2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Stealth JD]

if someone said we’ll give the Blues a 100% healthy Holloway for games 5-7, but the Jets will get a 100% Vilardi AND Ehlers, would you make that trade?

I think the Jets are missing their guys more than the Blues are missing Holloway at this point.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

if someone said we’ll give the Blues a 100% healthy Holloway for games 5-7, but the Jets will get a 100% Vilardi AND Ehlers, would you make that trade?

I think the Jets are missing their guys more than the Blues are missing Holloway at this point.

Yes, because we gonna need him next round.

 

[Reality Czech]

if someone said we’ll give the Blues a 100% healthy Holloway for games 5-7, but the Jets will get a 100% Vilardi AND Ehlers, would you make that trade?

I think the Jets are missing their guys more than the Blues are missing Holloway at this point.

I don't think I would. The Jets lack of depth is one big reason we've been successful against them. Connor is terrifying, but it's a lot easier to deal with him and Scheif when they're the only two big threats. I'll just hope for a healthy Holloway in round 2 and let the current lineup finish what they've started.

 

[Mike Liut]

Do we even know if Holloway is skating?

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

This gif represents the mental toughness of the Jets thus far.

 

[Blanick]

Do we even know if Holloway is skating?

On his own, yes. Montgomery has said as much a few times. He has yet to join the team for practice and you would have to imagine Monty would want him to at least get through one full practice before considering putting him in the lineup. I was hopeful we would see him this series but that hope is dwindling.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

On his own, yes. Montgomery has said as much a few times. He has yet to join the team for practice and you would have to imagine Monty would want him to at least get through one full practice before considering putting him in the lineup. I was hopeful we would see him this series but that hope is dwindling.

Because the Blues will win in 6?

 

[Blanick]

Because the Blues will win in 6?

We can go with that, sure.

 

[Blanick]

if someone said we’ll give the Blues a 100% healthy Holloway for games 5-7, but the Jets will get a 100% Vilardi AND Ehlers, would you make that trade?

I think the Jets are missing their guys more than the Blues are missing Holloway at this point.

I would. Ehlers has never really performed all that well in the playoffs, Vilardi would be a weapon for them though. That being said not only would getting Holloway back benefit us with his weapons but would likely reignite the chemistry and get Kyrou and Schenn going again. I think we all forget how deadly that line was. They were relentless. If you think Bolduc and Neighbours are getting under the Jets skin, Holloway's forecheck would have them completely melting down.

 

[Mike Liut]

On his own, yes. Montgomery has said as much a few times. He has yet to join the team for practice and you would have to imagine Monty would want him to at least get through one full practice before considering putting him in the lineup. I was hopeful we would see him this series but that hope is dwindling.

If he’s skating on his own, I wonder how bad it actually is? Some people were saying it was real serious. I don’t know what to think or believe.

 

[Mike Liut]

Without Tucker, do we have anybody who can fight? I guess Schenn is pretty good at it. I just don’t want to witness a Dave Manson scenario where somebody beats up our entire team lol.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Just wanted to say how much I’m enjoying watching Blues playoff hockey. We are seeing Bolduc (a rookie), Snuggerud and young guys like Neighbors and others. I haven’t heard about the Black Aces, but I wonder if guys like Dvorsky and a couple others will start practicing with the team now that the AHL season has ended.

I think the Blues are still underdogs to win this series, but I like our chances better now than I did before the series. Binnington is probably due to steal a game.

 

[number 77]

Just wanted to say how much I’m enjoying watching Blues playoff hockey. We are seeing Bolduc (a rookie), Snuggerud and young guys like Neighbors and others. I haven’t heard about the Black Aces, but I wonder if guys like Dvorsky and a couple others will start practicing with the team now that the AHL season has ended.

I think the Blues are still underdogs to win this series, but I like our chances better now than I did before the series. Binnington is probably due to steal a game.

Nailed it. Getting so much from young guys was unexpected but welcome. Fowler proving to be a massive pickup in December. I'll admit I was not familiar with his game at this point. Another master chess move by Doug so far.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Without Tucker, do we have anybody who can fight? I guess Schenn is pretty good at it. I just don’t want to witness a Dave Manson scenario where somebody beats up our entire team lol.

Both teams have a few guys who will throw them if needed but we don't have to worry about someone like Tom Wilson rag-dolling our team.

 

[Reality Czech]

Without Tucker, do we have anybody who can fight? I guess Schenn is pretty good at it. I just don’t want to witness a Dave Manson scenario where somebody beats up our entire team lol.

Just hire Tony Twist, Cam Jansen and any other local ruffians they can find to sit in the first row behind the Jets bench and glare at their players all game.

