Dvorsky recalled

[stljrs]

I don't think he and Snuggarud are at the same level in their development. I'd be glad to be proven wrong. It's hard to tell much from game one. He played sheltered minutes. He was good on the PP, but that's been the case all season in Springfield. He just hasn't popped 5v5. I've watched nearly every Springfield game. He's -11, which is third worst on the team, and it's not because he's getting the harder assignments. I really don't care about him getting much of an opportunity until we clinch. That has to be the focus. And even then, don't screw with the mojo. If it makes sense for him to be in there, fine.

I thought it was pretty recently he had a couple of bad games where he was like a -9 combined. Obviously we can't have games like that here. But he was almost back to even and then it kind of fell apart. Happens to young guys. Guys like O'Reilly and Tavares thrived as less than speedy skaters but it for sure could prolong his development. Obviously the Blues think it's good for him to be around the team and the pressure. If anything it should make him hungry and want to really work on things over the summer.

[esp31]

I don't think he and Snuggarud are at the same level in their development. I'd be glad to be proven wrong. It's hard to tell much from game one. He played sheltered minutes. He was good on the PP, but that's been the case all season in Springfield. He just hasn't popped 5v5. I've watched nearly every Springfield game. He's -11, which is third worst on the team, and it's not because he's getting the harder assignments. I really don't care about him getting much of an opportunity until we clinch. That has to be the focus. And even then, don't screw with the mojo. If it makes sense for him to be in there, fine.

I thought it was pretty recently he had a couple of bad games where he was like a -9 combined. Obviously we can't have games like that here. But he was almost back to even and then it kind of fell apart. Happens to young guys. Guys like O'Reilly and Tavares thrived as less than speedy skaters but it for sure could prolong his development. Obviously the Blues think it's good for him to be around the team and the pressure. If anything it should make him hungry and want to really work on things over the summer.

That's true. He was near even, and it's not that he's been bad. He just doesn't flash much 5v5.
You see his skill on the PP. My hope is that when he is surrounded by better players up here, his skills and superior instincts will be more noticeable. He's still very young.

[LGB73]

Would be a good idea to get him some games. Give Sunny and Schenn some added rest for the playoffs and he will be our best backup if an injury happens at C in the playoffs.

[STL fan in MN]

I just don't see that we are in a position to be resting guys quite, this team still has to win games. As of right now I find every game to be VERY important still.

The odds of the Blues making the playoffs now is 99%. I’m not saying to take the foot off the gas but it shouldn’t really change the trajectory of the game much subbing Dvorsky in for Sunny 1-2 times over these last 4 games.

Would be a good idea to get him some games. Give Sunny and Schenn some added rest for the playoffs and he will be our best backup if an injury happens at C in the playoffs.

Exactly. It’d get the vets a day or two off and give Dvorsky a smidge more experience before the playoffs start in the event they need to throw him into the lineup.

I doubt he plays tonight against Winnipeg but I’d be mildly surprised if he didn’t get into at least 1 of the 3 games on this road trip.

[Old_Goat]

All excellent takes & points above...particularly you do not want to have only 12 healthy forwards available, especially on the road. On gameday if somebody gets severely ill or inadvertently injured in the morning skate, then you put him in. Once we win one more and Calgary loses one more, then you start the rotational rest & maintenance for others and put him in.

[Harry York 37]

I don't think he and Snuggarud are at the same level in their development. I'd be glad to be proven wrong. It's hard to tell much from game one. He played sheltered minutes. He was good on the PP, but that's been the case all season in Springfield. He just hasn't popped 5v5. I've watched nearly every Springfield game. He's -11, which is third worst on the team, and it's not because he's getting the harder assignments. I really don't care about him getting much of an opportunity until we clinch. That has to be the focus. And even then, don't screw with the mojo. If it makes sense for him to be in there, fine.

I thought it was pretty recently he had a couple of bad games where he was like a -9 combined. Obviously we can't have games like that here. But he was almost back to even and then it kind of fell apart. Happens to young guys. Guys like O'Reilly and Tavares thrived as less than speedy skaters but it for sure could prolong his development. Obviously the Blues think it's good for him to be around the team and the pressure. If anything it should make him hungry and want to really work on things over the summer.

That's true. He was near even, and it's not that he's been bad. He just doesn't flash much 5v5.
You see his skill on the PP. My hope is that when he is surrounded by better players up here, his skills and superior instincts will be more noticeable. He's still very young.

