2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Is the overall center position in the NHL in its worst shape ever? Seems like real centers are extremely hard to come by.

Feels like centers are asked more to do these days. The game is faster and the skills required of top 6 centers are a rare combination.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

With no 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round picks this year, or 2nd round picks in the following 2 drafts, I don't see us buying either.

Is there an expiring contract that the Blues could take on and receive a 2nd for doing so?

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Is there an expiring contract that the Blues could take on and receive a 2nd for doing so?

Would be nice to add a 2nd. We still essentially have Saad's salary we could replace.

 

[Xerloris]

get Frederick and Maroon this off season, keep Faksa. Thats a good 4th line that can cycle like a mother f***er.

 

[bleedblue1223]

We don't really have much cap space after factoring in Suter's bonuses. I think it's extremely unlikely that we take a dump or retain as a 3rd party because of Suter's bonuses and not wanting cap penalties for next season.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

A player that intrigues me is Zacha. He fits in age wise with our core, he can play with good players, and had his best seasons under Monty. Bruins have had rough year and look like they need to retool. They don't have much by way of prospects or quality young players. Not sure what Bruins would want, but I'd potentially be willing to ship our 1st (top 10 protected) and another good prospect or 2 for him.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Another interesting stat, using 1/1/25 as a random starting point, Faulk had about 100 minutes with Suter, Tucker, and Leddy, and those pairs had 0 goals for during 5v5. With Broberg, they scored 6 goals in about 200 minutes, and the metrics were fairly decent. Suter and Faulk together was horrific all around, and that makes sense based on their strengths and weaknesses.

I do think getting healthy has slotted people in the spots that makes them the most effective. Faulk needs Broberg, he's not what he used to be, but he's not completely useless. Buchnevich needs to be a winger. A fully healthy top 6 has each of those forwards in the right spot and role. Suter/Leddy has been a very good 3rd pair.

A player that intrigues me is Zacha. He fits in age wise with our core, he can play with good players, and had his best seasons under Monty. Bruins have had rough year and look like they need to retool. They don't have much by way of prospects or quality young players. Not sure what Bruins would want, but I'd potentially be willing to ship our 1st (top 10 protected) and another good prospect or 2 for him.

Would be curious what the price would be, he's someone that always sparked my interest going back to his days in Jersey. Probably would have to come down to our 1st. Is that something we are willing to trade?

 

[Mike Liut]

Finishing strong and making the playoffs could help attract FA’s.

 

[BlueDream]

In those 24 games mentioned above for Sunny, he has a 5v5 GF% of 64.72% and xGF% 51.96%. He has the 2nd lowest xGA/60 at 1.8, his linemate Joseph has 1.6.

This is why I say there isn't much that would be an upgrade that we'd be willing to give up assets for, he's been that good defensively. Would Dvorsky be an upgrade? No shot, and that's nothing against him, but you just wouldn't get anywhere close to same defensive results, and it's not like Dvorsky will walk in and pace at 60+ points.

Bolduc, Sundqvist, and Joseph have only had 66 minuts together during 5v5, but their numbers are fantastic. 2.67 xGF/60, 1.87 xGA/60, and their actual results are just about the same as their expected. To me, they've earned the right to be the 3rd line down the stretch. Those are the types of numbers we want from them.


I think he probably comes here. Connection to the city and the coach, and I think we'd have genuine interest in what he brings.

Great to see stats like that.

I really hope they can keep it going and that we’ve found something with that line. I thought Joseph was largely useless for the entire first half of the season, but he looks different in the past handful of games and has made some really nice plays. When we acquired him I had expectations that he could be a sneaky solid 3rd liner and then he didn’t live up to it. I hope he’s turning that corner instead of it being a hot streak that doesn’t last.

I’d be happy acquiring a 3rd line depth piece in case him and Sunny do fall off or Sunny gets his annual injury. As good as our lines are playing right now, we’re still one injury away from things going off the rails.

It’s gonna be interesting to see what Army does. I wonder if we could put together a package including Alexandrov and some other mid prospect to bring someone in. They still aren’t giving Alexandrov a look up here, but maybe a seller would be interested in giving him a shot.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Great to see stats like that.

I really hope they can keep it going and that we’ve found something with that line. I thought Joseph was largely useless for the entire first half of the season, but he looks different in the past handful of games and has made some really nice plays. When we acquired him I had expectations that he could be a sneaky solid 3rd liner and then he didn’t live up to it. I hope he’s turning that corner instead of it being a hot streak that doesn’t last.

I’d be happy acquiring a 3rd line depth piece in case him and Sunny do fall off or Sunny gets his annual injury. As good as our lines are playing right now, we’re still one injury away from things going off the rails.

It’s gonna be interesting to see what Army does. I wonder if we could put together a package including Alexandrov and some other mid prospect to bring someone in. They still aren’t giving Alexandrov a look up here, but maybe a seller would be interested in giving him a shot.

I have wondered what the value of some of our mid round drafted prospects are, more specifically, those in Springfield. I could see some of them being trade bait too.

 

[bleedblue1223]

And I know some like to say he's a cancer based on whatever happened in Minny and Dallas, personally I don't care about that, and it seems that he's fit in well with our group, there hasn't been any issues, and it's been a good relationship. I definitely wouldn't be opposed to bringing him back again. I don't think any of the young defenders are ready for NHL time next year, so he wouldn't be blocking anyone. If we make any upgrades to the defense, I think it would have to come at the expense of Faulk or Leddy, where Suter can be that cheap 3rd pair vet.

