Bolduc v neighbours

[Younghopp1991]

With the crowded top 9 forward group we have the next couple years snd s log jam of LH wingers do you think one is packaged over the next year to help orchestrate a deal for a 2c, RD or RW?

First off i am big fans of both players. We have a lot of forwards funneling in over the next 1-1.5 years. But between buch, thomas, snuggerud, holloway, schenn, kyrou, neighbours, dvorsky and bolduc. Then you have otto coming, dylan peterson, stancl, pekarcik, kaskiamaki(sp?) dean… if i missed someone feel free to add. Also assuming holloway is extended.

In order to fill needs that we cant through free agency with prices likely sky high nor the draft due to looking for immediate results, do you think one of them could be a trade chip? Who would you rather keep? Who do they keep? Im just having a little fun thinking into the future but it does sound logical to me. Jake is about due for his post bridge deal.

[STL fan in MN]

I can give you a solid maybe.

But left-shot wingers is what we have a ton of so yes, it would make sense that if we were to make deals over the next couple years that it would make sense to trade from our area of strength. Perhaps in a year or two someone like Stenberg or Kaskimaki would be ready for a 3LW role and it’d make one of these guys expendable. Not that I would want to trade them but when you have a surplus, you can use that to bolster areas of need.

The simple fact is that we simply don’t have room for all of our current wingers and winger prospects. Some will have to go. Some of the prospects will just not make it but I bet 2-3 of them end up NHL caliber. So whether they help us or we use them as trade chips and they have good careers elsewhere, I guess we’ll see.

So it might be one of the prospects we trade instead of one of Bolduc/Neighbours. But of those two, I’d probably try to keep Neighbours. He’s more of a glue guy IMO. But Bolduc has just one year under his belt so ask me in a year and I might have a different answer.

[Younghopp1991]

I can give you a solid maybe.

But left-shot wingers is what we have a ton of so yes, it would make sense that if we were to make deals over the next couple years that it would make sense to trade from our area of strength. Perhaps in a year or two someone like Stenberg or Kaskimaki would be ready for a 3LW role and it’d make one of these guys expendable. Not that I would want to trade them but when you have a surplus, you can use that to bolster areas of need.

The simple fact is that we simply don’t have room for all of our current wingers and winger prospects. Some will have to go. Some of the prospects will just not make it but I bet 2-3 of them end up NHL caliber. So whether they help us or we use them as trade chips and they have good careers elsewhere, I guess we’ll see.

So it might be one of the prospects we trade instead of one of Bolduc/Neighbours. But of those two, I’d probably try to keep Neighbours. He’s more of a glue guy IMO. But Bolduc has just one year under his belt so ask me in a year and I might have a different answer.

Good answer. I guess this is a good problem to have. It just got me thinking that if we sign a 2 or 3c this offseason for more thsn 1 season, then there is a likely chance you have neighbours or schenn on the 4th line. This season is going to answer a lot of questions. Thanks for the reply

[moose-and-squirrel]

man, I wouldn't wanna trade either of these guys

Neighbors is Bennet-ish and Bolduc could turn into a regular sniper

[Younghopp1991]

man, I wouldn't wanna trade either of these guys

Neighbors is Bennet-ish and Bolduc could turn into a regular sniper

I dont want to trade either. Im just looking at what other teams may want. Cheap, nhl proven, gamers. You have to give to get. If you package one of them and a 1st you are destined to get some good offers. I cant see the blues without neighbours, but with the way it’s trending, neighbours could be starting on your 4th line once dvorsky becomes a regular. It could be the season after next, it could be mid next season or even the start. Management already said dvorsky will be here when he locks down a top 9 spot.

[STL fan in MN]

I can give you a solid maybe.

But left-shot wingers is what we have a ton of so yes, it would make sense that if we were to make deals over the next couple years that it would make sense to trade from our area of strength. Perhaps in a year or two someone like Stenberg or Kaskimaki would be ready for a 3LW role and it’d make one of these guys expendable. Not that I would want to trade them but when you have a surplus, you can use that to bolster areas of need.

The simple fact is that we simply don’t have room for all of our current wingers and winger prospects. Some will have to go. Some of the prospects will just not make it but I bet 2-3 of them end up NHL caliber. So whether they help us or we use them as trade chips and they have good careers elsewhere, I guess we’ll see.

