Preseason takeaways

[zamadoo]

I admire your optimism but your predictions on Thomas and Snuggerud are wild. No chance on either.

I will be very happy if Thomas gets 90 and Snuggerud gets 45 points.

15 ish goals, 30 assists from Snuggerud playing on top PP and top line minutes? That would be very disappointing for me. Providing hes healthy 50 pts should be a lock, 20 goals 30 assists but even that seem too conservative. The fact that the Blues 2nd line is dangerous with Holloway and Kyrou all over the place will mean that Thomas will see some beneficial match ups.

25 goals 65 assists for Thomas
30 goals 45 assists for Buch
28 goals 35 assists for Snuggerud

It will be fun to revisit our predictions later

It's crazy to me that you are expecting Celebrini like numbers from Snuggerud. We will see.

Snugg is two years older than Celebrini and got his feet wet with 7 reg season games and 7 playoff games, scoring 4 pts each for a total of 8 pts in 14 games, which extrapolates to 46.8pts in 82 games.

[Old_Goat]

So far my takeaways without trying to be too much of a homer…

1. The team has a lot to prove. To us… and to themselves. Everybody looks hungry.

2. It is hard for my to believe buch does not have a better impact on the game this year knowing his role from the jump. A role he loves. I think everyone believes thomas is poise for a monster season and i think 100+pts is doable. Those points have to go to someone and snuggerud looks like he brings a unexpected quickness and different creativity.

3. Watching kyrou and Holloway move together out there along with suter not looking out of place has been fun and leaves a lot to the imagination of what role suter will play on that line outside of defensive responsibilities.

4. The neighbours, schenn, bjug line is the assumed 3rd pair unless its joseph. That line needs playmaking ability to become anything more than a hit and disrupt line. We are hoping for any spark to buy time until dvorsky is ready. He will be a line driver once he settles in.

5. The 4th line should be alright. I would prefer bjug to be on this line. But definitely leaves you excited forstancl, jecho, kaskiamaki, petterson and more.

6. The defence looks active and up to the task of stepping up in the play (i mean, who wouldnt want to be mote active in the play)

7. We get fowler for maybe 1 year more than you want. Best case scenario in the last 2 years hes holding down a 3rd line with jiricek. That would probably be jiriceks dream scenario.

8. Parayko looks solid as usual, faulk…not so much.

9. Broberg looks like hes ready to get paid and put up some numbers and mailloux(sp) looks exciting. The tools that stand out make him really fun to watch. The way he wants to to walk the line, how he steps up the middle on the rush and how he wants to put the puck on the net. Im even excited for tucker. The aggressiveness in his game plays perfect in montys system. I can see some bonehead plays between him and LM in our future, but they should be a fune knucklehead combo that hits a ton and will put the puck on net from anywhere.

10. Binner is on a mission. Ever since he became a dad hes just had a different mind set to him. I think he gas a real solid next 2 seasons just to solidify his spot.

11. All in all its going to come down to health. We need to gave long seasons from the core. Especially the top 6. I honestly dont see how snuggerud doesnt win calder if the first line stays healthy.

12. Im interested to see how they play with the krug money. Its nice to know we have the cap space to put texier or joseph in the AHL if you want dvorsky up. We arent trapped. Sorry lucic. Not this year. Not sure if im forgetting anything.

Well put, all very good points!

[billybaseball]

I admire your optimism but your predictions on Thomas and Snuggerud are wild. No chance on either.

I will be very happy if Thomas gets 90 and Snuggerud gets 45 points.

15 ish goals, 30 assists from Snuggerud playing on top PP and top line minutes? That would be very disappointing for me. Providing hes healthy 50 pts should be a lock, 20 goals 30 assists but even that seem too conservative. The fact that the Blues 2nd line is dangerous with Holloway and Kyrou all over the place will mean that Thomas will see some beneficial match ups.

25 goals 65 assists for Thomas
30 goals 45 assists for Buch
28 goals 35 assists for Snuggerud

It will be fun to revisit our predictions later

It's crazy to me that you are expecting Celebrini like numbers from Snuggerud. We will see.

Snugg is two years older than Celebrini and got his feet wet with 7 reg season games and 7 playoff games, scoring 4 pts each for a total of 8 pts in 14 games, which extrapolates to 46.8pts in 82 games.

Not to mention that Celebrini was playing on the worst team in the NHL last season. Snuggerud will be playing with one of the top playmaking centers in the NHL and ppg winger whose a great playmaker too.

[Bluesfan1978]

Mailoux I've been impressed with, haven't had a round Prospect to be excited about other than maybe Broberg since Vince Dunn.
Broberg looks like he's going to take another step offensively
Jiricek looked much better than I thought he would. Glad he's back in the OHL playing on the top D pairing
Fisher flashed some potential, Could see him challenging for a top 4 role in 3-4 years
The Blues D is going to be a handful this year for other teams to defend. I won't be surprised to see the D score 50-55 goals this year.

