Most improved offseason

[Tony Palazzolo]

I pulled up this article on The Athletic. I look at the offseason and think they moved the needle a fair amount. Now I think this looks at a little more how it will affect next season, not future seasons. I was shocked at they believe the Blues got worse.

24. St. Louis Blues
Net Rating added: -7
In: Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael, Brandon Carlo
Out: Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Drouin

St. Louis’ pro scouting staff deserves some benefit of the doubt after the double offer sheet coup. But I would still prefer Jordan Kyrou over Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. Kyrou is a legit needle-mover; the other two currently look a lot closer to average. “Currently” is the key word there. It wouldn’t be a shock to see both improve within a new context. For now, though, the Blues do look worse off.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/744576 ... oved-2026/

[Whatashame]

I pulled up this article on The Athletic. I look at the offseason and think they moved the needle a fair amount. Now I think this looks at a little more how it will affect next season, not future seasons. I was shocked at they believe the Blues got worse.

24. St. Louis Blues
Net Rating added: -7
In: Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael, Brandon Carlo
Out: Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Drouin

St. Louis’ pro scouting staff deserves some benefit of the doubt after the double offer sheet coup. But I would still prefer Jordan Kyrou over Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. Kyrou is a legit needle-mover; the other two currently look a lot closer to average. “Currently” is the key word there. It wouldn’t be a shock to see both improve within a new context. For now, though, the Blues do look worse off.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/744576 ... oved-2026/

Opinions are like (donkey)(censored). Everybody has one.

[UMR-alum-05]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

[DawgDad]

There is truth in their take, though. MM and CM do need to prove they will blend in and pick up the slack. In that context I think MM has more to prove and more upside and CM is more likely the same player he has been.

The Blues also got a 1st round pick and the opportunity to, now or down the road, play someone who might become a better fit than Kyrou was.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Given the assets involved including draft picks- the question is whether we are better off with mcmicheal, mctavish and tynan lawrence or kyrou and mctavish (assuming are 11 and 29th enough to grab mctavish). I think in the near term people are foing to regret trading kyrou. Let's see how everything pans out and hooe our scouts are on it.

[dhsux]

Could not get into the article and I don't mind so much the contrarian view on the team but 30 plus goals or not the Blues clearly chose to go this route knowing more about JK than some outside viewer.

He is more right than wrong about the "average" play of McTavish and McMichael as it relates to last year anyway....both of those players need to come back to their hopefully true MO.....as the Blues are also counting on.

I believe this roster is significantly improved with the moves they have made and I'll couple that with better play coming this year from most of the core and role players.

[dhsux]

I think in the near term people are foing to regret trading kyrou. Let's see how everything pans out and hooe our scouts are on it.

I'm a fan of JK and wish him well but I do think he was moved for reasons aside from his offensive stats.

I hope it was the right play for the overall betterment of the team......and maybe for JK too.

[Cahokanut]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

[Frank Underwood]

I think that’s a brutal take…..but it’s the Athletic, so I don’t really care. In fact, if they rated the Blues towards the top of that list, I’d probably be concerned.

[DawgDad]

Given the assets involved including draft picks- the question is whether we are better off with mcmicheal, mctavish and tynan lawrence or kyrou and mctavish (assuming are 11 and 29th enough to grab mctavish). I think in the near term people are foing to regret trading kyrou. Let's see how everything pans out and hooe our scouts are on it.

They are effectively trading a guy who yes created goals and some problems for guys who they believe will become members of more cohesive and effective lines, and some futures. They clearly expect Carbonneau will eventually play RW and score goals, so the point production gap might be addressed near term by committee or longer term directly by him.

The Blues need to add goal production but they also need to become much better than an average defensive team. We will soon see where this all leads.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

I think in the near term people are foing to regret trading kyrou. Let's see how everything pans out and hooe our scouts are on it.

I'm a fan of JK and wish him well but I do think he was moved for reasons aside from his offensive stats.

I hope it was the right play for the overall betterment of the team......and maybe for JK too.

I agree. Right or wrong, I think this goes all the way back to his comments made when Berube was fired and the vitriol response to him from the fans. I just don’t feel that ever went away.

On the ice, it will be interesting to see how McT and McM fit in with the lines and who best plays the 2RW slot on their offside. Theoretically, if those two acquisitions can each produce 45-50 points (low bar imho), collectively, they will replace the production left by JK. And I think the Carlo addition is underrated. He solidifies that bottom pair with a true defensive Dman who is good on the PK, and a shot blocking machine.

My optimistic opinion is that we are 5-10 pints better than last year, but with the 84 game schedule, that still puts us in that wildcard bubble area. I hope they surprise me and overachieve on multiple levels with guys like Snuggs, Dvo, Mailloux, Lindstein and Neighbours taking the next step with bigger roles on the team.

[dhsux]

If they make the play offs.....I am even more confident in the improvement of this team when it really counts.

[TBone]

I pulled up this article on The Athletic. I look at the offseason and think they moved the needle a fair amount. Now I think this looks at a little more how it will affect next season, not future seasons. I was shocked at they believe the Blues got worse.

24. St. Louis Blues
Net Rating added: -7
In: Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael, Brandon Carlo
Out: Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Drouin

St. Louis’ pro scouting staff deserves some benefit of the doubt after the double offer sheet coup. But I would still prefer Jordan Kyrou over Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. Kyrou is a legit needle-mover; the other two currently look a lot closer to average. “Currently” is the key word there. It wouldn’t be a shock to see both improve within a new context. For now, though, the Blues do look worse off.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/744576 ... oved-2026/

Yeah, except we also got a projected middle 6 center in Milton Gästrin who fits the 200' player mold as most of the recent additions.

I have no doubt Kyrou is going to score 30+ this year playing with superstars in DC, but we're building a different style of team.

Hopefully the reactionary nitwits don't obsess on every Kyrou goal like they did with Bolduc to try to roast McMichael.

Kyrou had his chance here and couldn't or wouldn't give the full effort required to play this style.

[Pierre McGuire]

As far as Kyrou goes, sometimes it’s just best to move on from a player from both the organizations side as well as the players side. This is a great opportunity for Jordan to get his career back on track. The Blues did him a huge favor and they got a great return back for him. I hope he goes to Washington and scores 40 and if he does, it doesn’t mean the Blues made a mistake, sometimes you just have to move on from players. The best trades are ones that help both teams.

[ratonmono2]

As far as Kyrou goes, sometimes it’s just best to move on from a player from both the organizations side as well as the players side. This is a great opportunity for Jordan to get his career back on track. The Blues did him a huge favor and they got a great return back for him. I hope he goes to Washington and scores 40 and if he does, it doesn’t mean the Blues made a mistake, sometimes you just have to move on from players. The best trades are ones that help both teams.

This exactly. I actually think McMichael will be a better player for the Blues than McT. I like the player more anyway, perhaps McT will surprise me. But with Kyrou it was clear he needed a change of scenery two years ago and the Blues did a great job on the return. They got more than I figured they would after last season.

[Harry S Deals]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Yea a lot of analytics hot takes on losing Kyrou it seems like the eye test we have all witnessed for years is more accurate in Kyrous case.
After reading up on McTavish I have a feeling he's going to surprise a lot of people in the end this deal will rank up there with the offer sheet coup PLUS we got McMichael, Carlo and Johnston