 

[STL fan in MN]

if someone said we’ll give the Blues a 100% healthy Holloway for games 5-7, but the Jets will get a 100% Vilardi AND Ehlers, would you make that trade?

I think the Jets are missing their guys more than the Blues are missing Holloway at this point.

Yes, but simply because I want Holloway back and to see if that reignites the 2nd line again.

And Blueston with the even more correct answer - because we’d almost certainly need him going forward.

But the reality is that Vilardi will likely return and Holloway and Ehlers won’t. I’ve heard conflicting things on Holloway too but my sense he’s he’s somewhere in-between definitely no returning for Round 1 (so a maybe at some point if the team can last long enough without him) and out for the season. I’ll truly be shocked if he plays yet this series.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Yes, but simply because I want Holloway back and to see if that reignites the 2nd line again.

And Blueston with the even more correct answer - because we’d almost certainly need him going forward.

But the reality is that Vilardi will likely return and Holloway and Ehlers won’t. I’ve heard conflicting things on Holloway too but my sense he’s he’s somewhere in-between definitely no returning for Round 1 (so a maybe at some point if the team can last long enough without him) and out for the season. I’ll truly be shocked if he plays yet this series.

Vilardi was ready for G4, but was held out, which I agree with. It’s better for them to bring him at home. He’s a bit of a playmaker with some creativity and will bring an element to their team that they’ve lacked.

 

[SirPaste]

I would be pretty shocked if we see Holloway again barring a long run here but would love to be wrong. I could have missed something but only thing I've seen was that Monty said he was doing some light stick work on his own prior to the Blues heading out on their last road trip of the regular season. It has been pretty hush hush other than that with a lot of conflicting speculation out there, but hope I'm wrong and he is closer to a potential return, I just feel like if he was actually skating even on his own we likely would have heard about it.

 

[MissouriMook]

Dvorsky not among the Black Aces. Alexandrov, Schueneman, and Ellis. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I can’t really say that I disagree.

 

[LGB]

Dvorsky not among the Black Aces. Alexandrov, Schueneman, and Ellis. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I can’t really say that I disagree.

That’s interesting. Schueneman was decent in his short stint so that’s good depth to have.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Dvorsky not among the Black Aces. Alexandrov, Schueneman, and Ellis. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I can’t really say that I disagree.

Presumably he is going to play for Slovakia at WC. That was rumored to be the plan. He should be done in plenty of time to join us as Black Ace for SCF.

 

[Brian39]

Dvorsky not among the Black Aces. Alexandrov, Schueneman, and Ellis. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I can’t really say that I disagree.

I wonder if we want him (and maybe others) to go down to the Everblades in the ECHL to join their playoffs. I have zero clue how ECHL playoff eligibility works, but that is where Cranley is going. If any of the youngsters are eligible to play in the ECHL players, their NHL contract gives them the ability to decline an ECHL assignment.

Regardless, I'd expect more black Aces eventually. After these call ups, we still only have 15 forwards (including Holloway) and 9 D (including Tucker who certainly appeared to suffer a long-term injury yesterday). So that's 14 forwards, 8 D and 3 goalies if you just look at healthy players. That's not enough to feel comfortable for the rest of playoffs. To compare, we brought up 7 Black Aces in 2019 when San Antonio's season ended (and eventually had Husso join when he was healthy enough). Most playoff teams wind up with about half a dozen guys who aren't really involved in the regular practices, but are with the team and skating with each other to stay ready 'just in case.'

I can't imagine that we don't plan to eventually add more Black Aces.

 

[taylord22]

Aren’t these the official call-ups vs black aces? I would expect Dvrosky, Stenberg, Kaskamaki, Peterson, etc… to join the team as black aces.

Edit: looks like I was wrong. Dvorsky going to the worlds.

 

[Brian39]

Aren’t these the official call-ups vs black aces? I would expect Dvrosky, Stenberg, Kaskamaki, Peterson, etc… to join the team as black aces.

Edit: looks like I was wrong. Dvorsky going to the worlds.

Functionally there is no difference. There isn't a salary cap or roster limit in the playoffs and you don't make any designation to the league about whether a guy is a 'regular call up' or a 'Black Ace.'

Worlds makes tons of sense for Dvorsky. I wonder if we are waiting to see if any other guys get selected before making an official announcement.

 

[taylord22]

Functionally there is no difference. There isn't a salary cap or roster limit in the playoffs and you don't make any designation to the league about whether a guy is a 'regular call up' or a 'Black Ace.'

Worlds makes tons of sense for Dvorsky. I wonder if we are waiting to see if any other guys get selected before making an official announcement.

Good to know. Surprised the NHL doesn’t force a designation, but glad it’s the case.

Re: worlds:


…sounds like this is player request pending Blues approval.