Holloway looks ready to drive whatever line he is on like last year
Kyrou I thought last night made a couple good back checks and used his body to separate the puck from the player and he looks like he had a strong offseason
Carbonneau is going to be a handful for NHL teams in a couple years
Dvorsky has improved a lot from last year. You can see his IQ and how quick he can make plays with the puck. His pace and speed have improved. This the AHL is still the best place for him and 65 to lead the team.
Stenberg is going to be a hell of a player and is going to force the team to make a tough trade at some point, he's going going to command a top 9 or top 6 place on the team.
Texier I actually liked how he played last night, made some quick plays with the puck, I'd like to see what he can do getting 10-20 games in a row. Not sure he'll get the chance with the Blues.
I love the what Lucic can bring but I'm not sure the wheels are there when he goes up against full NHL rosters. Maybe they find a way to extend his tryout a few weeks to see if he can improve. He said last night he's been battling the groin injury.

[Younghopp1991]

Mailoux I've been impressed with, haven't had a round Prospect to be excited about other than maybe Broberg since Vince Dunn.
Broberg looks like he's going to take another step offensively
Jiricek looked much better than I thought he would. Glad he's back in the OHL playing on the top D pairing
Fisher flashed some potential, Could see him challenging for a top 4 role in 3-4 years
The Blues D is going to be a handful this year for other teams to defend. I won't be surprised to see the D score 50-55 goals this year.

Holloway looks ready to drive whatever line he is on like last year
Kyrou I thought last night made a couple good back checks and used his body to separate the puck from the player and he looks like he had a strong offseason
Carbonneau is going to be a handful for NHL teams in a couple years
Dvorsky has improved a lot from last year. You can see his IQ and how quick he can make plays with the puck. His pace and speed have improved. This the AHL is still the best place for him and 65 to lead the team.
Stenberg is going to be a hell of a player and is going to force the team to make a tough trade at some point, he's going going to command a top 9 or top 6 place on the team.
Texier I actually liked how he played last night, made some quick plays with the puck, I'd like to see what he can do getting 10-20 games in a row. Not sure he'll get the chance with the Blues.
I love the what Lucic can bring but I'm not sure the wheels are there when he goes up against full NHL rosters. Maybe they find a way to extend his tryout a few weeks to see if he can improve. He said last night he's been battling the groin injury.

I forgot to talk about stenberg in my breakdown. But that kid is going to be tough and annoying to play against. If his brother is really that much better then otto, then hes has to be a special player.

But texier is very predictable. Of course hes going to empty the effort tank on the last game just to give a taste.

[seattleblue]

I forgot to talk about stenberg in my breakdown. But that kid is going to be tough and annoying to play against. If his brother is really that much better then otto, then hes has to be a special player.

I know that Gavin McKenna exists and have seen him and he will go #1. But watching Ivar Stenberg play in the SHL top league last year I felt I was watching a #1 overall talent

[LewisL]

So far my takeaways without trying to be too much of a homer…

1. The team has a lot to prove. To us… and to themselves. Everybody looks hungry.

2. It is hard for my to believe buch does not have a better impact on the game this year knowing his role from the jump. A role he loves. I think everyone believes thomas is poise for a monster season and i think 100+pts is doable. Those points have to go to someone and snuggerud looks like he brings a unexpected quickness and different creativity.

3. Watching kyrou and Holloway move together out there along with suter not looking out of place has been fun and leaves a lot to the imagination of what role suter will play on that line outside of defensive responsibilities.

4. The neighbours, schenn, bjug line is the assumed 3rd pair unless its joseph. That line needs playmaking ability to become anything more than a hit and disrupt line. We are hoping for any spark to buy time until dvorsky is ready. He will be a line driver once he settles in.

5. The 4th line should be alright. I would prefer bjug to be on this line. But definitely leaves you excited forstancl, jecho, kaskiamaki, petterson and more.

6. The defence looks active and up to the task of stepping up in the play (i mean, who wouldnt want to be mote active in the play)

7. We get fowler for maybe 1 year more than you want. Best case scenario in the last 2 years hes holding down a 3rd line with jiricek. That would probably be jiriceks dream scenario.

8. Parayko looks solid as usual, faulk…not so much.

9. Broberg looks like hes ready to get paid and put up some numbers and mailloux(sp) looks exciting. The tools that stand out make him really fun to watch. The way he wants to to walk the line, how he steps up the middle on the rush and how he wants to put the puck on the net. Im even excited for tucker. The aggressiveness in his game plays perfect in montys system. I can see some bonehead plays between him and LM in our future, but they should be a fune knucklehead combo that hits a ton and will put the puck on net from anywhere.

10. Binner is on a mission. Ever since he became a dad hes just had a different mind set to him. I think he gas a real solid next 2 seasons just to solidify his spot.

11. All in all its going to come down to health. We need to gave long seasons from the core. Especially the top 6. I honestly dont see how snuggerud doesnt win calder if the first line stays healthy.

12. Im interested to see how they play with the krug money. Its nice to know we have the cap space to put texier or joseph in the AHL if you want dvorsky up. We arent trapped. Sorry lucic. Not this year. Not sure if im forgetting anything.

Yep, the biggest key is health