Dr.Sens(e)
Registered User
As usual, it will be a longer offseason of introspection than the Blues GM would prefer. The Blues are a team if not in the midst of, certainly on the verge of, a major leadership transition, with the likely departure of key cornerstone players as early as this offseason, most notably Danieal Alfredsson and Chris Pronger.
CENTER
NHL: Joe Thornton, Jeff Carter, Dave Bolland, Lars Eller, Kyle Chipchura
System: Johan Larsson, Nic Kerdiles, William Karlsson, Derek Grant, Gemel Smith, Blake Coleman
This remains a relative strength, both at the NHL level and with a rather deep system, albeit one without a clear top line center in the pipeline. The main question surrounds Thornton, who while seemingly ageless, is on the final stretch of his career at the age of 33. Eller can shift over to center from the wing, and may yet prove to be an option in the Blues top 6, while Bolland remains the consummate checking line center. Chipchura emerged as a solid and physical 4th liner this year, so the team seems set for next season.
In the system, Larsson remains arguably the Blues top prospect, although it is likely he tops out as a 2nd line center, and perhaps only a quality 3rd liner. Kerdiles and Karlsson both have top 6 upside, while Grant, Smith and Coleman are likely depth players at best.
WING
NHL: Martin St. Louis, Jordan Eberle, Daniel Alfredsson, Lars Eller, Vinny Prospal, Erik Cole, Michael Frolik, Eric Nystrom, Jared Boll
System: Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, Stefan Noesen, Sebastian Collberg, Matt Puempel, Charles Hudon, Shane Prince, Jan Mursak, Corey Cowick, Viktor Tikhonov, Frederik Pettersson
The position with the biggest question marks, three of the top 4 wingers are pending UFA’s and at least two may retire. While it is anticipated the Blues are strongly considering bringing back St. Louis at the league max, Alfredsson is a major question mark as the team captain contemplates retirement. Prospal is another question mark as a UFA, and Eller is really the only other potential winger with scoring line upside. Cole, Nystrom and Frolik are all quality bottom 6 forwards who bring something different to the table, while Boll remains an agitator whom the Blues only dress on occasion. Not much depth here, even if St. Louis and Alfredsson return.
The system boasts considerable depth, although again, lacking a true thoroughbred prospect. Stone and Smith are the closest to the show, while there are half dozen other wingers with decent potential and different skillsets. Unfortunately for the Blues, this depth is not quite ready to fill the void at the NHL level, with this void growing rather quickly.
DEFENCE
NHL: Zdeno Chara, Dustin Byfuglien, Chris Pronger, Marc Staal, Roman Josi, Andrew MacDonald, Andre Benoit, Tomas Kundratek, Erik Gustafsson
Prospect: Ian Cole, Adam Pelech, Konrod Abelthauser, Maxim Goncharov, Shawn Lalonde, Zhakar Arazmatsev, Nikita Zaitsev
Even with the likely retirement of Pronger this offseason, this remains an extremely deep position for the Blues at the pro level, and it’s a good thing, because their system is quite thin. Thankfully, Byfuglien, Staal, Josi and MacDonald are all in their 20’s, while Chara looks like he is nowhere near the end of his career. This core will allow the team to be patient as they restock their defensive cupboard, while Benoit provides short-term depth. Gustrafsson’s and Kundratek’s emergence this season also provide the team with significant depth, plus the upside of more from both players in the years ahead.
Cole remains a solid, albeit unspectacular prospect, who should have a lengthy career, while Pelech and Abelthauser both have top 4 potential, with Pelech the less risky candidate. The Blues have a total of four Russian blueliners in their system, however only one is playing in North America, and they are much more likely to play together in the KHL, than in the HFNHL. All are looking like gambles that will not pay off.
GOALIE
NHL: Jim Howard, Jhonas Enroth
System: David Leggio, Michael Houser, Joni Ortio, Mattieau Corbeil
NHL: With Howard in his prime and signed long-term and with Enroth at 24, showing starter potential himself, the Blues are in a solid position between the pipes. This is a relatively welcome change for a franchise that has been swinging and missing at solving their goaltending situation for the better part of a decade.
System: This is a relative weakness, where quantity hardless makes up for a lack of quality. Leggio is an AHL fill-in, while the three remaining prospects or more suspects at this juncture. Ortio’s emergence in Finland for the national team is the best news, while Houser was steller in his pro debut, albeit at the ECHL level. Corbeil is looking more like a failed mid-round gamble at this stage.
THE CAP
The Blues have cap issues if they choose to retain St. Louis, but these would likely be solved with the retirement of Pronger. While Alfredsson is a pending UFA who may yet retire, it would seem the Blues would bring him back if he is willing, although they would need to pay a bit of a premium to avoid his testing of UFA.
THE DRAFT
The Blues hold the 18th and 48th picks on day 1, and it would be no surprise to see them trade up or down the day of the draft. The Blues have been in discussions with a few teams with picks in the 20’s and 30’s as potential trade partners, should the Blues not be happy with whom is left on the board at 18th overall. The Blues might also be interested in trading down from 48th, if they could get two day 1 picks, again depending on whether the prospects they covet most are there at 48.
