Official Training Camp Discussion Thread

[rumrokh]

I'd rather have Schwartz on that line than D'Agostini. And, I don't like the idea of Cole and Shattenkirk paired together.

In theory, with Shatty, Cole can simplify his game and focus on playing solid D instead of jumping into the play. Pairing him with Pietro might be throwing him to the wolves, and while Polak can cover for him on D, Cole might be required to do too much on a pairing like that. Plus, Cole and Shatty have looked great paired together before - and not just with the USNDP, but on the Blues, the played like five or ten games straight with that pairing and Cole looked better than at any other time in the NHL.

I seem to have more faith in Shatty defensively and Cole overall than most fans do, so perhaps I should be concerned, too. But, for now, I'll gladly wait and see with all of this.

 

[mizzoublues29]

Man I could care less who's on the schedule first....DROP THE PUUUUUCCCKKKKKK!!!!

 

[2 Minute Minor]

To develop an earlier comment more:

I see Russell as a smaller player than Colaicovo, more easily outmuscled (although that's not forte of Colaiacovo's) but with significantly superior hockey sense. He's a guy I'm glad to have on the team, and I would even be OK with him on a PP unit (especially if there are 3 units like Hitchcock alluded to, although I think he's not going to use three PP units in actuality).

So I think he maybe could function as Pietro's partner at least as well as Colaiacovo did, and that was good enough for the team to have the best defense in the league. But in isolated battles he can get beat. If that pairing is playing in the offensive zone, it looks great. If its trying to defend Crosby's line in our own end, I worry.

As for the comments above, I have to admit that I'd rather see Schwartz on any line you project D'Agostini on, including on the top line with Backes/Oshie. And maybe he'll be there as the season progresses. More likely, Tarasenko maybe slides up there and Schwartz solidifies a spot on the 3rd line. All of these scenarios suppose D'Agostini getting traded/scratched (or maybe Stewart completely deflating, but I have a feeling that's not how its going to do down for him this year).

Maybe Porter gets sent down in favor of Schwartz and D'Agostini is a frequent scratch? Would Hitchcock start out the season like that?

 

[sh724]

My dad says it will be at home against Detroit on the 19th. He probably read it in the paper, but he has worked for Steve Maritz for close to 30 years and sometimes he does get info before its released

 

[JustOneB4IDie]

Man I could care less who's on the schedule first....DROP THE PUUUUUCCCKKKKKK!!!!

Well there you go...

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I don't like the idea of Cole and Shattenkirk paired together.

Agree. I don't either.

 

[ManyIdeas]

Anyone else think about sobotka on a line with bergie and stewart? Adds defensive responsibility and decent speed and playmaking...

 

[Rizzo90]

Anyone else think about sobotka on a line with bergie and stewart? Adds defensive responsibility and decent speed and playmaking...

def sounds good...who knows what coach is gonna do? Happy thing is that he HAS quite a few options to toy with, which wasn't always the case with this team

 

[Brentaur]

He's here.

@StLouisBlues: Vladimir Tarasenko has arrived and is expected to participate in today's informal skate at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Mills. #stlblues -55 minutes ago

Update:

@LKorac10: Tarasenko is on the ice ... taking pointers from @jamierivers08: yfrog.com/od8r8rvj #stlblues -10 minutes ago

 

[Novacain]

Also worth noting, in early drills, Bergie and Stewart have been skating with Schwartz.

 

[JustOneB4IDie]

He's here.



Update:

I'm 48 years old, and I have not been so exited about a "Blues Prospect" since Joey Mullen when I was in High School. Honrable Mention to Wayne Babych, Bernie Federko, and Mike Liut.

 

[Falco Lombardi]

So within the last week D'Agostini has gone from projected to be on the top line with Bashie to not skating on any of the top 3 lines (Perron-Backes-Oshie, McDonald-Steen-Tarasenko, Schwartz-Berglund-Stewart).

I feel like trade coming. He's not a fourth line type player.

 

[tfriede2]

So within the last week D'Agostini has gone from projected to be on the top line with Bashie to not skating on any of the top 3 lines (Perron-Backes-Oshie, McDonald-Steen-Tarasenko, Schwartz-Berglund-Stewart).

I feel like trade coming. He's not a fourth line type player.

Those lines look sick...either three can easily be considered our first line. Wow...that third line is the difference-maker though, if they can find chemistry (like Berglund/Stewart appeared to have when Stewart was first traded to us).

