Are The St. Louis Blues The Sleeper Team In The NHL's Western Conference?

[aslord]

I like the roster changes a lot but I really wish we could acquire a 20+ scorer with a RH shot. I'm going to keep tooting that horn.

Some people will say Carbonneau but to me he's a couple seasons out.

Be interesting to see how it all plays out. With the moves they've made they must like that they have for now.

Could still see Suter getting moved here at some point.

I would be willing to bet all the money in my pocket that Carbonneau would score 20 goals this season with the Blues.

[Atlantis17A]

I think Peterson makes the team before Carbo out of training camp. It’s increasingly becoming a young man’s game and so our youth will one of our strong suits. I really like the youth movement on defense over the past few years.

[Hockey Pete]

I like the roster changes a lot but I really wish we could acquire a 20+ scorer with a RH shot. I'm going to keep tooting that horn.

Some people will say Carbonneau but to me he's a couple seasons out.

Be interesting to see how it all plays out. With the moves they've made they must like that they have for now.

Could still see Suter getting moved here at some point.

Pretty much agree with all of this. Blues are still short a RW, ideally, but it is likely a 1-2 year issue.

I agree with the article that the Blues could be a sleeper team. First, we have to see how the new players blend in and avoid a mass dose of sophomore slump. If you extend the sophomore slump concept to established players who moved up into bigger roles (Hofer, e.g.) it's a bigger risk or potential issue. BUT if the guys play their roles effectively this team will benefit from more consistent play and even moderate repair of the horrendous OT record. The group that figures to open the season in St. Louis is young but not green, with the exception of perhaps Lindstein.

With all the young players there is a lot more room for synergy and growth of their games. There is untapped sniper and slot potential for the PP, fresh young legs and bodies for the PK. A guy like Snuggerud could absolutely go off like fireworks on the PP and Dvorsky's shot is a weapon, too. Mailloux and Broberg have plenty more to offer as offensive catalysts than what we've seen. Untapped and unharnessed skills and upside potential that doesn't exist in an older team.

Smell the roses, not the soiled grass.

What I recommend is that you go into the season fully aware of what just happened with our McBooby prize (McTavish, McMichael, and McMailoux).

While other NHL Cities are being fed potential STEAK OF.A LIFETIME (Aka Celebrini, Schaefer), St Louis is being fed the hot dogs leftover from the kid table in Anaheim.

As long as you don't look anywhere else and compare, maybe those hot dogs won't taste too bad---SO JUST DO THAT. Don't compare. That's the solution.

Covetousness is a sin, not a virtue. Benchmarking is fine, analytical, objective. While SJ and Chicago fans were suffering through losing season after losing season we got treated to some great hockey, a 109 point season and very competitive playoffs and a gut-wrenching volatile 7-game plus 2OT playoff vs the President's Trophy team. The Blues now have largely transitioned to a new younger core with more key pieces (talented players) still on the horizon. They will be compelling to watch, perhaps at times frustrating but watching the kids develop promises to be rewarding.

Smell the roses, not the soiled grass.

So it's covetousness and too much to ask that Blues fans get the same excitement as EVERY OTHER NHL CITY? Why are we the only city without a HOFer on the roster? Without a sniff at a HOFer? Without a face of the franchise? Without even a decent Captain? And we've been in this boat for 5+ years, and there is NO END IN SIGHT!

I suggest that you put down the pom poms and pick up you some courage to speak up for the state of hockey in St Louis. You should be old enough to know not to tolerate this.

Leave the basement, go and find your Mom, and please tell her you are out of your dufus meds again. I assume that the few weeks of peace and quiet the board had, when you were away, was because you had got back on your treatment plan? Get help, seriously!

Please don't feed the troll so he can't derail a good thread...

I thank you in advance...

[BalotelliMassive]

Who has transitioned straight from the QMJHL to the NHL....?

[BluesDom]

The Blues have left no room for Carbonneau.
Stenberg will be lucky to make it and he should be here!
Too many bodies and not enough spots. Justin can earn it in AHL.

