Thomas is not on the ice for practice

[SRV1990]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn? Disposable guys target your stars, that's always how playoff hockey goes. Neighbours will be tasked with pulling Thomas out of any scrums, and WTF will be tasked with giving Schiefle or Connor the business. We don't want Thomas having to come up with an answer to the increased rough stuff he'll be facing.

The fact that he missed practice means WPG will smell blood in the water. That's not good, if he's really hurt. Then again, given this is the playoffs, keeping Thomas off the ice might just be some misdirection from Monty.

I don't disagree with any of this. But keep in mind it goes both ways. The Blues, especially the WTF line, will take every opportunity to hammer their top players. Especially Valardi knowing he's been injured. Like I've said before, it's playoff hockey and every player should expect the intensity and hits to ramp up. And those who can battle through those hits and elevate their level of intensity will have a better chance of success.

[theograce]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn?

He just has to give it back. He has to chirp and be hard on his stick. During the Cup run for Vegas every teams’s game plan was to soften pietrangelo. Kane, Draisaitl, tkachuk Bennett and many others all sticked him and rabbit punched him at every chance. He gave it all back and even took a 1 game suspension.

Thomas is a thick guy. He will learn how to give it back. He has to.

[Harry S Deals]

The Jets, Vegas, Dallas, Col every team is going to finish their hits its what it is this time of year. Fact is the Blues will do the same and i can tell you Walker is going to get real annoying real quick for the Jets. This series for me will be this simple, can the Blues get to the Jets slot and score goals? Thats it for me esp without Holloway the Blues "O" may be a bit weak

[theograce]

The Jets, Vegas, Dallas, Col every team is going to finish their hits its what it is this time of year. Fact is the Blues will do the same and i can tell you Walker is going to get real annoying real quick for the Jets. This series for me will be this simple, can the Blues get to the Jets slot and score goals? Thats it for me esp without Holloway the Blues "O" may be a bit weak

It’s not just about finishing hits. That’s easy. There is a new game come playoff time and it goes far beyond finishing your checks.

[moose-and-squirrel]

Thomas on ice for practice fyi

[blackinkbiz]

Is it weird to anyone else Blues still haven't flown to Winnipeg yet?

Thought teams usually tried to get to destination a couple days in advance to ensure proper rest in case of complications.

That's all I got today, complaining about flight scheduling.

[Harry S Deals]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn? Disposable guys target your stars, that's always how playoff hockey goes. Neighbours will be tasked with pulling Thomas out of any scrums, and WTF will be tasked with giving Schiefle or Connor the business. We don't want Thomas having to come up with an answer to the increased rough stuff he'll be facing.

The fact that he missed practice means WPG will smell blood in the water. That's not good, if he's really hurt. Then again, given this is the playoffs, keeping Thomas off the ice might just be some misdirection from Monty.

I don't disagree with any of this. But keep in mind it goes both ways. The Blues, especially the WTF line, will take every opportunity to hammer their top players. Especially Valardi knowing he's been injured. Like I've said before, it's playoff hockey and every player should expect the intensity and hits to ramp up. And those who can battle through those hits and elevate their level of intensity will have a better chance of success.

Whats the point of any of this? We havent seen Thomas do it in the playoffs, well because the Blues havent been in the playoffs with Thomas as #1. The Blues dont need or want Thomas retaliating thats not his role he'll be fine. Thomas at 25 has actually more playoff Games Played (45) than Schiefele (42) at 32 so this isnt something that Robert Thomas is unaccustomed to.
The onus is going to be on Buch, Neighbours, Kyrou, Snugg, Bolduc etc to score

[seattleblue]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn? Disposable guys target your stars, that's always how playoff hockey goes. Neighbours will be tasked with pulling Thomas out of any scrums, and WTF will be tasked with giving Schiefle or Connor the business. We don't want Thomas having to come up with an answer to the increased rough stuff he'll be facing.

