Blues Discussion Thread 2018-2019

[yogintheaveragebears]

Never realized how sick O'Reilly's backhander is. Pretty good one-timer too. How has this guy not scored more goals?

Also saw this tonight watching highlights

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm going to be curious if Yeo focuses on matchups like Hitch or if he believes that each line should be good enough to not need much sheltering and lets ROR be used in more of a Kopitar, Toews, and more recent Bergeron role, where it's more of an offensive role.

You can create a pretty good shutdown line or put ROR with Tarasenko and maybe Fabbri or whoever. Having a great 2-way, possession player with Tarasenko in a more offensive role, will allow for more time in the zone for Tarasenko, which will lead to more goals IMO.

 

[HighNote]

If you take the top 12 forwards in terms of games played last year, you have Schenn, Brodziak, Sobotka, Tarasenko, Steen, Jaskin, Stastny, Upshall, Schwartz, Berglund, Barbashev, and Thorburn. The average age of this group is 29.6.

If you take the projected top 12 forwards for this coming year, you're looking at Schenn, Tarasenko, Steen, Schwartz, O'Reilly, Perron, Bozak, Barbashev, Thomas, Soshnikov, Fabbri, and Jaskin. The average age of this group is 26.1.

So we effectively shaved 3 and a half years off our forward group. Kyrou and Kostin will be knocking as well.

Thought it was a pretty interesting stat.

 

[Alklha]

Seeing a lot of Maroon suggestions if they can make the money work...

Personally, if they can clear some space - I'd rather they be looking at the defense. Once we get Edmundson's RFA deal finished, we'll only have 4 NHL defensemen under contract after this year - and personally, none of the upcoming UFA's should be extended.

Who would be your target?

The 4 defensemen are our top-4 going forward. We should be extending Bortuzzo if he is looking for a deal similar to what he is on, he is a good third pairing guy and can play both sides. We don’t know what we’ll have in Schmaltz. Mikkola could make a quick adjustment.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the defense at this point.

I'm going to be curious if Yeo focuses on matchups like Hitch or if he believes that each line should be good enough to not need much sheltering and lets ROR be used in more of a Kopitar, Toews, and more recent Bergeron role, where it's more of an offensive role.

You can create a pretty good shutdown line or put ROR with Tarasenko and maybe Fabbri or whoever. Having a great 2-way, possession player with Tarasenko in a more offensive role, will allow for more time in the zone for Tarasenko, which will lead to more goals IMO.

I’d hope we move away from matchups for the most part. Particularly if Thomas develops as we hope he will. We should have the talent down the lineup to focus on our team more than the opposition.

 

[justmuckit]

The 4 defensemen are our top-4 going forward. We should be extending Bortuzzo if he is looking for a deal similar to what he is on, he is a good third pairing guy and can play both sides. We don’t know what we’ll have in Schmaltz. Mikkola could make a quick adjustment.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the defense at this point.

Not overly concerned, but definitely something to think about.

Would rather not be in a desperate position looking for 2 NHL-ready d-men this time next year.

 

[Punished ROR]

Welp, I followed ROR to Buffalo, and so now y’all have to deal with my ass!

What’s funny is that I grew up a Blues fan in Troy, IL, during the Hull and Oates days. Excited to hear about the trade and it feels good to root for the Blues again.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Welp, I followed ROR to Buffalo, and so now y’all have to deal with my ass!

What’s funny is that I grew up a Blues fan in Troy, IL, during the Hull and Oates days. Excited to hear about the trade and it feels good to root for the Blues again.

Welcome back!! I’m assuming this will be a better winning environment than any ROR’s had in his career.

 

[Memento]

Welp, I followed ROR to Buffalo, and so now y’all have to deal with my ass!

What’s funny is that I grew up a Blues fan in Troy, IL, during the Hull and Oates days. Excited to hear about the trade and it feels good to root for the Blues again.

Welcome back! I hope you enjoy the ride that this season is going to be.