Thanks to the both of you for the fine details on DD.

You two seem to have a good grasp of the T-Birds. Is Alexandrov gonna become an NHL player anytime soon. In your opinions?

Does Dvorsky, truly, get the toughest assignments?
Would than make Alexandrov’s plus minus a bit inflated?


How is Mac Mac leading the team in plus minus? Has he grown a lot?

[Harry S Deals]

Alexandrov may get another shot in next years camp to blow the team away and get another look but so far in 51 NHL games he has 3 goals and -4 he just hasnt shown really anything at all. With the Blues roster next season i dont see Alexandrov in a Blue note unless there are massive injuries at center.

Dalibor is most likely an insurance call up its unlikely for me that he will get any meaning ful minutes. For all of Sunnys shorcomings, Sunny is very good defensively in his own end for late game scenarios, PK, etc. Sunny is a big, stable center for kids like Bolduc to play on his wings I dont see DD supplanting Sunny this year

[Harry York 37]

Alexandrov may get another shot in next years camp to blow the team away and get another look but so far in 51 NHL games he has 3 goals and -4 he just hasnt shown really anything at all. With the Blues roster next season i dont see Alexandrov in a Blue note unless there are massive injuries at center.

Dalibor is most likely an insurance call up its unlikely for me that he will get any meaning ful minutes. For all of Sunnys shorcomings, Sunny is very good defensively in his own end for late game scenarios, PK, etc. Sunny is a big, stable center for kids like Bolduc to play on his wings I dont see DD supplanting Sunny this year

God points.

As long as Sunny has Joseph, and to a lesser extent, Bolduc, covering for him on rushes against, he will be fine.

[STL fan in MN]

Alexandrov may get another shot in next years camp to blow the team away and get another look but so far in 51 NHL games he has 3 goals and -4 he just hasnt shown really anything at all. With the Blues roster next season i dont see Alexandrov in a Blue note unless there are massive injuries at center.

Dalibor is most likely an insurance call up its unlikely for me that he will get any meaning ful minutes. For all of Sunnys shorcomings, Sunny is very good defensively in his own end for late game scenarios, PK, etc. Sunny is a big, stable center for kids like Bolduc to play on his wings I dont see DD supplanting Sunny this year

Agree with this.

As of today, Alexandrov is the more valuable AHL player. He’s a top line player in the AHL all day long. But he’s pretty clearly not a top-6 caliber player in the NHL. And he doesn’t bring the intangibles needed to really be all that valuable as an NHL bottom-6 forward either. So he’s a tweener. Decent guy to have as depth but I just don’t see a much of an NHL future for him. They could plug him into the lineup and I bet he wouldnt be horrible but Dvorsky is the one with the future with this team so fair or not, he’s the one getting the reps.

Peca is the same way. Very good in the AHL, absolutely no chance at an NHL career.

[esp31]

I don't think he and Snuggarud are at the same level in their development. I'd be glad to be proven wrong. It's hard to tell much from game one. He played sheltered minutes. He was good on the PP, but that's been the case all season in Springfield. He just hasn't popped 5v5. I've watched nearly every Springfield game. He's -11, which is third worst on the team, and it's not because he's getting the harder assignments. I really don't care about him getting much of an opportunity until we clinch. That has to be the focus. And even then, don't screw with the mojo. If it makes sense for him to be in there, fine.

I thought it was pretty recently he had a couple of bad games where he was like a -9 combined. Obviously we can't have games like that here. But he was almost back to even and then it kind of fell apart. Happens to young guys. Guys like O'Reilly and Tavares thrived as less than speedy skaters but it for sure could prolong his development. Obviously the Blues think it's good for him to be around the team and the pressure. If anything it should make him hungry and want to really work on things over the summer.

That's true. He was near even, and it's not that he's been bad. He just doesn't flash much 5v5.
You see his skill on the PP. My hope is that when he is surrounded by better players up here, his skills and superior instincts will be more noticeable. He's still very young.

Thanks to the both of you for the fine details on DD.

You two seem to have a good grasp of the T-Birds. Is Alexandrov gonna become an NHL player anytime soon. In your opinions?

Does Dvorsky, truly, get the toughest assignments?
Would than make Alexandrov’s plus minus a bit inflated?


How is Mac Mac leading the team in plus minus? Has he grown a lot?

