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2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

I know we shouldn't change too much now we're slowly sneaking into playoff territory but I wish we could try-out Holloway at 2C for an extended period of time to see if he'd stick at that position. I'm not advocating trying this right now as it is not the moment (due to the effectiveness of the Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou-line) but if it would work out it would be a much cheaper alternative than having to acquire a legit 2C in the offseason (while still having enough depth at wing). I'd rather spend our possible assets at upgrading 2RD.
 
bleedblue1223 said:
I understand the point, and if we are knocked out of playoff contention, then I'd do it, but honestly, I've fine going into next season with Schenn as the #2 C, especially if we make the playoffs.

Since Monty came on board, he's legitimately been a #2 C.
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Ow, absolutely. I didn't mean it as a slight on Schenn as he's been really good since Monty took over and he might as well still be good at 2C next season. However, I feel if we want to be competitive we eventually will have to move him down to 3C (which is basicly where the Leafs wanted to acquire him for) as he will gradually lose a step.

I guess we can also try getting a stopgap 3C during the offseason, hoping Dvorsky is able to take over the 2C spot from Schenn in 2 years, pushing him down to 3C while using Holloway as a backup option if that doesn't work out. Frederic can play C, right? He could be a decent UFA pickup as a 3C stopgap untill Dvorsky is ready.
 
Beauterham said:
Ow, absolutely. I didn't mean it as a slight on Schenn as he's been really good since Monty took over and he might as well still be good at 2C next season. However, I feel if we want to be competitive we eventually will have to move him down to 3C (which is basicly where the Leafs wanted to acquire him for) as he will gradually lose a step.

I guess we can also try getting a stopgap 3C during the offseason, hoping Dvorsky is able to take over the 2C spot from Schenn in 2 years, pushing him down to 3C while using Holloway as a backup option if that doesn't work out. Frederic can play C, right? He could be a decent UFA pickup as a 3C stopgap untill Dvorsky is ready.
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Frederic is a winger.
 
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bleedblue1223 said:
Frederic is a winger.
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Beauterham said:
I know he played wing lately, but I believe he has played C with the Bruins in the past. The Athletic also reported that the Oilers likely want to use him at C as soon as he's fit.
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His age, versatility, toughness, STL roots, familiarity with Monty, and expected cap hit make him a no-brainer to sign in the off season. Imagine him and Neighbours holding down the 3rd line for years to come.
 
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BlueMed said:
His age, versatility, toughness, STL roots, and expected cap hit make him a no brainer to sign in the off season. Imagine him and Neighbours holding down the 3rd line for years to come.
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Well, this + his Bruins connection with Monty wouldn't make it surprising to see him sign for the Blues in the offseason, but then again who knows... I suspect that Buch, Holloway, Kyrou, Bolduc, Neighbours and Snuggy are penciled in as our top-9 wingers but I wouldn't be surprised if Army wants some competition. Or, as I said in an earlier post, we play him as 3C.
 
Beauterham said:
Well, this + his Bruins connection with Monty wouldn't make it surprising to see him sign for the Blues in the offseason, but then again who knows... I suspect that Buch, Holloway, Kyrou, Bolduc, Neighbours and Snuggy are penciled in as our top-9 wingers but I wouldn't be surprised if Army wants some competition. Or, as I said in an earlier post, we play him as 3C.
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Based on prior years, Army has a pattern of adding "one-extra" forward for competition sake. I'm also open to the possibility of trading Bolduc for young RHD like Nemec or Brandt. As much as I like Bolduc's play as of recently, I'm curious what his prime looks like here.
 
Beauterham said:
Well, this + his Bruins connection with Monty wouldn't make it surprising to see him sign for the Blues in the offseason, but then again who knows... I suspect that Buch, Holloway, Kyrou, Bolduc, Neighbours and Snuggy are penciled in as our top-9 wingers but I wouldn't be surprised if Army wants some competition. Or, as I said in an earlier post, we play him as 3C.
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Snuggy can start on the 4th line.
 
ChicagoBlues said:
Snuggy can start on the 4th line.
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I'm not sure his skillset matches that of an energy player. He'd be much better suited to play in the AHL than be dumping and chasing the puck for 10 minutes a game with Torpo and Walker next year. My gut tells me that he is ready for a top 9 role next year. He's had plenty of development since his draft year.
 
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I was just thinking about this the other day. Barring an off-season trade, UFA signing, or a serious injury that extends into next season, it appears that our Top-9 forward group will look something like this at the start of next season.

RW - Kyrou, Bolduc, Snuggerud
C - Thomas, Schenn, Dvorsky (or UFA addition)
LW - Holloway, Buchnevich, Neighbours

There is certainly a possibility that Snuggerud and/or Dvorsky start the season in the AHL next season, so we may have two holes to fill in the Top 9. I'm not expecting Army and Steen to go big game hunting in the offseason, but I could see a center being brought in that fits between Thomas and Schenn skills-wise, but I have a hard time seeing us prioritize bringing in a winger when Bolduc needs more minutes and we have so many solid prospects (guys like Stenberg, Pekarcik, Stancl, Korotky, Kaskimaki, Mrsic, Robertsson and Jecho) that could very easily be knocking on the door looking for Top-9 minutes in the next few years. Not all of these guys will make it to the NHL, and some might only make it in a 4th line role, but I just don't see us spending assets or paying UFA prices for a winger unless it is a player that is a true game-changing top line guy like Marner.
 
