Where do you rank the Blues C depth?

[Bounces R Way]

Top 10 for me. ROR is a fantastic centerman who has played on crap teams. Gonna be a massive get for the Blues.

 

[Critical13]

Its not that good TBH, worse than Pittsburgh, TB, WSH, TOR, Edmonton, Buf, Florida, LA, Boston, Philly, Winnipeg, NYI, and most teams with an elite number one, but at least its better than the Habs.

This is how I feel. Somewhere in the 15 range. I don't see a #1C, and I don't think Bozak is an ideal #3C.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

Looks good on paper but will they actually change the fortune of Blues constant failure in the playoffs? I think there in for more of the same but I guess will see

Aww thanks, playa. Relevant. And a beauty of a post coming from a Canucks fan.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

Anyway I'd say right around 10th. 8-12 range.

 

[Mrb1p]

This is how I feel. Somewhere in the 15 range. I don't see a #1C, and I don't think Bozak is an ideal #3C.

Ultimately I feel Bozak isnt good enough. You either want a specialist in that spot, either defensive or offensive or a guy thats good enough to chip in offense and be great defensively.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Ultimately I feel Bozak isnt good enough. You either want a specialist in that spot, either defensive or offensive or a guy thats good enough to chip in offense and be great defensively.

Bozak is fine as a #3. ROR has the shutdown defense, so you don't need a defensive 3rd line. Bozak scoring ~40ish points and winning a bunch of faceoffs is a good #3.

 

[I am not exposed]

I think somewhere in the top 10.

I also consider ROR a 1C.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

Its not that good TBH, worse than Pittsburgh, TB, WSH, TOR, Edmonton, Buf, Florida, LA, Boston, Philly, Winnipeg, NYI, and most teams with an elite number one, but at least its better than the Habs.

NYI, Buffalo I would very much disagree with. Disagree on LA too. Possibly Boston.

 

[Mrb1p]

NYI, Buffalo I would very much disagree with. Disagree on LA too. Possibly Boston.

Name checks out

 

[bleedblue1223]

Name checks out

NYI and BUF are just kind of silly. Sure, they got Barzal and Eichel respectively, but their #2's and #3's just don't stack up. Mittelstadt could boost BUF ahead, but could is the key word there. I'd take LA over what we have. Boston depends on Krejci and whoever takes the #3 spot.

 

[bukwas]

Around mid-pack i guess.
Of course with two of them never having played a shift with the Blues yet, just about anything is possible.

 

[Halla]

It's deep but lacks a true #1. ROR is one of the best #2C's in the league (which generally means he's a low end #1C) and Schenn is a middle of the pack #2C. Bozak fits in nicely as a #3C. I voted Top 10 because the OP seemed to emphasize "depth" but if I was voting who had the best C group they would not be top 10 as I'll take teams with 2 exceptional #1Cs > depth.

hasnt worked out to well for the oilers...need two elite C AND depth...IE pens,caps, leafs now

 

[Mrb1p]

hasnt worked out to well for the oilers...need two elite C AND depth...IE pens,caps, leafs now

Lol, has it worked well for the Leafs though? Oilers went further than you guys have went in the last 15 years

 

[Mrb1p]

NYI and BUF are just kind of silly. Sure, they got Barzal and Eichel respectively, but their #2's and #3's just don't stack up. Mittelstadt could boost BUF ahead, but could is the key word there. I'd take LA over what we have. Boston depends on Krejci and whoever takes the #3 spot.

Krejci still is a 50+ C, which is right in line with ROR. Theres no contest. Bozak and a guy that played a single season at C doesnt change that. ROR is nice but hes a 2C.

Heck Even Nashville, Anaheim and SJ have comparablenC depth, its not amazing.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Krejci still is a 50+ C, which is right in line with ROR. Theres no contest. Bozak and a guy that played a single season at C doesnt change that. ROR is nice but hes a 2C.

Heck Even Nashville, Anaheim and SJ have comparablenC depth, its not amazing.

ROR is a 60+ C with shutdown defense, that's better than current Krejci, but not Bergeron. Schenn had 70 points with a good all-round game, you can't just write that off as "1 season" when his increase in production is due to getting more minutes and going back to his natural position. His points/60 are inline with what he produced in Philly, I'd bank on him staying closer to his production last year just based on that, nothing he did was really unsustainable. We'll just have to see what kind of players Krejci and Schenn are this season.

 

[Leafidelity]

Lower half of the top 10, but that's pretty impressive with 2/3 being acquired this offseason.

 

[PhiladelphiaKessel]

Bozak is fine as a #3. ROR has the shutdown defense, so you don't need a defensive 3rd line. Bozak scoring ~40ish points and winning a bunch of faceoffs is a good #3.