CENTER
NHL: Joe Thornton, Jeff Carter, Dave Bolland, Lars Eller, Kyle Chipchura
System: Johan Larsson, Nic Kerdiles, William Karlsson, Derek Grant, Gemel Smith, Blake Coleman
This remains a relative strength, both at the NHL level and with a rather deep system, albeit one without a clear top line center in the pipeline. The main question surrounds Thornton, who while seemingly ageless, is on the final stretch of his career at the age of 33. Eller can shift over to center from the wing, and may yet prove to be an option in the Blues top 6, while Bolland remains the consummate checking line center. Chipchura emerged as a solid and physical 4th liner this year, so the team seems set for next season.
In the system, Larsson remains arguably the Blues top prospect, although it is likely he tops out as a 2nd line center, and perhaps only a quality 3rd liner. Kerdiles and Karlsson both have top 6 upside, while Grant, Smith and Coleman are likely depth players at best.
WING
NHL: Martin St. Louis, Jordan Eberle, Daniel Alfredsson, Lars Eller, Vinny Prospal, Erik Cole, Michael Frolik, Eric Nystrom, Jared Boll
System: Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, Stefan Noesen, Sebastian Collberg, Matt Puempel, Charles Hudon, Shane Prince, Jan Mursak, Corey Cowick, Viktor Tikhonov, Frederik Pettersson
The position with the biggest question marks, three of the top 4 wingers are pending UFA’s and at least two may retire. While it is anticipated the Blues are strongly considering bringing back St. Louis at the league max, Alfredsson is a major question mark as the team captain contemplates retirement. Prospal is another question mark as a UFA, and Eller is really the only other potential winger with scoring line upside. Cole, Nystrom and Frolik are all quality bottom 6 forwards who bring something different to the table, while Boll remains an agitator whom the Blues only dress on occasion. Not much depth here, even if St. Louis and Alfredsson return.
The system boasts considerable depth, although again, lacking a true thoroughbred prospect. Stone and Smith are the closest to the show, while there are half dozen other wingers with decent potential and different skillsets. Unfortunately for the Blues, this depth is not quite ready to fill the void at the NHL level, with this void growing rather quickly.
DEFENCE
NHL: Zdeno Chara, Dustin Byfuglien, Chris Pronger, Marc Staal, Roman Josi, Andrew MacDonald, Andre Benoit, Tomas Kundratek, Erik Gustafsson
Prospect: Ian Cole, Adam Pelech, Konrod Abelthauser, Maxim Goncharov, Shawn Lalonde, Zhakar Arazmatsev, Nikita Zaitsev
Even with the likely retirement of Pronger this offseason, this remains an extremely deep position for the Blues at the pro level, and it’s a good thing, because their system is quite thin. Thankfully, Byfuglien, Staal, Josi and MacDonald are all in their 20’s, while Chara looks like he is nowhere near the end of his career. This core will allow the team to be patient as they restock their defensive cupboard, while Benoit provides short-term depth. Gustrafsson’s and Kundratek’s emergence this season also provide the team with significant depth, plus the upside of more from both players in the years ahead.
Cole remains a solid, albeit unspectacular prospect, who should have a lengthy career, while Pelech and Abelthauser both have top 4 potential, with Pelech the less risky candidate. The Blues have a total of four Russian blueliners in their system, however only one is playing in North America, and they are much more likely to play together in the KHL, than in the HFNHL. All are looking like gambles that will not pay off.
GOALIE
NHL: Jim Howard, Jhonas Enroth
System: David Leggio, Michael Houser, Joni Ortio, Mattieau Corbeil
NHL: With Howard in his prime and signed long-term and with Enroth at 24, showing starter potential himself, the Blues are in a solid position between the pipes. This is a relatively welcome change for a franchise that has been swinging and missing at solving their goaltending situation for the better part of a decade.
System: This is a relative weakness, where quantity hardless makes up for a lack of quality. Leggio is an AHL fill-in, while the three remaining prospects or more suspects at this juncture. Ortio’s emergence in Finland for the national team is the best news, while Houser was steller in his pro debut, albeit at the ECHL level. Corbeil is looking more like a failed mid-round gamble at this stage.
THE CAP
The Blues have cap issues if they choose to retain St. Louis, but these would likely be solved with the retirement of Pronger. While Alfredsson is a pending UFA who may yet retire, it would seem the Blues would bring him back if he is willing, although they would need to pay a bit of a premium to avoid his testing of UFA.
THE DRAFT
The Blues hold the 18th and 48th picks on day 1, and it would be no surprise to see them trade up or down the day of the draft. The Blues have been in discussions with a few teams with picks in the 20’s and 30’s as potential trade partners, should the Blues not be happy with whom is left on the board at 18th overall. The Blues might also be interested in trading down from 48th, if they could get two day 1 picks, again depending on whether the prospects they covet most are there at 48.
