Grading the Blues Offseason

Join the discussion about the Blues.

[Complete Blues coverage on STLtoday.com]

Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Blues Talk Moderators

Bacchk29
Forum User
Posts: 1419
Joined: 29 Apr 2019 07:24 am

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by Bacchk29 »

DawgDad wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:49 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:28 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:03 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 16:20 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 14:13 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 13:47 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 13:05 pm
son_of_foolsgold wrote: 23 Jul 2026 12:50 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 09:10 am
son_of_foolsgold wrote: 23 Jul 2026 07:23 am
The Average Gatsby wrote: 20 Jul 2026 16:24 pm My favorite part of this is that he said blues draft picks from the 2023 draft have only scored 35 points but players from across the class have scored 1,000 points. 1,000 points divided by 32 teams is….31.25 points.
The Blues had 3 1st round picks in 2023...therefore their expected number of points produced should be higher than the average.
That doesn’t make any sense just a couple of years after the draft ya doofus. Only a handful of players make the jump straight to the nhl so of course they’re going to score more total points than guys that were drafted later. This only hard to understand if you’re incredibly stupid.
The point I made is simple...and valid. If you have 3 first round picks, that's nearly 10% of the 1st round. Epected # of points by Blues draftees should therefore be higher than average.
Not when the draft was only a couple of years ago. None of those 3 players drafted by the blues have even played a full season in the nhl yet. You can’t accumulate points in the nhl if you aren’t playing in it dumb[ash]. You’re point would be valid after a decade but now it just makes you look like a fool.
10th overall pick should be a 2C w/ 50-60 pt year this year. Apparently the GM doesn’t see that happening thus the McTavish deal. Otherwise you have a bottom 6 and a 3rd pair D out of that draft.
Dvorsky has played 70 games, Stenberg has played 30, and Lindstein has played 20. You don’t know what any of them are going to be yet. And expecting someone to be a 2C 50-60 pt player when they’re 21 just because they’re the 10th overall pick is simply not true. Here’s the last 10 years of 10th overall picks.IMG_0799.jpeg
It’s a fair point about the 10th pick. I’m addressing the draft and the quality of the picks at this juncture. There’s no impact so far. Stenberg and Lindstein aren’t expected to make the club this year. Otherwise they wouldn’t have signed veterans to block the path.
This bolded part is also not true. We didn’t acquire any LD at all so I’m not sure who is going block Lindstein. The only forward we signed is Ross Johnston and if he’s playing any higher than the 4th line this team is in serious trouble.

As for the trades, McMichael replaces Kyrou and McTavish replaces Schenn. I’m not 100% sure that Stenberg will make the team but we didn’t acquire anyone to block him either.
Torpo Johnston Berggren Sunny Walker if Stenberg can’t make the top 9 he won’t be here. Tucker still under contract Lindstein won’t take Kessels place as 7th D. You don’t think there’s veterans blocking their path?
Finally got something right, the 2LD is NOT a threat to take Kessel's spot. Sheesh. :roll:
Lindstein is our 2LD? Since when? Regardless there’s no impact there. You just don’t get it I guess.
DawgDad
Forum User
Posts: 9400
Joined: 16 May 2019 10:58 am

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by DawgDad »

Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 19:49 pm
DawgDad wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:49 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:28 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:03 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 16:20 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 14:13 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 13:47 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 13:05 pm
son_of_foolsgold wrote: 23 Jul 2026 12:50 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 09:10 am
son_of_foolsgold wrote: 23 Jul 2026 07:23 am
The Average Gatsby wrote: 20 Jul 2026 16:24 pm My favorite part of this is that he said blues draft picks from the 2023 draft have only scored 35 points but players from across the class have scored 1,000 points. 1,000 points divided by 32 teams is….31.25 points.
The Blues had 3 1st round picks in 2023...therefore their expected number of points produced should be higher than the average.
That doesn’t make any sense just a couple of years after the draft ya doofus. Only a handful of players make the jump straight to the nhl so of course they’re going to score more total points than guys that were drafted later. This only hard to understand if you’re incredibly stupid.
The point I made is simple...and valid. If you have 3 first round picks, that's nearly 10% of the 1st round. Epected # of points by Blues draftees should therefore be higher than average.
Not when the draft was only a couple of years ago. None of those 3 players drafted by the blues have even played a full season in the nhl yet. You can’t accumulate points in the nhl if you aren’t playing in it dumb[ash]. You’re point would be valid after a decade but now it just makes you look like a fool.
10th overall pick should be a 2C w/ 50-60 pt year this year. Apparently the GM doesn’t see that happening thus the McTavish deal. Otherwise you have a bottom 6 and a 3rd pair D out of that draft.
Dvorsky has played 70 games, Stenberg has played 30, and Lindstein has played 20. You don’t know what any of them are going to be yet. And expecting someone to be a 2C 50-60 pt player when they’re 21 just because they’re the 10th overall pick is simply not true. Here’s the last 10 years of 10th overall picks.IMG_0799.jpeg
It’s a fair point about the 10th pick. I’m addressing the draft and the quality of the picks at this juncture. There’s no impact so far. Stenberg and Lindstein aren’t expected to make the club this year. Otherwise they wouldn’t have signed veterans to block the path.
This bolded part is also not true. We didn’t acquire any LD at all so I’m not sure who is going block Lindstein. The only forward we signed is Ross Johnston and if he’s playing any higher than the 4th line this team is in serious trouble.

As for the trades, McMichael replaces Kyrou and McTavish replaces Schenn. I’m not 100% sure that Stenberg will make the team but we didn’t acquire anyone to block him either.
Torpo Johnston Berggren Sunny Walker if Stenberg can’t make the top 9 he won’t be here. Tucker still under contract Lindstein won’t take Kessels place as 7th D. You don’t think there’s veterans blocking their path?
Finally got something right, the 2LD is NOT a threat to take Kessel's spot. Sheesh. :roll:
Lindstein is our 2LD? Since when? Regardless there’s no impact there. You just don’t get it I guess.
I get "it", I don't get you and I'm done trying.
netboy65
Forum User
Posts: 2707
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:54 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by netboy65 »

The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 18:40 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:28 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 17:03 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 16:20 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 14:13 pm
Bacchk29 wrote: 23 Jul 2026 13:47 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 13:05 pm
son_of_foolsgold wrote: 23 Jul 2026 12:50 pm
The Average Gatsby wrote: 23 Jul 2026 09:10 am
son_of_foolsgold wrote: 23 Jul 2026 07:23 am
The Average Gatsby wrote: 20 Jul 2026 16:24 pm My favorite part of this is that he said blues draft picks from the 2023 draft have only scored 35 points but players from across the class have scored 1,000 points. 1,000 points divided by 32 teams is….31.25 points.
The Blues had 3 1st round picks in 2023...therefore their expected number of points produced should be higher than the average.
That doesn’t make any sense just a couple of years after the draft ya doofus. Only a handful of players make the jump straight to the nhl so of course they’re going to score more total points than guys that were drafted later. This only hard to understand if you’re incredibly stupid.
The point I made is simple...and valid. If you have 3 first round picks, that's nearly 10% of the 1st round. Epected # of points by Blues draftees should therefore be higher than average.
Not when the draft was only a couple of years ago. None of those 3 players drafted by the blues have even played a full season in the nhl yet. You can’t accumulate points in the nhl if you aren’t playing in it dumb[ash]. You’re point would be valid after a decade but now it just makes you look like a fool.
10th overall pick should be a 2C w/ 50-60 pt year this year. Apparently the GM doesn’t see that happening thus the McTavish deal. Otherwise you have a bottom 6 and a 3rd pair D out of that draft.
Dvorsky has played 70 games, Stenberg has played 30, and Lindstein has played 20. You don’t know what any of them are going to be yet. And expecting someone to be a 2C 50-60 pt player when they’re 21 just because they’re the 10th overall pick is simply not true. Here’s the last 10 years of 10th overall picks.IMG_0799.jpeg
It’s a fair point about the 10th pick. I’m addressing the draft and the quality of the picks at this juncture. There’s no impact so far. Stenberg and Lindstein aren’t expected to make the club this year. Otherwise they wouldn’t have signed veterans to block the path.
This bolded part is also not true. We didn’t acquire any LD at all so I’m not sure who is going block Lindstein. The only forward we signed is Ross Johnston and if he’s playing any higher than the 4th line this team is in serious trouble.