The fact that he missed practice means WPG will smell blood in the water. That's not good, if he's really hurt. Then again, given this is the playoffs, keeping Thomas off the ice might just be some misdirection from Monty.

It's super difficult to let go of the past and focus on the here and now. The wars that go on here are people behaving at their worst but people aren't their behavior, the behavior is just a day by day moment by moment choice. It can be better but you really have to decide to do it. I think the ultimate mistake people make is they react and go on autopilot because that's easier than confronting the reality that time and attention are actually finite and precious. Wasting hours talking [shirt] allows people to easily forget the pain of the reality that time and attention are finite. I say that as someone perfectly capable of wasting my time in this very way. I'm a hypocrite. But the point is we are all hypocrites when it comes to time and attention. Which, again, are finite. Personally I think this is what really unsettles people about AI because we know that our attention and differentiation abilities is how we became apex predators. And at the very moment we are coming to terms with our aggregate failure in overwhelming and unbalancing our ecosystem and we have insufficient will to change it. That's horrible but at the exact same moment we also realize that AI is being built to have almost infinite, unblinking vast attention that dwarfs our own. It's unsettling. It's really ungraspable, mindboggling change, so can't we just enjoy our pursuits without rancor? I know the answer but I still ask the question.

Yes, the points about Thomas are really valid. But even if he doesn't level up this year as a playoff guy that doesn't preclude him doing it in the future with more entries as the team leader. I am sure many remember the criticisms for, say, Yzerman for years before he morphed into one of the Game's Great Leaders. I personally am not expecting a playoff level up out of Thomas for the exact reason of heavy opponent attention which we all know is a real thing, and will be happily surprised if he does level up under pressure. It's really his first time leading in this situation. For example I expressed doubts about Thomas in the past which invoked personal rancor several years ago from kimzey over whether Thomas = Brayden Point and I said Point was the clearly better center and then I matched the rancor. They are different types (shooter vs, passer), but I respect kimzey's opinion and his opinion is trending the right way, which it's on me to acknowledge. So I think this is a reasonable point of debate. You just have to have room in your opinions for new info, such as if a long time foe behaves differently.

[DawgDad]

Please be more careful about making political posts. Talk hockey.

[George Zipp]

Is it weird to anyone else Blues still haven't flown to Winnipeg yet?

Thought teams usually tried to get to destination a couple days in advance to ensure proper rest in case of complications.

That's all I got today, complaining about flight scheduling.

Not at all. Team will practice at Centene and then bus to the charter. It’s a two hour flight with no time zone change. They will be at the hotel before dinner. These guys travel all the time. No need to be there a minute longer than necessary.

If on the off chance there are issues with a plane I’m sure this time of year the charter company has contingencies to deal, meaning a backup can get here quickly.

[SRV1990]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn? Disposable guys target your stars, that's always how playoff hockey goes. Neighbours will be tasked with pulling Thomas out of any scrums, and WTF will be tasked with giving Schiefle or Connor the business. We don't want Thomas having to come up with an answer to the increased rough stuff he'll be facing.

The fact that he missed practice means WPG will smell blood in the water. That's not good, if he's really hurt. Then again, given this is the playoffs, keeping Thomas off the ice might just be some misdirection from Monty.

I don't disagree with any of this. But keep in mind it goes both ways. The Blues, especially the WTF line, will take every opportunity to hammer their top players. Especially Valardi knowing he's been injured. Like I've said before, it's playoff hockey and every player should expect the intensity and hits to ramp up. And those who can battle through those hits and elevate their level of intensity will have a better chance of success.

