Does Zubov mean Nikishin is coming?

[callitwhatyouwant]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

neighbours doesn't ding the top 6 but middle 6. He isn't a bonified 2nd liner/ more of a tweener at the moment. But you don't trade guys like that while you are trying to build a "core" of young guys. He's clearly the locker room guy. I forgot who told the story, but he's on the canes or was. He was talking on the spittin chicklits podcast like 3 years ago about the fall of buffalo. He said, when he was in buffalo, the team had just come off it's last playoff appearance. They had 1 down year (maybe i'm not right on this one) and then the front office started treating it like fantasy hockey. Trading away core locker room guys to get talent on paper. Team turned to garbage after because they didn't understand what made the team click. that's why you don't trade neighbours.

Lindstein on the other hand, I am holding out big faith on this guy. The team has talked him up for a couple years now. He passed the eye test when he came up too. I can see why you would go for a Nikishin, but you would hope you could do it while keeping your young guys. But they are high on Jiricek. So maybe they figure they would run out of room?

[skilles]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

Losing Buch would actually be pretty detrimental to the Blues right now unless he is replaced IMO. While the future of that trade might work out the short term would not. We need another rw not to get rid of one.

I doubt they'd be interested in Buch and I don't think we should try to change their mind.

[BluesDom]

The Blues would be stupid to trade Neighbours. I dont think they are stupid.
They would be silly to trade Lindstein also. or Stenberg, See what these guys are.



This Nikishin garbage is not happening in my opinion.

Why is this guy so great? Let go with Lindstein. He seems amazing.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

The Canes would not want Buch - my two cents

Agree. Just don’t see a good fit for us without moving out a salary/player like Buch. And if that isn’t their ask, then like I said, I’d move on. I’m not Steener though. LOL.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

Losing Buch would actually be pretty detrimental to the Blues right now unless he is replaced IMO. While the future of that trade might work out the short term would not. We need another rw not to get rid of one.

I doubt they'd be interested in Buch and I don't think we should try to change their mind.

Don’t disagree, but this team is not a contender this season, so any move for Nikishin is more a future/forward looking move imho. And maybe not as well as Buch, but multiple guys have played their offside. They could make it work, but yes, would probably disrupt the line balance in the short-term. That assumes Buch plays better than last season, where he wasn’t as effective as in the past.

To be honest, I think all the Nikishin stuff is smoke but no fire.

[BluesDom]

Slow Summer. Nikishin hard-on continues.

Let it go folks. Let it go.

[skilles]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

Losing Buch would actually be pretty detrimental to the Blues right now unless he is replaced IMO. While the future of that trade might work out the short term would not. We need another rw not to get rid of one.

I doubt they'd be interested in Buch and I don't think we should try to change their mind.

Don’t disagree, but this team is not a contender this season, so any move for Nikishin is more a future/forward looking move imho. And maybe not as well as Buch, but multiple guys have played their offside. They could make it work, but yes, would probably disrupt the line balance in the short-term. That assumes Buch plays better than last season, where he wasn’t as effective as in the past.

To be honest, I think all the Nikishin stuff is smoke but no fire.

I'm pretty much over the whole "we are not a contender this year" stuff. If we are not we should be trying to be.

I personally think if Buch plays about the same but is in a better situation the numbers will be a lot better.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

Losing Buch would actually be pretty detrimental to the Blues right now unless he is replaced IMO. While the future of that trade might work out the short term would not. We need another rw not to get rid of one.

I doubt they'd be interested in Buch and I don't think we should try to change their mind.

Don’t disagree, but this team is not a contender this season, so any move for Nikishin is more a future/forward looking move imho. And maybe not as well as Buch, but multiple guys have played their offside. They could make it work, but yes, would probably disrupt the line balance in the short-term. That assumes Buch plays better than last season, where he wasn’t as effective as in the past.

To be honest, I think all the Nikishin stuff is smoke but no fire.

I'm pretty much over the whole "we are not a contender this year" stuff. If we are not we should be trying to be.

I personally think if Buch plays about the same but is in a better situation the numbers will be a lot better.

Just curious. If you think we should be, what moves/positions do you think move the needle without going all in and trading a significant portion of our younger players/draft picks? And I’m not trying to be a jerk, so I hope my question doesn’t come across that way. Given our current youth, I just don’t see one or two moves that would accomplish your goal, as much as I would love for it to happen!

[WilliamWestcliffe]

Here is the pipeline for top 9 offensive players (sorted by age):

Buchnevich 31
Suter 30
Thomas 27
Berggren 26
Holloway 25
McMichael 25
Neighbours 24
McTavish 23
Snuggerud 22
Dvorsky 21
Stenberg 21
Carbonneau 20
Dagenais 18
Lawrence 18

That's 14 competing for the top 9 over the next 2-3 years and I know I'm missing a few and that doesn't include any new draftees or additions.

