showing from the top line - but none of these other issues are helping matters.

 

[Majorityof1]

Buch was finally demoted to the third line last game so that's the first sign that coaches expect more from him. Regarding Sunny, I know he hasn't been great but we don't have that many true centers and he's at least used on the PK. I could say the same for Walker and Torpo (the PK part) and Bolduc isn't really much use on the fourth line anyway.

So the way I see it, Bolduc is competing for a third line wing spot with Saad, Joseph, and Texier. Two of those guys are scratched every game so it's a numbers game. In terms of usage, they often get less ice time than the fourth line, which can at least be deployed in defensive situations pretty well.

People have said Bolduc's defensive metrics are ok but it doesn't mean he's a good defender necessarily. That penalty he took in the last game was pretty horrible timing and he hasn't really come close to scoring much lately. So I'm guessing coach is rotating those guys in and hoping one or two can separate themselves from the pack.

Why is our 4th line immune from the scratching? Toropchenko does nothing. Joseph, Saad and Texier can take their roles. Bolduc is not scoring? He had a 3-game point streak going into being scratched. Toropchenko doesn't have 3 points in the last dozen, much less Bolduc's 3 points in the last 4.5 games where he was scratched twice in that span and benched for half a game.

Point per game of bottom 6 options, guys who have played or 3rd or 4th line a good bit, so ignoring Thomas, Kyrou, Schenn, Buch and Holloway.

1. Neighbours - .49
2. Saad - .41
3. Bolduc - .38
4. Texier - .33 (
5. Sunqvist - .26
6. Walker - .2
7. Faska ( -23
8. Toropchenko - .16
9. Joseph - .14

So Bolduc is 3rd, getting far less ice time than the two above him. Those 2 also get PP time and have played as a rotating member as the 5th top 6 guy with those better players. Bolduc is stuck with Sunqvist who .12 points is less.

When is he supposed to put up offense with the lack of PP time, shitty line mates, getting scratched and benched. He is 5th on the team in points per 60, far better than Schenn, Saad and Neighbours, much less the other bottom 6 guys. He is right with Buchnevich at 1.87 vs 1.84.

Penalties, Neighbours has the exact same minors per 60 rate, and Sunqvist is much worse. Are those guys getting scratched? Yes, Bolduc has to clean up his penalties, but his positive contributions more than offset those. He is 3rd on the team in penalties drawn per 60 as well.

 

[PocketNines]

Neighbours has a single penalty in the last 5 weeks, against Buffalo.

He took a hooking penalty in the first and Bolduc took a BRUTAL mid third period penalty in that game.

16 of Neighbours' 30 PIMs are even up / roughing calls this year

4 of Bolduc's 18 PIMS are even up / roughing calls this year

So they both have 7 non-even up penalties on the season and Bolduc in less time played

 

[StlBigFly]

Blues are 1 point out of wildcard.

Time to readjust the target. Can’t have easy goals.

Playoffs are great but I think it would be more fun to make Dallas nervous. Time to cobble together enough points that they have to think about their situation.

 

[Spektre]

Call me crazy but trading Buchnevich is a must.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Call me crazy but trading Buchnevich is a must.

You're crazy.....

I agree with you. You're just crazy.

 

[Spektre]

You're crazy.....

I agree with you. You're just crazy.

I would like your post but I lost that ability for celebrating Canada losing to Czech during the World Juniors by a Canadian mod

 

[BlueMed]

Call me crazy but trading Buchnevich is a must.

You're not crazy. I would definitely trade him now. Let's be real: Holloway and Neighbours aren't going anywhere. Stenberg will certainly be given a real chance in the NHL in his natural position (LW). Assuming we keep Buch, that opportunity for Stenberg only happens if Holloway or Neighbours gets moved to center or RW, which I don't see happening. This is a good problem to have, but it's still a problem that needs to be dealt with. Maybe package him with a pick and/or prospect for Pettersson/Miller (if he waives his NMC). I'd gladly have Dvorksy as our 3C next year if we get one of those guys.