Kaskimaki has earned a spot, and he will not get one,
At this point is Carbonneau a better option than Pekarcik, Stenberg and Kaskimaki? One could argue--NO!
Let JC earn it.

[Nublues69]

I think carbs will make it.

If he does, I hope fans and the coaching staff have a LOT of patience for losing hockey. Because he will need to play 2nd or 3rd line minutes to develop, and play through the inevitable mistakes he will make facing higher caliber opponents.

It worked for Perron. But those were some awful teams that could afford playing for the future. This team isn't being marketed as another "Come Grow With Us" year.

you must be a dem trying to add fear into a conversation. I think we all know the blues are going to have ups and downs. You act like we are 1 player away from contenders LOL. seriously If carbs makes it then its caused he earned it. You said there was no way Dvorsky was going to play....look how that turned out. Was a very solid rookie year. Why dont you stop trying to be right and look toward the future. We are not a contender so why block a player with (bleep) like bergren

[Nublues69]

Who has transitioned straight from the QMJHL to the NHL....?

David perron

lol if you were blues fan you would know that

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[Nublues69]

The Blues have left no room for Carbonneau.
Stenberg will be lucky to make it and he should be here!
Too many bodies and not enough spots. Justin can earn it in AHL.

Kaskimaki has earned a spot, and he will not get one,
At this point is Carbonneau a better option than Pekarcik, Stenberg and Kaskimaki? One could argue--NO!
Let JC earn it.

Jamie rivers thinks so you should listen to the fast lane daily

[bud white]

I like the roster changes a lot but I really wish we could acquire a 20+ scorer with a RH shot. I'm going to keep tooting that horn.

Some people will say Carbonneau but to me he's a couple seasons out.

Be interesting to see how it all plays out. With the moves they've made they must like that they have for now.

Could still see Suter getting moved here at some point.

lol he makes team this year

Carbonneau? Highly doubt that. He's 19. Plays an incomplete game. Blues are trying to be a playoff team.

Kid has talent but he couldn't stay on the AHL ice late last year.

I disgree and so does Jamie rivers. he stayed the longest out of all the prospects last year. Was the Highest goal scorer in the Q and was the second highest in the entire juniors. He had 3 games in the AHL playoffs, of course he didnt get that much playing time. He didnt earn it yet.

I think Carboneau is better then bergren plain and simple. SO does Jamie Rivers, carbs is going to make a case for himself and make the team. Its time for our youth to play instead of place holders like bergrem

Berggren isn't a placeholder. He was very highly touted (Wings drafted him 33rd overall - which is just outside of the first round.). Frankly, they may have rushed him -

It will be very tough for Carbo to make the roster out of camp. As I mentioned in a previous post, the league is now down to 4 Preseason games. I'm sure he'll get at least 2 and probably more, but so few games will make it tough.

[Blues Dave]

One big thing needs to happen with this pretty spanking new Blues team. They will need to jell. If it's a limited discussion about the boys making the playoffs, same answer for me. Depends on how they play as a team, not a bunch of individuals. You could think about it this way too. What's the chances of our boys being the worst team. What I believe is that we're gonna have a lot of fun this season. JMHO

[bud white]

The core that remains from last year came within only a few points of the playoffs - and were essentially doomed by a poor start.

Moving forward, they have far more NHL level depth. More experienced young talent, and are stronger down the middle. I am a bit concerned re: RHD, but they got bigger on the backline and have longer sticks not only on D, but some critical positions up front as well (Finley, for example). PK should be better simple because the longer sticks block more of the East / West passes that the lion's share of teams employ on the power play.

It will come down to chemistry. But this now has the markings of a Monty team. They will be heavy and hard to play against from lines 1-4.

[Nublues69]

I like the roster changes a lot but I really wish we could acquire a 20+ scorer with a RH shot. I'm going to keep tooting that horn.

Some people will say Carbonneau but to me he's a couple seasons out.

