Top 4 D 2024-25 Compared with the 2018-2019 Team

[Bluesfan1978]

The current top 4 D have 124 points in 242 GP with a total plus 40.
The 2018-2019 top 4 D had 121 points in 307 GP with a plus 33 total.
I also checked the 2019-2020 season and the top 4 D still only hit 119 points in 274 GP.
Not sure if Fowler can keep this pace up or not but I can see Parayko and Broberg exceeding this years totals next year.

[seattleblue]

By Jan 2, that 2019 team had also plummeted to holding the 7th overall pick just like this team was holding right before the break.
Today the Blues are 13th overall (lose tiebreaker to MN currently) and the Cup team also finished the regular season with a dramatic 24th to 13th move.
(Of course with an extra team in the league now, this current team had fallen to dead 25th of 32 whereas the Cup team was dead 24th of 31.)

[DawgDad]

The current top 4 D have 124 points in 242 GP with a total plus 40.
The 2018-2019 top 4 D had 121 points in 307 GP with a plus 33 total.
I also checked the 2019-2020 season and the top 4 D still only hit 119 points in 274 GP.
Not sure if Fowler can keep this pace up or not but I can see Parayko and Broberg exceeding this years totals next year.

I'd bet Fowler has at least a couple more good years left in the tank.

The comparisons are interesting but this team still has to MAKE the playoffs.

[Army's Mom]

The current top 4 D have 124 points in 242 GP with a total plus 40.
The 2018-2019 top 4 D had 121 points in 307 GP with a plus 33 total.
I also checked the 2019-2020 season and the top 4 D still only hit 119 points in 274 GP.
Not sure if Fowler can keep this pace up or not but I can see Parayko and Broberg exceeding this years totals next year.

I'd bet Fowler has at least a couple more good years left in the tank.

The comparisons are interesting but this team still has to MAKE the playoffs.

Agreed. Also, different systems. That team got offense from its defensemen, true, but they didn't emphasize defensemen jumping into the forecheck and having a high forward cover nearly as often. Monty has even the defensive defensemen routinely jumping deep into the offensive zone. Heck, I think I even saw Tucker below the goal line a few times

[STL fan in MN]

Fowler has given this current D corps an offensive flair the 2019 group didn’t have but they just don’t have a trio like the 2019 versions of Petro, Bouw and Parayko. Parayko remains and he’s better now than he was then but the group as a whole isn’t quite at the same level IMO.

It’s a good D corps though. Is it worse than what Florida had a year ago when they won the Cup? I’d say it’s about on par.

It all comes down to execution in the playoffs. Who’s hot with all cylinders clicking at the right time. Hopefully the Blues aren’t peaking too soon here and they’ve got yet another gear to go. It’s been fun to watch.

[seattleblue]

I am pretty sure after the Blues won the Cup there were "can you believe they almost traded Schenn to Boston" comments about the season nadir.

So this is lining up pretty well for the Blues to win the Cup in Game 7 in Toronto ...

[Bluesfan1978]

Fowler has given this current D corps an offensive flair the 2019 group didn’t have but they just don’t have a trio like the 2019 versions of Petro, Bouw and Parayko. Parayko remains and he’s better now than he was then but the group as a whole isn’t quite at the same level IMO.

It’s a good D corps though. Is it worse than what Florida had a year ago when they won the Cup? I’d say it’s about on par.

It all comes down to execution in the playoffs. Who’s hot with all cylinders clicking at the right time. Hopefully the Blues aren’t peaking too soon here and they’ve got yet another gear to go. It’s been fun to watch.

Part of why his D can pinch the way they are playing is their speed. Fowler, Leddy, Broberg, Parayko, and Faulk are all above average skaters. That 2018-19 team didn’t have 5 players that could skate like these 5. Remove Leddy and the 2019 top 4 didn’t have the same skill either. (Offensively)
Either way it’s exciting to watch.

[DawgDad]

Fowler has given this current D corps an offensive flair the 2019 group didn’t have but they just don’t have a trio like the 2019 versions of Petro, Bouw and Parayko. Parayko remains and he’s better now than he was then but the group as a whole isn’t quite at the same level IMO.