While D'Agostini isn't an ideal 4th line player, he still brings some toughness to the lineup (even though he isn't big). He's fast, has a great shot, and can drop the gloves every now and then. With that said, I feel better hanging on to him and not trading him. If Schwartz makes the team and D'ags is traded, our first callup option is...McRae? Grachev? I guess that's why having Sobotka is great...he can move up to the 3rd line, and the person he replaces can move up to the top 6 to replace the injured player. Still, having D'Agostini as an option to put into the top 6 in place of an injured player looks a lot better than McRae/Grachev. I guess the problem is what do we do with D'Agostini when there aren't any injuries.

It's definitely a good problem to have!

 

[JustOneB4IDie]

Depth is a nice thing to have.

 

[kimzey59]

Those lines look sick...either three can easily be considered our first line. Wow...that third line is the difference-maker though, if they can find chemistry (like Berglund/Stewart appeared to have when Stewart was first traded to us).

While D'Agostini isn't an ideal 4th line player, he still brings some toughness to the lineup (even though he isn't big). He's fast, has a great shot, and can drop the gloves every now and then. With that said, I feel better hanging on to him and not trading him. If Schwartz makes the team and D'ags is traded, our first callup option is...McRae? Grachev? I guess that's why having Sobotka is great...he can move up to the 3rd line, and the person he replaces can move up to the top 6 to replace the injured player. Still, having D'Agostini as an option to put into the top 6 in place of an injured player looks a lot better than McRae/Grachev. I guess the problem is what do we do with D'Agostini when there aren't any injuries.

It's definitely a good problem to have!

Without Dags

Perron Backes Oshie
Schwartz Berglund Stewart
McDonald Steen Tarasenko
Sobotka Nichol Langenbrunner
Reaves
Porter
Grachev
Murray
McRae
Peluso

Still a pretty darn deep group of forwards.
I like D'Agostini, but right now he's an expendable piece and one that should have decent trade value. He goes a long way towards getting the D man we need.

 

[tfriede2]

Without Dags

Perron Backes Oshie
Schwartz Berglund Stewart
McDonald Steen Tarasenko
Sobotka Nichol Langenbrunner
Reaves
Porter
Grachev
Murray
McRae
Peluso

Still a pretty darn deep group of forwards.
I like D'Agostini, but right now he's an expendable piece and one that should have decent trade value. He goes a long way towards getting the D man we need.

If that's true, then he's absolutely expendable. I'm just not sure what we can get for him in a trade. I trust Army to find out though!

 

[STL fan in MN]

Without Dags

Perron Backes Oshie
Schwartz Berglund Stewart
McDonald Steen Tarasenko
Sobotka Nichol Langenbrunner
Reaves
Porter
Grachev
Murray
McRae
Peluso

Still a pretty darn deep group of forwards.
I like D'Agostini, but right now he's an expendable piece and one that should have decent trade value. He goes a long way towards getting the D man we need.

Don't forget about Cracknell. I'd think he'd get a callup way before McRae at this point. All depends on what sort of role they're looking for when looking for a callup though.

 

[KirkOut]

Was at the practice today. Tarasenko looked a little nervous at times but it's his first day in a new country so I guess that's to be expected. Also he hit a diving polak in the face on a saucer pass on a 2-on-1 drill and polak had to go to the locker room. It was clear that a lot of the guys (jackman, oshie, and andy mac that i saw) were trying to help him with drills and fit in with the team. The player that impressed me the most was sobotka-he was really looking good. Schwartz also looked impressive. D'agostini was underwhelming. It will be interesting to see what our bottom 6 looks like this season

 

[kimzey59]

Don't forget about Cracknell. I'd think he'd get a callup way before McRae at this point. All depends on what sort of role they're looking for when looking for a callup though.

I left off Hensick and SDR as well, both of whom have NHL experience.

Honestly though; I doubt we'd even have to go past Murray. Even there you're talking about being 16 forwards deep, and that is ridiculous in the Cap era. Having 5 legit options beyond that is insane and practically unheard of.

Bottom line; forward depth is a non-issue for us. We can easily afford to move a body or two.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I'd rather have Schwartz on that line than D'Agostini. And, I don't like the idea of Cole and Shattenkirk paired together.

What's your hesitation with Cole-Shatty? Those two have seemed to play well together since they were 16.

I agree though that I prefer Shatty with Jackman. Those two seemed to make a good pairing. The success of Cole-Shatty will depend on if Cole can improve his consistency and Shatty can improve his defense a bit. Adding a solid left d-man to pair with Petro would not only solidify that top pairing but it would help balance out the 2nd and 3rd pairings while also adding much needed defensive depth (ie. it would push Woywitka to Peoria).

 

[STL fan in MN]

I left off Hensick and SDR as well, both of whom have NHL experience.

Honestly though; I doubt we'd even have to go past Murray. Even there you're talking about being 16 forwards deep, and that is ridiculous in the Cap era. Having 5 legit options beyond that is insane and practically unheard of.

