Opening night lineup predictions

[Majorityof1]

It’s not just games, it’s subtext. Both LK and JR have commented that he hasn’t had good camp and is letting opportunity slip away. Berube is effusive in praise on Neighbours and Joshua and never on Kostin.

Again, I’m not saying he is bad, just that fans overrate him bc of draft pedigree. As someone else said, he can carve out Barbie type role if he so chooses. But he seems not to embrace that to date.

Berube and effusive are not too words that ever go together. He answers questions that are asked. If he talks a lot about a player, he is being asked about that player a lot. Kostin might be having a bad camp, or JR and LK are pushing a narrative. Neighbours and Perunovich have been their story since before camp. "OH Neighbours paaid his own way to St. Louis and wants to make the team".

We shall see. But I don't recall Berube saying anything bad, or at all, about Kostin. I haven't listened to all his pre-season interviews though, so I could be wrong.

 

[bleedblue1223]

If Kostin was outplaying Neighbours, he'd be getting a top 9 shot. I wouldn't go as far to say that Kostin has had a disappointing or bad camp, but we have a lot of guys go out for a few slots, and Kostin probably hasn't separated himself from the pack on those slots.

 

[BlueOil]

If Kostin was outplaying Neighbours, he'd be getting a top 9 shot. I wouldn't go as far to say that Kostin has had a disappointing or bad camp, but we have a lot of guys go out for a few slots, and Kostin probably hasn't separated himself from the pack on those slots.

considering neighbours has to either make the nhl squad or go back to juniors, it's not much of a surprise to see the blues giving him a longer look than kostin so far. maybe that means his play is garnering more ice time or maybe they just want to see more of him against better competition before he goes back.

i'll still be surprised if he gets more than the nine game tryout

 

[bleedblue1223]

considering neighbours has to either make the nhl squad or go back to juniors, it's not much of a surprise to see the blues giving him a longer look than kostin so far. maybe that means his play is garnering more ice time or maybe they just want to see more of him against better competition before he goes back.

i'll still be surprised if he gets more than the nine game tryout

If Kostin was outplaying him, we'd just be content with giving Neighbours some playing time and going back to juniors. The only reason he's still with the top line at this point in pre-season is because they view him as a realistic player for that spot. I think people overrate the 9 game trial. I think the most likely scenarios are he stays up or he goes straight to juniors.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Berube and effusive are not too words that ever go together. He answers questions that are asked. If he talks a lot about a player, he is being asked about that player a lot. Kostin might be having a bad camp, or JR and LK are pushing a narrative. Neighbours and Perunovich have been their story since before camp. "OH Neighbours paaid his own way to St. Louis and wants to make the team".

We shall see. But I don't recall Berube saying anything bad, or at all, about Kostin. I haven't listened to all his pre-season interviews though, so I could be wrong.

Berube described Neighbours as "He's just smart, for one. He's got a real good head. He's like a dog on a bone. He gets after the puck. He's strong on it. He knows how to get it from people and then he's strong when he gets it and he's around the net a lot. He has a nose for the net, he gets in those little areas. That's where he gets his opportunities and scores. I really like his hockey sense and work ethic."

Have you ever heard Berube so positive on a player? This isn't just JR trying to sell subscriptions. Neighbours is obviously impressing. Unless you think Kostin has been just as impressive, even though Berube describes his play as "fine"?

 

[Majorityof1]

Berube described Neighbours as "He's just smart, for one. He's got a real good head. He's like a dog on a bone. He gets after the puck. He's strong on it. He knows how to get it from people and then he's strong when he gets it and he's around the net a lot. He has a nose for the net, he gets in those little areas. That's where he gets his opportunities and scores. I really like his hockey sense and work ethic."

Have you ever heard Berube so positive on a player? This isn't just JR trying to sell subscriptions. Neighbours is obviously impressing. Unless you think Kostin has been just as impressive, even though Berube describes his play as "fine"?

Berube could be impressed for a young player that still needs seasoning too. But that's beside the point. Kostin doesn't have to beat Neighbours. There are two spots available, a top 9 and a 4th line spot. Assuming Neighbours gets the top 9 spot, Kostin could still win the 4th line spot. The post you were quoting was saying he liked JR's top 9 (with Neighbours in the top 9) but wanted Kostin on the 4th line over Joshua. So Neighbours is irrelevant to the discussion. Just because Neighbours had a good camp, does not mean Kostin had a bad one. Just because JR thinks Kostin had a bad camp, doesn't make it true either. JR doesn't know much about actual hockey and has few inside connections left.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Berube could be impressed for a young player that still needs seasoning too. But that's beside the point. Kostin doesn't have to beat Neighbours. There are two spots available, a top 9 and a 4th line spot. Assuming Neighbours gets the top 9 spot, Kostin could still win the 4th line spot. The post you were quoting was saying he liked JR's top 9 (with Neighbours in the top 9) but wanted Kostin on the 4th line over Joshua. So Neighbours is irrelevant to the discussion. Just because Neighbours had a good camp, does not mean Kostin had a bad one. Just because JR thinks Kostin had a bad camp, doesn't make it true either. JR doesn't know much about actual hockey and has few inside connections left.

If you want to keep moving the goalpost..

 

[Mike Liut]

I’m pulling for Kostin, Neighbors, Joshua and Perunovich to make the team. Don’t really care about Neal, Mac and Brown.

 

[Celtic Note]

Roster decisions are primarily made on things that fans do not see, that's why some of the discussions are sort of pointless. It's like our prospect rankings. If we did them again, Perunovich would likely be #1 with an overwhelming majority of the vote.