 

[Blanick]

Watching a Doug Armstrong interview on NHL Tonight right now. He just got done talking about Robby Fabbri. He said that he has been in Toronto working with an elite trainer to get himself ready for camp. He also said that the Blues were counting on him in the top6 last year but after another injury they tempering expectations. Then he follows it up by saying Fabbri is training incredibly hard to try to make up for lost time and is expecting to jump right back into that core group of forwards.

 

[A Real Barn Burner]

Welp, I followed ROR to Buffalo, and so now y’all have to deal with my ass!

What’s funny is that I grew up a Blues fan in Troy, IL, during the Hull and Oates days. Excited to hear about the trade and it feels good to root for the Blues again.

Welcome back. Prehaps a new user name to suit your excitement? Prehaps “Freebird O’Rielly”.

 

[Punished ROR]

Welcome back. Prehaps a new user name to suit your excitement? Prehaps “Freebird O’Rielly”.

Haha, apparently now we can only switch usernames once every 365 days, so I’m going to be locked into this one for a little while longer.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Watching a Doug Armstrong interview on NHL Tonight right now. He just got done talking about Robby Fabbri. He said that he has been in Toronto working with an elite trainer to get himself ready for camp. He also said that the Blues were counting on him in the top6 last year but after another injury they tempering expectations. Then he follows it up by saying Fabbri is training incredibly hard to try to make up for lost time and is expecting to jump right back into that core group of forwards.

This is fantastic news. I don’t think it’s a crazy concept to put him with ROR and Vova to start the year.

 

[mk80]

Welp, I followed ROR to Buffalo, and so now y’all have to deal with my ass!

What’s funny is that I grew up a Blues fan in Troy, IL, during the Hull and Oates days. Excited to hear about the trade and it feels good to root for the Blues again.

Welcome! Love the username and profile picture.

Watching a Doug Armstrong interview on NHL Tonight right now. He just got done talking about Robby Fabbri. He said that he has been in Toronto working with an elite trainer to get himself ready for camp. He also said that the Blues were counting on him in the top6 last year but after another injury they tempering expectations. Then he follows it up by saying Fabbri is training incredibly hard to try to make up for lost time and is expecting to jump right back into that core group of forwards.

Caught the very end of the interview when they were discussing Husso and the goalie situation. I don't doubt that Fabbri doesn't have the motivation, it's just a matter if he can find his game quickly and stay healthy most importantly. I'm excited to see how he looks in camp, and I hope when he introduced at the Home Opener he gets the loudest roar from the crowd.

 

[Blanick]

Welcome! Love the username and profile picture.



Caught the very end of the interview when they were discussing Husso and the goalie situation. I don't doubt that Fabbri doesn't have the motivation, it's just a matter if he can find his game quickly and stay healthy most importantly. I'm excited to see how he looks in camp, and I hope when he introduced at the Home Opener he gets the loudest roar from the crowd.

I believe he will get one of them. O'Reilly getting the other one. Perron will probably get a pretty solid cheer as well.

 

[converseman54]

My futile guess at the lines that will undoubtedly change many many times per game:

Schwartz - Schenn - Tarasenko (the "we actually have a number one line" line)
Steen - ROR - Perron (the "2-way shut down" line)
Fabbri - Bozak - Thomas/Kyrou (the "we're gonna mismatch you" line)
Soshnikov - Barbashev - Jaskin (the "surprisingly good 4th line" line)

extras: Sundqvist, Thorburn (ugggggggh), Blais

 

[stl76]

Welp, I followed ROR to Buffalo, and so now y’all have to deal with my ass!

What’s funny is that I grew up a Blues fan in Troy, IL, during the Hull and Oates days. Excited to hear about the trade and it feels good to root for the Blues again.

You seem like an odd character. You’ll fit right in.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Something about moving out Bergie and not re-signing Stastny is giving me a genuine feeling that we have all but moved on from our Old core (Backes, Steen, Oshie, Bergie, Perron). I know Steen and Perron are still here(or have returned), but now they are serving a new role as the experienced Vets and aren't gonna be leaned on too heavily. It legit feels like Army has perfectly transitioned this team to the new core with 2 of those pieces being Schenn and O'Reilly added over the past two offseasons.