There absolutely will come a point very soon where we need to "squish" this list and convert some of them to an elite player or expand our depth on defense.

The question is, if not Neighbours, which 3-4 from this list are you okay parting ways with? Which of those are actually moveable?

[Harry S Deals]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

Losing Buch would actually be pretty detrimental to the Blues right now unless he is replaced IMO. While the future of that trade might work out the short term would not. We need another rw not to get rid of one.

I doubt they'd be interested in Buch and I don't think we should try to change their mind.

Don’t disagree, but this team is not a contender this season, so any move for Nikishin is more a future/forward looking move imho. And maybe not as well as Buch, but multiple guys have played their offside. They could make it work, but yes, would probably disrupt the line balance in the short-term. That assumes Buch plays better than last season, where he wasn’t as effective as in the past.

To be honest, I think all the Nikishin stuff is smoke but no fire.

I'm pretty much over the whole "we are not a contender this year" stuff. If we are not we should be trying to be.

I personally think if Buch plays about the same but is in a better situation the numbers will be a lot better.

Just curious. If you think we should be, what moves/positions do you think move the needle without going all in and trading a significant portion of our younger players/draft picks? And I’m not trying to be a jerk, so I hope my question doesn’t come across that way. Given our current youth, I just don’t see one or two moves that would accomplish your goal, as much as I would love for it to happen!

Honest question, how do we know the Blues arent contenders yet, given the roster changes whether the chances are big or small the chance that this team can be very good exists.
Even if McTavish is a 50 pt center that means the Blues have two legit scoring line threats
Also means that one of McMichael or Neighbours are on the 3rd line which will also be better. For instance if Dvorsky hits 35-40 pts on the 3rd line.
The D and goaltending are already good.

Not sure i see the need for Nikishin i guess my main hesitation is i dont feel the data is deep enough on this player. Hes going to be 25 soon he has 81 NHL games and he wants big minutes and a big salary i would be a little leery of this at this moment

To compare, Lindstein at 21 had 2 goals in 17 games and a +6. In 82 games at 21 that would have been almost 10 goals and hes only 21 why wouldnt i just ride with this kid whos less, could very well be better overall?

This move has the feel like we could regret later

[DawgDad]

Here is the pipeline for top 9 offensive players (sorted by age):

Buchnevich 31
Suter 30
Thomas 27
Berggren 26
Holloway 25
McMichael 25
Neighbours 24
McTavish 23
Snuggerud 22
Dvorsky 21
Stenberg 21
Carbonneau 20
Dagenais 18
Lawrence 18

That's 14 competing for the top 9 over the next 2-3 years and I know I'm missing a few and that doesn't include any new draftees or additions.

There absolutely will come a point very soon where we need to "squish" this list and convert some of them to an elite player or expand our depth on defense.

The question is, if not Neighbours, which 3-4 from this list are you okay parting ways with? Which of those are actually moveable?

I don't see a problem here. Let's assume player movements are static, except project that in 5 seasons the top two have dropped off the list and the bottom three are in St. Louis. At that point, if everyone pans out there is likely a big conflict at 1C and hopefully at 2C. The quality of play is likely improved overall. Yes, at least a couple more guys are likely gone, too, but there is no current rush, just a potential logjam at LW and C.

[WilliamWestcliffe]

Here is the pipeline for top 9 offensive players (sorted by age):

Buchnevich 31
Suter 30
Thomas 27
Berggren 26
Holloway 25
McMichael 25
Neighbours 24
McTavish 23
Snuggerud 22
Dvorsky 21
Stenberg 21
Carbonneau 20
Dagenais 18
Lawrence 18

That's 14 competing for the top 9 over the next 2-3 years and I know I'm missing a few and that doesn't include any new draftees or additions.

There absolutely will come a point very soon where we need to "squish" this list and convert some of them to an elite player or expand our depth on defense.

The question is, if not Neighbours, which 3-4 from this list are you okay parting ways with? Which of those are actually moveable?

I don't see a problem here. Let's assume player movements are static, except project that in 5 seasons the top two have dropped off the list and the bottom three are in St. Louis. At that point, if everyone pans out there is likely a big conflict at 1C and hopefully at 2C. The quality of play is likely improved overall. Yes, at least a couple more guys are likely gone, too, but there is no current rush, just a potential logjam at LW and C.

