GDT: Game 35/82 Blues @ Cats 6PM CST FDSNMW

[StlBigFly]

I think Jake looks sus with Thomas because they don’t have a shot threat on the line. The bottom of a funnel is just a straw if there is no top of the funnel.

If you have the leagues best primary assist man you should absolutely focus on finding somebody who can shoot that he can pass to. This seems elementary.

 

[Spektre]

Not impressed with Monty. It’s easy to see Holloway should get an extended look with Thomas

 

[BlueSeal]

This team is goofy, but is performing to my expectations. Fowler looks great. Special shoutout to Kyrou because he's been rocking and gotta give him his flowers. Kid's really improving.

Hard to blame Monty, he doesn't have a lot to work with and God knows if he's being told from above to start certain folks or to do certain things. Army is obviously trying to make moves.

 

[JR1]

Neighbors needs to move down to the third line. I don’t see the infatuation with him. Can anyone tell me why he gets so much time on the first line? I will say that he is a good Grinder.

 

[BlueSeal]

Neighbors needs to move down to the third line. I don’t see the infatuation with him. Can anyone tell me why he gets so much time on the first line? I will say that he is a good Grinder.

Expectations vs Reality, mainly. Folks see how good he can be, but he's not chasing it with any hunger.

 

[BlueMed]

Expectations vs Reality, mainly. Folks see how good he can be, but he's not chasing it with any hunger.

I don't think lack of effort is Jake Neighbours' problem. He's a hound on the forecheck, but I don't think his offensive ceiling is very high and his role should be limited to the third line. I'd like to see Bolduc get a long look with Buchnevich and Thomas at some point.

 

[Stlblue50]

Saad is extra frustrating because the guy is always money for at least 20 a year and the Blues need goals. Literally has a streak of at least 7 years going. I think most are forgetting that he got right around 30 goals last year!

He’s been a healthy scratch or on the 4th line for the past 5+ games. I say give him a chance to get his confidence back by trying him on the 2nd line with Scheen and Holloway or Neighbors.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I want a shooter/sniper with Thomas and Buchnevich.

Yeah, Neighbours can score goals but most of his goals are going to come from crashing the net. He can give a nice shot on the rush but his strength is going to be in front of the net bounding home rebounds.

Neither Kyrou nor Holloway are that either. Kyrou has become the default goal scorer on the team because there isn't really a shooter on the team, but he's a better playmaker than he his a sniper when he had a player who can keep up with him on the ice. Holloway is another player who seems like he'll get most of his goal from nice rush chances or a little closer to the net. I think both of them will be fantastic complimentary players to each other and a center who can keep up with them mentally. Both players seem like guys who will try to wait out to get the perfect opening.

We don't have that guy who can catch and release or pound a deadly one timer out of nowhere. Hopefully Snuggerud or Bolduc can fill that role.

Saad is extra frustrating because the guy is always money for at least 20 a year and the Blues need goals. Literally has a streak of at least 7 years going. I think most are forgetting that he got right around 30 goals last year!

He’s been a healthy scratch or on the 4th line for the past 5+ games. I say give him a chance to get his confidence back by trying him on the 2nd line with Scheen and Holloway or Neighbors.

We should be more worried about finding a team to give him to. He's completely checked out.

 

[sbet1998]

Too many idiots on the team that continually try to force low percentage garbage in the Ozone

 

[Ranksu]

Damn I miss Mikkola.

 

[Ranksu]

We KNEW they would score.

We got finished.

 

[Reality Czech]

Neighbors needs to move down to the third line. I don’t see the infatuation with him. Can anyone tell me why he gets so much time on the first line? I will say that he is a good Grinder.

I don't get the infatuation with Bolduc. Why does he deserve to be higher on the depth chart than a guy who battles every night, has great net front presence and scored almost 30 goals a year ago.

Coaches love players like Neighbours even if some fans are starting to turn against him for whatever reason. He doesn't "need to" move to the third line and anyone who questions his effort is just flat out wrong. He's 22 years old, some fans are expecting way too much out of him right now. He's way ahead of where most predicted he would be and he's gonna get better.

 

[MissouriMook]

I don't get the infatuation with Bolduc. Why does he deserve to be higher on the depth chart than a guy who battles every night, has great net front presence and scored almost 30 goals a year ago.

Coaches love players like Neighbours even if some fans are starting to turn against him for whatever reason. He doesn't "need to" move to the third line and anyone who questions his effort is just flat out wrong. He's 22 years old, some fans are expecting way too much out of him right now. He's way ahead of where most predicted he would be and he's gonna get better.

I think it’s great that Bolduc has been given an extended run and has been greatly improving his physical play and the defensive parts of his game. That said, I would like to see him on the first line with Thomas for an extended period of time so he doesn’t lose his offensive instincts. Bolduc and Kyrou are the best shooters we have on the team at the moment, and while Kyrou is a better playmaker than a shooter, Bolduc is a better shooter than a playmaker and I would like to see him get an extended look with our best passer.

Again, I just think we need to use this time to get a full evaluation of where he’s at and what he’s capable of. I’m not sure if that is an “infatuation” but that’s what I’d like to see.