Be interesting to see how it all plays out. With the moves they've made they must like that they have for now.

Could still see Suter getting moved here at some point.

lol he makes team this year

Carbonneau? Highly doubt that. He's 19. Plays an incomplete game. Blues are trying to be a playoff team.

Kid has talent but he couldn't stay on the AHL ice late last year.

I disgree and so does Jamie rivers. he stayed the longest out of all the prospects last year. Was the Highest goal scorer in the Q and was the second highest in the entire juniors. He had 3 games in the AHL playoffs, of course he didnt get that much playing time. He didnt earn it yet.

I think Carboneau is better then bergren plain and simple. SO does Jamie Rivers, carbs is going to make a case for himself and make the team. Its time for our youth to play instead of place holders like bergrem

Berggren isn't a placeholder. He was very highly touted (Wings drafted him 33rd overall - which is just outside of the first round.). Frankly, they may have rushed him -

It will be very tough for Carbo to make the roster out of camp. As I mentioned in a previous post, the league is now down to 4 Preseason games. I'm sure he'll get at least 2 and probably more, but so few games will make it tough.

he is 26 and got 22 points. I wasnt impressed in any way shape or form. Otto got 10 as 20 year old and in a fraction of the games.

I guess we will see.

[Nublues69]

Who has transitioned straight from the QMJHL to the NHL....?

ready to eat crow captain hawk nutts


also plenty of others have done it as well.........

[Sophisticated Shoes]

Everyone has been talking about Chicago, Montreal and recently SJ as far as how stacked they are, so in the long term, I do think the Blues are a sleeper as they have the bones to become a powerhouse over the next few seasons. However, as of next year, no, I think the team has to find it's identity, leadership, and game as a unit and that might take a year or much of the upcoming season before they become a unit. A sleeper for the next 2-4 seasons yes, for next year, unlikely, but doesn't mean they won't be a playoff team.

[bud white]

I like the roster changes a lot but I really wish we could acquire a 20+ scorer with a RH shot. I'm going to keep tooting that horn.

Some people will say Carbonneau but to me he's a couple seasons out.

Be interesting to see how it all plays out. With the moves they've made they must like that they have for now.

Could still see Suter getting moved here at some point.

lol he makes team this year

Carbonneau? Highly doubt that. He's 19. Plays an incomplete game. Blues are trying to be a playoff team.

Kid has talent but he couldn't stay on the AHL ice late last year.

I disgree and so does Jamie rivers. he stayed the longest out of all the prospects last year. Was the Highest goal scorer in the Q and was the second highest in the entire juniors. He had 3 games in the AHL playoffs, of course he didnt get that much playing time. He didnt earn it yet.

I think Carboneau is better then bergren plain and simple. SO does Jamie Rivers, carbs is going to make a case for himself and make the team. Its time for our youth to play instead of place holders like bergrem

Berggren isn't a placeholder. He was very highly touted (Wings drafted him 33rd overall - which is just outside of the first round.). Frankly, they may have rushed him -

It will be very tough for Carbo to make the roster out of camp. As I mentioned in a previous post, the league is now down to 4 Preseason games. I'm sure he'll get at least 2 and probably more, but so few games will make it tough.

he is 26 and got 22 points. I wasnt impressed in any way shape or form. Otto got 10 as 20 year old and in a fraction of the games.

I guess we will see.

I saw some nice flashes from him - but I'll grant that it was inconsistent. Frankly, he strikes me as one of those guys who lost his way and is lacking confidence. I see the hockey sense he possesses.

The main point I was trying to make is that it will be tougher for Carbo to make the roster given the lack of preseason games vs the Blues keeping a guy with NHL experience and has a familiarity with how the Blues play.

[Harry S Deals]

Who has transitioned straight from the QMJHL to the NHL....?

David perron

lol if you were blues fan you would know that

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Yea the '08-'09 Blues were gdamn terrible, 79 pt team they had room for a 19 yr old David Perron, this years team not so much but nice thought for sure