I think everyone in this list should be capable of a top 9 spot in the NHL in 3 years. Suter is the only one on the list who's contract and age would allow him to naturally fall off this list by year 3. Buchnevich will still have a 1-2 years of contract left by that point. So now you have 13 players needing to fit into 9 (again not including any new additions in 3 years).

So my point, aligned with yours, is you will need to trim at least 2-3 more players from the 13 and likley sooner than in 3 years when you consider there are 12 that are ready this season or the next at the latest. Who of those 12 are not a part of the future? Which are actually tradeable? There are difficult decisions that need to be made in the next 3-18 months.

[son_of_foolsgold]

The Blues would be stupid to trade Neighbours. I dont think they are stupid.
They would be silly to trade Lindstein also. or Stenberg, See what these guys are.



This Nikishin garbage is not happening in my opinion.

Why is this guy so great? Let go with Lindstein. He seems amazing.

Typical stupid "homer" attitude on here that every asset the Blues already have is better than what other teams have. Nikishin is already 4x the player Lindstein could ever hope to become. Neither Lindstein nor Stenberg are likely to amount to anything much. Both could be traded for Nikishin and it would be a steal of a deal for the BLues, but they need to include some salary going back the other way.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Here is the pipeline for top 9 offensive players (sorted by age):

Buchnevich 31
Suter 30
Thomas 27
Berggren 26
Holloway 25
McMichael 25
Neighbours 24
McTavish 23
Snuggerud 22
Dvorsky 21
Stenberg 21
Carbonneau 20
Dagenais 18
Lawrence 18

That's 14 competing for the top 9 over the next 2-3 years and I know I'm missing a few and that doesn't include any new draftees or additions.

There absolutely will come a point very soon where we need to "squish" this list and convert some of them to an elite player or expand our depth on defense.

The question is, if not Neighbours, which 3-4 from this list are you okay parting ways with? Which of those are actually moveable?

I don't see a problem here. Let's assume player movements are static, except project that in 5 seasons the top two have dropped off the list and the bottom three are in St. Louis. At that point, if everyone pans out there is likely a big conflict at 1C and hopefully at 2C. The quality of play is likely improved overall. Yes, at least a couple more guys are likely gone, too, but there is no current rush, just a potential logjam at LW and C.

I think everyone in this list should be capable of a top 9 spot in the NHL in 3 years. Suter is the only one on the list who's contract and age would allow him to naturally fall off this list by year 3. Buchnevich will still have a 1-2 years of contract left by that point. So now you have 13 players needing to fit into 9 (again not including any new additions in 3 years).

So my point, aligned with yours, is you will need to trim at least 2-3 more players from the 13 and likley sooner than in 3 years when you consider there are 12 that are ready this season or the next at the latest. Who of those 12 are not a part of the future? Which are actually tradeable? There are difficult decisions that need to be made in the next 3-18 months.

I think I agree with DawgDad on this one. In your scenario (Top 9 players), right now your list above ends at Snuggs. I would argue that regardless of age, Dvorsky is top 9 and Suter is "most likely" 4th line this season unless he beats out Berggren for a top 9 spot. In 3 years, Buch and Suter should not longer be top 9, and maybe not even with the team. If Buch is still here, he probably takes the 4th line Steen like role. Stenberg and slides up, so your top 9 becomes (in your age order):
Thomas, Berggren, Holloway, McMichael, Neighbours, McTavish, Snuggs, Dvo, Stenberg

Your new out of the top 9, but with top 9 pedigree become Carbs (23), Lawrence (21), Dags (21). Pretty darn good chance that one of the three is better than Berggren, and one of the others forces Stenberg into a 4th line role. So, absent ANY other player movement, you're talking about finding one top 9 spot. Doesn't seem like a huge issue to me.

What's more interesting to me is that it appears that Army/Steen have seemingly created a window of this season through the end of the 2030/31 season as their target to compete. I say this, because the majority of recently signed contracts, along with pre-existing contracts for the core of the team end that year. This includes, Thomas, Buch, Holloway, McTavish, McMichael (2032 for him), Broberg and Parayko (2030 for him). That will be interesting to see what this team looks like for the 2031-32 season and if the next re-whatever begins.

[DawgDad]

Here is the pipeline for top 9 offensive players (sorted by age):

Buchnevich 31
Suter 30
Thomas 27
Berggren 26
Holloway 25
McMichael 25
Neighbours 24
McTavish 23
Snuggerud 22
Dvorsky 21
Stenberg 21
Carbonneau 20
Dagenais 18
Lawrence 18

That's 14 competing for the top 9 over the next 2-3 years and I know I'm missing a few and that doesn't include any new draftees or additions.

