Are we better?

Join the discussion about the Blues.

[Complete Blues coverage on STLtoday.com]

Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Blues Talk Moderators

MizTruBlueLuvzU
Forum User
Posts: 247
Joined: 01 Jun 2024 21:43 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by MizTruBlueLuvzU »

theograce wrote: 01 Jul 2025 18:49 pm
hockey jedi wrote: 01 Jul 2025 18:47 pm The Blues scored 254 goals last year and gave up 233. The goal differential was 21. I believe that we will significantly improve in all three areas as a result of the changes to the roster. We have a better more balanced team that will make the playoffs AND we have a great group of prospects that can season properly. I will miss Bolduc, but I missed Robbie Fabbri and Tage Thompson too.
That would have very little do with this trade
Lol, then tage scored 50 lmaoo. You'll get your dump and Chase and you'll [censored] like it
hockey jedi
Forum User
Posts: 917
Joined: 24 May 2024 17:50 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by hockey jedi »

MizTruBlueLuvzU wrote: 01 Jul 2025 21:01 pm
theograce wrote: 01 Jul 2025 18:49 pm
hockey jedi wrote: 01 Jul 2025 18:47 pm The Blues scored 254 goals last year and gave up 233. The goal differential was 21. I believe that we will significantly improve in all three areas as a result of the changes to the roster. We have a better more balanced team that will make the playoffs AND we have a great group of prospects that can season properly. I will miss Bolduc, but I missed Robbie Fabbri and Tage Thompson too.
That would have very little do with this trade
Lol, then tage scored 50 lmaoo. You'll get your dump and Chase and you'll [censored] like it
We had to trade Tage to get a Cup. Bergy and Sobotka wouldn't have been enough to get ROR. Without ROR, we don't win the Cup. lmaoolollmaoollmaoo
Bluesfan1978
Forum User
Posts: 703
Joined: 17 Jan 2021 16:44 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by Bluesfan1978 »

Yes I think so. Suter makes them better.
SRV1990
Forum User
Posts: 458
Joined: 28 May 2024 12:10 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by SRV1990 »

Yes we are
sdaltons
Forum User
Posts: 2843
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:45 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by sdaltons »

Wait so reacting after 4 hours of offseason might not be the best approach? You don't say!
BluesBirdsBuds
Forum User
Posts: 73
Joined: 24 May 2024 09:22 am

Re: Are we better?

Post by BluesBirdsBuds »

From an additions standpoint, I’d say the improvements are marginal at best.

The most meaningful improvement will likely (and hopefully) come from the internal growth of our young players—Snuggerud, Dvorsky, Holloway, Broberg, Mailloux, Neighbours, and Hofer. If a few of them can take a real step forward, that could have a bigger impact than any outside addition.

Suter is a solid player and clearly an upgrade over Sundqvist at 3C, but I think he’s being a bit overrated. Does he make us better? Slightly, maybe. He’s a good role player especially on the PK but he’s not this perennial 20 goal scorer I think some are mistaking him for. Also he’s not that physical or impressive on the faceoff dots either.

But overall considering each addition/subtraction, I think we've taken a step back in the faceoff circle, lost some physicality, and we're less experienced on the back end.

Also I don’t want to overstate Faksa’s impact, but that fourth line chemistry was a major factor in a lot of games last season especially during the win streak and postseason. Hopefully Bjugstad can replicate some of that.

If Dvorsky can match Bolduc’s production, that would be a big win. But Bolduc brought also brought more physicality and competitiveness than expected—can Dvorsky seize the opportunity and force his way into a regular role?

R. Suter was a great stopgap during the injury stretch, and Leddy handled top-four minutes regularly. I’d like to see them bring in an experienced #7 defenseman who can step in and provide stability when injuries inevitably hit.

So yeah are we better? Maybe marginally, but the other teams in the central are trying to improve as well. Utahs improved, and we can’t count on Chicago and Nashville to be AS bad as they were. Minnesota hasn’t done much but the top 3 (Dallas, Colorado, and Winnipeg) should be just as good.

The young players will have to take a further step forward if this team is expected to push deeper into the postseason. Because I don’t think the additions move the needle that much if I’m being honest.
Whatashame
Forum User
Posts: 3297
Joined: 24 May 2018 20:27 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by Whatashame »

So much of this is about chemistry. Our talent may be slightly better but how does Monty put this team together. That will be the deciding factor. Who knows, maybe we aren’t done yet.
Harry S Deals
Forum User
Posts: 1498
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:25 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by Harry S Deals »

Mailloux is a young dman Blues investment may not be realized till his 100 th ish game. Suter of course makes them better down the middle. Bjugstad probably also is an upgrade over Sunny
rezero
Forum User
Posts: 1762
Joined: 23 May 2024 18:24 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by rezero »

Basically swapped Suter for Bolduc (probably a wash, but could be worse off) and Leddy for Mailloux (could be good if Mailloux learns to play D). Probably could have signed Faskta with Suter money, so you could say we also swapped Faskta for Bjugstad (which is probably a negative).

