Harry S Deals wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:07 am
I think Stenberg has to be included in the battle for the 3rd line wing spot. How are we viewing the contenders:?
Texier
Dvorsky
Joseph
Stenberg
Carbonneau
You’re missing probably the top 2 - Bjugstad and Sundqvist.
For the 3rd RW spot? Im hoping the Blues can do better than Sunny on the 3rd line Im guessing its more like this:
Buch Thomas Snuggerud
Holloway Schenn Kyrou
Neighbours Suter XXXX
Walker Bjugstad Torop
I dont see Sunny on the 3rd line although he is a right shot I think either Sunny or Bjug are the 4th centers
Yes, for the 3RW spot. I think you’re undervaluing Sunny and Bjugstad. Or at least undervaluing how the Blues likely see them. Given the roster we had a year ago, Sunny played 3C, a position for “valuable” than 3RW or 4C. I doubt he goes from 3C to all the way out of the lineup. Not without some amazing camps from some others. He’s slow and doesn’t provide much offense but he also has high hockey sense, great positioning and very good defensive ability.
Bjugstad is similar in terms of what he brings.
Both are also right shots whose primary position after C would be RW. I expect both to play plenty as the 4C but also 3RW. All of Texier, Joseph, Stenberg and Dvorsky are lefties. Carbonneau is 18. I think some here are grossly overestimating his chances. So yeah, the established righties would absolutely have the leg up on the open 3RW spot.
Im guessing Army brought in Suter and Bjugstad to supplement the center depth, Sunny shouldnt be the 3rd center, 6 goals 20 pts wont get it done. I do agree that Bjugstad is very capable of producing on a good 3rd line moreso than Sunny. At this point i see Sunny as a 4th liner/platoon player i think the Blues are deeper than having Sunny in a top 9 role
The "deeper" they are, the less likely they are to put Carbonneau or Dvorsky into the lineup over proven veterans. Remember, Sunny played as 3RW plenty last year.
I'm with you in preferring they give a shot to someone who can generate more offense, but in a world where we've already got two rookies penciled into the everyday lineup, the odds of Dvorsky or Carbonneau claiming 3RW lower exponentially. If they want an offensive look, they've got Tex for another year.
Going back to your original premise of ranking the likely candidates for 3RW (assuming the same top 6 as last year), I think:
Bjugstad (with Sunny as 4C)
Sunny (with Bjugstad as 4C)
Texier (if they want offense and Bjugstad is out)
Joseph (if they want defense and Sunny is out)
Dvorsky/Carbonneau
That's a lot of guys to have to beat out before Stenberg even becomes a consideration...
Im still of the mind that one of Texier/Joseph is not with the Blues when they break camp and at this point im with you Dvorsky/Stenberg/Carbonneau are all long shots but they are in camp so they do have a shot regardless of how large.
And Im still penciling Schenn in as the 2C i dont see Monty pushing Schenn down the line up both as kind of respect and Schenn is a helluva hockery player still. Hes played in all 82 games three years in a row, hes always up there around 180 Hits, 50 pts. I dont think the Top 6 varies much from last year so that pushes a lot guys down to a few spots.
Harry S Deals wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 12:42 pm
And Im still penciling Schenn in as the 2C i dont see Monty pushing Schenn down the line up both as kind of respect and Schenn is a helluva hockery player still. Hes played in all 82 games three years in a row, hes always up there around 180 Hits, 50 pts. I dont think the Top 6 varies much from last year so that pushes a lot guys down to a few spots.
I think it's very interesting that they have Kyrou and Holloway split up for practice.
Holloway is with Schenn.
Kyrou is with Suter.
Not sure which way that center battle ends right now but it's clearly a direct competition.
I think everyone is forgetting about Lucic. If he shows he can still play hockey, then I think it’s a foregone conclusion he makes the team and one of Texier/Joseph is gone. Army spoke highly of Lucic in his presser with regards to the aspect he brings that we don’t have. And he would be a 35-45 game type guy who they don’t mind sitting.
Agree that Bjugstad/Sunny will most likely claim the 3RW slot. Will hate it if it’s Sunny as I want more offense from that line. I could very easily see Lucic and Joseph as the 13/14 wingers with Texier being the odd man out.
Harry S Deals wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 12:42 pm
And Im still penciling Schenn in as the 2C i dont see Monty pushing Schenn down the line up both as kind of respect and Schenn is a helluva hockery player still. Hes played in all 82 games three years in a row, hes always up there around 180 Hits, 50 pts. I dont think the Top 6 varies much from last year so that pushes a lot guys down to a few spots.
I think it's very interesting that they have Kyrou and Holloway split up for practice.
Holloway is with Schenn.
Kyrou is with Suter.
Not sure which way that center battle ends right now but it's clearly a direct competition.