It’s a good D corps though. Is it worse than what Florida had a year ago when they won the Cup? I’d say it’s about on par.

It all comes down to execution in the playoffs. Who’s hot with all cylinders clicking at the right time. Hopefully the Blues aren’t peaking too soon here and they’ve got yet another gear to go. It’s been fun to watch.

This group is deeper in a top-4 context. When healthy there are five legit top-4 defensemen, one or two upgrades there without needing to play to zone starts. Both sets of defensemen could get the job done.

[callitwhatyouwant]

The current top 4 D have 124 points in 242 GP with a total plus 40.
The 2018-2019 top 4 D had 121 points in 307 GP with a plus 33 total.
I also checked the 2019-2020 season and the top 4 D still only hit 119 points in 274 GP.
Not sure if Fowler can keep this pace up or not but I can see Parayko and Broberg exceeding this years totals next year.

I'd bet Fowler has at least a couple more good years left in the tank.

The comparisons are interesting but this team still has to MAKE the playoffs.

I think this teams run isn't really that similar to 2019 outside of it being the Blues. The runs happened at different points. This team has more of a trajectory like the Florida Panthers of 2 years ago. They both had to win their games late just to get in. The Blues are still looking at that scenario. The other comparable for the 2 teams is that they both had a guy like Bob and Binner in net who no one wants to face in the playoffs. Bob wasn't asked to play until the playoffs got started and they leaned on him. But both are top quality goalies with some streaks in their game.

[dhsux]

Top 4 wise, I definitely give the edge to the '19 team. Although it's not as great as one would think because of how Fowler has come onto this team.

The forwards speed of this team is certainly ahead of the '19 team, helping the D performance to be more effective.

This teams greatest strength lies in their depth. Forwards and D alike. They play so well and so evenly as a unit it's the best possible scenario for the 7 game series of play off hockey.

Now.....let's just get in.

[carl racki]

Defensemen get targeted and pummeled in the playoffs. See: Girard, Samuel. I think the 2019 squad was built to take that beating and/or skate away from it, and that corps was deeper overall than this one. That being said, can't wait to see the 2025 version and let them make their own history.

[bluecalgary]

Defensemen get targeted and pummeled in the playoffs. See: Girard, Samuel. I think the 2019 squad was built to take that beating and/or skate away from it, and that corps was deeper overall than this one. That being said, can't wait to see the 2025 version and let them make their own history.

I still say to this day, Barbashev gave the Avalanche a big assist towards their winning the Cup in 2022 when he crushed Girard's sternum. I think the Avalanche wouldn't have won without having to bring Johnson back in to the line-up. Changed the whole make-up of the defence. Average height went up 2-3" per D-man.

[TBone]

Top 4 wise, I definitely give the edge to the '19 team. Although it's not as great as one would think because of how Fowler has come onto this team.

The forwards speed of this team is certainly ahead of the '19 team, helping the D performance to be more effective.

This teams greatest strength lies in their depth. Forwards and D alike. They play so well and so evenly as a unit it's the best possible scenario for the 7 game series of play off hockey.

Now.....let's just get in.

Kerber was on 550 this morning and was asked about the 2019 comparison and made a pretty good point - the 2019 team was deeper.

The 4th like was Steen, Sunny and Barbashev.

That said I think after this year's (hopeful) playoff run Armstrong will know exactly where to add to this team to take them to another level. With all of our youth I question if we have enough physicality to survive multiple seven game series against more physical teams. Heavy neutralizes speed in the post-season, so I guess time will tell. LGB!

[zamadoo]

I looked at this a bit ago and one of the most glaring differences was blocked shots and hits.

[Bluesfan1978]

This D doesn’t have the physical element to it that the 2019 team didn’t but it will when or if Burns, Ralph, Fisher and Jiricek develop and make it. By all accounts they are physical, have size and are strong skaters.
They are still exciting to watch the way they are playing.
I also think this D core’s willingness to shoot the puck since Monty took over is having a positive affect on how they are covered. Last year even when on the PP the D was hesitant to shoot the puck. This year even Tucker is letting it go.

[dhsux]

I looked at this a bit ago and one of the most glaring differences was blocked shots and hits.

So which way are you saying about the 2 teams?