Bottom line; forward depth is a non-issue for us. We can easily afford to move a body or two.

Agreed. Our offensive depth is currently way better than our defensive depth.

 

[Rizzo90]

Went to this morning's skate. Was struck @ 1st with a few things, Berglund is humongous & looks like he's more willing to use his size to bully through bodies than I've noticed in the past. Stewart looked amazing, what I noticed most was the passes he was dishing to other players were totally sweet. Halak looked very alert & hungry. Porter was skating like a madman , only noticed this cuz he seemed to be one of the only people who could skate with Amac. Steen looks to have put some size on too, not as slender. Tarasenko appeared to be just intently watching, soakin it all in, he skates really well & damn what a hard shot. Schartz didn't impress as much as I though he would. Russel is amazingly fast. Cole was like glue on almost any forward to tried puckhandling past him. Oshie spends a lot of time on his butt,
Everyone else was who you'd expect them to be & everyone seened to have big smiles on their faces, GO BLUES!!

 

[Alklha]

What's your hesitation with Cole-Shatty? Those two have seemed to play well together since they were 16.

I agree though that I prefer Shatty with Jackman. Those two seemed to make a good pairing. The success of Cole-Shatty will depend on if Cole can improve his consistency and Shatty can improve his defense a bit. Adding a solid left d-man to pair with Petro would not only solidify that top pairing but it would help balance out the 2nd and 3rd pairings while also adding much needed defensive depth (ie. it would push Woywitka to Peoria).

The only problem I have with a Cole-Shattenkirk pairing is what it means for the rest of the pairings.

I have to admit I'm a little confused by all the talk about pairings. Jackman-Shattenkirk & Russell-Polák both work really well together, so I'd be a little surprised to see us messing with them before first seeing how Pietrangelo and Cole got on together.

 

[bluemandan]

Went to this morning's skate. Was struck @ 1st with a few things,

Awesome, thanks for the report.

Berglund is humongous & looks like he's more willing to use his size to bully through bodies than I've noticed in the past.

Good to hear. Nice to hear Bergie using his size aggressively. I mostly see him use his size to shield the puck.

Stewart looked amazing, what I noticed most was the passes he was dishing to other players were totally sweet.

Awesome. Big question is his stamina and mental make-up though, gotta wait for games to tell.

Halak looked very alert & hungry.

He should eat something then. He is already pretty small.

Porter was skating like a madman , only noticed this cuz he seemed to be one of the only people who could skate with Amac.

Cool. If we end up trading D'Agostini, Porter could still offer a speed threat in the line-up that other teams have to keep in mind. Better physically and defensively than D'Agostini as well. Seems better suited for a bottom six role than D'Agostini does.

Steen looks to have put some size on too, not as slender.

Should only help against the big-bodied centers in the West, as long as he is still mobile.

Tarasenko appeared to be just intently watching, soakin it all in, he skates really well & damn what a hard shot.

He practicing with Blues players. That is enough for me. So excited.

Schartz didn't impress as much as I though he would.

Schwartz's skill that will make him an NHL player is his hockey sense. That won't show up in drills. Much harder to see/evaluate in practice than a game.

Russel is amazingly fast.

Good to hear. A lack of speed on the blueline can kill teams.

Cole was like glue on almost any forward to tried puckhandling past him.

Fantastic to hear. That is what we need from him.

Oshie spends a lot of time on his butt,

Glad to hear that Oshie is in mid-season form.

Everyone else was who you'd expect them to be & everyone seened to have big smiles on their faces, GO BLUES!!

Again, thanks for the info. I'm excited for the puck to drop!

 

[Mike Liut]

Went to this morning's skate. Was struck @ 1st with a few things, Berglund is humongous & looks like he's more willing to use his size to bully through bodies than I've noticed in the past. Stewart looked amazing, what I noticed most was the passes he was dishing to other players were totally sweet. Halak looked very alert & hungry. Porter was skating like a madman , only noticed this cuz he seemed to be one of the only people who could skate with Amac. Steen looks to have put some size on too, not as slender. Tarasenko appeared to be just intently watching, soakin it all in, he skates really well & damn what a hard shot. Schartz didn't impress as much as I though he would. Russel is amazingly fast. Cole was like glue on almost any forward to tried puckhandling past him. Oshie spends a lot of time on his butt,
Everyone else was who you'd expect them to be & everyone seened to have big smiles on their faces, GO BLUES!!

Thanks for the info.

Steen lost a lot weight last year while being out. Glad to see him put it back on. He's such an underrated player. Putting size and strength back on will go a long way for him this year. I am also expecting BIG things from Berglund this year. He has the potential to dominate and I think he will. One of my favorite Blues.