Biggest Optimism to Start the Season

[callitwhatyouwant]

I'm really optimistic on the state of the Blues. Just like last year, I am ready for the ride that is the hockey season. I still see us in that 6-10 range but move us more in the 5-9 category. I think playoffs are the expectation, but I don't see us being one of the top teams again. Youth movement in full swing. Multiple fun acquisitions in the off season including the potential RHD we have all been looking for and what some pundits are saying is the steal of the offseason contract value wise in Pius Suter. The Blues are quickly becoming one of the more exciting franchises in hockey when you look long term.

Holloway, Broberg, Snuggy, Mallioux, Neighbours, Thomas, Kyrou, and then factor in the Dvorsky, Dean, Lindstein, Stenberg, Jiricek, Carbonneau. Peterson, Stancl....... Teams dream to be that flush with young players.

The Blues should be extremely optimistic. It's going to take a solid start to see where and which direction should the franchise go. Should they stand pat in the youth movement and let it progress, or do they start moving some young assets and couple in an existing guy to make a big splash trade. This is a fun era to be apart of the Blues.

Reckless Optimism!!!

[DawgDad]

I just responded to this in effect in the "This week's Jordan Kyrou rumor" thread. The Blues should rightly hold expectations of making the playoffs this season. Short of going "all-in" we should see them respond accordingly. The drive is for consistent good hockey, not a shirt show followed by a record breaking win streak. Young players are going to be working hard to claim ice time. Veterans are going to be playing like capable seasoned veterans. It's a good mix with fewer holes than they had early last season. Frankly, anything under 100 points would be disappointing, not that that will be easy.

[dhsux]

I just responded to this in effect in the "This week's Jordan Kyrou rumor" thread. The Blues should rightly hold expectations of making the playoffs this season. Short of going "all-in" we should see them respond accordingly. The drive is for consistent good hockey, not a shirt show followed by a record breaking win streak. Young players are going to be working hard to claim ice time. Veterans are going to be playing like capable seasoned veterans. It's a good mix with fewer holes than they had early last season. Frankly, anything under 100 points would be disappointing, not that that will be easy.

If they can get goal production up some 40 plus over last year they will be right there and then some.

Sounds like a lot, lost 20 with Zach too, but looking it over this roster certainly has it in them to do just that.

[callitwhatyouwant]

I just responded to this in effect in the "This week's Jordan Kyrou rumor" thread. The Blues should rightly hold expectations of making the playoffs this season. Short of going "all-in" we should see them respond accordingly. The drive is for consistent good hockey, not a shirt show followed by a record breaking win streak. Young players are going to be working hard to claim ice time. Veterans are going to be playing like capable seasoned veterans. It's a good mix with fewer holes than they had early last season. Frankly, anything under 100 points would be disappointing, not that that will be easy.

If they can get goal production up some 40 plus over last year they will be right there and then some.

Sounds like a lot, lost 20 with Zach too, but looking it over this roster certainly has it in them to do just that.

I'm looking for Torpedo to have 25 points next year. I'd love for that guy to figure his game out and live around the 30 point contribution margin. I think playing with Walker and Faksa totally limited his game to them having to play 1 way. Torpedo might not be the best puck handler of all time but his size and speed with average handles I think was held back by those other 2 being Time of possession kind of guys. WIll be interesting to see how the lines shake out. I think losing Faksa was a loss, but really only on the dot. I think Sunny getting to move down the lineup creates interesting dynamics. It will be interesting to see how they use guys like Bjugstad. Is he going to be 4th line center or is he going to be a wing?