As for the trades, McMichael replaces Kyrou and McTavish replaces Schenn. I’m not 100% sure that Stenberg will make the team but we didn’t acquire anyone to block him either.
Torpo Johnston Berggren Sunny Walker if Stenberg can’t make the top 9 he won’t be here. Tucker still under contract Lindstein won’t take Kessels place as 7th D. You don’t think there’s veterans blocking their path?
You said we signed veterans to block them. Tucker was here last year and Lindstein played over him down the stretch. I’d be very surprised if Tucker plays and Lindstein goes to the minors. I’m less sure about Stenberg. But of the forwards you listed only Johnston is new to the team. I guess you could make the argument they “added” Sunny and Berggren since they re-signed them. But realistically the only person I could see playing on the 3rd line over Stenberg is Berggren. Toro, Johnston, Sunny and Walker are all 4th liners at best.
Key phrase “at best”. None should be on the roster
a smell of green grass
Forum User
Posts: 3673
Joined: 20 Aug 2024 15:51 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by a smell of green grass »

I'd like to put a bow on this package.

The Blues have brought in 3 notable YOUNG players that were mostly DISCARDS from other weak teams (McTavish, McMichael, and McMailloux), and they are all first-in-line to the MOST KEY POSITIONS on the roster. Each is heading toward long-term deals. Each player has now IMMEDIATELY AND LIKELY PERMANENTLY MOVED AHEAD of the players that Army selected in the NHL Draft in Round 1 in 2023 and 2024.

Without a doubt, this signals that Army got VERY LITTLE VALUE from the NHL Draft during the Re-Whatever. Army has almost zero confidence that the draftees will amount to much.

No journalist will ask why Army got such little value in the NHL Draft. Few BluesTalkers will ask why.

ASOGG will tell you why this happened... It's because Army chooses to draft late in Round 1, where the elite talent is long gone. It was a falsehood that the Blues excuted a Re-Whatever. The goal of Re-Whatevers is to acquire NEW CORE TALENT. It is not to acquire 3rd- and 4th-liners 5 years later. The Blues completed a 3 year WASTE OF TIME. That is what they completed.

Now you know.
The Average Gatsby
Forum User
Posts: 692
Joined: 04 Jun 2025 15:44 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by The Average Gatsby »

a smell of green grass wrote: 23 Jul 2026 21:15 pm I'd like to put a bow on this package.

The Blues have brought in 3 notable YOUNG players that were mostly DISCARDS from other weak teams (McTavish, McMichael, and McMailloux), and they are all first-in-line to the MOST KEY POSITIONS on the roster. Each is heading toward long-term deals. Each player has now IMMEDIATELY AND LIKELY PERMANENTLY MOVED AHEAD of the players that Army selected in the NHL Draft in Round 1 in 2023 and 2024.

Without a doubt, this signals that Army got VERY LITTLE VALUE from the NHL Draft during the Re-Whatever. Army has almost zero confidence that the draftees will amount to much.

No journalist will ask why Army got such little value in the NHL Draft. Few BluesTalkers will ask why.

ASOGG will tell you why this happened... It's because Army chooses to draft late in Round 1, where the elite talent is long gone. It was a falsehood that the Blues excuted a Re-Whatever. The goal of Re-Whatevers is to acquire NEW CORE TALENT. It is not to acquire 3rd- and 4th-liners 5 years later. The Blues completed a 3 year WASTE OF TIME. That is what they completed.

Now you know.
Bro are you really 65 years old? Lol. Lmao even.
IMG_0800.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
DIAMONDINTHEROUGH
Forum User
Posts: 449
Joined: 25 May 2024 01:04 am

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by DIAMONDINTHEROUGH »

The Hockey News thinks MacTavish will be one of the top 5 bounceback players this year.
DIAMONDINTHEROUGH
Forum User
Posts: 449
Joined: 25 May 2024 01:04 am

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by DIAMONDINTHEROUGH »

I sure hope I live to be 65.
zamadoo
Forum User
Posts: 2671
Joined: 23 May 2024 15:11 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by zamadoo »

The only correct grade is A-

Once we know more about the prospects in several years, we can modify to B+ or A+.

