What's the plan for elite RHD and 1C?

[a smell of green grass]

I think that Step 1 of being a true Cup Contender is acquiring an elite RHD and 1C. Certainly, there a more steps after that, but Step 1 cannot be bypassed, and it is the hardest fish to catch.

Mailloux is not Pietrangelo, and there is no Crosby-in-waiting either.

My plan:
Play the prospects this year, including Stenberg and Lindstein. Neither is a 1C or RHD, but find out what they are and aren't. This will bring losses this year.

2026 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.
2027 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.

Oh, and play play play Mailloux. That alone will guarantee a TOP 3.

[DawgDad]

The Blues Cup belies your elite 1C narrative. The plan as it stands now is clearly apparent: Thomas is the 1C, waiting to see what they have in Dvorsky, and Jiricek following Parayko.

[Zizzle1297]

I think that Step 1 of being a true Cup Contender is acquiring an elite RHD and 1C. Certainly, there a more steps after that, but Step 1 cannot be bypassed, and it is the hardest fish to catch.

Mailloux is not Pietrangelo, and there is no Crosby-in-waiting either.

My plan:
Play the prospects this year, including Stenberg and Lindstein. Neither is a 1C or RHD, but find out what they are and aren't. This will bring losses this year.

2026 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.
2027 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.

Or trade Binner, Kryou, Schenn, Buch, Faulk, CP55 or at least the ones that would fetch a 1st + and see if we could accumulate 3 or so 1st rounds. The hope to win the lottery pick and take McKenna

[a smell of green grass]

I think that Step 1 of being a true Cup Contender is acquiring an elite RHD and 1C. Certainly, there a more steps after that, but Step 1 cannot be bypassed, and it is the hardest fish to catch.

Mailloux is not Pietrangelo, and there is no Crosby-in-waiting either.

My plan:
Play the prospects this year, including Stenberg and Lindstein. Neither is a 1C or RHD, but find out what they are and aren't. This will bring losses this year.

2026 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.
2027 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.

Or trade Binner, Kryou, Schenn, Buch, Faulk, CP55 or at least the ones that would fetch a 1st + and see if we could accumulate 3 or so 1st rounds. The hope to win the lottery pick and take McKenna

This would be great, but the potential problem with it is that our valuable players are all old. The only teams that would be interested in them are Cup-contending teams, and not many of them have a TOP5 draft pick to trade away. Nevertheless, it would be great to pull off if possible.

[Zizzle1297]

Curious why Tankathon.com has edm with the 12th pick currently? I thought they dont have a 1st this year?

[tfriede2]

Curious why Tankathon.com has edm with the 12th pick currently? I thought they dont have a 1st this year?

It belongs to SJ, but it’s top 12 protected (stays with Edmonton).

[Harry S Deals]

'22-'23 - CURRENT Pts by NHL Center

14.
Robert Thomas
R
C
324
91
238
329
+38

Would seem to be okay at this position

[a smell of green grass]

'22-'23 - CURRENT Pts by NHL Center

14.
Robert Thomas
R
C
324
91
238
329
+38

Would seem to be okay at this position

Thomas dresses the Barbie, but does he ever win a Cup as a 1C? Ask the fans in Winnipeg if they even remember who was our 1C. They remember our 4th line more than our 1 line.

[LGB73]

The plan is likely as it always is and probably should be for a market that won't sustain 5+ years of sucking, pull together a team to compete and in years where they fall short look to sell off pieces that don't fit the plan the next 3-5 years or are aging out of the roster going forward. Play the younger prime prospects when appropriate so that you're not stunting their development by throwing them in the deep end too soon but not blocking them with vets unnecessarily either. Lindstein and Stenberg should be looked at making the team next year on the 3rd pair and line.

The core guys to keep and continue to build around that will be here 3-5 years:

C: Thomas, Dvorsky
W: Neighbours, Holloway, Snuggerud, Kyrou( you jettison him if you feel you want the team to have a tougher 200' mentality otherwise you keep the skill)
D: Broberg, Mailloux Parayko (yes he'll be mid-late 30's, but he'll also likely still be playing well enough to hold down a top 4 RD or be a really good 3rd pair guy. Need some experience on the backend so keeping him makes sense. I see him as a Blue for life guy.)
G: Hofer

Everyone else is expendable to one degree or another depending on return. The team would certainly benefit from more options at C and RD for upside but getting hockey smart, high compete/motor, 200' hockey players should be a priority. We seem to lack both qualities on the current roster in our top 6/top 4 pairings and the team suffers for it. Yes obviously you want the skill paired with those traits as well.

[Younghopp1991]

I think that Step 1 of being a true Cup Contender is acquiring an elite RHD and 1C. Certainly, there a more steps after that, but Step 1 cannot be bypassed, and it is the hardest fish to catch.

Mailloux is not Pietrangelo, and there is no Crosby-in-waiting either.

My plan:
Play the prospects this year, including Stenberg and Lindstein. Neither is a 1C or RHD, but find out what they are and aren't. This will bring losses this year.

2026 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.
2027 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.

Oh, and play play play Mailloux. That alone will guarantee a TOP 3.

Honest question for you. If we ultimately wind up with a top 3 pick. You said you like Keaton Verheoff. Do you take him if he doesnt project to run a pp and has hockey sense questions? Or is it BPA.

We need a #1 rhd but im not passing up on mckenna, sten, belchetz. We need D but we also need hockey sense and goal scoring. I am NO scout at all but i believe you take the forward.

Genuinely trying to ask your opinion and not the battle you. Hoping you can keep army and management out of it.

[Harry S Deals]

Without a deep dive im pretty sure i can make the case that Thomas over the last 3 ish seasons has the weakest compliment of scoring wingers than virtually any other top 15 #1C.

[a smell of green grass]

I think that Step 1 of being a true Cup Contender is acquiring an elite RHD and 1C. Certainly, there a more steps after that, but Step 1 cannot be bypassed, and it is the hardest fish to catch.

Mailloux is not Pietrangelo, and there is no Crosby-in-waiting either.

My plan:
Play the prospects this year, including Stenberg and Lindstein. Neither is a 1C or RHD, but find out what they are and aren't. This will bring losses this year.

2026 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.
2027 draft TOP5 pick. Select the best 1C or RHD.

Oh, and play play play Mailloux. That alone will guarantee a TOP 3.

Honest question for you. If we ultimately wind up with a top 3 pick. You said you like Keaton Verheoff. Do you take him if he doesnt project to run a pp and has hockey sense questions? Or is it BPA.

We need a #1 rhd but im not passing up on mckenna, sten, belchetz. We need D but we also need hockey sense and goal scoring. I am NO scout at all but i believe you take the forward.

Genuinely trying to ask your opinion and not the battle you. Hoping you can keep army and management out of it.

I see Verheoff as a player that impacts every foot of the ice. He's a speedy all-everything defenseman that takes control of both ends of the rink, and he's tough. He's the perfect cornerstone player for the Blues.

If he is not that (and nobody else is), then I would opt for the next Crosby. Center would be a strong preference over Winger. Taller, heavier player is a strong preference over lean. Tougher player over figure skater. I like McKenna, but I'm not 100% sold on him for cornerstone.

The Blues need to take a Center or RHD in the TOP5, unless the quality is not there.