Mailloux to Springfield

[WilliamWestcliffe]

We are worst in the league in GA. What could Bolduc do to help with that?

I think it was a spiral of several things. LM was "ready" but was always going to struggle with some growing pains. Tucker was a bad fit as a partner. The goaltending has been horrid. The combination of things killed any confidence LM may have had so by the time they tried him with Fowler, the damage was already done.

Hopefully he can go down and relax a bit and start to get settled in. I think it's undeniable that there is a lot of skill there. I'm worried about the brains but far from ready to give up on the kid or make a ruling on the trade.

I think the point many are trying to make is: sure trade Bolduc, but stop wasting prime assets on dice roll defensemen. Spend the energy and assets to truly fix the problem.

We’re just wasting so much capital and circling the drain with the same problems year after year after year.

It's possible a dozen knowledgeable NHL people completely whiffed on assessing Mailloux. But my guess is Mailloux develops into a nice player for the Blues. The Blues were targeting a young RHD were there other choices?

Noah Dobson for one.

I’d also argue they don’t need an offensive defenseman. They need someone who can actually defend; especially in front of the net. Those are accessible but we appear allergic to them, which begs the point others have been making: what is our strategy with defensive assets? Whom is responsible for it? Why are we still utterly failing at it?

[TheJackBurton]

He's going to be 23 towards the end of this season, the "figure it out" window really isn't that far away. Just a ridiculous trade by the organization.

What? Many don't even make the show until 23. He is far from being in bust territory.

[Sudsy 11]

We are worst in the league in GA. What could Bolduc do to help with that?

I think it was a spiral of several things. LM was "ready" but was always going to struggle with some growing pains. Tucker was a bad fit as a partner. The goaltending has been horrid. The combination of things killed any confidence LM may have had so by the time they tried him with Fowler, the damage was already done.

Hopefully he can go down and relax a bit and start to get settled in. I think it's undeniable that there is a lot of skill there. I'm worried about the brains but far from ready to give up on the kid or make a ruling on the trade.

I think the point many are trying to make is: sure trade Bolduc, but stop wasting prime assets on dice roll defensemen. Spend the energy and assets to truly fix the problem.

We’re just wasting so much capital and circling the drain with the same problems year after year after year.

It's possible a dozen knowledgeable NHL people completely whiffed on assessing Mailloux. But my guess is Mailloux develops into a nice player for the Blues. The Blues were targeting a young RHD were there other choices?

Noah Dobson for one.

I’d also argue they don’t need an offensive defenseman. They need someone who can actually defend; especially in front of the net. Those are accessible but we appear allergic to them, which begs the point others have been making: what is our strategy with defensive assets? Whom is responsible for it? Why are we still utterly failing at it?

The Blues pursued a trade for Dobson. I believe he refused to sign long anywhere except the East Coast. Agree 100% the Blues need a D that will defend the net front.

[TheJackBurton]

We are worst in the league in GA. What could Bolduc do to help with that?

I think it was a spiral of several things. LM was "ready" but was always going to struggle with some growing pains. Tucker was a bad fit as a partner. The goaltending has been horrid. The combination of things killed any confidence LM may have had so by the time they tried him with Fowler, the damage was already done.

Hopefully he can go down and relax a bit and start to get settled in. I think it's undeniable that there is a lot of skill there. I'm worried about the brains but far from ready to give up on the kid or make a ruling on the trade.

I think the point many are trying to make is: sure trade Bolduc, but stop wasting prime assets on dice roll defensemen. Spend the energy and assets to truly fix the problem.

We’re just wasting so much capital and circling the drain with the same problems year after year after year.

It's possible a dozen knowledgeable NHL people completely whiffed on assessing Mailloux. But my guess is Mailloux develops into a nice player for the Blues. The Blues were targeting a young RHD were there other choices?

Noah Dobson for one.

I’d also argue they don’t need an offensive defenseman. They need someone who can actually defend; especially in front of the net. Those are accessible but we appear allergic to them, which begs the point others have been making: what is our strategy with defensive assets? Whom is responsible for it? Why are we still utterly failing at it?

Stated he was staying in the Eastern Conference.

The rumor was the Blues offered Kyrou, they made the effort to acquire him, he just had no desire to do the traveling that the Western Conference does. The Canadians gave up significant assets for him as well which we didn't have:

Noah Dobson was traded from the New York Islanders to the Montreal Canadiens on June 27, 2025, in exchange for two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft and forward Emil Heineman.