 

[BlueDream]

It’s cool that Suter likes it here. He really did rave about Schenn in the interview with Strickland and it wasn’t just the standard cliche answers. Suter called Schenn one of the best and most caring people he’s met in his entire life.

Bring him back for cheap. He will still be able to log minutes on the 3rd pair, and if Tucker emerges more or Loof sees some time (which I’d like to see), then Suter doesn’t need to play every game. But he’s a reliable guy for depth that would make it easier to deal Leddy if one of the young guys does push for more ice time.

 

[BlueMed]

And I know some like to say he's a cancer based on whatever happened in Minny and Dallas, personally I don't care about that, and it seems that he's fit in well with our group, there hasn't been any issues, and it's been a good relationship. I definitely wouldn't be opposed to bringing him back again. I don't think any of the young defenders are ready for NHL time next year, so he wouldn't be blocking anyone. If we make any upgrades to the defense, I think it would have to come at the expense of Faulk or Leddy, where Suter can be that cheap 3rd pair vet.

.....Nahhhhh

Thanks for your service Mr. Suter, but I'm gonna show you the door now.

 

[PeoriaBlues309]

It’s cool that Suter likes it here. He really did rave about Schenn in the interview with Strickland and it wasn’t just the standard cliche answers. Suter called Schenn one of the best and most caring people he’s met in his entire life.

Bring him back for cheap. He will still be able to log minutes on the 3rd pair, and if Tucker emerges more or Loof sees some time (which I’d like to see), then Suter doesn’t need to play every game. But he’s a reliable guy for depth that would make it easier to deal Leddy if one of the young guys does push for more ice time.

Agreed. He’s played above and beyond all expectations I’ve had for him this season. The younger players seem to love him being around as well.

I know people like to harp on Army here, but he’s done a really impressive job of revamping this defense since the summer. Krug’s injury helped, but our entire current left side wasn’t on this roster a year ago. All of the Broberg, Fowler, and Suter acquisitions have been very savvy moves.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Yeah if Suter is interested in coming back on a one year deal I’m completely fine with that. He’s been solid when used properly. And if he falls off a cliff, thats why you sign older vets to one year deals.

 

[BlueMed]

Yeah if Suter is interested in coming back on a one year deal I’m completely fine with that. He’s been solid when used properly. And if he falls off a cliff, thats why you sign older vets to one year deals.

Can we give Leo Loof or Tyler Tucker a consistent chance to make the lineup? Are they suppose to wait until they're 25+ to start playing in the NHL?

Just looking at the bigger optics from a defensive prospect's standpoint.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Can we give Leo Loof or Tyler Tucker a consistent chance to make the lineup? Are they suppose to wait until they're 25+ to start playing in the NHL?

Just looking at the bigger optics from a defensive prospect's standpoint.

Loof needs to show he is good AHL d first. Has to be able to handle puck and make pass in transition at a level much higher than he has been.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Well, Loof hasn't earned a call up over Tucker or Kessel, and Tucker looks like a decent 6/7, but Suter is better than him.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Can we give Leo Loof or Tyler Tucker a consistent chance to make the lineup? Are they suppose to wait until they're 25+ to start playing in the NHL?

Just looking at the bigger optics from a defensive prospect's standpoint.

If they can’t outplay a 41 year old Ryan Suter are they really NHL caliber defensemen?

 

[BlueMed]

If they can’t outplay a 41 year old Ryan Suter are they really NHL caliber defensemen?

I can't say I've specifically watched enough of them play this year, but you can't discount the default preference to play veteran players over prospects. That's an easy reflex these days. I will also point out that many teams aren't perfect at giving players ample opportunities. Binnington was a very clear example. He asked for a legitimate shot prior to the 2018-2019 season, and he was ignored until the team had no choice but to bring him up. Obviously, the rest was history. At this point, I think Army should carefully weigh the pro's and con's of resigning Suter heading into next season while his younger defensemen are knocking on the door to play on that 3rd pairing.

 

[bleedblue1223]

With goalies it's different because there are just a couple spots, but I have a hard time going along with the argument that Suter is damaging Loof's development when Loof isn't even earning a spot above Tucker or Kessel.

 

[rockymtnoyster]

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Me.

With goalies it's different because there are just a couple spots, but I have a hard time going along with the argument that Suter is damaging Loof's development when Loof isn't even earning a spot above Tucker or Kessel.

Loof has to play better to earn the call up over a 40 something.

 

[Xerloris]

And I know some like to say he's a cancer based on whatever happened in Minny and Dallas, personally I don't care about that, and it seems that he's fit in well with our group, there hasn't been any issues, and it's been a good relationship. I definitely wouldn't be opposed to bringing him back again. I don't think any of the young defenders are ready for NHL time next year, so he wouldn't be blocking anyone. If we make any upgrades to the defense, I think it would have to come at the expense of Faulk or Leddy, where Suter can be that cheap 3rd pair vet.

I think extending him is a good move. I can't say for sure if his veteran leadership has helped our blue line but what I can say is that Parayko was never a beast like he is now.

 

[Klockis]

And I know some like to say he's a cancer based on whatever happened in Minny and Dallas, personally I don't care about that, and it seems that he's fit in well with our group, there hasn't been any issues, and it's been a good relationship.

Stars fans jumping in to say to ignore the Suter hate from Stars fans regarding any supposed attitude issues. They were just mad at his contract and had to manufacture reasons to hate him. By all accounts he had no issues here.