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BlueMed said:
Based on prior years, Army has a pattern of adding "one-extra" forward for competition sake. I'm also open to the possibility of trading Bolduc for young RHD like Nemec or Brandt. As much as I like Bolduc's play as of recently, I'm curious what his prime looks like here.
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I'm in no rush to ship off Bolduc. I expected him to be skilled, but I am pleasantly surprised and excited by his makeup. I'd want to see quite a bit more of him before we made him available.
 
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BlueMed said:
I'm not sure his skillset matches that of an energy player. He'd be much better suited to play in the AHL than be dumping and chasing the puck for 10 minutes a game with Torpo and Walker next year. My gut tells me that he is ready for a top 9 role next year. He's had plenty of development since his draft year.
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I understand, but I say that because it’s kind of the norm for the Blues to start their 1st rounders on the 4th line.

Schwartz and Tarasenko come to mind. Maybe RT as well. Probably others.
 
ArenaRat said:
I'm in no rush to ship off Bolduc. I expected him to be skilled, but I am pleasantly surprised and excited by his makeup. I'd want to see quite a bit more of him before we made him available.
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I agree. I want to see how Snuggy acclimates to the AHL game before I get serious about trading Bolduc for a RHD upgrade.

If Snuggy produces right away in the AHL using his known tools, then there is reason to think that that will translate to the NHL.

At the same time, if Bolduc starts the season hot, his value will skyrocket and DA/Steen can look for the right guy who is maybe not Nemec.

Losing Bolduc won’t hurt as much if Snuggy transitions smoothly.
 
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Snuggerud is not going to start in the AHL or on the 4th line. I do think when he joins the team this year there will be a dilemma of where to play him since everything is clicking so well. Wouldn't be surprised for him to start off as an extra forward just learning the system and getting in some NHL practices until they figure out where in the top 9 to plug him in.
 
ArenaRat said:
I'm in no rush to ship off Bolduc. I expected him to be skilled, but I am pleasantly surprised and excited by his makeup. I'd want to see quite a bit more of him before we made him available.
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I'm in no rush to ship him off either, but to receive anything valuable in a marketplace, you have to give something of value. That reality seems to have been lost among many Blues fans given how elaborate Army has been on most of his prior trades. I really do believe that this front office will need to give up something that makes them a little uncomfortable if it wants to fully restore positional balance amongst our next wave of prospects, and I'm not willing to do that with Dvorsky or Snuggerud at this point. That's why I'm looking at Bolduc. He also happens to be at a similar development stage as Nemec and Clarke, which makes the trade more sensible for other team's timelines.
 
ChicagoBlues said:
I agree. I want to see how Snuggy acclimates to the AHL game before I get serious about trading Bolduc for a RHD upgrade.

If Snuggy produces right away in the AHL using his known tools, then there is reason to think that that will translate to the NHL.

At the same time, if Bolduc starts the season hot, his value will skyrocket and DA/Steen can look for the right guy who is maybe not Nemec.

Losing Bolduc won’t hurt as much if Snuggy transitions smoothly.
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I'm pretty convinced, as is the front office, that Snuggerud is ready for the NHL. I'm also not opposed to comparing him with Bolduc and then trading the lesser of the two. The other variable here is time. If NJ is ready to move on from Nemec this off season, the Blues may not have another opportunity to get a RHD of his potential. Make no mistake, NJ would have a hefty price tag on him and guys like Pekarcik or Kaskimaki wouldn't really move the needle on that discussion.
 
LGB said:
Snuggerud is not going to start in the AHL or on the 4th line. I do think when he joins the team this year there will be a dilemma of where to play him since everything is clicking so well. Wouldn't be surprised for him to start off as an extra forward just learning the system and getting in some NHL practices until they figure out where in the top 9 to plug him in.
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My guess for when he joins the team is that the lines will look like this

Buchnevich-Thomas-Bolduc
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbours-Sundqvist-Snuggerud
Joseph-Faksa-Torpo/Walker
 
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BlueMed said:
I'm pretty convinced, as is the front office, that Snuggerud is ready for the NHL. I'm also not opposed to comparing him with Bolduc and then trading the lesser of the two. The other variable here is time. If NJ is ready to move on from Nemec this off season, the Blues may not have another opportunity to get a RHD of his potential. Make no mistake, NJ would have a hefty price tag on him and guys like Pekarcik or Kaskimaki wouldn't really move the needle on that discussion.
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I can imagine DA’s game boards of various scenarios.
 
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Majorityof1 said:
Back in what capacity? I saw the video. I didn't watch it. I was a bit disgusted by him being highlighted on the Blues YouTube. Looked like a puff piece, nit an announcement he is joining the team.
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Yep, i just meant back being highlighted by the Blues in any capacity.
 
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