Before
Buch-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Bolduc-Sunny-Neighbors
Torpochenko-????-Joesph

Parayko-Fowler
Broberg-Faulk
Tucker-Leddy

After
Buch-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbors -Suter-Sunny
Torpochenko-Bjudstad-Joesph

Parayko-Fowler
Broberg-Faulk
Tucker-Mailloux
Harry S Deals
Forum User
Posts: 1498
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:25 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by Harry S Deals »

rezero wrote: 02 Jul 2025 19:10 pm Basically swapped Suter for Bolduc (probably a wash, but could be worse off) and Leddy for Mailloux (could also be a negative).

Before
Buch-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Bolduc-Sunny-Neighbors
Torpochenko-????-Joesph

Parayko-Fowler
Broberg-Faulk
Tucker-Leddy

After
Buch-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbors -Suter-Sunny
Torpochenko-Bjudstad-Joesph

Parayko-Fowler
Broberg-Faulk
Tucker-Mailloux
I think Walker plays in could see Torop on the 3rd line too
rezero
Forum User
Posts: 1762
Joined: 23 May 2024 18:24 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by rezero »

Harry S Deals wrote: 02 Jul 2025 19:14 pm
rezero wrote: 02 Jul 2025 19:10 pm Basically swapped Suter for Bolduc (probably a wash, but could be worse off) and Leddy for Mailloux (could also be a negative).

Before
Buch-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Bolduc-Sunny-Neighbors
Torpochenko-????-Joesph

Parayko-Fowler
Broberg-Faulk
Tucker-Leddy

After
Buch-Thomas-Snuggerud
Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbors -Suter-Sunny
Torpochenko-Bjudstad-Joesph

Parayko-Fowler
Broberg-Faulk
Tucker-Mailloux
I think Walker plays in could see Torop on the 3rd line too
Agree. There was times last year when Torpochenko looked like 2nd or 3rd line material. Would love to see that more often, plus monte loves Walker.
b-a-a-a-rclay
Forum User
Posts: 507
Joined: 30 Jun 2024 08:51 am

Re: Are we better?

Post by b-a-a-a-rclay »

Tucker had surpassed R. Suter by the playoffs. Tucker should take another step this season. He was a good 3rd pairing guy by the end of the year.
Broberg should continue to grow his game.
Mailloux ... we'll see. He should improve although it probably won't be linear ... but improve throughout and he should be at least as good as the mixed bunch of 3rd pairing RD from last year. We tried Kessel, POJ, and others.
Pius Suter should be an upgrade on Sunny at 3C.
Bjugstad compared to Faksa ... pretty even if Bjugstad develops some chemistry with Toro and Walker.
Losing Bolduc stings badly, but the internal growth from Holloway, Neighbours, Snuggerud and not wasting time with the "Buch at center" experiment should help the forward lines.
If a young guy comes up at some point from the AHL (Dvorsky, Kaskimaki, Dean, or Stancl) and adds something ... bonus.
Yep. I'd say the Blues should be better ... especially starting the season with Monty instead of Drew.
blues2112
Forum User
Posts: 3310
Joined: 27 Apr 2018 18:17 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by blues2112 »

Big pieces over the past 12 months? Yes.

Out:
Bolduc
Second
Third

In:
Broberg
Holloway
P. Suter
Maillioux (TBD)
b-a-a-a-rclay
Forum User
Posts: 507
Joined: 30 Jun 2024 08:51 am

Re: Are we better?

Post by b-a-a-a-rclay »

blues2112 wrote: 02 Jul 2025 19:23 pm Big pieces over the past 12 months? Yes.

Out:
Bolduc
Second
Third

In:
Broberg
Holloway
P. Suter
Maillioux (TBD)
If we are talking about last 12 months gotta add IN Fowler (although he won't probably be super long term).
Sophisticated Shoes
Forum User
Posts: 87
Joined: 05 Jun 2024 11:23 am

Re: Are we better?

Post by Sophisticated Shoes »

Are we better? The organization from top to bottom is definitely better. Is the team better than this past year, which I believe is your real question. I'd say this team is ahead of last year's team as we'll start the season with Snuggerud, Fowler, Monty, and a #3C from day one. We're sure to miss Bolduc at times and we may have to experience growing pains with Mailloux, but definitely, this team projects to be a better team at the start of the season than last years team. Also, this team, after the 2nd half last year, started to believe, something they weren't doing until after the 4 Nations. This should be a huge confidence booster and we might not be finished yet.
blues2112
Forum User
Posts: 3310
Joined: 27 Apr 2018 18:17 pm

Re: Are we better?

Post by blues2112 »

b-a-a-a-rclay wrote: 02 Jul 2025 19:30 pm
blues2112 wrote: 02 Jul 2025 19:23 pm Big pieces over the past 12 months? Yes.

Out:
Bolduc
Second
Third

In:
Broberg
Holloway
P. Suter
Maillioux (TBD)
If we are talking about last 12 months gotta add IN Fowler (although he won't probably be super long term).
Great point! (My brain was stuck on off-season departures and arrivals.)
Post Reply