Who to pair with Mailloux?

[Blueston]

Lindstein could be the 2LD…for Springfield.

I’m about as big of a Lindstein supporter as you’re going to find on this board but he just isn’t ready yet. I expect his main issue in the AHL this season will be him learning how to handle bigger, stronger forwards in front of the net and in the corners.

He’s quite ahead of the curve in terms of his defensive play, hockey sense, decision making etc but he’s still going to need a year or two to bulk up his body to be able to handle NHL forwards IMO. And adjust to the smaller ice and continue to refine his game.

Also, where the heck did Fowler and Faulk go in your proposed pairings??!

To me, the obvious top-4 would be:

Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk

That’s pretty much leave Tucker-Mailloux as the 3rd pairing with Kessel as the likely #7 guy.

That said, I feel pretty uneasy with a Tucker-Mailloux pairing. Tucker’s a poor skater, makes plenty of defensive miscues of his own and neither is very experienced. For them to break Mailloux into the league, he could ideally use a bit more experienced partner.

But playing Mailloux with either Fowler or Broberg likely either underutilizes one of those lefties, or overutilizes and thus overexposes Mailloux.

So maybe they could sign some cheap vet that’s still sitting out there as a UFA? Or make a minor trade for one if there’s a team that ends up with too many d-men mid-way through camp or something?

I’d feel more comfortable if the D looked something like this:

Fowler-Parayko
Broberg-Faulk
Experienced vet making ~ $1M-Mailloux
Tucker

Last season, we had 11 d-men play games for the Blues. We lack depth on D now. Could really use a cheap depth vet signing IMO.

Tucker with Mailleux scares me too. Could put Fowler with him if we add Byron to play with Parayko. Tucker as 7th D.

[DawgDad]

Barring trades and waiver signings it looks like 3LD is between Tucker and Corey Schueneman, with Kessel providing depth at RD. People may miss Ryan Suter and Nick Leddy. As time marches forward it appears there will be injections of inexperience on the back end, vs the steady 1000-gamers we've gotten used to. Also, will Tucker will be ready to go Day 1?

[seattleblue]

from the Armstrong interview with NHL tonight it sure sounded like "Broberg-Mailloux growing together as a pair" is a concept he has in mind

I’m about as big of a Lindstein supporter as you’re going to find on this board

listen buddy ...

[leedog68]

I think one of the vets will be brought in on PTO to try to beat out Kessel for 7D. They are no longer afraid of losing him to waivers. Especially right then when everyone is trying to send a tweener down without losing him.

[STL fan in MN]

from the Armstrong interview with NHL tonight it sure sounded like "Broberg-Mailloux growing together as a pair" is a concept he has in mind

I’m about as big of a Lindstein supporter as you’re going to find on this board

listen buddy ...

Yeah, I heard that too. I just don’t see Mailloux ready for 2nd pairing minutes with Broberg yet. Or that it would make sense to play Broberg on the 3rd pairing. But maybe they can make those 2 a pairing and Broberg can get some additional minutes vis special teams and additional 5 on 5 shifts with Faulk.

Lol on the Lindstein part though. Did you have Lindstein relatively high on your draft board in 2023 and literally jumped in happy surprise when the Blues actually took him? Because I was lol. Glad you see what he can bring too though.

[seattleblue]

from the Armstrong interview with NHL tonight it sure sounded like "Broberg-Mailloux growing together as a pair" is a concept he has in mind

I’m about as big of a Lindstein supporter as you’re going to find on this board

listen buddy ...

Yeah, I heard that too. I just don’t see Mailloux ready for 2nd pairing minutes with Broberg yet. Or that it would make sense to play Broberg on the 3rd pairing. But maybe they can make those 2 a pairing and Broberg can get some additional minutes vis special teams and additional 5 on 5 shifts with Faulk.

Lol on the Lindstein part though. Did you have Lindstein relatively high on your draft board in 2023 and literally jumped in happy surprise when the Blues actually took him? Because I was lol. Glad you see what he can bring too though.

purely joking. of course lindstein is yours just like carbonneau is mine

[STL fan in MN]

from the Armstrong interview with NHL tonight it sure sounded like "Broberg-Mailloux growing together as a pair" is a concept he has in mind

I’m about as big of a Lindstein supporter as you’re going to find on this board

listen buddy ...

Yeah, I heard that too. I just don’t see Mailloux ready for 2nd pairing minutes with Broberg yet. Or that it would make sense to play Broberg on the 3rd pairing. But maybe they can make those 2 a pairing and Broberg can get some additional minutes vis special teams and additional 5 on 5 shifts with Faulk.

Lol on the Lindstein part though. Did you have Lindstein relatively high on your draft board in 2023 and literally jumped in happy surprise when the Blues actually took him? Because I was lol. Glad you see what he can bring too though.

purely joking. of course lindstein is yours just like carbonneau is mine

Yes, of course.

[Old_Goat]

A lot of it is that there is no longer a high degree of satisfaction with the consistency of Faulk's play. He is a RHD, so there is that. But if we could get a fairly solid 2nd or 3rd-pairing, experienced LHD with a good expectation of two years service at a good value, then Fowler could probable play the offside. Tucker is okay, but he would be best paired with an experienced D-man as also will Mailloux. You could say that Leddy was that, but again his pay issue and the concerns about his recent injury issue made moving him the right move.
And again, then how would we dispose of Faulk and at least get something in return?
Kessel just doesn't seem to really be more than an extra.

Broberg-Parayko
Tucker-Fowler
New Vet D-Mailloux
Schueneman/Kessel/??

Looks like we still need another RHD! Shoot!! Then maybe...

Broberg-Parayko
Fowler-Mailloux
Tucker-Faulk
Schueneman/Kessel/??

The magnifying glass is on Faulk.