Bolduc v neighbours

[dhsux]

I think both players should stay on the team. They are both young and are showing they have what it takes to play in this league and play the Blues desired style.

I'd rather see others go before them to be honest.

Agreed. I’d prefer to move Schenn and/or Buchnevich to get the 2C or RD we need.

Schenn has a 15 team NTC that starts July 1 and Buchy has a full NTC. Neighbours and Bolduc have no trade protection.

And again, the idea here would be this would only be an option in a year or two in a theoretical scenario where someone like Stenberg, Kaskimaki, etc is ready to step into the lineup and replace one of these guys. It’d be to move a player from an area of weakness (LW) to an area of strength and/or acquire a better player. So like Bolduc plus another asset for a player better than Bolduc.

I like both of these guys and don’t really want to get rid of either but this is just a theoretical exercise. You have to give to get. And eventually, we’re likely going to have too many wingers and will need to trade some of them.

Yes I agree if the Blues have "too many" wingers of languishing value in Springfield they not just can but need to move them.

But we are talking about who they move.

For me, a Holloway or Broberg or Neighbors or a projected Bolduc are still NOT the kind of players to move to get whatever. Any more than a DD or Snuggeraud is. And I don't think that's LaLa land thinking....I thinks it's prudent and smart and plenty of teams operate similarly. Trade two good winger prospects for a solid RD prospect. Go UFA. Take a chance on another Cam Fowler. Move solid prospects or picks before you move key proven players.

If we are talking Stanley Cup Champion here anytime soon they are going to have to be dam smart and careful in how they go about doing it.

Agree they’re going to have to be smart in the moves they make. But they’ll definitely have to make some moves over the next 2-3 years to get over the hump IMO. Hoping for another ROR type of trade. And it’s a simple fact that established players tend to have more value than unestablished prospects. But if let’s say the Blues are confident Stenberg is ready to be a solid 3LW in 2 years, that’s when someone becomes expendable. Yes, Stenberg himself could be the expendable asset but so too could it be an established winger Stenberg could then replace. It’s all theoretical and would totally depend on what players opposing GMs want from us and are willing to trade to us.

The problem with trading prospects is sometimes you’ll end up trading away a Tage Thompson. I don’t regret the ROR trade (it brought us a Cup!) but TT would sure look good here now.

Well yes you take that risk but the suitor team is taking even more really. They are giving up a pretty much certainty (ROR) for what is a player prospect who is/was not. (TT)

Even as it worked out luckily for both teams, this is precisely the trade I am recommending versus giving up a good known quantity as the players mentioned here.

I'm saying this for really important needs, such as C and D, and not stop gap but long term acquisition.

[TAFKAP]

If I absolutely had to choose to get a RD or 2C, I'd choose Bolduc. That kid is going to be somebody, but, there is something about Neighbours that screams "Life Long Blue". I can't tell you why, I just do.

[dhsux]

If I absolutely had to choose to get a RD or 2C, I'd choose Bolduc. That kid is going to be somebody, but, there is something about Neighbours that screams "Life Long Blue". I can't tell you why, I just do.

Give Bolduc the chance and you will not differentiate.

Blues can and should have both. There's no reason to choose!