I wouldnt read too much into Day 1 they are trying to get a young guy/fringe guy with an established guy to get everyone a chance
Lucic reminded me of a slightly older version of Pat Maroon today. Of course he would add an element. I'm not sure how much value is still there.
Holloway looked fully recovered to say the least. Impressive first practice from DH.
- Intensity was good. Pace was slow in a couple drills, but really good in others. Execution not great, but that was expected on the first day. The players' second and third efforts were good
Monty on Holloway: "It looks like he didn't even miss anything. He was good. His second and third effort, I think, is contagious. He was really good today. It was a pleasant, pleasant day to see him back out there."
Monty on Mailloux: "He was known as an offensive defenseman and I can see the shot ... I can see the instincts. But what was really impressive was the defensive stick. He got his stick on a lot of pucks, ended a lot of plays, killed plays. That was nice to see."
Monty on Lucic: "He's got to win a job. I know that sounds simple, but he's got to be good 200 feet, he's got to know what we're doing defensively. There was one rush drill where he took it wide and like that was NHL speed. He took hard to the net. "Those are things that we think, as a team, we need to be better at than last year and maybe he's someone that can help us."
Unfathomable wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 13:34 pm
Monty Day 1 Comments as per Jr
Observations from Monty after Day 1:
- Intensity was good. Pace was slow in a couple drills, but really good in others. Execution not great, but that was expected on the first day. The players' second and third efforts were good
Monty on Holloway: "It looks like he didn't even miss anything. He was good. His second and third effort, I think, is contagious. He was really good today. It was a pleasant, pleasant day to see him back out there."
Monty on Mailloux: "He was known as an offensive defenseman and I can see the shot ... I can see the instincts. But what was really impressive was the defensive stick. He got his stick on a lot of pucks, ended a lot of plays, killed plays. That was nice to see."
Monty on Lucic: "He's got to win a job. I know that sounds simple, but he's got to be good 200 feet, he's got to know what we're doing defensively. There was one rush drill where he took it wide and like that was NHL speed. He took hard to the net. "Those are things that we think, as a team, we need to be better at than last year and maybe he's someone that can help us."
As with Jiricek, its a positive Day 1 for Mailloux hopefully he continues, could be a massive, massive trade win for the Blues franchise. Big, fast, tough RHD, mini Pronger perhaps we will see down the road.
callitwhatyouwant wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 10:13 am
I do like in principle how they handle training camp in regards to the young guys. They give them the best shot to be successful by putting them with the better players. But it does create a later problem with the top lines of being on the same page out of the gate. I guess the other option is the top lines getting a false sense of confidence by beating up on young players in mismatches.
I could be wrong, But I can't remember a start to a season where the Blues came out of the gate playing crisp. I guess the covid year that happened. But even then, I vaguely remember them picking up steam into the all star break. Maybe they were just good that whole time there.
The Blues came out of the gate red hot practically every year under Hitchcock.
I was speaking in particular to this group of players which dates you back to 2018-19.
If you go back to the hitchcock years, I definitely remember those teams being regular season giants. Once the team got solid again after the selloff, you definitely felt a certain reliability that the team was going to make the playoffs. It was more about how they were going to perform once they got to the playoffs.
Unfathomable wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 13:34 pm
Monty Day 1 Comments as per Jr
Observations from Monty after Day 1:
- Intensity was good. Pace was slow in a couple drills, but really good in others. Execution not great, but that was expected on the first day. The players' second and third efforts were good
Monty on Holloway: "It looks like he didn't even miss anything. He was good. His second and third effort, I think, is contagious. He was really good today. It was a pleasant, pleasant day to see him back out there."
Monty on Mailloux: "He was known as an offensive defenseman and I can see the shot ... I can see the instincts. But what was really impressive was the defensive stick. He got his stick on a lot of pucks, ended a lot of plays, killed plays. That was nice to see."
Monty on Lucic: "He's got to win a job. I know that sounds simple, but he's got to be good 200 feet, he's got to know what we're doing defensively. There was one rush drill where he took it wide and like that was NHL speed. He took hard to the net. "Those are things that we think, as a team, we need to be better at than last year and maybe he's someone that can help us."
As with Jiricek, its a positive Day 1 for Mailloux hopefully he continues, could be a massive, massive trade win for the Blues franchise. Big, fast, tough RHD, mini Pronger perhaps we will see down the road.
I hope Lucic surprises some people. Last year I was rooting on Texier because I thought we needed more skill. The addition of Hollywood and Snuggy with Dvorsky coming up, and Thomas, Kyrou already there, that's 5 skill focus guys. I'm OK if Texier has to go unless he just absolutely wows some people. His game was fun to watch, but it's not fun if that style of player isn't an every day guy.
Lucic hopefully can reinspire Torpedo. I miss when Vladi would go to the net with that outside in move and Torpedo looked to try and copy him. Last year you literally never saw it. I can almost promise you it happened less than 3 times. That style of play is what made Torpedo dangerous despite his stick skills not being super great.