You could have a pretty violent line if its comprised of Bjug Sunny Torpedo. You get length with Torpedo and Bjug, you get the Nasty from sunny and Torpedo, and you get the skill upgrade that Torpedo needed with Bjug. It's going to be very interesting coming out of camp who survives ASSUMING no young guys steal a roster spot. Neighbours is 3rd line with Suter. But who plays that other wing? Skill it up with a young guy or Texier or put Joseph out there? 4th Line is going to be better than last year and last year it was great at what they did.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

I just responded to this in effect in the "This week's Jordan Kyrou rumor" thread. The Blues should rightly hold expectations of making the playoffs this season. Short of going "all-in" we should see them respond accordingly. The drive is for consistent good hockey, not a shirt show followed by a record breaking win streak. Young players are going to be working hard to claim ice time. Veterans are going to be playing like capable seasoned veterans. It's a good mix with fewer holes than they had early last season. Frankly, anything under 100 points would be disappointing, not that that will be easy.

If they can get goal production up some 40 plus over last year they will be right there and then some.

Sounds like a lot, lost 20 with Zach too, but looking it over this roster certainly has it in them to do just that.

I'm looking for Torpedo to have 25 points next year. I'd love for that guy to figure his game out and live around the 30 point contribution margin. I think playing with Walker and Faksa totally limited his game to them having to play 1 way. Torpedo might not be the best puck handler of all time but his size and speed with average handles I think was held back by those other 2 being Time of possession kind of guys. WIll be interesting to see how the lines shake out. I think losing Faksa was a loss, but really only on the dot. I think Sunny getting to move down the lineup creates interesting dynamics. It will be interesting to see how they use guys like Bjugstad. Is he going to be 4th line center or is he going to be a wing?

You could have a pretty violent line if its comprised of Bjug Sunny Torpedo. You get length with Torpedo and Bjug, you get the Nasty from sunny and Torpedo, and you get the skill upgrade that Torpedo needed with Bjug. It's going to be very interesting coming out of camp who survives ASSUMING no young guys steal a roster spot. Neighbours is 3rd line with Suter. But who plays that other wing? Skill it up with a young guy or Texier or put Joseph out there? 4th Line is going to be better than last year and last year it was great at what they did.

The additions of Suter and Bjugstad could signal a reduced role for Sunny. I think it was obvious by the end of the season that he has a lot of miles on that body. I won't be surprised if Sunny is a healthy scratch fairly often when the rest of the projected starters are healthy.

[BalotelliMassive]

I just responded to this in effect in the "This week's Jordan Kyrou rumor" thread. The Blues should rightly hold expectations of making the playoffs this season. Short of going "all-in" we should see them respond accordingly. The drive is for consistent good hockey, not a shirt show followed by a record breaking win streak. Young players are going to be working hard to claim ice time. Veterans are going to be playing like capable seasoned veterans. It's a good mix with fewer holes than they had early last season. Frankly, anything under 100 points would be disappointing, not that that will be easy.

Not going all in when Binnington is playing great would be a big mistake.

[dhsux]

I just responded to this in effect in the "This week's Jordan Kyrou rumor" thread. The Blues should rightly hold expectations of making the playoffs this season. Short of going "all-in" we should see them respond accordingly. The drive is for consistent good hockey, not a shirt show followed by a record breaking win streak. Young players are going to be working hard to claim ice time. Veterans are going to be playing like capable seasoned veterans. It's a good mix with fewer holes than they had early last season. Frankly, anything under 100 points would be disappointing, not that that will be easy.

If they can get goal production up some 40 plus over last year they will be right there and then some.

Sounds like a lot, lost 20 with Zach too, but looking it over this roster certainly has it in them to do just that.

I'm looking for Torpedo to have 25 points next year. I'd love for that guy to figure his game out and live around the 30 point contribution margin. I think playing with Walker and Faksa totally limited his game to them having to play 1 way. Torpedo might not be the best puck handler of all time but his size and speed with average handles I think was held back by those other 2 being Time of possession kind of guys. WIll be interesting to see how the lines shake out. I think losing Faksa was a loss, but really only on the dot. I think Sunny getting to move down the lineup creates interesting dynamics. It will be interesting to see how they use guys like Bjugstad. Is he going to be 4th line center or is he going to be a wing?