Whats the point of any of this? We havent seen Thomas do it in the playoffs, well because the Blues havent been in the playoffs with Thomas as #1. The Blues dont need or want Thomas retaliating thats not his role he'll be fine. Thomas at 25 has actually more playoff Games Played (45) than Schiefele (42) at 32 so this isnt something that Robert Thomas is unaccustomed to.
The onus is going to be on Buch, Neighbours, Kyrou, Snugg, Bolduc etc to score

What's the point? Are you asking what's the point in talking about it? Well, we're fans on a fans forum, that's what we do. If you meant something else, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

As for your comment about Schiefele vs Thomas games played, I'm also confused. If Thomas has more games (which he does), then it seems he has just as much playoff experience as Schiefele, #1C or not. Outside of one year, 2017-18 when Schiefele had 14 g and 6 a in 17 games, he's been pretty meh and the Jets have done next to nothing.

At the end of the day, none of us know how Thomas will perform in his current role in this series. But I've seen enough of him over the last two years, and this year in particular where the last month the Blues have had to play near-playoff level hockey, to not be worried about him. If I was forced to be worried about players, I'd say the ones you listed above would be on my list. But I'm not worried because that will just give me anxiety about something I have zero control over. LFGB!!!

[icon]

The Jets, Vegas, Dallas, Col every team is going to finish their hits its what it is this time of year. Fact is the Blues will do the same and i can tell you Walker is going to get real annoying real quick for the Jets. This series for me will be this simple, can the Blues get to the Jets slot and score goals? Thats it for me esp without Holloway the Blues "O" may be a bit weak

Not only Walker. Remember when Sunny wiped out a Boston defenseman against the end boards in the Cup finals? The Blues can dish it out as well as the Jets. I'm sure they're not going to be intimidated.

[Harry S Deals]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn? Disposable guys target your stars, that's always how playoff hockey goes. Neighbours will be tasked with pulling Thomas out of any scrums, and WTF will be tasked with giving Schiefle or Connor the business. We don't want Thomas having to come up with an answer to the increased rough stuff he'll be facing.

The fact that he missed practice means WPG will smell blood in the water. That's not good, if he's really hurt. Then again, given this is the playoffs, keeping Thomas off the ice might just be some misdirection from Monty.

I don't disagree with any of this. But keep in mind it goes both ways. The Blues, especially the WTF line, will take every opportunity to hammer their top players. Especially Valardi knowing he's been injured. Like I've said before, it's playoff hockey and every player should expect the intensity and hits to ramp up. And those who can battle through those hits and elevate their level of intensity will have a better chance of success.

Whats the point of any of this? We havent seen Thomas do it in the playoffs, well because the Blues havent been in the playoffs with Thomas as #1. The Blues dont need or want Thomas retaliating thats not his role he'll be fine. Thomas at 25 has actually more playoff Games Played (45) than Schiefele (42) at 32 so this isnt something that Robert Thomas is unaccustomed to.
The onus is going to be on Buch, Neighbours, Kyrou, Snugg, Bolduc etc to score

What's the point? Are you asking what's the point in talking about it? Well, we're fans on a fans forum, that's what we do. If you meant something else, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

As for your comment about Schiefele vs Thomas games played, I'm also confused. If Thomas has more games (which he does), then it seems he has just as much playoff experience as Schiefele, #1C or not. Outside of one year, 2017-18 when Schiefele had 14 g and 6 a in 17 games, he's been pretty meh and the Jets have done next to nothing.

At the end of the day, none of us know how Thomas will perform in his current role in this series. But I've seen enough of him over the last two years, and this year in particular where the last month the Blues have had to play near-playoff level hockey, to not be worried about him. If I was forced to be worried about players, I'd say the ones you listed above would be on my list. But I'm not worried because that will just give me anxiety about something I have zero control over. LFGB!!!

Whats the point of debating "we havent seen Thomas do it as a #1 center"..... of course we havent the Blues havent been in playoffs the last couple of years

[George Zipp]

Per Koracs Twitter:

Lou Korac
@lkorac10

Robert Thomas is good to go for Game 1. #stlblues

LFG

[SRV1990]

Man, I for one have really enjoyed Bleeder/Theo's posts lately - I get how years of insufferable trolling results in everyone dismissing their posts, but there are some good points being lost here.

