dhsux wrote: ↑03 Apr 2025 14:01 pm
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!
I heard him too T and I'll give the edge to that 4th line of '19 as well but not by a ton. They won a Cup after all.
If this Blues team gets in and then can make some noise their credibility shoots up like a rocket and all of a sudden it's the '25 team names that we might be citing in years down the road.
I myself don't see Walker or Torop or Faska getting worn down. I see it the other way. I see Monty playing them often against the top lines.
Way ahead here....let's get in and see then how they do.
But I can tell you...if they get in without a ton of issues or problems......I'll be picking them to win round 1 no matter who they play.
Bluesfan1978 wrote: ↑03 Apr 2025 15:34 pm
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.
Burns is off to a strong start in round 1, his team is up 3-0 trying to clinch tonight.
As of now he projects as a Tucker as Tucker has been playing most of the year IMO
I haven't seen a lot of physicality from Ralph, though I've seen him be a little more physical than early Parayko. I've seen more from McIsaac. Jiricek is not very physical but he's a strong skater with decent size.
Fischer and Burns are in every postwhistle scrum. They are the most like Edmundson/Bortuzzo out of our prospect pool, maybe McIsaac. Maybe Fischer will get into some Springfield games before the end.
When have the Blues had 4 defensemen with 30 points in their history? Broberg is three points away.
To me, the D is the biggest reason we're winning. All the defensive metrics are off the charts, including limiting rush chances. Obviously, the system and the forwards contribute to this, but an earlier poster mentioned the wheels on these guys, and that has been huge. Once Parayko gets back, every single guy except Suter often can beat the first forechecker with their skating and then make a good first pass.
As far as the '19 comparisons, the bottom six was much better on the '19 team.
The top three in 2019 of Petro, Bouw and Parayko were better than today's top three of Parayko, Fowler and Broberg. IMO, today's second three of Faulk, Leddy, Suter/Tucker/Kessel are better than Gunnarsson, Dunn, Edmundson/Bortz/Del Zotto.
Of course it doesn't matter how good you are, it matters how good you play, especially in the playoffs.
Frank Barone wrote: ↑04 Apr 2025 08:45 am
The top three in 2019 of Petro, Bouw and Parayko were better than today's top three of Parayko, Fowler and Broberg. IMO, today's second three of Faulk, Leddy, Suter/Tucker/Kessel are better than Gunnarsson, Dunn, Edmundson/Bortz/Del Zotto.
Of course it doesn't matter how good you are, it matters how good you play, especially in the playoffs.
That's defo the way to look at it.
We had a top 3 in 19 with Gunnar and Eddy rotating as Petro's partner.
The big difference is no elite #1 in Petro. However as you note the bottom 3 are better.
The fact is when healthy our current d is very balanced and could all play significant minutes.
