The roster for '26-'27 is set but who ya got starting

[Harry S Deals]

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McMichael McTavish Buchnevich
Stenberg Dvorsky Neighbours
Dube Suter Toropchenko

Broberg Mailloux
Lindstein Parayko
Fowler Carlo

Berggren, Finley, Tucker

I honestly have no idea how the 4th line will shake out. I just don’t think Finley is very good. And I’d love to see Jiricek surprise us and push his way onto the team but the roster is too crowded.

Ross Johnston is absolutely a starter will probably play 65-84 games Im skeptical on Dube

[The Average Gatsby]

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McMichael McTavish Buchnevich
Stenberg Dvorsky Neighbours
Dube Suter Toropchenko

Broberg Mailloux
Lindstein Parayko
Fowler Carlo

Berggren, Finley, Tucker

I honestly have no idea how the 4th line will shake out. I just don’t think Finley is very good. And I’d love to see Jiricek surprise us and push his way onto the team but the roster is too crowded.

Ross Johnston is absolutely a starter will probably play 65-84 games Im skeptical on Dube

Yep, forgot about him. I hope he doesn’t play that many games but he’s definitely on the roster.

[Old_Goat]

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McMichael McTavish Buchnevich
Stenberg Dvorsky Neighbours
Dube Suter Toropchenko

Broberg Mailloux
Lindstein Parayko
Fowler Carlo

Berggren, Finley, Tucker

I honestly have no idea how the 4th line will shake out. I just don’t think Finley is very good. And I’d love to see Jiricek surprise us and push his way onto the team but the roster is too crowded.

Ross Johnston is absolutely a starter will probably play 65-84 games Im skeptical on Dube

Yes.
Although I think Johnston will be closer to the 65 games played.
Dube is out -- possibly claimed by another team, but he's headed to the AHL for the Blues. He's under contract for emergency (i.e. a lot of IRs at the same time), but there are some very good younger prospects down there whom could benefit from the call-up in emergency and likely do as well as Dube. Also, he is here to push the competition in pre-season. He is more valuable to the organization as an experienced player for the AHL roster.
Who knows how Sundqvist shows? Finley and he are in competition. We'll see.

[son_of_foolsgold]

Trade Lindstein and Suter for Nikishin and Kotkaniemi.

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McM, McT, McBuch
Neighbours Dvorsky Berggren
Johnston Kotkaniemi Torpchenko

Dube, Finley (Sunny on LTIR, Walker waived to AHL, Stenberg to AHL)

Broberg Mailloux
Nikishin Parayko
Fowler Carlo
Tucker

Hofer
Binnington

Kill penalties with Torp/Kotkaniemi and Buch/McMichael. Finley when he makes the lineup some nights.

Johnston sits 30 or so games for Dube or Finley whoever earns the playing time.

Stenberg first call up.

Oh and have fun playing that team lol. Every defender is a tree and every line can bring some pain.

Why would CAR want to trade Nikishin for Suter and Lindstein? Why would we?

1. We lose our enviable center depth. Kolkatniemi couldnt even play 4C for them, he's that bad. Why saddle a young Blues team with that much suck?

2. I think CAR would need an NHL D back. Lindstein isnt that, yet.

3. CAR's precedent is Necas, I expect then to bridge Nikishin and then trade him for a top 4 LHD.

4. Nikishin reportedly wants 8M. What's he done to warrant that? Aside from draft pedigree, I'm not sure why some folks really want him. I'm wary of anyone asking 8M after 1 year.

Nikishin at $8 mil will be a bargain if the Blues can lock him up for 4-5 years at that figure.

[Harry S Deals]

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McMichael McTavish Buchnevich
Stenberg Dvorsky Neighbours
Dube Suter Toropchenko

Broberg Mailloux
Lindstein Parayko
Fowler Carlo

Berggren, Finley, Tucker

I honestly have no idea how the 4th line will shake out. I just don’t think Finley is very good. And I’d love to see Jiricek surprise us and push his way onto the team but the roster is too crowded.

Ross Johnston is absolutely a starter will probably play 65-84 games Im skeptical on Dube

Yep, forgot about him. I hope he doesn’t play that many games but he’s definitely on the roster.

I have a sneaky feeling hes going to become a fan favorite pretty quickly

[The Average Gatsby]

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McMichael McTavish Buchnevich
Stenberg Dvorsky Neighbours
Dube Suter Toropchenko

Broberg Mailloux
Lindstein Parayko
Fowler Carlo

Berggren, Finley, Tucker

I honestly have no idea how the 4th line will shake out. I just don’t think Finley is very good. And I’d love to see Jiricek surprise us and push his way onto the team but the roster is too crowded.

Ross Johnston is absolutely a starter will probably play 65-84 games Im skeptical on Dube

Yep, forgot about him. I hope he doesn’t play that many games but he’s definitely on the roster.

