LUCIC

[STL fan in MN]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

[Pierre McGuire]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

I love the thought of Looch on this team and you can bet Monty does too.

[Hooking]

I don't hate having veteran presence just for the sheer point of having veteran presence on a team like the Blues. I don't see him holding anyone back and there will be injuries throughout the course of a season. No doubt. He could stay, he could be moved to another team that watched his pre-season play on the Blues.

I have no doubt the Blues / Monty are going to purposefully screw over this team just because of Milan Lucic. Monty is a [shirt] or get off the pot kind of coach and nobody has a long leash on this team. Blues brass wont stand for 'here is a paycheck, please take a roster spot of a solid prospect' and the fact that some people here think that is silly to me.

Either way, decisions will be made and Blues hockey will be played. Lets hope for lots of W's this season!
...And the ability to finish games!

[skilles]

I think IF we are not going to use Texier it makes all the sense in the world to move him out and bring in Lucic and better for Texier as well.

[STL fan in MN]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

I love the thought of Looch on this team and you can bet Monty does too.

Same. I love the thought of it. What I want is to see Looch grab the role over those next 3 preseason games and it go from a thought to it being what I really want and what Monty/Army really wants too.

Or heck, I just want someone to grab the bull by the horns and grab the last forward spot.

[STL fan in MN]

I don't hate having veteran presence just for the sheer point of having veteran presence on a team like the Blues. I don't see him holding anyone back and there will be injuries throughout the course of a season. No doubt. He could stay, he could be moved to another team that watched his pre-season play on the Blues.

I have no doubt the Blues / Monty are going to purposefully screw over this team just because of Milan Lucic. Monty is a [shirt] or get off the pot kind of coach and nobody has a long leash on this team. Blues brass wont stand for 'here is a paycheck, please take a roster spot of a solid prospect' and the fact that some people here think that is silly to me.

Either way, decisions will be made and Blues hockey will be played. Lets hope for lots of W's this season!
...And the ability to finish games!

Agreed. Except I’d say he’d be brought in more for his physycal presence than veteran presence…but obviously his experience would be an asset too.

They’ll keep Lucic only if they think he can help move the needle more than the next guy (likely Texier), even if only a little bit…as long as it’s a little bit more than the next guy.

[Hooking]

I don't hate having veteran presence just for the sheer point of having veteran presence on a team like the Blues. I don't see him holding anyone back and there will be injuries throughout the course of a season. No doubt. He could stay, he could be moved to another team that watched his pre-season play on the Blues.

I have no doubt the Blues / Monty are going to purposefully screw over this team just because of Milan Lucic. Monty is a [shirt] or get off the pot kind of coach and nobody has a long leash on this team. Blues brass wont stand for 'here is a paycheck, please take a roster spot of a solid prospect' and the fact that some people here think that is silly to me.

Either way, decisions will be made and Blues hockey will be played. Lets hope for lots of W's this season!
...And the ability to finish games!

Agreed. Except I’d say he’d be brought in more for his physycal presence than veteran presence…but obviously his experience would be an asset too.

They’ll keep Lucic only if they think he can help move the needle more than the next guy (likely Texier), even if only a little bit…as long as it’s a little bit more than the next guy.

Heck or maybe even rotate them out to keep each guy fresh.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

I love the thought of Looch on this team and you can bet Monty does too.

Same. I love the thought of it. What I want is to see Looch grab the role over those next 3 preseason games and it go from a thought to it being what I really want and what Monty/Army really wants too.

Or heck, I just want someone to grab the bull by the horns and grab the last forward spot.

I think Joseph and Sunny are in. So, I think the last forward spot is between Lucic, Texier, Stenberg, and Kaskimaki. I can see Texier being moved to give him a chance to play more games in the NHL this season.

[STL fan in MN]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

I love the thought of Looch on this team and you can bet Monty does too.

Same. I love the thought of it. What I want is to see Looch grab the role over those next 3 preseason games and it go from a thought to it being what I really want and what Monty/Army really wants too.

Or heck, I just want someone to grab the bull by the horns and grab the last forward spot.

I think Joseph and Sunny are in. So, I think the last forward spot is between Lucic, Texier, Stenberg, and Kaskimaki. I can see Texier being moved to give him a chance to play more games in the NHL this season.