He should have from the get go.

 

[SwivelSchwartz]

Perron- ROR - Kyrou
Neighbors - Schenn- Buch
Saad-Thomas-Tarasenko
Barby- Bozak - Kostin

scandella-Parayko
Krug-Faulk
Mikkola - Perunovich

binnington
Husso

I could also see Perunovich playing with parayko late in the game if we need to score like we did with Dunn.

 

[DatDude44]

Perron- ROR - Kyrou
Neighbors - Schenn- Buch
Saad-Thomas-Tarasenko
Barby- Bozak - Kostin

scandella-Parayko
Krug-Faulk
Mikkola - Perunovich

binnington
Husso

I could also see Perunovich playing with parayko late in the game if we need to score like we did with Dunn.

Agree with this roster but i could see berube going with bortz over mikkola initially.

and when healthy i'm assuming sunny replaces bozak.

 

[BlueDream]

Agree with this roster but i could see berube going with bortz over mikkola initially.

and when healthy i'm assuming sunny replaces bozak.

Bozak isn’t going to be a healthy scratch ever, unless he somehow aged rapidly over the Summer.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Agree with this roster but i could see berube going with bortz over mikkola initially.

and when healthy i'm assuming sunny replaces kostin.

FIFY.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

He should have from the get go.

I voted in every poll, and I only voted for 3 guys. But I also would have put Perunovich first. The team has been high on him forever. If not for missing a year, I think he was being projected to make the team in the eyes of the front office. Turns out, he's compensated for that lost year impressively well.

 

[DatDude44]

Bozak isn’t going to be a healthy scratch ever, unless he somehow aged rapidly over the Summer.

I think he could be throughout the 82 game season, especially if there’s no spot for him in our top 9.

 

[Renard]

Are Kostin and Joshua still rookies?

If so, the Blues might start the season with four rookies on the team; Kostin, Joshua, Neighbors and Perunovich.

I can't remember having so many rookies make the team. And it will be exciting to see how they play. Its like an internal rebuild.

Its time to cite an old axiom - its better to build boys than mend men.

 

[67Blues]

Is there any scenario that people see that the Blues keep either Neal or Frolik? Other than Neal's first game, I haven't seen much that excites me with either of them. I think it was telling that neither were on the trip to Dallas.

 

[Frenzy31]

Is there any scenario that people see that the Blues keep either Neal or Frolik? Other than Neal's first game, I haven't seen much that excites me with either of them. I think it was telling that neither were on the trip to Dallas.

I think Neal makes the team. I am basing this on the fact I don't see Neighbors up for the entire year. Also, he could fill in on the ROR line or in case we do move Tarasenko.

 

[Thallis]

Is there any scenario that people see that the Blues keep either Neal or Frolik? Other than Neal's first game, I haven't seen much that excites me with either of them. I think it was telling that neither were on the trip to Dallas.

The 4th line last night were all tweeners likely battling for the last roster spot. I don't think it has much bearing on Neal.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Looks like all the guys battling for roster spots will be in there tonight.

 

[WeWentBlues]

I’m pulling for Kostin, Neighbors, Joshua and Perunovich to make the team. Don’t really care about Neal, Mac and Brown.

Logan Brown intrigues me. Local kid. 6'6". Plays C. Former top 10 (11th) pick. I'd be surprised even if he made it through waivers even given his lackluster career thus far.

 

[67Blues]

I think Neal makes the team. I am basing this on the fact I don't see Neighbors up for the entire year. Also, he could fill in on the ROR line or in case we do move Tarasenko.

I think that Neighbors gets the 9 game tryout and will be replaced by Sunny coming off of injury reserve. Unless Neal is taking close to league minimum, I don't see how we fit his salary. I also suspect that Kostin goes down as he doesn't have to clear waivers as they want to take a longer look at Brown who would get claimed by someone as a lotto ticket waiver pickup.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I think that Neighbors gets the 9 game tryout and will be replaced by Sunny coming off of injury reserve. Unless Neal is taking close to league minimum, I don't see how we fit his salary. I also suspect that Kostin goes down as he doesn't have to clear waivers as they want to take a longer look at Brown who would get claimed by someone as a lotto ticket waiver pickup.

I wouldn't assume 9 games. If he makes team out of camp there is good chance he sticks.

 

[Frenzy31]

I wouldn't assume 9 games. If he makes team out of camp there is good chance he sticks.

I don't think it is an ability thing. I think it is more of a strength/stamina thing. It is such a long season, I would expect him to take off and then fade like most prospects.

I would be interested in seeing where others have him in their prospect rankings. (He didn't make any of the insider top 50 lists). I had him at 4 behind Kostin, Bolduc, and Perunovich after the draft. But it seems he should likely be higher at this point.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I don't think it is an ability thing. I think it is more of a strength/stamina thing. It is such a long season, I would expect him to take off and then fade like most prospects.

I would be interested in seeing where others have him in their prospect rankings. (He didn't make any of the insider top 50 lists). I had him at 4 behind Kostin, Bolduc, and Perunovich after the draft. But it seems he should likely be higher at this point.

Agree, he may hit the rookie wall. They can rest him occasionally and the Olympic break may help him recharge.

And to be clear, he CAN be sent back to juniors at any time. The 9 games is only to avoid burning year of ELC, and there is school of thought that in case like this if you burn it this year he won't have as much body of work when it is time for next contract and can keep that cost down a bit.