There absolutely will come a point very soon where we need to "squish" this list and convert some of them to an elite player or expand our depth on defense.

The question is, if not Neighbours, which 3-4 from this list are you okay parting ways with? Which of those are actually moveable?

I don't see a problem here. Let's assume player movements are static, except project that in 5 seasons the top two have dropped off the list and the bottom three are in St. Louis. At that point, if everyone pans out there is likely a big conflict at 1C and hopefully at 2C. The quality of play is likely improved overall. Yes, at least a couple more guys are likely gone, too, but there is no current rush, just a potential logjam at LW and C.

I think everyone in this list should be capable of a top 9 spot in the NHL in 3 years. Suter is the only one on the list who's contract and age would allow him to naturally fall off this list by year 3. Buchnevich will still have a 1-2 years of contract left by that point. So now you have 13 players needing to fit into 9 (again not including any new additions in 3 years).

So my point, aligned with yours, is you will need to trim at least 2-3 more players from the 13 and likley sooner than in 3 years when you consider there are 12 that are ready this season or the next at the latest. Who of those 12 are not a part of the future? Which are actually tradeable? There are difficult decisions that need to be made in the next 3-18 months.

Players will make some of those decisions, not all these guys will pan out. Also, over time teams like Vegas will be screaming for help, another Barbashev or affordable middle-6 guys. One or two may go for help on D or in goal. The Bues still have all their #1 picks, too, though they should be late round.

So, first steps are camp, see what the new guys bring, see who succumbs to sophomore slump, see what
the top line does, how much cap Snuggerud will eat, how Dvorsky projects. Then fold in Jiricek, Carbonneau, bumping a couple of guys to the bench or off the team. Then 2-3 seasons out this year's draftees should be knocking on the door. Along the way some guys get moved, to make room. Maybe along the way a team is clicking and Steen loads up for a run. First, they have to see how the new guys and sophomores pan out, how this bunch fits together. Looking at that list one needs to park any short term Cup run expectations, and not fret over guys who may drop off because there is a line forming behind them.

[skilles]

Rumor/banter seems to indicate Jake Neighbours and either Stenberg/Lindstein???? Im a hard pass on this, could be a costly move.

Id maybe build something around Lindstein + but im very leery of this dont see the need. Losing Neighbours would really ding the Top 6 and the plan moving forward

Not sure that Jake would ding the top 6, but he’s definitely a solid top 9 winger who has shown 20-25 goal potential. That’s important depth for a 3rd line on winning teams.

I would love to have Nikishin, but I’m just not sure about the price. Having Broberg, Nikishin and Fowler (for now) would be a pretty strong LD, with Ralph, Fischer, Burns, Koromslov, etc… hopefully there to fill later if Lindstein traded. I’d look rather to Lindstein, Buch and maybe another prospect or a pick. If they balk, we walk. My two cents.

Losing Buch would actually be pretty detrimental to the Blues right now unless he is replaced IMO. While the future of that trade might work out the short term would not. We need another rw not to get rid of one.

I doubt they'd be interested in Buch and I don't think we should try to change their mind.

Don’t disagree, but this team is not a contender this season, so any move for Nikishin is more a future/forward looking move imho. And maybe not as well as Buch, but multiple guys have played their offside. They could make it work, but yes, would probably disrupt the line balance in the short-term. That assumes Buch plays better than last season, where he wasn’t as effective as in the past.

To be honest, I think all the Nikishin stuff is smoke but no fire.

I'm pretty much over the whole "we are not a contender this year" stuff. If we are not we should be trying to be.

I personally think if Buch plays about the same but is in a better situation the numbers will be a lot better.

Just curious. If you think we should be, what moves/positions do you think move the needle without going all in and trading a significant portion of our younger players/draft picks? And I’m not trying to be a jerk, so I hope my question doesn’t come across that way. Given our current youth, I just don’t see one or two moves that would accomplish your goal, as much as I would love for it to happen!

I think we could use A right shot RW and I think we should always be looking at young long term improvements like Nikishin and I would almost never or maybe even never trade significant futures for short term solutions/rentals.

However we are talking about A 24 year old d here. Theoretically that is A player that helps us short and long term.

I would not ever manage to be a contender just right now, I would manage to be A contender indefinitely and Nikishin is a player you could reasonably argue could be a big part of that.

If I were managing an NHL team I would never look to big rental type deals, my rentals would be the young players I didn't trade away for rentals 2 years ago.

I would trade secondary/extra pieces for depth rentals but never primary futures.

Like I said Nikishin is not a short term piece though and neither is Mctavish. I don't know if I would trade for Nikishin because I don't know the cost but either way that would not be a short term type of deal.