Agreed. I think the Blues will surprise a lot of people this year

 

[Connor McConnor]

hasnt worked out to well for the oilers...need two elite C AND depth...IE pens,caps, leafs now

Yes because having Centres is all a team needs, great logic. You need a TEAM to win. The Oilers problems last year had nothing to do with C depth, it was pretty much everything else. Clueless post.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

I would honestly rather be the Islanders with Barzal Beauvilier and whoever because at least they have an elite #1C

The Blues are not in my top-10

 

[Pi]

Lol, has it worked well for the Leafs though? Oilers went further than you guys have went in the last 15 years

I don't get what the last fifteen years have to do with the Leafs going into next season?

Congrats to the Oilers on beating an injured and hobbled Sharks team and then going back to the basement next season I guess?

Leafs faced two incredibly tough teams. One won the President's Trophy, the other was the best team in the NHL in the second half of the season and put up more points than even the Leafs. They had a 105 points and were still the underdog and didn't have home ice.

Leafs depth >>>>>> Oiler's depth. One team will be guaranteed to make the playoffs. Oilers are not that team.

 

[TK 421]

The Blues finished last season with Kyle Brodziak as their 2C. Let that sink in, go ahead I'll give you a minute.





Ok now you can properly appreciate adding ROR, Bozak and Thomas to Schenn. Last year was BRUTAL for the Blues at forward, they basically didn't have a 3rd line. It was like having 2 4th lines essentially and I'm fairly certain baby Jesus would have cried had he witnessed it.

Since FA started the Blues have added an entire 3rd line, upgraded from Stastny to O'Reilly, and have Fabbri and Thomas about to be added on top of that without touching Kostin or Kyrou. After 2 years of retooling they are about to smash back into the contender group in a big way.

Robert Thomas, a guy who won a coaches poll for smartest player in the OHL East, was in contention for Memorial Cup MVP and is generally regarded as an excellent 200 ft center with top 6 potential is now our 4th line center. How many teams in this league have a 4C that good? Idk tbh, but I imagine the answer is precious few.

IMO the Blues went from being clearly a bottom 10 team at center to the the top 10 in one off season. I've been a fan of the Blues since the 85-86 Season and I can't recall them ever having this kind of depth at the position.

If you have any problems with my post direct them at Ryan O'Reilly's giant blue G.A.R Chart lightsaber.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

The Blues finished last season with Kyle Brodziak as their 2C. Let that sink in, go ahead I'll give you a minute.





Ok now you can properly appreciate adding ROR, Bozak and Thomas to Schenn. Last year was BRUTAL for the Blues at forward, they basically didn't have a 3rd line. It was like having 2 4th lines essentially and I'm fairly certain baby Jesus would have cried had he witnessed it.

Since FA started the Blues have added an entire 3rd line, upgraded from Stastny to O'Reilly, and have Fabbri and Thomas about to be added on top of that without touching Kostin or Kyrou. After 2 years of retooling they are about to smash back into the contender group in a big way.

Robert Thomas, a guy who won a coaches poll for smartest player in the OHL East, was in contention for Memorial Cup MVP and is generally regarded as an excellent 200 ft center with top 6 potential is now our 4th line center. How many teams in this league have a 4C that good? Idk tbh, but I imagine the answer is precious few.

IMO the Blues went from being clearly a bottom 10 team at center to the the top 10 in one off season. I've been a fan of the Blues since the 85-86 Season and I can't recall them ever having this kind of depth at the position.

If you have any problems with my post direct them at Ryan O'Reilly's giant blue G.A.R Chart lightsaber.

You mean that same GAR chart that puts a heavy emphasis on faceoff wins and not taking penalties; the only areas where ROR is anywhere near a first line center? The one that ranks Detroit’s centers well above Washington’s?

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't get what the last fifteen years have to do with the Leafs going into next season?

Congrats to the Oilers on beating an injured and hobbled Sharks team and then going back to the basement next season I guess?

Leafs faced two incredibly tough teams. One won the President's Trophy, the other was the best team in the NHL in the second half of the season and put up more points than even the Leafs. They had a 105 points and were still the underdog and didn't have home ice.

Leafs depth >>>>>> Oiler's depth. One team will be guaranteed to make the playoffs. Oilers are not that team.

Point is, its too early to say its going to work for the Leafs, no matter how good you think your super team is.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

I don't see how the Predators are 7th if the Blues are in the teens. Johansen has to be one of the more overrated players on this site. Johansen/Turris/Bonino isn't any better than ROR/Schenn/Bozak.

Also not seeing the Sharks as better. A declining Joe Thornton and Couture? Meh. Solid, but if any of these guys are true #1's in HF's opinion, then so are ROR and Schenn.

Thats fair. I was also considering Jarnkrok at 4C as well I liked Johansen a little more than ROR.
But yeah I think those could definitely be up to debate

 

[Stephen]

While it's fairly deep, I wouldn't say it's particularly high end, and I wouldn't fall for the trap of name dropping Bozak, as he's basically a third line center.