I don't believe Dvorsky has gotten the toughest assignments. Peca and McGing get the harder matchups.

Alexandrov started out like a house on fire when he first came back and often played with Dvorsky, but his play has been more up and down the last few weeks. Like the other poster implied, he doesn't seem to have a standout NHL skill. He just does everything decently, which allows him to be successful in the AHL. I do think he's a guy you could call up and his game is well rounded enough that he wouldn't hurt you. I thought they would call him up to be the extra forward on this trip. He has started to play on the inside a bit better, but again, I agree with the other poster. He's a tweener.

One more thing on Dvorsky is he's played with a lot of guys. Started out with Kaskimaki, and lately it's been Luff. Even Andonovsky played a couple games with him.

Mac Mac is the same. Just plays a solid two-way game down there. Skates and hits. There are a lot of players in the A that are really solid but lack a defining feature or the lack of one skill negates the other. McGing is a perfect example. He flashes several times a game, and it looks like he could skate in the NHL. Very shifty and quick, but too small at this level and lacks finishing skills. You watch him and you'd think he could score 25-30 down there and he has 14.

[Harry York 37]

I don't think he and Snuggarud are at the same level in their development. I'd be glad to be proven wrong. It's hard to tell much from game one. He played sheltered minutes. He was good on the PP, but that's been the case all season in Springfield. He just hasn't popped 5v5. I've watched nearly every Springfield game. He's -11, which is third worst on the team, and it's not because he's getting the harder assignments. I really don't care about him getting much of an opportunity until we clinch. That has to be the focus. And even then, don't screw with the mojo. If it makes sense for him to be in there, fine.

I thought it was pretty recently he had a couple of bad games where he was like a -9 combined. Obviously we can't have games like that here. But he was almost back to even and then it kind of fell apart. Happens to young guys. Guys like O'Reilly and Tavares thrived as less than speedy skaters but it for sure could prolong his development. Obviously the Blues think it's good for him to be around the team and the pressure. If anything it should make him hungry and want to really work on things over the summer.

That's true. He was near even, and it's not that he's been bad. He just doesn't flash much 5v5.
You see his skill on the PP. My hope is that when he is surrounded by better players up here, his skills and superior instincts will be more noticeable. He's still very young.

Thanks to the both of you for the fine details on DD.

You two seem to have a good grasp of the T-Birds. Is Alexandrov gonna become an NHL player anytime soon. In your opinions?

Does Dvorsky, truly, get the toughest assignments?
Would than make Alexandrov’s plus minus a bit inflated?


How is Mac Mac leading the team in plus minus? Has he grown a lot?

I don't believe Dvorsky has gotten the toughest assignments. Peca and McGing get the harder matchups.

Alexandrov started out like a house on fire when he first came back and often played with Dvorsky, but his play has been more up and down the last few weeks. Like the other poster implied, he doesn't seem to have a standout NHL skill. He just does everything decently, which allows him to be successful in the AHL. I do think he's a guy you could call up and his game is well rounded enough that he wouldn't hurt you. I thought they would call him up to be the extra forward on this trip. He has started to play on the inside a bit better, but again, I agree with the other poster. He's a tweener.

One more thing on Dvorsky is he's played with a lot of guys. Started out with Kaskimaki, and lately it's been Luff. Even Andonovsky played a couple games with him.

Mac Mac is the same. Just plays a solid two-way game down there. Skates and hits. There are a lot of players in the A that are really solid but lack a defining feature or the lack of one skill negates the other. McGing is a perfect example. He flashes several times a game, and it looks like he could skate in the NHL. Very shifty and quick, but too small at this level and lacks finishing skills. You watch him and you'd think he could score 25-30 down there and he has 14.

Thank you, very much.
With you, seattle, and a few others back -now that the police are on the job, this is a beautiful place. Your points of view and those of the sage and loyal old-time posters who still contribute here have raised the goddanged bar quite nicely.

[esp31]

Thank you, Harry. That's very nice of you to say. I feel the same way about you, Seattle, and other vets on the board. It's nice to actually talk hockey.

[seattleblue]

I genuinely appreciate the comments from both of you, thanks.

