Bolduc v neighbours

[DawgDad]

We may have seen something very close to Neighbours offensive upside potential. I don't think we know what Bolduc's upside can be.

[callitwhatyouwant]

neighbours aint going anywhere. he's the 3rd iteration of schwartz and barbashev. This is the 1st time the cap lines up with them being able to get him that 6x6 or something like that contract. He's a perfect middle 6 guy who can play top line in a pinch. Bolduc, is still green but flirted with 20 goals in his first full season after a slow start goal scoring. You could reasonably see how he will find his way to flirting with 30 in the next few years.

These guys are basically non starters for me in trade discussion as of today. Your protected group of forwards as of today are Thomas Holloway Buchy Snuggs Dvorsky Bolduc and after July 1st Kyrou. Those 7 seem to be untouchable and for the right reasons. You have a lot of youth and then Buchy is the sandpaper NTC guy. That is a great start to a NHL top 9. What's the lacking issue? Center. You have 1 3rd line guy in Schenn who might have a year left as a 2nd liner.

Why create problems where you don't have them? In 2-3 years if things get stagnant, then you start moving guys that are younger.

[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...

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.

Oh I'm high on Stancl, but IMO he's a center prospect instead of wing.

[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.

Oh I'm high on Stancl, but IMO he's a center prospect instead of wing.

I’ll be interested to see if he can stick at C. Would be great for the org if he can.

Who do you like more at C longterm - Dean or Stancl?

[seattleblue]

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.

Oh I'm high on Stancl, but IMO he's a center prospect instead of wing.

Stancl has the hockey IQ of a center but needs to get much stronger on faceoffs

[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.

Oh I'm high on Stancl, but IMO he's a center prospect instead of wing.

Stancl has the hockey IQ of a center but needs to get much stronger on faceoffs

True. He won 286 of 601 draws (47.6% win %). I’d expect a 19 yr old in a league of 16-19 yr olds to have a better % if he wants to stick at C. And the top Cs were taking around 1000+ draws on the season. He played a fair amount on the wing too, right?

[zamadoo]

I'd rather move Buch and/or Kyrou than either of these guys. I'm of the opinion that you move proven vets for fair value and keep the system pumping without too much log-jamming or pinning yourself into a corner with moving guys you'd rather not just to fit them on the roster and/or under the cap.

Not sure Buch can be moved. Kyrou likely needs to go at the draft if he's going.

We're on a bit of a time crunch to move Kyrou, who would be worth a nice haul. With Snuggerudd entering the scene, I see Kyrou as much more expendable than before.

Buch seems like the clear option to move on from, but that's up to him.

Also, do Neighbours or Bolduc even return what we need? A top-4 RHD or legit top-6 C? You might need to move them plus our 1st to get a true upgrade at these positions. I'd rather play Neighbours or any prospect on the 4th line than move these guys for a stop-gap center.

Move out some salary, secure Hofer, keep the youth, and continue building from within unless some real hockey trade arises that absolutely benefits the team long-term.

[callitwhatyouwant]

I'd rather move Buch and/or Kyrou than either of these guys. I'm of the opinion that you move proven vets for fair value and keep the system pumping without too much log-jamming or pinning yourself into a corner with moving guys you'd rather not just to fit them on the roster and/or under the cap.

Not sure Buch can be moved. Kyrou likely needs to go at the draft if he's going.

We're on a bit of a time crunch to move Kyrou, who would be worth a nice haul. With Snuggerudd entering the scene, I see Kyrou as much more expendable than before.

Buch seems like the clear option to move on from, but that's up to him.

Also, do Neighbours or Bolduc even return what we need? A top-4 RHD or legit top-6 C? You might need to move them plus our 1st to get a true upgrade at these positions. I'd rather play Neighbours or any prospect on the 4th line than move these guys for a stop-gap center.

Move out some salary, secure Hofer, keep the youth, and continue building from within unless some real hockey trade arises that absolutely benefits the team long-term.

This isn't just to you, but can I ask the question to the board of why? Why does everyone feel the need to move any of the guys being named? We have a hole at center. That is it. Why create more holes? Blues were top 5 in scoring the 2nd half of the season. They clearly missed Holloway in the playoffs but they still put up some goals. Yes some of that came from the defense but the point stands. We have plenty of cap space to make alterations to the lineup to find a middle 6 C for this season. After this season we shed guys like Joseph/Texier/Walker/Sunny etc and decide which young guys take their place and who we bring back.

