2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[ScratchCatFever]

Neighbours did 2 things this year that put me at ease with his future. His assist numbers more than tripled during even-strength, that's massive for him. The other, he proved he can sustain a high shooting % of 18%. He proved to me that he can work on any of the top 3 lines as the guy that hangs out around the front of the net, but is also skillful enough to keep plays going and have it not die when it hits his stick. Continued development on the defensive side will make him a more complete player, and his physical presence will allow him to play that role that can float between lines when needed.

This, one hundred percent. Jake will look himself in the mirror once our season comes to an end and say "I have a lot to improve on to be the type of player I want to be". I truly see him as a future playoff stud capable of potting 7-9 goals on a deep playoff run.

 

[TruBlueFan1970]

This, one hundred percent. Jake will look himself in the mirror once our season comes to an end and say "I have a lot to improve on to be the type of player I want to be". I truly see him as a future playoff stud capable of potting 7-9 goals on a deep playoff run.

Maybe not the best comparison, but he reminds me of Dallas Drake in some regards. He's about the same size, but Drake had the advantage in his massive hits and being a better fighter, where I think Jake has a bit more skill and will score more. They are both team first guys who play hard every shift. I've also heard comparisons to Brendan Morrow, which are good as well. Overall, agree with your sentiments that I think he can be a key cog on a team in the top 9, especially in the playoffs. He's not been great so far this series, but it's his first playoff exposure and I think he'll learn a ton from it.

 

[ScratchCatFever]

Maybe not the best comparison, but he reminds me of Dallas Drake in some regards. He's about the same size, but Drake had the advantage in his massive hits and being a better fighter, where I think Jake has a bit more skill and will score more. They are both team first guys who play hard every shift. I've also heard comparisons to Brendan Morrow, which are good as well. Overall, agree with your sentiments that I think he can be a key cog on a team in the top 9, especially in the playoffs. He's not been great so far this series, but it's his first playoff exposure and I think he'll learn a ton from it.

A modern Drake/Darcy Tucker is how I've viewed as a player type since we drafted him. It wouldn't shock me if he has a career year at some point where he puts up 60ish points once the roster is fully loaded with talent more spread out through the lineup and he's entering his prime. But overall, 40-45 seems like a reasonable year to year output for a 3rd liner capable of moving up in the lineup when needed.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Neighbours is the type of player i think would thrive on the 3rd line/net front PP guy. In the long term. Especially playing against other teams 3rd lines. I feel like long term him and Bolduc on the 3rd line and PP would net them both 25-35 goals every single year.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I like Neighbours. To me, he’s the type of player that when you look at him, he seems like an ideal 3rd liner but he’s also the type that can complement any line really. We talk about Stenberg being a Swiss Army knife type but Neighbours sort of is too, just in a different way. He might not be one of our top 3 forwards but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad idea to put him on the 1st line sometimes when you want to try to balance scoring and get 3 lines producing.

Ideally, when this team is deeper in a couple years (hopefully), Neighbours slots in more on the 3rd line than consistently in the top-6. But he brings a lot of intangibles and agree he’s not done developing.

I think where some of the debate on him comes from is that I think some elevated him too high after he scored 27 last season. Thinking he’d be a perennial 30 goal scorer. Whereas others were quick to point out that even though he almost scored 30 goals, he somehow also managed to only score 38 total points for slightly less than 0.5 pts/game. I for one didn’t expect him to continue that torrid goal pace but I was happy to see improved playmaking. He’s a solid young player for us. Likely not one of our top point producers but he brings very solid secondary scoring and brings very valuable intangibles that should benefit the team for years to come.

 

[Xerloris]

Some of the malaise about Neighbors (which I don't share, btw) likely tracks back to the label he was given in his draft year -- as a hard-working, low ceiling but high floor, working man's forward. He was given high marks for his maturity and work ethic, but perhaps those qualities were even underestimated and he is a true self-actualizer. I'm not saying he has the same natural abilities as a Snuggy or Dvo, but it's possible his will to improve translates into his floor moving even higher. As the talent around him improves, his contributions will be magnified even more. I'm not ready to declare a guy who may have transcendent personal leadership attributes fully baked at 23, when, as Brian39 has outlined, his stats are actually looking pretty solid.

Or maybe it's because last year when he made everyone love him he was a net front pain in the ass for everyone and this year he's simply not.

 

[jura]

9years ago

 

[execwrite1]

Aaron Ekblad back for Florida today.

He should be the Blues #1 target in the off-season.

 

[Stealth JD]

Aaron Ekblad back for Florida today.

He should be the Blues #1 target in the off-season.

That guy stinks and is going to get more money than he’s worth. No interest in Ekblad.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Aaron Ekblad back for Florida today.

He should be the Blues #1 target in the off-season.

Too injury prone and will cost too much. Any team that signs him for more than 4 years will regret it.