Nugget: I watched some of the EDM-PA Game 6 yesterday. It was a struggle for Jecho.
Mrsic was out. I did not catch what happened, because he scored the opening goal in an elimination saving Game 5 win on Friday.
PA won without him again to force Game 7, maybe we will get more info or he will be back in.
Oh, and I don't know where to put this. But I really wish the Blues had Lukas Dragicevic, a 2d round Seattle Kraken drafted defenseman on PA, I think he is significantly better than Fiddler. I have seen Fiddler make a lot of bonehead plays this year but he is RHD with size decent skating. Dragicevic has impressed me all year.

Further Stenberg Children nugget: There is a younger brother of Oscar Stenberg who is not even draft eligible until 2026 and he just put up 1+1 in Game 2 of the SHL mens pro playoff semifinals to bring his Frolunda team even 1-1 with Lulea.

[STL fan in MN]

I genuinely appreciate the comments from both of you, thanks.

Nugget: I watched some of the EDM-PA Game 6 yesterday. It was a struggle for Jecho.
Mrsic was out. I did not catch what happened, because he scored the opening goal in an elimination saving Game 5 win on Friday.
PA won without him again to force Game 7, maybe we will get more info or he will be back in.
Oh, and I don't know where to put this. But I really wish the Blues had Lukas Dragicevic, a 2d round Seattle Kraken drafted defenseman on PA, I think he is significantly better than Fiddler. I have seen Fiddler make a lot of bonehead plays this year but he is RHD with size decent skating. Dragicevic has impressed me all year.

Further Stenberg Children nugget: There is a younger brother of Oscar Stenberg who is not even draft eligible until 2026 and he just put up 1+1 in Game 2 of the SHL mens pro playoff semifinals to bring his Frolunda team even 1-1 with Lulea.

Oscar?

But yes, Otto’s little brother missed this year’s draft by 2 weeks so he’ll have to wait a year. But he’s looking like a surefire top-5 pick. Nobody’s going to dethrone McKenna for the top of the 2026 draft but I could see Ivar Stenberg going as high as 2nd overall.

[seattleblue]

I genuinely appreciate the comments from both of you, thanks.

Nugget: I watched some of the EDM-PA Game 6 yesterday. It was a struggle for Jecho.
Mrsic was out. I did not catch what happened, because he scored the opening goal in an elimination saving Game 5 win on Friday.
PA won without him again to force Game 7, maybe we will get more info or he will be back in.
Oh, and I don't know where to put this. But I really wish the Blues had Lukas Dragicevic, a 2d round Seattle Kraken drafted defenseman on PA, I think he is significantly better than Fiddler. I have seen Fiddler make a lot of bonehead plays this year but he is RHD with size decent skating. Dragicevic has impressed me all year.

Further Stenberg Children nugget: There is a younger brother of Oscar Stenberg who is not even draft eligible until 2026 and he just put up 1+1 in Game 2 of the SHL mens pro playoff semifinals to bring his Frolunda team even 1-1 with Lulea.

Oscar?

But yes, Otto’s little brother missed this year’s draft by 2 weeks so he’ll have to wait a year. But he’s looking like a surefire top-5 pick. Nobody’s going to dethrone McKenna for the top of the 2026 draft but I could see Ivar Stenberg going as high as 2nd overall.

When I was typing it, I was like, that is not right. There's a lot of Oscar and Oskar over there in these games lol

[kimzey59]

I genuinely appreciate the comments from both of you, thanks.

Nugget: I watched some of the EDM-PA Game 6 yesterday. It was a struggle for Jecho.
Mrsic was out. I did not catch what happened, because he scored the opening goal in an elimination saving Game 5 win on Friday.
PA won without him again to force Game 7, maybe we will get more info or he will be back in.
Oh, and I don't know where to put this. But I really wish the Blues had Lukas Dragicevic, a 2d round Seattle Kraken drafted defenseman on PA, I think he is significantly better than Fiddler. I have seen Fiddler make a lot of bonehead plays this year but he is RHD with size decent skating. Dragicevic has impressed me all year.

Further Stenberg Children nugget: There is a younger brother of Oscar Stenberg who is not even draft eligible until 2026 and he just put up 1+1 in Game 2 of the SHL mens pro playoff semifinals to bring his Frolunda team even 1-1 with Lulea.

Actually, OTTO has 2 brothers.
Ivar looks like a sure fire top 10 pick in the '26 Draft.
Knut(the defenseman of the family; though I've seen some reports that he's starting to make the transition to forward) isn't eligible until the '27 Draft(he'll be one of the youngest players eligible that year with an Aug. 18 birthday).