RHdmen aren't cheap to acquire, you are going to give up something of value. For us it was a 3rd line winger for an unproven dman who enough people thought was ready for the NHL. He obviously took a step back unfortunately. It is what it is. Now hopefully he gets his head on straight, starts being able to read plays and the days of him being partnered with someone who is also sill a bit raw is over as well.

All in all though, the goaltending is improving, the d is showing improvement, all that's left is for the offense to finally start clicking. Everyone of significance is off to a terrible start. No amount of coaching is going to change that.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

I agree of course but something tells me LM is lost more within himself than with instruction.

I'm guessing he's over thinking, over concerned/worried and under in confidence right now. It's a head problem.

Yeah, he's an airhead...you just now figuring that out?

[a smell of green grass]

The terrible Blues roster needed Mailloux like a flood needs more rain.
Mailloux was not an unknown commodity. He was Montreal's 4th-best prospect. Nothing special to say the least.

The Blues needed SOMETHING for Bolduc, and they got NOTHING.
Bolduc was not an unknown commodity. He was St Louis's best young player in 2024/5.

Exceptionally poor personnel evaluation and acquisition.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

The terrible Blues roster needed Mailloux like a flood needs more rain.
Mailloux was not an unknown commodity. He was Montreal's 4th-best prospect. Nothing special to say the least.

The Blues needed SOMETHING for Bolduc, and they got NOTHING.
Bolduc was not an unknown commodity. He was St Louis's best young player in 2024/5.

Exceptionally poor personnel evaluation and acquisition.

They would've been better off keeping Bolduc and signing Brent Burns.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

RHdmen aren't cheap to acquire, you are going to give up something of value. For us it was a 3rd line winger for an unproven dman who enough people thought was ready for the NHL. He obviously took a step back unfortunately. It is what it is. Now hopefully he gets his head on straight, starts being able to read plays and the days of him being partnered with someone who is also sill a bit raw is over as well.

All in all though, the goaltending is improving, the d is showing improvement, all that's left is for the offense to finally start clicking. Everyone of significance is off to a terrible start. No amount of coaching is going to change that.

And for all the talk of needing defensive Dmen, they currently have Parayko and Broberg in the top 4. Many might not agree, but I think Bro’s defense has been solid. He isn’t physical, but his skating is above average, borderline elite and he makes smart plays. He is a bright spot and a solid 2-way Dman. I feel if you compared them league wide, you would have a #2 Dman in CP55. A #3-4 in Broberg. Faulk is a mixed bag and Tucker, while better suited as a 6-7 D is also defensive minded.

I don’t like the LM trade, but I’m willing to see how it plays out. Also don’t like the Fowler extension. And didn’t like the Jiricek pick, would have preferred Solberg. With all that said, what we don’t have is a big, physical 5-6 stay at home Dman. Whether via draft or trade, it needs to be addressed.

[John Cocktoastin]

RHdmen aren't cheap to acquire, you are going to give up something of value. For us it was a 3rd line winger for an unproven dman who enough people thought was ready for the NHL. He obviously took a step back unfortunately. It is what it is. Now hopefully he gets his head on straight, starts being able to read plays and the days of him being partnered with someone who is also sill a bit raw is over as well.

All in all though, the goaltending is improving, the d is showing improvement, all that's left is for the offense to finally start clicking. Everyone of significance is off to a terrible start. No amount of coaching is going to change that.

And for all the talk of needing defensive Dmen, they currently have Parayko and Broberg in the top 4. Many might not agree, but I think Bro’s defense has been solid. He isn’t physical, but his skating is above average, borderline elite and he makes smart plays. He is a bright spot and a solid 2-way Dman. I feel if you compared them league wide, you would have a #2 Dman in CP55. A #3-4 in Broberg. Faulk is a mixed bag and Tucker, while better suited as a 6-7 D is also defensive minded.

I don’t like the LM trade, but I’m willing to see how it plays out. Also don’t like the Fowler extension. And didn’t like the Jiricek pick, would have preferred Solberg. With all that said, what we don’t have is a big, physical 5-6 stay at home Dman. Whether via draft or trade, it needs to be addressed.

Colin Ralph may fit that bill. Michigan Stater is growing (6-foot-4, 216 pounds) and is a stay-at-home defensive type.

"As long as it doesn't slow me down, being heavier helps in my game, being able to be stronger in front of the net and in the corners," Ralph said. "I don't think it's a bad thing unless it's slowing me down."

[dhsux]

RHdmen aren't cheap to acquire, you are going to give up something of value. For us it was a 3rd line winger for an unproven dman who enough people thought was ready for the NHL. He obviously took a step back unfortunately. It is what it is. Now hopefully he gets his head on straight, starts being able to read plays and the days of him being partnered with someone who is also sill a bit raw is over as well.

