2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[TheDizee]

One thing to keep in mind with Provorov: he shoots left handed.

He & john Tavares should be circled as the blues top targets to look into for UFA. They have the cap space for them both, especially if Faulk is moved out.

 

[Xerloris]

Faksa, Sunny Suter and Leddy…dead weight.

We can expect other types of dead weight as the team transitions to the new generation. A couple more years of dead weight types and that’s it.

On the other hand, it is partly that veteran presence that got the Blues this far.

I wasn't overly bothered with Suter. He was injured and or sick early in the series and the last few games he didn't look bad, he didn't look good because nothing he does as a solid veteran stands out, he's not flashy but I didn't see anything he did stand out in a bad way either.

Faksa was absolutely important as f*** for our 4th line. Sunny was important as f*** for our 3rd line. Take those 2 players away and the Jets cave us in.

Leddy...I don't know, he made a lot of decent plays but I saw a lot of mistakes too. I'm not sure if his health because of his leg is something we need to risk.

Faulk needs to get the f*** out of here.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

My 10 cent thoughts for the off-season...

1) Give the 4th Line a bonus and/or pay raise for exceeding all expectations in 24-25.

2) Put the other lines on notice that they met expectations in 24-25, but that expectations for them are going up for 25-26.

 

[Brian39]

Not really an anomaly. Broduer, Fluery, Roy, even Quick after hip and back surgery I think it was is still playing well. Binny is good size, not tall enough for knee and back issues and fundamentally very sound. As long as no freak injuries happen I expect him to be able to play at an elite level in the playoffs till at least 36. I do agree though that we have to ease off his work load in the regular season.

Those 4 had wildly different career trajectories and substantially more raw talent than Binner. Two of them are overwhelmingly labeled as top 5 goalies of all time. The other two are arguably the two most athletically-gifted goalies who have ever played the position, had noticeable consistency issues through their 30s, and ceded the starter's role in their 30s. Banking on him not to decline through his 30s using these 4 as examples is pretty much the definition of relying on anomalies.

I'm extremely content going into a playoff series with Binner in net. His mental strength when the team's back is against the wall is remarkable. But these guys are all horrible comps to him when trying to predict what the next 5 years are going to look like. He's just not remotely comparable to any of them.

 

[SirPaste]

I’d love to bring Faksa back. Wonder what the ask will be? 3 yrs 15 mill?

That's way too much for what Faksa brings, you can find a comparable 4th line center for much cheaper than that via FA I would imagine.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Those 4 had wildly different career trajectories and substantially more raw talent than Binner. Two of them are overwhelmingly labeled as top 5 goalies of all time. The other two are arguably the two most athletically-gifted goalies who have ever played the position, had noticeable consistency issues through their 30s, and ceded the starter's role in their 30s. Banking on him not to decline through his 30s using these 4 as examples is pretty much the definition of relying on anomalies.

I'm extremely content going into a playoff series with Binner in net. His mental strength when the team's back is against the wall is remarkable. But these guys are all horrible comps to him when trying to predict what the next 5 years are going to look like. He's just not remotely comparable to any of them.

Yeah. As much as I like Binnington, he shouldn’t be compared to Brodeur or Roy. I don’t think even Fleury should be used as a point of comparison.

Quick might be good from a career arc standpoint point as to what to expect. I don't think it’s realistic to expect Binnington to play at a high level for much longer. It’s not an indictment on him. I think he’s pretty much played at the level he’s compensated. But relying on a goalie who will be 34 when the majority of the core roster will be under 30 doesn’t align well.

 

[Mike Liut]

That's way too much for what Faksa brings, you can find a comparable 4th line center for much cheaper than that via FA I would imagine.

True, but the cap is going up.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Some excellent questions from the media today. Better than the usual BS.

 

[ds774622]

Some excellent questions from the media today. Better than the usual BS.

You could tell Buchy is really taking that last minute from Game 7 hard, just beating himself up over that missed empty netter. I know he has some highs and lows in his demeanor, but he really looks like his dog just died. Hopefully he channels that during the summer and we get pissed off, maniac, nasty Buchy at the start of next season.

 

[The Note]

True, but the cap is going up.

That’s no reason to pay your 4th liners $5 million a year

 

[Stlblues87]

Some excellent questions from the media today. Better than the usual BS.

Cliff notes?

 

[Mike Liut]

That’s no reason to pay your 4th liners $5 million a year

We’ll be paying Schenn 6.5M to be that player soon lol.

 

[ds774622]

Cliff notes?