This new upgraded core just feels good. We have so much flexibility with our roster its insane. I thought 4sure we were gonna have 2-3 legit 'transition' years waiting/hoping for our prospects to meet their potential, but aside from missing the playoffs last year, Army has completely reshaped the framework of this roster with a few Bold moves and heaved us right back into contention.

Great job Army, the season can't start soon enough.

-Excited Fan

 

[stl76]

I’m excited to see how Johnson does this year. It’s kind of a win-win because if he does well, then great! If he does poorly, then Husso gets a bigger opportunity, which is also great!

FWIW I think Johnson will do well in our defensive structure, but hopefully Husso gets some real opportunities as well.

 

[Stealth JD]

I know the whole point was to get Tarasenko a center of his own to play with but I wonder if Yeo isn’t tempted to start the Schwartz-Shenn-Tarasenko line together and leave them alone until a shake-up is warranted. Then Yeo has ROR and Bozak both as options...or even Fabbri or Thomas. The head coach is probably like a kid in a candy store right now with so many combos with which to experiment. But if his power-play isn’t top-15 by mid-season there are big red flags.

 

[ezcreepin]

Haha, apparently now we can only switch usernames once every 365 days, so I’m going to be locked into this one for a little while longer.

I prefer the Punished O'Reilly, unless you're going to go for Big Boss O'Reilly, or Solid O'Reilly.

 

[shpongle falls]

I prefer the Punished O'Reilly, unless you're going to go for Big Boss O'Reilly, or Solid O'Reilly.

Yes! Metal Gear ftw.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I'd like to see Bozak as RW on Schenn/Schwartz line. Could help with faceoffs and provide RHS. This would allow ROR to center Tank and Thomas to center 3rd line. I know Bozak has been center most of his career, but think moving him to wing makes most sense. Schenn was much better at C than RW, Thomas is rookie who would be able to break in at position he is most comfortable, and ROR is 1C who great on FO and defensively.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

I'd like to see Bozak as RW on Schenn/Schwartz line. Could help with faceoffs and provide RHS. This would allow ROR to center Tank and Thomas to center 3rd line. I know Bozak has been center most of his career, but think moving him to wing makes most sense. Schenn was much better at C than RW, Thomas is rookie who would be able to break in at position he is most comfortable, and ROR is 1C who great on FO and defensively.

Personally, I think barring any injuries of course, the only way Bozak starts at 3C is if Thomas plays on Schwartz/Schenn’s wing. If not, he’ll probably be on Thomas’ wing, with Perron playing on the 2nd line.

Something like this is what I truly expect.

Steen/Fabbri-O’Reilly-Tarasenko
Schwartz-Schenn-Perron
Fabbri/Steen-Thomas-Bozak

Or

Schwartz-Schenn-Thomas
Fabbri/Steen-Bozak-Perron

 

[simon IC]

I'd like to see Bozak as RW on Schenn/Schwartz line. Could help with faceoffs and provide RHS. This would allow ROR to center Tank and Thomas to center 3rd line. I know Bozak has been center most of his career, but think moving him to wing makes most sense. Schenn was much better at C than RW, Thomas is rookie who would be able to break in at position he is most comfortable, and ROR is 1C who great on FO and defensively.

• Fabbri-ROR-Tarasenko
• Schwartz-Schenn-Bozak
• Steen-Thomas-Perron
• Fourth line

Awesome!!! If Fabbri isn't up to speed, maybe he can switch with Perron.

 

[Blanick]

So I just finished listening the Army interview on NHL network (tv). One of the things I missed was him saying that at most camps you can look around the room and pinpoint the 12 guys that will be on the opening day roster (seemed like he was focused on just the offense). Then he said this camp there is going to be 15-16 players and it will be competition between all players as to who will play.