So it might be one of the prospects we trade instead of one of Bolduc/Neighbours. But of those two, I’d probably try to keep Neighbours. He’s more of a glue guy IMO. But Bolduc has just one year under his belt so ask me in a year and I might have a different answer.

Good answer. I guess this is a good problem to have. It just got me thinking that if we sign a 2 or 3c this offseason for more thsn 1 season, then there is a likely chance you have neighbours or schenn on the 4th line. This season is going to answer a lot of questions. Thanks for the reply

Yeah, those guys just don’t belong on a 4th line. Maybe one day Schenn deteriorates to where he’s a 4th liner in the way Steen was his last year but he’s not there yet IMO.

But it’s the sort of problems GMs love to have - too many good players and not enough spots for them all. But there’s also always injures so it’s good to have depth. But in the end, if it leads to a situation where you can trade a player from an area of strength for a player in an area of weakness, then great. Or you can trade 2 good players/prospects/picks for 1 really good player. Those are the sorts of moves I’d like to see over the next 2-3 years as this team hopefully moves back into Cup contention.

[Hockey Pete]

Good topic, as I also feel something has to change with all of he LH'ed wingers we have. With regards to these two, I don't see anything happening until AFTER next season (if at all) as Zach had a very successful sophomore season in a middle-six role (played strong in all three zones, physical, won battles, etc...), so the Blues are wanting to see if he can take another step. We need someone to flat-out win that 2nd LW spot...

Regarding the crowded LW future, we have four kids that should easily be pushing for NHL time in the near future. Dalibor could end up at center, but IMO he'll probably land on wing to start off (and he's played a lot of RW, so there's that as well). Kaskimaki, Stenberg and now Pekarcik all have middle-six written all over them, some more of a 3rd LW than a 2nd LW, but all bring some solid capabilities.

My take, the organization rides this season to see what they have, at both levels. Now saying that, if Army see's the right deal he WILL pull the trigger, who we trade depends on who we're getting back.

Just my 2 cents...

[Phil McCrakin]

man, I wouldn't wanna trade either of these guys

Neighbors is Bennet-ish and Bolduc could turn into a regular sniper

Tough call. Neighbours has grit but Bolduc shows he has some dog in him also. Wait another year to get a good read on Bolduc. Both show solid 3rd line dynamics but looks like Bolduc can move up in lineup if needed. Kyrou, Buch, Holloway, Neighbours, Bolduc Snuggerud and Torpo. Looks good!

[STL fan in MN]

Good topic, as I also feel something has to change with all of he LH'ed wingers we have. With regards to these two, I don't see anything happening until AFTER next season (if at all) as Zach had a very successful sophomore season in a middle-six role (played strong in all three zones, physical, won battles, etc...), so the Blues are wanting to see if he can take another step. We need someone to flat-out win that 2nd LW spot...

Regarding the crowded LW future, we have four kids that should easily be pushing for NHL time in the near future. Dalibor could end up at center, but IMO he'll probably land on wing to start off (and he's played a lot of RW, so there's that as well). Kaskimaki, Stenberg and now Pekarcik all have middle-six written all over them, some more of a 3rd LW than a 2nd LW, but all bring some solid capabilities.

My take, the organization rides this season to see what they have, at both levels. Now saying that, if Army see's the right deal he WILL pull the trigger, who we trade depends on who we're getting back.

Just my 2 cents...

Agreed any moves there are likely after another season as guys line Stenberg and Kaskimaki likely just aren’t ready to push the issue yet. Only exception I can think of is if by midseason Snuggerud is showing he’s ready, maybe he then makes someone expendable. But also not counting on that.

And if we’re going to count Pekarcik I’d also count Stancl. Excited to see how both look in Springfield next season. And if we’re going to go farther down the depth chart, Robertsson, Mrsic and Kos are left shooting wingers too…although Robertsson seems to prefer to play the right side.

[Younghopp1991]

Good topic, as I also feel something has to change with all of he LH'ed wingers we have. With regards to these two, I don't see anything happening until AFTER next season (if at all) as Zach had a very successful sophomore season in a middle-six role (played strong in all three zones, physical, won battles, etc...), so the Blues are wanting to see if he can take another step. We need someone to flat-out win that 2nd LW spot...