Unfathomable wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 13:34 pm
Monty Day 1 Comments as per Jr
Observations from Monty after Day 1:
- Intensity was good. Pace was slow in a couple drills, but really good in others. Execution not great, but that was expected on the first day. The players' second and third efforts were good
Monty on Holloway: "It looks like he didn't even miss anything. He was good. His second and third effort, I think, is contagious. He was really good today. It was a pleasant, pleasant day to see him back out there."
Monty on Mailloux: "He was known as an offensive defenseman and I can see the shot ... I can see the instincts. But what was really impressive was the defensive stick. He got his stick on a lot of pucks, ended a lot of plays, killed plays. That was nice to see."
Monty on Lucic: "He's got to win a job. I know that sounds simple, but he's got to be good 200 feet, he's got to know what we're doing defensively. There was one rush drill where he took it wide and like that was NHL speed. He took hard to the net. "Those are things that we think, as a team, we need to be better at than last year and maybe he's someone that can help us."
As with Jiricek, its a positive Day 1 for Mailloux hopefully he continues, could be a massive, massive trade win for the Blues franchise. Big, fast, tough RHD, mini Pronger perhaps we will see down the road.
I hope Lucic surprises some people. Last year I was rooting on Texier because I thought we needed more skill. The addition of Hollywood and Snuggy with Dvorsky coming up, and Thomas, Kyrou already there, that's 5 skill focus guys. I'm OK if Texier has to go unless he just absolutely wows some people. His game was fun to watch, but it's not fun if that style of player isn't an every day guy.
Lucic hopefully can reinspire Torpedo. I miss when Vladi would go to the net with that outside in move and Torpedo looked to try and copy him. Last year you literally never saw it. I can almost promise you it happened less than 3 times. That style of play is what made Torpedo dangerous despite his stick skills not being super great.
Yea i guess with the narrative today, given its only Day 1 but
Buch Thomas Snuggerud
Holloway Schenn Kyrou
Neighbours Suter Bjugstad
Lucic Walker Toropchenko/Sunny
Thats a not a line up anyone in the NHL is going to intimidate
Unfathomable wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 13:34 pm
Monty Day 1 Comments as per Jr
Observations from Monty after Day 1:
- Intensity was good. Pace was slow in a couple drills, but really good in others. Execution not great, but that was expected on the first day. The players' second and third efforts were good
Monty on Holloway: "It looks like he didn't even miss anything. He was good. His second and third effort, I think, is contagious. He was really good today. It was a pleasant, pleasant day to see him back out there."
Monty on Mailloux: "He was known as an offensive defenseman and I can see the shot ... I can see the instincts. But what was really impressive was the defensive stick. He got his stick on a lot of pucks, ended a lot of plays, killed plays. That was nice to see."
Monty on Lucic: "He's got to win a job. I know that sounds simple, but he's got to be good 200 feet, he's got to know what we're doing defensively. There was one rush drill where he took it wide and like that was NHL speed. He took hard to the net. "Those are things that we think, as a team, we need to be better at than last year and maybe he's someone that can help us."
As with Jiricek, its a positive Day 1 for Mailloux hopefully he continues, could be a massive, massive trade win for the Blues franchise. Big, fast, tough RHD, mini Pronger perhaps we will see down the road.
I hope Lucic surprises some people. Last year I was rooting on Texier because I thought we needed more skill. The addition of Hollywood and Snuggy with Dvorsky coming up, and Thomas, Kyrou already there, that's 5 skill focus guys. I'm OK if Texier has to go unless he just absolutely wows some people. His game was fun to watch, but it's not fun if that style of player isn't an every day guy.
Lucic hopefully can reinspire Torpedo. I miss when Vladi would go to the net with that outside in move and Torpedo looked to try and copy him. Last year you literally never saw it. I can almost promise you it happened less than 3 times. That style of play is what made Torpedo dangerous despite his stick skills not being super great.
Yea i guess with the narrative today, given its only Day 1 but
Buch Thomas Snuggerud
Holloway Schenn Kyrou
Neighbours Suter Bjugstad
Lucic Walker Toropchenko/Sunny
Thats a not a line up anyone in the NHL is going to intimidate
I'm also rooting on Joseph. I really think he has more to offer in his game than what we saw last year. More talent around him I think brings out his game. Sunny on 3rd line and the way the 4th line played last year was a killer. I think both the 3rd and 4th line are exponentially better and Joseph might show his game better on either line. I liked the idea of Sunny 4th line Center/with Torpedo Joseph on the edges. And you can rotate Joseph/Walker/Lucic/Sunny to keep those guys fresh, every once in a while someone going up to 3rd line to give one of those guys a break, and Torpedo kind of being the only everyday guy.