Now that this is settled...
a smell of green grass
Forum User
Posts: 3673
Joined: 20 Aug 2024 15:51 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by a smell of green grass »

zamadoo wrote: 24 Jul 2026 06:08 am The only correct grade is A-

Once we know more about the prospects in several years, we can modify to B+ or A+.

Now that this is settled...
Forget giving grades in the future. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. Most BluesTalkers never look back. That is the only way Army gets anything close to A in 2026.

Army addressed the major holes in his roster in 2026. The ignorant will think that that was smart. Hockey experts know that there shouldn't have been gaping holes to begin with.
earp
Forum User
Posts: 970
Joined: 22 Nov 2020 08:18 am

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by earp »

Yea But:
The last true franchise player the St. Louis Blues had — a guy you build the entire team around — was Chris Pronger, ending in 2004.
After him, the Blues have had stars, leaders, and elite contributors… but not a single true franchise cornerstone.

Gotta have something to start with!

Bobby Tom-a good player-not a franchise player-and not a captain!
Blues need/have to have a starter-build around that
DoneLurking
Forum User
Posts: 372
Joined: 30 Jun 2022 12:26 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by DoneLurking »

earp wrote: 24 Jul 2026 07:16 am Yea But:
The last true franchise player the St. Louis Blues had — a guy you build the entire team around — was Chris Pronger, ending in 2004.
After him, the Blues have had stars, leaders, and elite contributors… but not a single true franchise cornerstone.

Gotta have something to start with!

Bobby Tom-a good player-not a franchise player-and not a captain!
Blues need/have to have a starter-build around that
So, you're saying you don't need a franchise player to win a Stanley Cup? Then what are we all arguing about exactly?
bud white
Forum User
Posts: 2308
Joined: 26 Oct 2018 21:25 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by bud white »

earp wrote: 24 Jul 2026 07:16 am Yea But:
The last true franchise player the St. Louis Blues had — a guy you build the entire team around — was Chris Pronger, ending in 2004.
After him, the Blues have had stars, leaders, and elite contributors… but not a single true franchise cornerstone.

Gotta have something to start with!

Bobby Tom-a good player-not a franchise player-and not a captain!
Blues need/have to have a starter-build around that
Man, that was such a great draft by the Blues when they landed Pronger. Very astute move.

Yep. You can't build a franchise unless you draft a generational player like Pronger.
BluesDom
Forum User
Posts: 1086
Joined: 19 Jun 2024 18:16 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by BluesDom »

We have a franchise forward in Robert Thomas.
He's here. It is time to acknowledge it.

27 yrs old Point per game player.
26-27 will be his best year yet.
already hit 81 pts and 86!
hit 26 goals!!

Blues offseason was pretty good.
LGB73
Forum User
Posts: 673
Joined: 29 May 2024 15:18 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by LGB73 »

Not worth putting a grade on as the season will grade it for you.
son_of_foolsgold
Forum User
Posts: 3150
Joined: 12 Dec 2018 17:52 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by son_of_foolsgold »

DIAMONDINTHEROUGH wrote: 23 Jul 2026 23:23 pm The Hockey News thinks MacTavish will be one of the top 5 bounceback players this year.
The Hockey News also thought Radim Mrtka was the 4th best prospect outside the NHL, yet most of the fools on here still bash him just because PArayko rejected the trade that would have brought him to the Blues. Strange how that works...
son_of_foolsgold
Forum User
Posts: 3150
Joined: 12 Dec 2018 17:52 pm

Re: Grading the Blues Offseason

Post by son_of_foolsgold »

bud white wrote: 24 Jul 2026 09:48 am
earp wrote: 24 Jul 2026 07:16 am Yea But:
The last true franchise player the St. Louis Blues had — a guy you build the entire team around — was Chris Pronger, ending in 2004.
After him, the Blues have had stars, leaders, and elite contributors… but not a single true franchise cornerstone.

Gotta have something to start with!

Bobby Tom-a good player-not a franchise player-and not a captain!
Blues need/have to have a starter-build around that
Man, that was such a great draft by the Blues when they landed Pronger. Very astute move.

Yep. You can't build a franchise unless you draft a generational player like Pronger.
The Blues did not draft Pronger...they traded Shanahan for him.