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.

 

[TheOrganist]

Pronger called Parayko a # 3 defenseman on Spittin Chiclets yesterday and came across as a little condensing. Not only do I disagree with that #3 take it’s a little douchy for him to be slightly trashing 55 when Pronger seems to be around the team a lot lately.

 

[ToastedRavioli]

Pronger called Parayko a # 3 defenseman on Spittin Chiclets yesterday and came across as a little condensing. Not only do I disagree with that #3 take it’s a little douchy for him to be slightly trashing 55 when Pronger seems to be around the team a lot lately.

The Parayko disrespect sometimes is crazy. 16 goals and 36 points in 64 games with stellar defense while statistically facing the hardest matchups and starts in the league is 1D caliber. Sure he isn't a dynamic offensive 1D like Hughes or Makar but he is still a top tier defenseman.

 

[TheOrganist]

The Parayko disrespect sometimes is crazy. 16 goals and 36 points in 64 games with stellar defense while statistically facing the hardest matchups and starts in the league is 1D caliber. Sure he isn't a dynamic offensive 1D like Hughes or Makar but he is still a top tier defenseman.

#3 defenseman don’t make Team Canada. Blues affiliated people should be pumping the tires of players like Parayko on national platforms and educating the hosts about things you pointed out re: his absurdly hard usage. Thats what rubbed me the wrong way about his tone.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Pronger called Parayko a # 3 defenseman on Spittin Chiclets yesterday and came across as a little condensing. Not only do I disagree with that #3 take it’s a little douchy for him to be slightly trashing 55 when Pronger seems to be around the team a lot lately.

Chris Pronger, as much as I loved him as a player, is a blowhard.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Hard pass on Ekblad. He'd be more of the same we have with Faulk & Leddy which we need to work on replacing with players that fit with our core age group.

 

[Renard]

Pronger called Parayko a # 3 defenseman on Spittin Chiclets yesterday and came across as a little condensing. Not only do I disagree with that #3 take it’s a little douchy for him to be slightly trashing 55 when Pronger seems to be around the team a lot la.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Aaron Ekblad back for Florida today.

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

Why? His age contradicts with the window when the Blues should be viably contending for a Cup. Need to get players ideally between 24-26 to supplement Broberg.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Why? His age contradicts with the window when the Blues should be viably contending for a Cup. Need to get players ideally between 24-26 to supplement Broberg.

Agree. I wanted him like 4 or 5 years ago when the Blues were competitive, but I no longer want him.

 

[Beninnola]

Pronger called Parayko a # 3 defenseman on Spittin Chiclets yesterday and came across as a little condensing. Not only do I disagree with that #3 take it’s a little douchy for him to be slightly trashing 55 when Pronger seems to be around the team a lot lately.

Had to go listen.

If anybody needed: Blues talk starts at 41:30 with Parayko talk at 46.

I mean I guess if the only way a guy can be a 1A is if they’re a dominant offensive force while being an all situations guy then I get his argument but it’s seems so odd to debate the ways that Parayko isn’t the best defenseman of all time.

Parayko won more cups in stl than pronger, and did so as a 2, so it’s odd to hear Chris want to brand him as a 3.

 

[aceoutdoor]

Pronger has always been a arrogant jerk, buy dogging Parayko is uncalled for.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I don't think he was intending to knock him, but it's the same stupid discussion we have in hockey or baseball about what is a true #1 or a true ace, and after describing what that player is, you really only about 10 of them exist, so then the 11-20 guys are labeled as 2's because the description of a #1 is just the elite of the elite, and then everyone after that is a #3.

Pronger was pumping Parayko's tires after 4 Nations, so he is a big fan of his too, but in the clip I watched, his description of a #1 is basically a top 10 defenseman.

 

[Meatball]

The 7th goal in game 3.

Enough said.


(so glad 55 is ours )

 

[Beninnola]

some differences between Chris Pronger and Colton Parayko:

Pronger averaged around 100 more penalty minutes per season while with the blues. Maybe Parayko would be better if he were mean as hell but if he were mean as hell we’d kill more than 1 more penalty per game and I’m not sold that it’s worth it at this scale. Maybe. Hard to make great defensive plays when you’re in the box. I think I’d prefer my hatchet men to be bottom 6 or bottom pairing guys.

Pronger scored an average of less than 5 even strength goals per season with the blues with his best season being 8 even strength goals. Parayko had 14 this year.

Pronger got shipped and played for 5 teams. Parayko just 1.

Pronger maybe the better specimen but he won 0 cups in stl. That’s the ultimate metric.

 

[Xerloris]

Had to go listen.

If anybody needed: Blues talk starts at 41:30 with Parayko talk at 46.

I mean I guess if the only way a guy can be a 1A is if they’re a dominant offensive force while being an all situations guy then I get his argument but it’s seems so odd to debate the ways that Parayko isn’t the best defenseman of all time.

Parayko won more cups in stl than pronger, and did so as a 2, so it’s odd to hear Chris want to brand him as a 3.

All I saw was the quote so i didn't hear audio to hear any inflection but maybe he was referring to himself as the #1 and Parayko being behind him because he did say comparing Parayko to him wasn't fair. I do not think how ever that He was shit talking him in anyway because I assume they're friends with how much Pronger is around the team.

 

[HighNote]

Pronger called Parayko a # 3 defenseman on Spittin Chiclets yesterday and came across as a little condensing. Not only do I disagree with that #3 take it’s a little douchy for him to be slightly trashing 55 when Pronger seems to be around the team a lot lately.

Huh…

Well I hate to do it but…

HOW’S THIS FOR SPITTIN’ CHICLETS, PRONGS?