All in all though, the goaltending is improving, the d is showing improvement, all that's left is for the offense to finally start clicking. Everyone of significance is off to a terrible start. No amount of coaching is going to change that.

And for all the talk of needing defensive Dmen, they currently have Parayko and Broberg in the top 4. Many might not agree, but I think Bro’s defense has been solid. He isn’t physical, but his skating is above average, borderline elite and he makes smart plays. He is a bright spot and a solid 2-way Dman. I feel if you compared them league wide, you would have a #2 Dman in CP55. A #3-4 in Broberg. Faulk is a mixed bag and Tucker, while better suited as a 6-7 D is also defensive minded.

I don’t like the LM trade, but I’m willing to see how it plays out. Also don’t like the Fowler extension. And didn’t like the Jiricek pick, would have preferred Solberg. With all that said, what we don’t have is a big, physical 5-6 stay at home Dman. Whether via draft or trade, it needs to be addressed.

Colin Ralph may fit that bill. Michigan Stater is growing (6-foot-4, 216 pounds) and is a stay-at-home defensive type.

"As long as it doesn't slow me down, being heavier helps in my game, being able to be stronger in front of the net and in the corners," Ralph said. "I don't think it's a bad thing unless it's slowing me down."

All 3 of you with great comments and good insight. Love the no hyperbole on the current situation.

[a smell of green grass]

The terrible Blues roster needed Mailloux like a flood needs more rain.
Mailloux was not an unknown commodity. He was Montreal's 4th-best prospect. Nothing special to say the least.

The Blues needed SOMETHING for Bolduc, and they got NOTHING.
Bolduc was not an unknown commodity. He was St Louis's best young player in 2024/5.

Exceptionally poor personnel evaluation and acquisition.

They would've been better off keeping Bolduc and signing Brent Burns.

Agreed, but there is one big problem with that...

Army didn't want any "loose ends" on his legacy.

Do you think he wanted to hear fans say....?
We just completed the re-whatever, and the average age of our defense is now older than when we started?
We lost Petro, and Army never found a young replacement.

Jiricek is trending to failure, and so an even more desperate move was needed, and this desperation stinkbait landed us Carp Mailloux.

[JoshInFenton]

IMO, if you aren't going to play LM on the 2nd powerplay to soak some minutes and let him shoot more comfortably from the point and do what he has done most of his hockey career, then you are not allowing him to be as successful as he could be. Maybe he took steps back and you wanted him to be a better defender before rewarding him, but sometimes i think you have to let the guy feel comfortable, wish they would've tried. The advanced statistics actually are pretty kind to him, suggesting that about half of the goals that went in were low quality scoring chances (which makes sense to me, we had some real stinker games in net in the first dozen games), so i think while he needs to go get some stuff sorted it isn't as bad as the +/- shows.

If skinner is inbound, then my only real comment is that i wanna see what he has. Can sit against Vegas this weekend if you wanna play more NHL experience with Kessel (not a ton more, but has played a decent chunk of games at this point), but Calgary is struggling and Philly is hit or miss so lets go see what he has.

[Quas]

This looks like another instance of the coaches and Army not being on the same page. Army had stated that he moved Saad so it would force the coaches to play Texier more. I'm wondering if he is planning to make more personnel moves based on his coaches player usage. It makes you wonder if he was upset that LM is relegated to press box so much and caved and sent him down to get playing time. I would think Army was probably expecting LM to be put in a position to succeed (2nd PP and offensive zone starts). Of course I have no idea what goes on behind the scenes so this all speculation at best.

[a smell of green grass]

This looks like another instance of the coaches and Army not being on the same page. Army had stated that he moved Saad so it would force the coaches to play Texier more. I'm wondering if he is planning to make more personnel moves based on his coaches player usage. It makes you wonder if he was upset that LM is relegated to press box so much and caved and sent him down to get playing time. I would think Army was probably expecting LM to be put in a position to succeed (2nd PP and offensive zone starts). Of course I have no idea what goes on behind the scenes so this all speculation at best.

Does anyone other than Army see value in Texier?

When I look at Texier, I see the kid on my soccer team that wore the expensive fancy shorts, dribbled like he was something, but never accomplished anything. It was a show about nothing.

[Red7]

There’s a reason why a 2x AHL All-Star has played fewer than 20 NHL games. He’s peaked.

[a smell of green grass]

There’s a reason why a 2x AHL All-Star has played fewer than 20 NHL games. He’s peaked.

Exactly.

And there's a reason why Montreal paid a ransom for 25-year old Dobson.