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This morning the Blues announced a number of roster moves, trimming the roster down to 32. Many of the moves were expected, such as assigning Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas to their junior teams and players like Adam Musil, Thomas Vanelli and Ville Husso to the AHL. Jordan Schmaltz, Conner Bleackly, and Mackenzie MacEachern were also assigned to the AHL. While many of us assumed Petteri Lindbohm and Chris Butler would be put on waivers for the purposes of being sent to the AHL, I think a number of people will be surprised to learn that Beau Bennett has been put on waivers.
What also might be surprising to some, even though it shouldn’t be, is that Wade Megan, Samuel Blais, Klim Kostin, Oskar Sundqvist, and Tage Thompson all still remain as do Nate Prosser, Jake Walman and Vince Dunn. Expect at least two of those forwards to make the team if not three. Right now, I believe that Megan, Blais and Sundqvist have the inside track with Megan and Blais almost as locks assuming none of the injuries heal before the start of the season. Blais is skating with Schenn and Sobotoka in practice and has in some preseason games. Perhaps he is holding Steen’s spot as Steen gets close to returning (he skated today) or perhaps they plan to start the season with him there. Megan is skating with Brodziak and Thorburn while Sundqvist is with Thompson and Magnus Paajarvi.
Megan and Blais have earned the right to stay based on their play both in developing and playing last year and all through camp. Thompson is so intriguing because of his combination of size and skill with an NHL ready shot. Unfortunately, his overall game isn’t nearly as well rounded yet. His ceiling is higher than Megan and Blais but Thompson’s play isn’t yet as sound postionally or defensively.
As I said earlier this week, I expect Prosser to make the team and while I think Walman had the inside track to other remaining defensive spot, I think Dunn has closed that gap and maybe even surpassed him. If you don’t believe me, look to the practice pairings today. Dunn is with Colton Parayko while Walman is with Prosser.
I like that coach Mike Yeo appears to be rewarding actual on-ice performance, keeping guys like Klosin, Thompson, Blais, Megan and Dunn around long into camp and exposing more experienced players who have not performed as well.
As to the current roster size, 32 is really misleading as it includes Luke Opilka and Jordan Binnington who will get assigned later this week and the injured Robby Fabbri, Alexander Steen, Zachary Sanford, and Jay Bouwmeester. Assuming all of those players start the year on injured reserve, only three roster cuts remain.
The young Blues players had a chance to make their last case to stay last night against the Blue Jackets in Kansas City. Unfortunately, by all accounts most didn’t help their case but rather made it easier to get assigned today.
The team lost 5-2 in Columbus and was outshot 40-21. You might chalk this up to the Blues roster but the Blue Jackets didn’t exactly dress a lot of their NHL regulars with Cam Atkinson, Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner, Artemi Panarin, Alex Wennberg, Jack Johnson, Seth Jones, Zack Werenski, and Sergei Bobrovsky all sitting out.
Jake Allen made another gaffe with the puck that led to a goal against. He laughed about it afterwards, joking about thinking he is Bobby Orr but it’s a pattern that is disturbing as he has been prone to these gaffes more than the average goalie over the years.
As to notes from the game last night:
- Megan led the Blues with 5 shots
- Walman, Dunn, Blais, Musil, and Thompson tied for 2nd with 2 shots
- Jaskin led the team in hits with 5 while Blais was second with 4
- Blais led all forwards in ice time but a lot of that was power play time. Jaskin was 2nd.
- Walman led all defensemen with almost 22 minutes with over 8 minutes of it on special teams.
- Walman, Kyrou, Megan, and Thomas were -3 each.
- Thomas had his best face-off game at 40%.
It’s a great day for hockey.
Fellow Hockeybuzz bloggers
Nashville Predator's Paul McCann,
Winnipeg Jet's Peter Tessier and
Minnesota Wild's Dan Wallace have generously agreed to a friendly charity wager. We were hoping to do the whole division but don't have it fully represented yet. The blogger whose team finishes the highest the standings at the end of the year gets to pick a charity to whom the others will donate in their name.
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