Should the Blues play Reaves or put in Jaskin or Upshall in his place? Speed will be at a premium and the ability to roll four lines will be important too...
- eggsegan

I would always lose Reaves and Paajarvi

I would always lose Reaves and Paajarvi
- sycsam

Ah, Reaves has his place. If we play LA, I'd think he'd be more valuable than some of the other options.

After this season, I wonder if Paajarvi has value in the same way that D'Agostini did a few years back. A guy that can fill a third line spot that can move up and down the line up, but never produces at higher than a 35 point level...

Speed is good...

BTW - It's funny to talk about ancillary pieces and how they will or won't contribute. That's a better place to be than a few years ago...

Ah, Reaves has his place. If we play LA, I'd think he'd be more valuable than some of the other options.

After this season, I wonder if Paajarvi has value in the same way that D'Agostini did a few years back. A guy that can fill a third line spot that can move up and down the line up, but never produces at higher than a 35 point level...

Speed is good...

BTW - It's funny to talk about ancillary pieces and how they will or won't contribute. That's a better place to be than a few years ago...
- eggsegan

Agreed

I think a fourth line of Jaskin Brodziak Upshall is better than Reaves Brodziak Upshall

at least against the hawks

Agreed

I think a fourth line of Jaskin Brodziak Upshall is better than Reaves Brodziak Upshall

at least against the hawks
- sycsam

I'm not a fan of either option.

But I think I tend toward Reaves over Jaskin. Jaskin has been a big-fat empty this year. I don't see him contribute anything.

Reaves will bang around and get in on the forecheck. I would make his job simple, every time the D-man turns to get the puck, make sure you put a hit on him. Over and over and over again.

In the hopes you wear them down over the course of a long series.

This is the reason the Blues (in many people's opinion - not mine personally) overpaid with Oshie for Brouwer and I expect him to be a big-time playoff contributor.

I don't think the Blues will try and goon up for this series. I think they realize the Hawks speed has to be contained so they'll have a defensive structure in place.

Someone over in the P-D forum posted the Blues' roster from two years ago when they played the Hawks.....

This roster is soooooo much better and deeper in skill.
- bcallaway

the roster from last time hardly mattered as there were very few healthy bodies. we ended up with like three checking lines and some injured okayers trying to olay. it was when berglund first hurt the shoulder that is now fixed.

JJ made a terrible mistake glossy over number totals and not looking at ppg.

I'm not a fan of either option.

But I think I tend toward Reaves over Jaskin. Jaskin has been a big-fat empty this year. I don't see him contribute anything.

Reaves will bang around and get in on the forecheck. I would make his job simple, every time the D-man turns to get the puck, make sure you put a hit on him. Over and over and over again.

In the hopes you wear them down over the course of a long series.
- bcallaway

As long as he does this cleanly I am ok with it but he tends to start running around a bit

Agreed

I think a fourth line of Jaskin Brodziak Upshall is better than Reaves Brodziak Upshall

at least against the hawks
- sycsam

i think a prefer mps over jaskin at this point. reaves maybe over both because he scares the hell out of teams and the blues are not the ones i am worried about gooning it up. the hawks went out and got players that have sand paper to add to their roster. players that will have to prove something. ladd has already demonstrated the willingness to take the low road.

with TT and Keith let Reaves hit them a few times, TT will become invisible and Keith might retaliate and take himself out.

Word should be to hit Panarin, take the body on him every time he touches the puck. He was hit not terribly hard and legally the other night and was lucky not to get called retaliating.

I am saying put good, hard legal checks and let the entitled cry and take themselves out of the game. If you had someone who could whisper sweet nothings and hack the right way, on the right side of the edge I would have someone do that to either Kane or Toews. You can get them flustered.

If Seabrook were to enjoy karma I would not be upset.

I'm not a fan of either option.

But I think I tend toward Reaves over Jaskin. Jaskin has been a big-fat empty this year. I don't see him contribute anything.

Reaves will bang around and get in on the forecheck. I would make his job simple, every time the D-man turns to get the puck, make sure you put a hit on him. Over and over and over again.

In the hopes you wear them down over the course of a long series.
- bcallaway

Though to be honest he seems a bit late on it against the Hawks. Might be more optimal to switch him in and out.

Though to be honest he seems a bit late on it against the Hawks. Might be more optimal to switch him in and out.
- BluemanGuruu

My gut tells me Hitch will start with Reaves and see what happens, making adjustments after...