 

[Reality Czech]

I think it’s great that Bolduc has been given an extended run and has been greatly improving his physical play and the defensive parts of his game. That said, I would like to see him on the first line with Thomas for an extended period of time so he doesn’t lose his offensive instincts. Bolduc and Kyrou are the best shooters we have on the team at the moment, and while Kyrou is a better playmaker than a shooter, Bolduc is a better shooter than a playmaker and I would like to see him get an extended look with our best passer.

Again, I just think we need to use this time to get a full evaluation of where he’s at and what he’s capable of. I’m not sure if that is an “infatuation” but that’s what I’d like to see.

I guess I'm just failing to see why fans assume Bolduc has so much better offensive skills than Neighbours. Is it because he dominated a weaker junior league?

Does he have a significantly better shot than Jake does? Maybe, but I'll have to see it translate to goals more often to make that judgment. Jake had a pretty nice snipe goal the other day. Bolduc may have improved his defensive play but so has Jake. Bolduc has improved but not sure it's enough to be handed a top line role, even if on a trial basis. Maybe once we're closer to eliminated from playoff contention.

It feels more like shiny new toy syndrome where fans assume option B will better than what we're running now. I only used the word infatuation because that's the word the person I was quoting used to refer to Neighbours. He's the only player we have with more than 2 ppg and I'm pretty sure I saw some post recently saying he should be demoted to PP2. Jake is turning into the Rodney Dangerfield "don't get no respect" member of the Blues.

 

[Celtic Note]

I agree, let's just roll with Sunny as 2c

I mean we are winning so very much now

 

[Reality Czech]

I mean we are winning so very much now

Yep and obviously it's all Schenn's fault.

 

[Thallis]

I guess I'm just failing to see why fans assume Bolduc has so much better offensive skills than Neighbours. Is it because he dominated a weaker junior league?

Does he have a significantly better shot than Jake does? Maybe, but I'll have to see it translate to goals more often to make that judgment. Jake had a pretty nice snipe goal the other day. Bolduc may have improved his defensive play but so has Jake. Bolduc has improved but not sure it's enough to be handed a top line role, even if on a trial basis. Maybe once we're closer to eliminated from playoff contention.

It feels more like shiny new toy syndrome where fans assume option B will better than what we're running now. I only used the word infatuation because that's the word the person I was quoting used to refer to Neighbours. He's the only player we have with more than 2 ppg and I'm pretty sure I saw some post recently saying he should be demoted to PP2. Jake is turning into the Rodney Dangerfield "don't get no respect" member of the Blues.

Bolduc has better xGF%, scoring chances for %, high danger chances for %, and points per 60 all while consistently playing with worse linemates than Neighbours. Trialing Bolduc one the top line where Neighbours has not been working out on makes sense. He's been flat out better.

 

[jura]

 

[Celtic Note]

Yep and obviously it's all Schenn's fault.

Yeah Mr. Minus isn’t contributing at all to loses.

Bolduc has better xGF%, scoring chances for %, high danger chances for %, and points per 60 all while consistently playing with worse linemates than Neighbours. Trialing Bolduc one the top line where Neighbours has not been working out on makes sense. He's been flat out better.

This is going to fall on deaf ears

 

[LGB]

Bolduc seems like an ideal 3rd wheel on a talented line. He is a great skater, makes good little plays to keep possession, is tough to deal with on the forecheck, and has good finishing ability.

 

[Celtic Note]

Bolduc seems like an ideal 3rd wheel on a talented line. He is a great skater, makes good little plays to keep possession, is tough to deal with on the forecheck, and has good finishing ability.

I see him, Neighbours and Snuggy all as those 2nd/3rd wheel types. They all have really strong complimentary skills, but they need someone to really QB the line they are on to reach their max output/potential.

 

[Reality Czech]

Yeah Mr. Minus isn’t contributing at all to loses.


This is going to fall on deaf ears

As it should. I'm guessing Monty has access to these fancy numbers as well. So either he doesn't know what he's doing or he's basing his decision on more than advanced stats that don't tell the whole story. But who am I to argue with all the experienced hockey analysts here.

 

[PocketNines]

Bolduc has better xGF%, scoring chances for %, high danger chances for %, and points per 60 all while consistently playing with worse linemates than Neighbours. Trialing Bolduc one the top line where Neighbours has not been working out on makes sense. He's been flat out better.

Zach Bolduc is straight up not a better player than Jake Neighbours

Jake Neighbours is clearly the better player, clearly the more impactful player night in and night out. Flat out.

Phenomenal example of junk advanced stats

 

[Xerloris]

As it should. I'm guessing Monty has access to these fancy numbers as well. So either he doesn't know what he's doing or he's basing his decision on more than advanced stats that don't tell the whole story. But who am I to argue with all the experienced hockey analysts here.

Monty said he was coaching to win, so as such he should put the players that have been showing signs of life in a better position to succeed but he's not. Holoway and Bolduc deserve better than the linemates they are being given. You don't need advanced stats to see that those two are not 3rd line players and are actively being hamstrung by the couching staff.

 

[Celtic Note]

As it should. I'm guessing Monty has access to these fancy numbers as well. So either he doesn't know what he's doing or he's basing his decision on more than advanced stats that don't tell the whole story. But who am I to argue with all the experienced hockey analysts here.

There are plenty of reasons a coach could chose to deploy a player the way he does. We don’t have to choose to be obtuse to those. It doesn’t have to mean he thinks one guy is necessarily better or worse than another.