Panel 1: Kyrou - Schenn - Snuggerud
Surprised they threw Snuggy up there but very well spoken and praised coming into a great locker room. Standard answers from Schenner and Kyrou, but Schenner is a class act. Disappointed but need to get better.

Panel 2: Thomas - Buchnevich
Buchy is taking the loss hard. Thommer gave great answers on the play throughout the season, hoping to play in Olympics, etc. Very impressed with Thommer.

Panel 3: Fowler - Binner
Binner is just the best. Great, insightful answers and needs time to reflect on being the all-time wins leader. Fowler is open to an extension.

Nothing controversial but everyone gave your standard answers about disappointment. Monty wants everyone to get 5% better over the summer and to expect to be better 5v6. We were the worst last year and they know it. Army is talking now.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Army confirmed that Krug is likely done for his career.

 

[taylord22]

Cliff notes?

A bit messy, apologies

• 6 on 5 being treated like a serious issue.
• Lots of expectations around offseason training...conditioning and lean muscle for certain guys
• Plan is for everyone (coaches to players to zamboni drivers) to improve 3-5%. That's how you change and improve culture.
• Fowler loves it here - interested in having discussions this summer
• Monty played Snuggy and Bolduc because Army told him to "play the best players"
• What could Monty have done differently in Game 7? "Probably called a timeout to go over things"
• Army: Decent year, not a great year
• Army Holloway and Tucker: 100% for training camp. Holloway had surgery (was unlikely to play again). Tucker doesn't need it.
• Other injuries: "If you were healthy enough to play, we're not going to go through the injuries/things bothering guys"
• Army will have conversations with Faksa about extensions
• Army on Roster areas for improvement: Top 4D shored up, for now. Add another player that provides 200ft offense. "Would like to improve in the 200ft offensive game". Unlikely to go into further detail
• Army: Re-whatever is ending. Plan now is to evaluate the velocity we want to approach contention
• Army: Boldy was able to play through mistakes this year, which is a part of growth. Expectations will be much higher next year." Snuggy will have Boldy's leash from this year, more or less.
• Army: Free Agency will be looked at. He doesn't feel quite the same as Trotz who noted yesterday it would not be appealing this year due to rising cap.
• Army: How close was he to breaking the team up? "I told my counterparts coming out of 4Nations that if we played 500-600 hockey coming out, we'd be sellers" They were still open to hockey trades. Parayko injury gave him pause, but ultimately decided to stay pat
• Army on Krug: Almost 'normal' to day to day living, now...Army doesn't think he'll play again, but leaves the door open in case of a miracle
• Army on Dvorsky: Got a call from his national team down the stretch asking if we would allow him to play. Army made sure he was going to be a big part of it. Wanted him with the team, but since the physical maturity wasn't there, he was unlikely to get into the playoffs. Has to earn his spot next year - high expectations to accelerate physical maturity, but won't fail him by rushing him into the NHL
• Joseph/Texier: Speed element they wanted to bring in. Both showed flashes, but competition pushed them out. Expects them to come back next year to try and wrestle ice time away.
• Army on Kyrou: He's matured. Next 3-4 years will be Thomas and Kyrou's top of the bell curve - up to him to decide how high those peaks will be. TL;DR: Thinks he can be even better. Kyrou learned that Winnipeg was circling names for their pound of flesh...he's a marked man now.
• Army on Stenberg: Eyes opened to volume and 'mans league'
• Army on Kaskamaki: Clearly loves his game. Compared him to Steen without offense (yet). Thinks he'll get games quickly if he does what he's supposed to
• Army on Petterson: Credit to Thorburn for pushing for him...compared him to Torpo
• Army on Buchinger: Jury is still out

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Army had a lot of positive things to say about Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. Says his hockey IQ is up there with Steen and expects that he could push for a roster spot in training camp and see time with the team next year.

Compared Dylan Peterson to Torp. Big body, very direct. Wouldn't have any hesitation to throw him in a game. He knows who he is.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Army had a lot of positive things to say about Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. Says his hockey IQ is up there with Steen and expects that he could push for a roster spot in training camp and see time with the team next year.

Compared Dylan Peterson to Torp. Big body, very direct. Wouldn't have any hesitation to throw him in a game. He knows who he is.

And that checks out from the viewings I had of them. They will be players at some point, even if they are more 4th line roles, where Kaski pushes for 3rd line.

 

[taylord22]

I’d recommend the BK and Ferrario interview that should be made available soon-ish. Got into the weeds with a few more topics.