You could have a pretty violent line if its comprised of Bjug Sunny Torpedo. You get length with Torpedo and Bjug, you get the Nasty from sunny and Torpedo, and you get the skill upgrade that Torpedo needed with Bjug. It's going to be very interesting coming out of camp who survives ASSUMING no young guys steal a roster spot. Neighbours is 3rd line with Suter. But who plays that other wing? Skill it up with a young guy or Texier or put Joseph out there? 4th Line is going to be better than last year and last year it was great at what they did.

I don't see Walker displaced from that 4th line. Pretty sure Monty agrees.

Anyway, love your thoughts on the bottom 6 and 4 lines will be needed to run up 100 points.

But the Blues need more goal production and the top 9 are the guys who will have to produce most of them to get it there.

RT +5 - 26
JK +4 - 40
Holloway + 6 - 32
Buch +6 - 26
Schenn +3 -21
Jake +6 - 28
Snugg + 15 - 15
Suter +25 - +25

Saad -7
Bolduc -19

Net + 43
Total goals 293 versus 250 last year.

Then there are bumps in the road, role players, injuries, surprise prospects and the lower roster shining........but this all seems doable to me taking everything into account.

[JoshInFenton]

293 would be tops in the league type numbers. I don't really see it.

I think +6 goals for and -13 to -18 goals against is a very realistic. getting to 260 and to 220 in those totals would make us more in line with Colorado and close to dallas in terms of their differentials last year

the physical style of hockey that they can play to is not something they can endure for a whole season, they'll need to win on skill sometimes so they can use their bodies other times.

[a smell of green grass]

Cam Fowler for a full year gives great reason for optimism.

He kills my dream for a TOP10 pick, but I can't help but love the guy.

[DawgDad]

Big if, but if Mailloux half pans out (3rd pairing) his presence on the PP and a handful of goals at ES should (or could) boost the offense. Tucker and Mailloux should produce more goals than 38 games of Tucker and a full season of Ryan Suter did (5). Suter, though, was +7. If Mailloux is ready to play in the NHL he's demonstrated he's going to score. Perunovich/Leddy (4 goals, zero on PP) are gone now but they only played a combined 55 games. Mailloux could add a lot, the questions are how much and when.

[Strummy]

If the team has similar production to last year yet figures out how to hold leads in the final minutes, we'll easily make the playoffs. Sprinkle in some free agency signings who can hopefully make a difference and I'm very optimistic. That said, I wouldn't be shocked if the team starts the season flat. Just my opinion; maybe it's the numerous players on the team who seem laid-back, but I don't see a lot of fire.

[Harry S Deals]

Im also looking at Broberg for increased goal production. 8 goals in 68 games last year, he could very easily be in the 12-15 goal range this year i am expecting a big uptick in his presence.

[Bluesfan1978]

Hard to pick just one:
Jake, Holloway, Snuggy, Broberg all young players that should keep getting better for the next few years.
Parayko was hitting another level with his play last year so I’d like to see that continue.
Mailloux will be exciting to see how he progresses throughout the year.
Dvorsky having centre’s like Thomas, Suter, Schenn to watch and learn from the next two bears should only help his development.
Kyrou has think is going to have a career year this year.
Buch will return to form and Thomas will continue to solidify his name in the top 10 centre’s in the League.

[Harold_Melvin]

I want to see Holloway and Kyrou reunited.

[dhsux]

293 would be tops in the league type numbers. I don't really see it.

I think +6 goals for and -13 to -18 goals against is a very realistic. getting to 260 and to 220 in those totals would make us more in line with Colorado and close to dallas in terms of their differentials last year

the physical style of hockey that they can play to is not something they can endure for a whole season, they'll need to win on skill sometimes so they can use their bodies other times.

You are correct about the 290+ being up there...it is hard to get there.

But keep in mind how the last season started and how long the gelling took and there will be some more of that too.

It calls for a somewhat magical season of full strength hockey from most every one.

[Smoke and Mirrors 02]

I'm hoping that Suter might be able to hold down 2nd line center. I also hope that Devorsky shows enough in camp to make the team, probably start at right wing.

Also, I have an allergy to cut green grass (hay fever) so I hope there is much less of it this season.