Blues Ranked 20th in offseason moves

[a smell of green grass]

The Times writer DID put in a huge caveat: if Mailloux fulfills the same potential Bolduc already has, the Blues will “zoom up the rankings”. For that to happen, he’ll need to be far less of a defensive liability than he’s shown so far. Then again, that’s EXACTLY what Bolduc has done.

Did anybody notice the Blues "zoom up the rankings" after we lost Petro, ROR, Tarasenko, Barbashev, etc.?

When our guys leave, the only replacement is a vacuum sound. Since Petro left, the vacuum cleaner has been running for 5 years straight.

The rankings are for the off-season moves THIS year. I’m just quoting from the article you posted. I’d be curious to see what the rankings were last season. Broberg, Holloway, and Suter exceeded expectations. Faksa was what was expected. The Josephs and Texia were low risks that didn’t pan out.

Agree. Last year's rankings had to be good if the timing included the offer sheets.

I hope that Mailloux turns out to be great. He has optimum size and talent. The only question is his hockey smarts.

Mailloux still lacks any significant NHL experience, Blues fans will need to be patient with him. Indications are, though, he should put up some points. Lighting up the scoreboard on the PP can engender a lot of patience.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Bolduc was starting to do. Can Mailloux match that production? If his turnovers and mistakes on the blue line that lead to goals outnumber his PP points, that patience will disappear. 2024-25 ended with the Blues 2 seconds away from defeating the President’s Cup winners. Fans are expecting this team to take things to the next level, not another year of a retool. Mailloux needs to bring the goods THIS year. Again, getting back to the OP, the Blues WILL zoom up the rankings of off-season moves if he does. If he doesn’t, that #20 ranking will be warranted and maybe should be lower.

I don't expect greatness the first year for Mailloux. Actually, I see a lot of rough times ahead, but those are expected from a young defenseman.
I liked Bolduc...but he was a 3rd line wing on this team and would not have been signed after this season anyway.
People judging this trade after this upcoming season is short sided and idiotic.

The problem with saying...."but he was a 3rd line winger on this team..." is that the Blues do not have a typical NHL lineup. The Blues have no marquis Line 1 talent. We have a collection of middle liners. And among those middle liners, we have suspects likely going downhill (Buchnevich, Kyrou) and one unproven (Snuggerud).
Bolduc (and Holloway) have the unique characteristic of being on the way up. We likely have not seen their best.

Trade Summary:
Montreal got a Winger that appeared on his way up.
St Louis got the least of Montreal's spillover at RHD. STL Louis was desperate because an elite RHD was not ever going to happen via the draft.
St Louis got what desperate shoppers get.

Wow, keep up the optimism-------NOT!

Sorry. I want a TOP5 pick, and it's not happening. Then I see the Blues making moves (Mailloux) to accomplish via trades what they can't do in the draft, and it sends me deep into po'd land.

[Red7]

Let's not forget that it is impossible to judge this trade at its surface at this moment. The reason being the positions they play. As a forward, Bolduc doesn't have to be as responsible defensively - and he was called out on it a few times this past season. Mailloux - as a defenseman - will always be under the microscope. Every errant pass, every missed assignment will be magnified. But this is what happens with young defensemen. It happens to every single one of them.

But from what I've seen of his highlights, Mailloux has some very good offensive skills for a defenseman. He knows when to jump into the play and when it's on the stick, he gets it away quickly. Monty has demonstrated that he wants more of this in the Blues' game.

Come back to me in 3 seasons. This will be one of those trades that will be beneficial to both teams.

What the Blues needed was a defenseman with DEFENSIVE skills.

[wiscrev]

"Sorry. I want a TOP5 pick, and it's not happening. Then I see the Blues making moves (Mailloux) to accomplish via trades what they can't do in the draft, and it sends me deep into po'd land.?

Please stay there!

[DawgDad]

Let's not forget that it is impossible to judge this trade at its surface at this moment. The reason being the positions they play. As a forward, Bolduc doesn't have to be as responsible defensively - and he was called out on it a few times this past season. Mailloux - as a defenseman - will always be under the microscope. Every errant pass, every missed assignment will be magnified. But this is what happens with young defensemen. It happens to every single one of them.

But from what I've seen of his highlights, Mailloux has some very good offensive skills for a defenseman. He knows when to jump into the play and when it's on the stick, he gets it away quickly. Monty has demonstrated that he wants more of this in the Blues' game.

Come back to me in 3 seasons. This will be one of those trades that will be beneficial to both teams.

What the Blues needed was a defenseman with DEFENSIVE skills.

LOL. He's a DEFENSEMAN, he's got defensive skills and potential or he wouldn't have been drafted let alone traded for. Check out his AHL stat line from last season.

It remains to be seen what kind and quality of defenseman he becomes in the NHL. The cup of coffee with the Habs would indicate his offense is ahead of his defense. The young man will suit up and play. Nothing we say will impact what he becomes.

[zamadoo]

Let's not forget that it is impossible to judge this trade at its surface at this moment. The reason being the positions they play. As a forward, Bolduc doesn't have to be as responsible defensively - and he was called out on it a few times this past season. Mailloux - as a defenseman - will always be under the microscope. Every errant pass, every missed assignment will be magnified. But this is what happens with young defensemen. It happens to every single one of them.

But from what I've seen of his highlights, Mailloux has some very good offensive skills for a defenseman. He knows when to jump into the play and when it's on the stick, he gets it away quickly. Monty has demonstrated that he wants more of this in the Blues' game.

Come back to me in 3 seasons. This will be one of those trades that will be beneficial to both teams.

What the Blues needed was a defenseman with DEFENSIVE skills.

LOL. He's a DEFENSEMAN, he's got defensive skills and potential or he wouldn't have been drafted let alone traded for. Check out his AHL stat line from last season.

It remains to be seen what kind and quality of defenseman he becomes in the NHL. The cup of coffee with the Habs would indicate his offense is ahead of his defense. The young man will suit up and play. Nothing we say will impact what he becomes.

Mailloux will make us forget about Bolduc by this time next year. He'll be like a modern RH Chris Pronger @ 22 y/o mixed with Al MacInnis. Bolduc will be like a LH Lee Stempniak mixed with David Perron - heck he might even end up back on the Blues at some point(s) in his career!