Broberg/Holloway extensions: not an urgent priority, but process will start with both this summer

Again mentioned adding 200ft offensive player

 

[STL fan in MN]

True, but the cap is going up.

Sure, but not to where 4Cs that score 15 pts/season are making anything close to $5M/year though.

 

[ScratchCatFever]

A bit messy, apologies

• 6 on 5 being treated like a serious issue.
• Lots of expectations around offseason training...conditioning and lean muscle for certain guys
• Plan is for everyone (coaches to players to zamboni drivers) to improve 3-5%. That's how you change and improve culture.
• Fowler loves it here - interested in having discussions this summer
• Monty played Snuggy and Bolduc because Army told him to "play the best players"
• What could Monty have done differently in Game 7? "Probably called a timeout to go over things"
• Army: Decent year, not a great year
• Army Holloway and Tucker: 100% for training camp. Holloway had surgery (was unlikely to play again). Tucker doesn't need it.
• Other injuries: "If you were healthy enough to play, we're not going to go through the injuries/things bothering guys"
• Army will have conversations with Faksa about extensions
• Army on Roster areas for improvement: Top 4D shored up, for now. Add another player that provides 200ft offense. "Would like to improve in the 200ft offensive game". Unlikely to go into further detail
• Army: Re-whatever is ending. Plan now is to evaluate the velocity we want to approach contention
• Army: Boldy was able to play through mistakes this year, which is a part of growth. Expectations will be much higher next year." Snuggy will have Boldy's leash from this year, more or less.
• Army: Free Agency will be looked at. He doesn't feel quite the same as Trotz who noted yesterday it would not be appealing this year due to rising cap.
• Army: How close was he to breaking the team up? "I told my counterparts coming out of 4Nations that if we played 500-600 hockey coming out, we'd be sellers" They were still open to hockey trades. Parayko injury gave him pause, but ultimately decided to stay pat
• Army on Krug: Almost 'normal' to day to day living, now...Army doesn't think he'll play again, but leaves the door open in case of a miracle
• Army on Dvorsky: Got a call from his national team down the stretch asking if we would allow him to play. Army made sure he was going to be a big part of it. Wanted him with the team, but since the physical maturity wasn't there, he was unlikely to get into the playoffs. Has to earn his spot next year - high expectations to accelerate physical maturity, but won't fail him by rushing him into the NHL
• Joseph/Texier: Speed element they wanted to bring in. Both showed flashes, but competition pushed them out. Expects them to come back next year to try and wrestle ice time away.
• Army on Kyrou: He's matured. Next 3-4 years will be Thomas and Kyrou's top of the bell curve - up to him to decide how high those peaks will be. TL;DR: Thinks he can be even better. Kyrou learned that Winnipeg was circling names for their pound of flesh...he's a marked man now.
• Army on Stenberg: Eyes opened to volume and 'mans league'
• Army on Kaskamaki: Clearly loves his game. Compared him to Steen without offense (yet). Thinks he'll get games quickly if he does what he's supposed to
• Army on Petterson: Credit to Thorburn for pushing for him...compared him to Torpo
• Army on Buchinger: Jury is still out

Thanks for this. You saved me fractured intervals of 5-10 minutes over the course of the week that it would take it for me to watch the 90 plus minute presser in it's entirety.

 

[Allens Five Hole]

Per Army, we were the only team in the league with a negative goal difference when opposition had their goalie pulled.

 

[SirPaste]

I’d recommend the BK and Ferrario interview that should be made available soon-ish. Got into the weeds with a few more topics.

Broberg/Holloway extensions: not an urgent priority, but process will start with both this summer

Again mentioned adding 200ft offensive player

This is interesting to me, wonder if there are any players available in our core age range that he has his eye on.

 

[The Note]

We’ll be paying Schenn 6.5M to be that player soon lol.

Probably, all the more reason to not toss another overpayment onto the pile

 

[taylord22]

This is interesting to me, wonder if there are any players available in our core age range that he has his eye on.

He hit this again during the BK and Ferrario interview. He clearly had some talking points/phrases walking into today and this was one of them. He added during the presser that he wouldn't go into detail due to noise of him e.g. not doing something immediately July 1 would generate.

 

[STL fan in MN]

He hit this again during the BK and Ferrario interview. He clearly had some talking points/phrases walking into today and this was one of them. He added during the presser that he wouldn't go into detail due to noise of him e.g. not doing something immediately July 1 would generate.

Yep. How I interpreted it was that he’d like to add a forward somehow this summer but definitely didn’t want to get into the specifics. Talked about the need to get 5% better and you can’t really do that if you run back exactly the same lineup as this season.