Regarding the crowded LW future, we have four kids that should easily be pushing for NHL time in the near future. Dalibor could end up at center, but IMO he'll probably land on wing to start off (and he's played a lot of RW, so there's that as well). Kaskimaki, Stenberg and now Pekarcik all have middle-six written all over them, some more of a 3rd LW than a 2nd LW, but all bring some solid capabilities.

My take, the organization rides this season to see what they have, at both levels. Now saying that, if Army see's the right deal he WILL pull the trigger, who we trade depends on who we're getting back.

Just my 2 cents...

Thanks for the input. Working nights this week so my sleep is all screwed up, so im deep diving the future and possibilities. And i agree that this is not a decision to be made soon. Just a way early look into one of our potential storylines. The cap is going up about 25m from today to the start of the 27-28 season. For sake of seeing nembers that is almost 5m per player on a 23 man roster. This and next free agency(and the one after) are going to get crazy. We’ve already discussed this years class. Next year has some exciting players that will be re-signed or price themselves from us. Just seems like a trade is our best realistic option.

[seattleblue]

Jake Neighbours is a franchise Blue in my mind. I want to win or lose with that guy. Core mainstay piece. Character of an NHL captain. That is rare. You keep a player like that.

Bolduc when he cleans up his dumb aggression penalties and settles into a strong line is likely to be a very good pro, but if it was a give to get situation and he was the give and the get was the right get ... you do have to give to get and the Blues do have to make one of those major trades in the next 12-24 months IMO. There are other options besides Bolduc though, but in terms of trade appeal he is in the window of "desired young forward" right now.

[Frank Barone]

Army recently addressed this problem by saying he is looking forward to the competition for spots on the NHL roster, in practice, in games and on the AHL roster. It should make everyone better. I don't think there is a need to trade any of these guys, including the prospects, anytime soon.

I'd only consider trading guys if/when they become so good that their rising salaries create cap problems that must be addressed. Then you make trades to balance the roster.

[Frank Barone]

Jake Neighbours is a franchise Blue in my mind. I want to win or lose with that guy. Core mainstay piece. Character of an NHL captain. That is rare. You keep a player like that.

Bolduc when he cleans up his dumb aggression penalties and settles into a strong line is likely to be a very good pro, but if it was a give to get situation and he was the give and the get was the right get ... you do have to give to get and the Blues do have to make one of those major trades in the next 12-24 months IMO. There are other options besides Bolduc though, but in terms of trade appeal he is in the window of "desired young forward" right now.

Agree on Neighbours. He reminds me of a young Rod Brind'Amour. Of all the insane trades in Blues history, trading Brind'Amour may have been the most insane.

[Younghopp1991]

Jake Neighbours is a franchise Blue in my mind. I want to win or lose with that guy. Core mainstay piece. Character of an NHL captain. That is rare. You keep a player like that.

Bolduc when he cleans up his dumb aggression penalties and settles into a strong line is likely to be a very good pro, but if it was a give to get situation and he was the give and the get was the right get ... you do have to give to get and the Blues do have to make one of those major trades in the next 12-24 months IMO. There are other options besides Bolduc though, but in terms of trade appeal he is in the window of "desired young forward" right now.

Exactly why i chose those two. Jake bleeds blue to his core. Moving him likely upsets the team and chemistry.
Bolduc potentially has the ability to be a top 6 LW that puts up the sexy stats. But those two seem to be what any team would want. Young, cheap talented offensive minded players who go to the dirty areas.

Another thing to note which im sure is common sense to you. Bolduc has the ability to play up with his shot, but between buch and holloway, bolduc is stuck on the 3rd. Neighbours has the ability to play up, but he can play down too. Swiss army knife. Unless we get to a point wherewe can put a playmaking center (high 3c low 2c) then you are really doing bolduc a disservice.

[Harry S Deals]

Yep its hard to believe in just a few short years we are now wondering which prospects from a deep ish pool may not make the cut. We were bemoaning a shallow Blues prospect ranked in the upper 20's just a few years ago. They wont all pan out and some will overachieve it will be great to see this process play out. Not likely this year upcoming but my guess is at some point soon the Blues will hone in on who they think will stick and they may thin the herd in a trade for a need elsewhere. As always these types of trade often sting a bit bc you will see the kid going the other way no doubt have some success

[theograce]

Neighbours is a big part of the room