What is the hurry? You have nearly 12m space after Krugs LTIR is applied. The only REQUIRED positions to be filled are a center position and Hofer. You can drop SunnyD down to 4th line if you wanted and sign a true middle 6 C and resign Hofer. Doesn't that essentially solve all the problems? Yes people like Faksa. If Faksa takes a team friendly deal at around 2-2.5 you still have Hofer probably at 3m. So you have around 6.5-7m to make that last center move. So again, WHY?

[BluesDom]

I'd rather move Buch and/or Kyrou than either of these guys. I'm of the opinion that you move proven vets for fair value and keep the system pumping without too much log-jamming or pinning yourself into a corner with moving guys you'd rather not just to fit them on the roster and/or under the cap.

Not sure Buch can be moved. Kyrou likely needs to go at the draft if he's going.

We're on a bit of a time crunch to move Kyrou, who would be worth a nice haul. With Snuggerudd entering the scene, I see Kyrou as much more expendable than before.

Buch seems like the clear option to move on from, but that's up to him.

Also, do Neighbours or Bolduc even return what we need? A top-4 RHD or legit top-6 C? You might need to move them plus our 1st to get a true upgrade at these positions. I'd rather play Neighbours or any prospect on the 4th line than move these guys for a stop-gap center.

Move out some salary, secure Hofer, keep the youth, and continue building from within unless some real hockey trade arises that absolutely benefits the team long-term.

This isn't just to you, but can I ask the question to the board of why? Why does everyone feel the need to move any of the guys being named? We have a hole at center. That is it. Why create more holes? Blues were top 5 in scoring the 2nd half of the season. They clearly missed Holloway in the playoffs but they still put up some goals. Yes some of that came from the defense but the point stands. We have plenty of cap space to make alterations to the lineup to find a middle 6 C for this season. After this season we shed guys like Joseph/Texier/Walker/Sunny etc and decide which young guys take their place and who we bring back.

What is the hurry? You have nearly 12m space after Krugs LTIR is applied. The only REQUIRED positions to be filled are a center position and Hofer. You can drop SunnyD down to 4th line if you wanted and sign a true middle 6 C and resign Hofer. Doesn't that essentially solve all the problems? Yes people like Faksa. If Faksa takes a team friendly deal at around 2-2.5 you still have Hofer probably at 3m. So you have around 6.5-7m to make that last center move. So again, WHY?

Exactly.

Hold on to your players. Bolduc and Neighbors should be here not traded away. If you do decide to make a hockey trade-wait until Dvorsky and Stenberg are NHL ready and actually producing.(so you can get max value.) We may need a center.

We may not need a center. We may have 4 centers already. For most of next year--it may be Thomas, Schenn, Dvorsky, Sundqvist.
Buchnevich is the guy Id look at trading. (potentially)

[STL fan in MN]

I'd rather move Buch and/or Kyrou than either of these guys. I'm of the opinion that you move proven vets for fair value and keep the system pumping without too much log-jamming or pinning yourself into a corner with moving guys you'd rather not just to fit them on the roster and/or under the cap.

Not sure Buch can be moved. Kyrou likely needs to go at the draft if he's going.

We're on a bit of a time crunch to move Kyrou, who would be worth a nice haul. With Snuggerudd entering the scene, I see Kyrou as much more expendable than before.

Buch seems like the clear option to move on from, but that's up to him.

Also, do Neighbours or Bolduc even return what we need? A top-4 RHD or legit top-6 C? You might need to move them plus our 1st to get a true upgrade at these positions. I'd rather play Neighbours or any prospect on the 4th line than move these guys for a stop-gap center.

Move out some salary, secure Hofer, keep the youth, and continue building from within unless some real hockey trade arises that absolutely benefits the team long-term.

This isn't just to you, but can I ask the question to the board of why? Why does everyone feel the need to move any of the guys being named? We have a hole at center. That is it. Why create more holes? Blues were top 5 in scoring the 2nd half of the season. They clearly missed Holloway in the playoffs but they still put up some goals. Yes some of that came from the defense but the point stands. We have plenty of cap space to make alterations to the lineup to find a middle 6 C for this season. After this season we shed guys like Joseph/Texier/Walker/Sunny etc and decide which young guys take their place and who we bring back.

What is the hurry? You have nearly 12m space after Krugs LTIR is applied. The only REQUIRED positions to be filled are a center position and Hofer. You can drop SunnyD down to 4th line if you wanted and sign a true middle 6 C and resign Hofer. Doesn't that essentially solve all the problems? Yes people like Faksa. If Faksa takes a team friendly deal at around 2-2.5 you still have Hofer probably at 3m. So you have around 6.5-7m to make that last center move. So again, WHY?