I have a sneaky feeling hes going to become a fan favorite pretty quickly

You’re probably right. Fans love tough guys. I don’t hate fighting in the abstract. I just don’t think it actually deters cheap shots or contributes to winning games.

[LGB73]

My preference would be. You shelter that 3rd line a bit with offensive zone starts.

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

[Harry S Deals]

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McMichael McTavish Buchnevich
Stenberg Dvorsky Neighbours
Dube Suter Toropchenko

Broberg Mailloux
Lindstein Parayko
Fowler Carlo

Berggren, Finley, Tucker

I honestly have no idea how the 4th line will shake out. I just don’t think Finley is very good. And I’d love to see Jiricek surprise us and push his way onto the team but the roster is too crowded.

Ross Johnston is absolutely a starter will probably play 65-84 games Im skeptical on Dube

Yep, forgot about him. I hope he doesn’t play that many games but he’s definitely on the roster.

I have a sneaky feeling hes going to become a fan favorite pretty quickly

You’re probably right. Fans love tough guys. I don’t hate fighting in the abstract. I just don’t think it actually deters cheap shots or contributes to winning games.

Aside from actual fighting Johnston is a monster in the NHL on the forecheck this is what this team has lacked. He skates pretty well for a 6'5" guy he is going to pummel everything in site its a factor. Esp Game 1 at Dallas Ross Johnston could get Dallas D off their game a bit, distract them this is his game. When he hits he hurts people. The fighting for me is a side show other players know he will fight so if you take a run at Thomas for instance you know Johnston is coming over the boards.
In the big picture now the Blues left side with Holloway, Neighbours, Johnston is more dangerous way harder to play against vs last years meh line up. Plus its said Johnston practices hard, is a great team guy, holds guys accountable. Lots of plusses here

[Harry S Deals]

My preference would be. You shelter that 3rd line a bit with offensive zone starts.

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

This is where i am at too i like this line up. If Stenberg makes the team then likely Dube is waived, two of Berggren, Walker, Sunny, Finley make the pressbox

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

Sunny/Berggren

This is how i see it panning out aside from any more unexpected developments

[Old_Goat]

My preference would be. You shelter that 3rd line a bit with offensive zone starts.

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

This is where i am at too i like this line up. If Stenberg makes the team then likely Dube is waived, two of Berggren, Walker, Sunny, Finley make the pressbox

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

Sunny/Berggren

This is how i see it panning out aside from any more unexpected developments

Yes...but you may see more of Berggren than Toropchenko in the lineup on the ice.

[UMR-alum-05]

When I look at the roster layout I try to always consider the penalty kill. It's extremely important.

With the current roster candidates...I see the following as being ideal for the PK.

Torp, Finley, Suter, Buch, McM, Stenberg...all those guys won't be in the lineup every night. At least four or five of them need to be though. And someone else will have to kill penalties also.

Many of the other guys just flat out should not be on the PK. Thomas can see a shift or two but the team needs Thomas to attack. Not carry the PK.

[hockey jedi]

I've been a fan since the Blues came here in 67. I have never seen this kind of organizational depth for the Blues. Springfield will be loaded and maybe one of the best teams in the A. Also, I believe there is a value to growing our own players. I believe you get more loyalty from the player if you grow them.

[UMR-alum-05]

Here's another possibility for the lineup.

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McM McT Buch
Dvorsky Suter Neighbours
Johnston Finley Torpchenko

Berggren, Dube

Stenberg first man up. Dube and Berggren in, Johnston and Torp out of we need more speed and scoring.

[The Average Gatsby]

Here's another possibility for the lineup.

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McM McT Buch
Dvorsky Suter Neighbours
Johnston Finley Torpchenko

Berggren, Dube

Stenberg first man up. Dube and Berggren in, Johnston and Torp out of we need more speed and scoring.

They didn’t play dvorsky on the wing last year so I don’t see any reason why they would this year. Whenever suter and dvorsky were on the same line last year dvorsky was the center.

[UMR-alum-05]

Here's another possibility for the lineup.

Holloway Thomas Snuggerud
McM McT Buch
Dvorsky Suter Neighbours
Johnston Finley Torpchenko

Berggren, Dube

Stenberg first man up. Dube and Berggren in, Johnston and Torp out of we need more speed and scoring.

They didn’t play dvorsky on the wing last year so I don’t see any reason why they would this year. Whenever suter and dvorsky were on the same line last year dvorsky was the center.

Fair point. Was just getting them on the same line.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

My preference would be. You shelter that 3rd line a bit with offensive zone starts.

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

This is where i am at too i like this line up. If Stenberg makes the team then likely Dube is waived, two of Berggren, Walker, Sunny, Finley make the pressbox

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
Neighbours-McTavish-Buch
McMichael-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Johnston-Suter-Torp

Sunny/Berggren

This is how i see it panning out aside from any more unexpected developments

I’m in agreement except for that 3rd line. I think Berggren plays RW and Stenberg starts in the AHL. Sunny and Finley become the extra forwards.