I wish we could find a way to pry McCleod out of Buffalo. Seems like he’s exactly what we need as a 3C for a couple years. Let Dvorsky start on the wing like Thomas did until he adjusts to the NHL.
2024-2025 Blues Trade Proposals Thread.
- Thread starter simon IC
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According to Friedman, we were apparently very in on Josh Norris before their trade with Buffalo for Cozens. Kinda interested in what we were offering. I like the upside of Norris, even if his injury history is terrifying.
I think that shows you what our main need is. We have the assets to make a major trade. 2C is such a glaring hole, even though Schenn is playing well. I’m not sold on Dvorsky jumping into that role for a couple years.
Yep. The last thing I want to do is rush Dvorsky into a role he isn’t ready for.
We let Thomas simmer for a few years on the third line, and I don’t expect Dvorsky to be different.
If we get eliminated from the playoffs soon, I’d love see Dvo get a few games with the Blues just to see what it’s like for him.
I’m curious what the gameplan is with that. If we do go on a cold stretch and get eliminated, I absolutely think it’ll happen.
However, if (god forbid) we lose one of the centers to injury in the next month, I’d like to see him get inserted into the lineup to replace them.
If i had to predict what would happen, i think Snuggy joins the team immediately upon his college season ending, as DA has stated before. But i think Dvorsky doesnt join the team till next season coming out of camp. Now a late season current roster injury could change things. But Dvorsky just screams next year to me.
If Minnesota makes the Frozen Four. No guarantee of that with how they struggled against Notre Dame.
I hope they lose round one. Would much rather have him for the final 6 or 7 games.
He went back to school this year because he wanted to win a championship. If they don't win this year, I wouldn't count out the idea that he goes back for his senior season.
It's possible, but Snuggerud has already vocalized that his plan is to join the team after his junior year.
If Snuggs decides to return to Minnesota to chase glory I'm all in for including him in a package to upgrade RHD.
If he goes back, I don’t want him.
Thomas was more than simmering on the 3rd line in 2019/20, which was his D+3 season (and 2nd year in the NHL). He was 5th among Blues forwards in even strength minutes, 6th in even strength minutes per game (5th if you exclude Tarasenko who only played 10 games), and 5th in overall minutes. We were still playing him mostly at wing, but it is tough to know whether that was because we didn't think he was ready for center or because we were defending a Cup and still had our top 9 center trio intact.
Next year will be Dvorsky's D+3 season. He's behind Thomas in terms of getting to the NHL, but we didn't have the choice to send Thomas to the AHL like we did with Dvorsky. I don't expect Dvorsky to meaningfully compete for 2C next year. The 2C job will be Schenn's to lose and we will want Dvorsky learning on the 3rd line. I think 2026/27 (Dvorsky's D+4 season and 2nd NHL season) is when he would realistically have a chance to take the 2C role. If Thomas is the model, then Dvorsky would be a bit behind schedule. Now Thomas had that disastrous D+4 season in the 56 game COVID year, but I'm not sure the Blues would view that as predictive of Dvorsky's development. That was a weird year, the team made drastic lineup changes, and Thomas battled injuries.
I'd be pretty surprised. Barring incredible success in the transfer window, they don't have any top-tier recruits coming for next year. Their better goalie is on his last year of eligibility and I can't imagine that all of their best players would stay.
Nashville will be pushing to get Wood to turn pro and they have tons of opportunity for him. They can slot him into the middle 6 in the NHL down the stretch or they could send him to the AHL to a team that is poised for a deep playoff run. He could legitimately get 15+ pro games under his belt this season and they very likely will have a spot or two in the NHL lineup up for grabs next season. He just transferred to Minnesota this season, so I doubt he has a huge desire to put the Gophers program over his own career. I would be extremely surprised if he stuck around.
Similarly, Chicago will be pushing to get Moore to turn pro. They can get him into NHL games down the stretch and while there AHL team isn't as good as Nashville's, they are going to make the playoffs. Chicago is also facing mounting pressure to accelerate their rebuild and they can use Bedard as part of their sales pitch. The first one of their forward prospects to find chemistry with Bedard will probably get millions of 'extra' dollars on their 2nd NHL contract. Telling Chicago that you want to play another year in Minnesota could lead to him never getting that chance if they find someone to play with him in the next 13 months.
Maybe all 3 convince each other to stick around, but these are 3 guys who could very well find themselves in the NHL full-time next season. They would each make $1M in the next 13 months if they stick in the NHL, which is significantly more than anyone is making in NIL money to play hockey. Minnesota realistically needs all 3 to return to have any type of national championship hopes and I just don't see it. I think Snuggy is going to watch 2 of his best teammates sign with their NHL teams and any thought of trying to win a Natty in his senior year would evaporate.