1. Thomas still has a lot to prove. Yes, I think he's a Top 10 center in the game, who is only now hitting his stride. But playing 3rd line minutes on a Cup winner versus being the #1 center is a big jump. The last Blues playoff team he still had O'Reilly sharing some of that load.

2. Thomas will have a HUGE target on his back. Or bruised rib, or whatever was hurt. He's not just going to match up against the MacKinnon's and McDavid's on the ice, but also the Luke Schenn's and Eckholm's. Those guys will lean on him, jab him in scrums, poke at his eyes when nobody's looking, etc. Whistles disappear in the playoffs, and as much as I think Thomas can survive in that environment and still be a difference maker, we have yet to see him do it as a #1.

3. It may not be a one-way street, but Thomas isn't a chippy guy like a Luke Schenn. Sure, Thomas can get away with more also, but do you really want him targeting Luke friggin' Schenn? Disposable guys target your stars, that's always how playoff hockey goes. Neighbours will be tasked with pulling Thomas out of any scrums, and WTF will be tasked with giving Schiefle or Connor the business. We don't want Thomas having to come up with an answer to the increased rough stuff he'll be facing.

The fact that he missed practice means WPG will smell blood in the water. That's not good, if he's really hurt. Then again, given this is the playoffs, keeping Thomas off the ice might just be some misdirection from Monty.

I don't disagree with any of this. But keep in mind it goes both ways. The Blues, especially the WTF line, will take every opportunity to hammer their top players. Especially Valardi knowing he's been injured. Like I've said before, it's playoff hockey and every player should expect the intensity and hits to ramp up. And those who can battle through those hits and elevate their level of intensity will have a better chance of success.

Whats the point of any of this? We havent seen Thomas do it in the playoffs, well because the Blues havent been in the playoffs with Thomas as #1. The Blues dont need or want Thomas retaliating thats not his role he'll be fine. Thomas at 25 has actually more playoff Games Played (45) than Schiefele (42) at 32 so this isnt something that Robert Thomas is unaccustomed to.
The onus is going to be on Buch, Neighbours, Kyrou, Snugg, Bolduc etc to score

What's the point? Are you asking what's the point in talking about it? Well, we're fans on a fans forum, that's what we do. If you meant something else, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

As for your comment about Schiefele vs Thomas games played, I'm also confused. If Thomas has more games (which he does), then it seems he has just as much playoff experience as Schiefele, #1C or not. Outside of one year, 2017-18 when Schiefele had 14 g and 6 a in 17 games, he's been pretty meh and the Jets have done next to nothing.

At the end of the day, none of us know how Thomas will perform in his current role in this series. But I've seen enough of him over the last two years, and this year in particular where the last month the Blues have had to play near-playoff level hockey, to not be worried about him. If I was forced to be worried about players, I'd say the ones you listed above would be on my list. But I'm not worried because that will just give me anxiety about something I have zero control over. LFGB!!!

Whats the point of debating "we havent seen Thomas do it as a #1 center"..... of course we havent the Blues havent been in playoffs the last couple of years

Ah, ok, understood. I 100% agree with that. Others have brought it up in order to throw shade on the team and/or Thomas, but it's not a position I've taken here. LFGB!!

[TAFKAP]

The Jets, Vegas, Dallas, Col every team is going to finish their hits its what it is this time of year. Fact is the Blues will do the same and i can tell you Walker is going to get real annoying real quick for the Jets. This series for me will be this simple, can the Blues get to the Jets slot and score goals? Thats it for me esp without Holloway the Blues "O" may be a bit weak

Not only Walker. Remember when Sunny wiped out a Boston defenseman against the end boards in the Cup finals? The Blues can dish it out as well as the Jets. I'm sure they're not going to be intimidated.

He got suspended for Game 3 because of it. He destroyed Matt Grzelcyk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1DlMYqUQdE