This entire discussion is based on the premise of being 1-2 years in the future, not today.

[DawgDad]

I'd rather move Buch and/or Kyrou than either of these guys. I'm of the opinion that you move proven vets for fair value and keep the system pumping without too much log-jamming or pinning yourself into a corner with moving guys you'd rather not just to fit them on the roster and/or under the cap.

Not sure Buch can be moved. Kyrou likely needs to go at the draft if he's going.

We're on a bit of a time crunch to move Kyrou, who would be worth a nice haul. With Snuggerudd entering the scene, I see Kyrou as much more expendable than before.

Buch seems like the clear option to move on from, but that's up to him.

Also, do Neighbours or Bolduc even return what we need? A top-4 RHD or legit top-6 C? You might need to move them plus our 1st to get a true upgrade at these positions. I'd rather play Neighbours or any prospect on the 4th line than move these guys for a stop-gap center.

Move out some salary, secure Hofer, keep the youth, and continue building from within unless some real hockey trade arises that absolutely benefits the team long-term.

If the Blues get to a point in the near future where Neighbours (or any young established top-9 player) is bumped to the 4th line someone absolutely needs to be traded. That would be horrible roster management.

The Blues have arrived at the point where the specific needs of the NHL team will be the primary concern in roster management. This is a team that can and should be focused on winning playoff series (plural). It's no longer good enough for a young prospect or player to rely on their talent, they need to fill specific team needs, too, to make the team. In that context there will always be a place for some veteran role players, particularly on the bottom lines and pairs and special teams.

So yes, whenever a trade can be made to fill needs and improve the team it likely needs to be done.

[Pierre McGuire]

Can't be scared to make moves...especially if there is a need somewhere else.

[LGB73]

2 guys capable of routinely scoring 20+ and can play physically. I'd rather trade the prospects pushing for space than these guys.

[dhsux]

neighbours aint going anywhere. he's the 3rd iteration of schwartz and barbashev. This is the 1st time the cap lines up with them being able to get him that 6x6 or something like that contract. He's a perfect middle 6 guy who can play top line in a pinch. Bolduc, is still green but flirted with 20 goals in his first full season after a slow start goal scoring. You could reasonably see how he will find his way to flirting with 30 in the next few years.

These guys are basically non starters for me in trade discussion as of today. Your protected group of forwards as of today are Thomas Holloway Buchy Snuggs Dvorsky Bolduc and after July 1st Kyrou. Those 7 seem to be untouchable and for the right reasons. You have a lot of youth and then Buchy is the sandpaper NTC guy. That is a great start to a NHL top 9. What's the lacking issue? Center. You have 1 3rd line guy in Schenn who might have a year left as a 2nd liner.

Why create problems where you don't have them? In 2-3 years if things get stagnant, then you start moving guys that are younger.

Yup I agree and as Minnesota said if the right deal comes up move the prospects if you can can before the sure bets of Jake and Zach.

All seem to agree on Neighbors value to this franchise.

Personally as far as Bolduc goes I think he could, if somehow earn the ice time, hit 40 goals. His history says so and his 200' play this past season was pretty dang good.

Both should be considered center pieces at this time.

[bluetunehead]

I really liked what we saw from both of these guys, and we have at least this coming season before we probably run into any sort of jam at wing. It'll be a good problem to have. I personally see more offensive upside from Bolduc but Neighbours just seems like a glue guy who you're going to want in the lineup.

[Cahokanut]

There's not a doubt the team goes for Neighbours.

Personally I keep both. There is absolutely no reason to get rid of either in order to better another position, with another, different, Old Guy.---None.

If I was to choose. I keep Bolduc. I look at which player is more likely to come along, and which player is one of a few. There's three Neighbours on every team, with various skill level. Who all have similar games.
Neighbours has been given the bestest of all opportunities. With so much pp time, and the teams best linemates. And has yet to level up.
Bolduc hasn't had those top of the hill advantages. He has been made to change a lot of his game, and doesn't seem to have the best relationship with management (that's what I see)
But his skill has shown through.
With proper game plan, plays and coaching. Bolduc can hit 50goals. Neighbours tops out as a cup contenders third liner.

Unless as young and as good talent comes back. Neither would be good to trade.
We do have plenty of "hockey trade" vets , third/fourth line hard workers, over seasoned goalies and a first in the draft for any upgrade management feels is needed.