 

[PocketNines]

CGY +6
VAN +5
STL +2
UTAH +1

12 points and +6 in his last 13 for Fowler. It would be nice if we could get Fowler and Broberg playing impactfully at the same time. Playing alongside Parayko is having a lot to do with it. Broberg needs a better partner. Since his injury in November he hasn't been the same player in Dec and Jan

 

[PocketNines]

I would like your post but I lost that ability for celebrating Canada losing to Czech during the World Juniors by a Canadian mod

lol I would like this post, but the NYR poster who has spent over a decade relentlessly vomiting horrible computer sim trade ideas noticed a week later that I suggested the approach was unhealthy. consequently now you are punished with one less like from me, they got you!

 

[Spektre]

lol I would like this post, but the NYR poster who has spent over a decade relentlessly vomiting horrible computer sim trade ideas noticed a week later that I suggested the approach was unhealthy. consequently now you are punished with one less like from me, they got you!

I'd still rather celebrate Canada losing than clicking a like button haha

 

[Brian39]

The difference between being an elite team and a bubble team is only about a 7-8 game swing each year. If you can win those 7-8 close games instead of losing them, you’re at the top of the league. And that difference might only be 1-2 players. This makes me think Army might be a buyer this year. If we had a legit #2 center right now, we’d be extremely dangerous.

Credit where credit is due; Schenn is playing like a legit #2 center right now. Will that last the rest of the year? Can he do it all year next year? Is this a hot streak or has the coaching change sparked a long-term bump? No clue.

But as the team is constructed and playing right now, we have a #2 center.

He has 7 goals and 15 points in his last 20 games (driven by 12 points in his last 13 games). 8 goals and 20 points in the 26 games since the coaching change. 17 of those points have come at even strength and he has 2 PP points in 4 games since Monty broke up the top PP unit and put Schenn up there. 4th on the team in goals and points since the coaching change. On eye test alone, he has enough chemistry with Holloway and Kyrou to remain between the two.

At the moment, I think the hole is at 3C. If Army buys because he sees us as just a couple players away, I'd expect that center acquisition to go on the 3rd line and play 15-16 minutes a night rather than going into the 2C role.

 

[Brian39]

You're not crazy. I would definitely trade him now. Let's be real: Holloway and Neighbours aren't going anywhere. Stenberg will certainly be given a real chance in the NHL in his natural position (LW). Assuming we keep Buch, that opportunity for Stenberg only happens if Holloway or Neighbours gets moved to center or RW, which I don't see happening. This is a good problem to have, but it's still a problem that needs to be dealt with. Maybe package him with a pick and/or prospect for Pettersson/Miller (if he waives his NMC). I'd gladly have Dvorksy as our 3C next year if we get one of those guys.

Barring a major acquisition, I think the short-to-medium-term plan is to use Schenn and Dvorsky as the 2C and 3C (with Dvorsky eventually jumping Schenn on the depth chart). Maybe Dean can eventually work himself into the conversation as a bottom-to-middle 6 center, but I doubt we are banking on that. I don't think we have another center prospect that fits into the short-to-medium-term timeline. I say all that because I don't think there is much of a plan to move Schenn to the wing in the near future. Other than him falling off a cliff and being pushed to the pure bottom 6 (or straight 4th line), I think he plays out his contract at center and doesn't eat up a wing spot to block a prospect. A blockbuster acquisition could change that, but I'm not banking on that.

I think Stenberg's chance at LW should come as 3rd on the LW depth chart behind Holloway and Neighbours. Buch has played a good chunk of RW in the past and this season, so it isn't like he would be directly blocking Stenberg. I think I prefer making Stenberg, Bolduc, and Snuggy fight for 2 spots long term over banking on all 3 to hit by moving out talent to create a 3rd hole. I think we are a long way away from Buch actually blocking development paths.

 

[Oberyn]

Am i going crazy here or has Tucker looked pretty good since his callup? He's aleady got the same amount of goals as Scotty P and I always appreciated his willingness to drop the mitts. Maybe there is a bottom pairing defenseman to be had there.

 

[SirPaste]

Am i going crazy here or has Tucker looked pretty good since his callup? He's aleady got the same amount of goals as Scotty P and I always appreciated his willingness to drop the mitts. Maybe there is a bottom pairing defenseman to be had there.

He has definitely looked much better this go around, his skating looks improved. Not sure if it is just a current hot streak or something finally clicked for him but hope he can keep it up.