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.
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PeoriaBlues309
Registered User
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.
- Feb 12, 2008
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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.
PeoriaBlues309
Registered User
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.
- Feb 12, 2008
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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.
PeoriaBlues309
Registered User
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.
LetsGoBooze
Competitive Tank
- Jan 16, 2012
- 2,300
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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.
MissouriMook
Still just a Mook among men
- Jul 4, 2014
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If Minnesota makes the Frozen Four. No guarantee of that with how they struggled against Notre Dame.
PeoriaBlues309
Registered User
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.
BlueMed
Registered User
- Jul 18, 2019
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It's possible, but Snuggerud has already vocalized that his plan is to join the team after his junior year.
ScratchCatFever
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- Oct 14, 2018
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If Snuggs decides to return to Minnesota to chase glory I'm all in for including him in a package to upgrade RHD.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
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If he goes back, I don’t want him.
Brian39
Registered User
- Apr 24, 2014
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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.
Brian39
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- Apr 24, 2014
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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.
BleedBlue14
UrGeNcY
I would be heavily concerned about our ability to sign Snuggerud if he doesn't sign after his college season. I don't think it would happen, but it would be a nightmare scenario for us, and I don't see how it would be beneficial for him. He had pretty similar numbers this year as he did his freshman year in a much less fortunate position.
I think Snuggy signs as soon as his college season ends. All signs seem to point towards that and I fully expect him to immediately join the NHL roster. My guess is he won't play any games this year given we're battling for a playoff spot and that's a tough time to integrate a new young player. I think they will likely have him penciled in the top9 forwards for next year. As far as Dvorsky goes I think his success in the AHL this year should earn him a spot next year. However, this is Doug Armstrong we are talking about so I fully expect him to bring in a middle six center free agent and make Dvorsky compete for that spot at camp next year.
Brian39
Registered User
- Apr 24, 2014
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The only way it would benefit him is if he cares more about getting to one specific NHL team than he does about money and his development as an NHL player. If he had one specific team in mind, he almost certainly would have made that clear in draft interviews and we never heard any rumors about that. I don't think we'd have used a 1st on a guy saying he didn't want to be here. If he simply wanted out of the St. Louis organization (and not one specific team), he almost certainly would have applied his pressure in the last 18 months to put himself in position to sign with his new team this spring.
Brian39
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- Apr 24, 2014
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I expect him to play in our first NHL game after his contract is signed. His representation should be asking if he's going to play in the NHL this year and answering 'no' is one of the few things that could cause Snuggy some pause. I think he has enough leverage to force Army to give a more firm answer than 'lineup choices are up to the coach.'
Joseph hasn't been so good that you can't pull him out of the lineup. He's contributed to the 3rd line's good play lately, but he is also getting played less than his linemates and has been clearly the 3rd most important member of the line. He is last among Blues forwards in time on ice, even strength time on ice, and total shifts among all Blues forwards since the 4 Nations Break. His biggest contribution has been on the PK, but he's on the 2nd unit and the group as a whole hasn't been that great. I think you can more than justify pulling him out to give Snuggy a shot in a high-stakes environment.
Reality Czech
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2017
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If Snuggerud tries to leverage himself into the starting lineup without earning it first, then I question if he has the right attitude. The team has been playing well and Joseph has been playing his best hockey of the year. Not sure it sends the right message to gift a spot to a new kid while we're in the middle of a playoff fight.
If he wants to travel with the team, be a healthy scratch and wait for his opportunity then that's a different story. By signing him to a contract now he gets to burn a year on his ELC. That should be enough leverage if he wants to sign here.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
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Agreed. If he doesn’t sign as soon as his season is over, I would get concerned. If still no decision and not signed after the season, I package him in a deal over the summer.
Brian39
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The organization has spent the last year telling him that the plan is to get him into the NHL lineup ASAP. If that answer has suddenly changed because we now believe he is worse than a cap dump, it would be perfectly reasonable for him to change his mind about wanting to be with the organization (or at least take a bit of time post-NCAA season).
Joseph's 'best hockey' is 1 goal and 3 assists through 11:42 a night since the 4 Nations break. He's the only forward on the team who isn't a plus player in that stretch. He's (at best) a below-replacement-level 3rd liner and he's been a flat out awful 3rd line player most of the year. If the organization is suddenly telling Snuggy that we think he's worse than that after a year+ hard sell of telling him we want him playing in the NHL, that is going to harm the relationship with one of your best prospects. Realistically, we probably should trade to get him out of the organization if that is our opinion.
Reality Czech
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- Apr 17, 2017
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Ok, if you think putting Snuggy into the lineup in a playoff race in a checking role is what's best for the team then you have the right to that opinion. You should know how important roles are on a team and I'm sure Snuggerud does as well. Plus minus? Lol
He'll get his chance when the time is right. Pretty sure you have no idea what was promised or said to Snuggerud exactly.