I’d tend to agree but I’d absolutely include Dvorsky in that group as well. He probably has a better shot than both Stenberg and Kaskimaki. Definitely Kaskimaki.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

I love the thought of Looch on this team and you can bet Monty does too.

Same. I love the thought of it. What I want is to see Looch grab the role over those next 3 preseason games and it go from a thought to it being what I really want and what Monty/Army really wants too.

Or heck, I just want someone to grab the bull by the horns and grab the last forward spot.

I think Joseph and Sunny are in. So, I think the last forward spot is between Lucic, Texier, Stenberg, and Kaskimaki. I can see Texier being moved to give him a chance to play more games in the NHL this season.

I’d tend to agree but I’d absolutely include Dvorsky in that group as well. He probably has a better shot than both Stenberg and Kaskimaki. Definitely Kaskimaki.

I left him out because they keep playing him at center (which I understand). Thomas, Suter, Schenn, Bjugstad are going to play center. Sunny can play center. In a pinch, Walker can play center. That's why I left Dvorsky off. If they were rotating him in on the wing in practice like when camp started, I'd have listed him. Just like DA's quotes about Carbonneau and Jiricek, they have the luxury with this roster of not putting young players in before they are ready. Dvorsky is definitely waaay closer to being ready than those 2. But he's not there as an NHL center yet. At least that's how I am reading the way they are practicing him. If injuries happen on the wing, maybe they re-think how they use Dvo this season.

[skilles]

It sure seems like at this point we probably have several callups that can come up and give you about we we have gotten from Texier and none that can give you what Lucic can.

Its definitely not just about who is a better player.

Joseph definitely gives us some things we can't get from any of the AHL call ups.

[STL fan in MN]

It sure seems like at this point we probably have several callups that can come up and give you about we we have gotten from Texier and none that can give you what Lucic can.

Its definitely not just about who is a better player.

Joseph definitely gives us some things we can't get from any of the AHL call ups.

That’s a very good point. Texier clearly has some skill but if he’s going to stay inconsistent and defensively poor…that sounds an awful lot like what you’d typically get from a top prospect that’s still learning because he’s young. But the prospect has a future here and Texier, assuming he doesn’t take that needed step, doesn’t.

And agreed that Joseph’s speed and PK ability are skills that separate him and give him a role more than Texier.

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

It sure seems like at this point we probably have several callups that can come up and give you about we we have gotten from Texier and none that can give you what Lucic can.

Its definitely not just about who is a better player.

Joseph definitely gives us some things we can't get from any of the AHL call ups.

That’s a very good point. Texier clearly has some skill but if he’s going to stay inconsistent and defensively poor…that sounds an awful lot like what you’d typically get from a top prospect that’s still learning because he’s young. But the prospect has a future here and Texier, assuming he doesn’t take that needed step, doesn’t.

And agreed that Joseph’s speed and PK ability are skills that separate him and give him a role more than Texier.

Yep. I think a lot of us under-value Joseph. He definitely can and probably will produce more offense this year playing with Neighbours and Schenn or Suter. His speed is such an asset. He will forecheck really well on a line with those two. Plus, he's physical enough and can PK like you said. His skill isn't terrible. But the biggest thing will be that his linemates this season are a significant upgrade over last year.

[leedog68]

Let's say Lucic earns a spot. I agree Texier is probably the odd man out for the 14 NHL spots. If they can find a taker, fine. If not, I think they can pass him through waivers to send him down and either he is claimed or they get enough cap relief to sign Lucic to a minimum type contract. And Texier is available to be first call up when someone is hurt.

[dhsux]

JR posted these quotes from Monty after practice today:

Monty on Lucic returning to practice: "He looked really good, looked really sharp. It's good to have him back out there. He was making a lot of plays. Seems like his confidence is growing throughout camp, which is a good sign."

Monty: "He's got to make an impression to make the team and he understands that. But whether he plays the last three games, or just the last two, we want to put him in the best (situation) so we can evaluate him at his best."

Sounds like Monty liked what he saw from Lucic today and he’s likely to get into 2 or all 3 of the last 3 preseason games.

I love the thought of Looch on this team and you can bet Monty does too.

Ya.

I'd say.

[Whatashame]

It just seems like Army/Monty have a specific role in mind for Lucic that no one on this team now can fill. If it works out great, if it doesn’t, that’s fine too. They’re not destroying the team to fill this role but they think they are better off with this role filled. A choice between Lucic/Texier is obviously just a personal preference.