Yeah they do need him to produce more. 19 points in 60 games playing second or third line minutes does qualify him as one of the worst centers in the league and he's not getting any better. Even putting aside production, he just doesn't look good. He's not particularly strong on the puck and his passing, which is suppose to be his strong suit, has been bad.

Yeah I think by next year Sanford could at least match that production. If they want to keep him on the wing to start out, we have Barbashev and Sobotka who can play center until Sanford or Thompson are ready.
- fattyboubatty

Barbs is good enough now and without looking I bet they are about the same in dot with maybe Barbs a slight bit higher.

His vision is better as well. This is not to say Lehtera is horrible but he's not as good Cajnek and well....

Barbs looks like a second liner. He looks a lot like Stastny only younger, a bit stronger and quicker.

Lehtera is not the worst player, but he is paid more like two million at least over the value he brings. He is way too slow and that is why he takes so many penalties.
- BluemanGuruu

Barbs looks like a second liner?

He has 2 goals, 1 assist in 14 games. Puts him on a pace of 12 goals, 6 assists (roughly) over a full 82 game season.

How can you say he looks like a second liner? He has promise, but he is not close to a top 6 NHL player yet.

Barbs looks like a second liner?

He has 2 goals, 1 assist in 14 games. Puts him on a pace of 12 goals, 6 assists (roughly) over a full 82 game season.

How can you say he looks like a second liner? He has promise, but he is not close to a top 6 NHL player yet.
- carcus

At Even Strength:
Barbarshev is scoring a point every 49.3 minutes of ice time.
Lehtera is scoring a point every 47.7 minutes of ice time.

Barbarshev looks like a second liner because he is producing at the same rate as the guy we've been playing on the second line. Only Barbarshev hasn't needed Tarasenko on his line to do it. Is Barbarshev a second line guy on most teams? No. Is he compared to Lehtera? Yep.

At Even Strength:
Barbarshev is scoring a point every 49.3 minutes of ice time.
Lehtera is scoring a point every 47.7 minutes of ice time.

Barbarshev looks like a second liner because he is producing at the same rate as the guy we've been playing on the second line. Only Barbarshev hasn't needed Tarasenko on his line to do it. Is Barbarshev a second line guy on most teams? No. Is he compared to Lehtera? Yep.
- Antilles

He is scoring around the same rate per ice time? But everyone wants Lehtera gone because of his lack of production......so how does that make Barbashev look like a second liner?

So are you wrong about Lehtera? Or Barbashev? Because if they look similar, they either both aren't top 6 or they both are.

And no, Tarasenko isn't dragging Lehtera's points up. He still hasn't gotten a ton with them playing together (when they do). But Lehtera is always passing to Tarasenko in spots he can get a good shot off. It isn't like Lehtera is touching the puck but Tarasenko is doing everything to score and Lehtera gets token assists on goals.

He is scoring around the same rate per ice time? But everyone wants Lehtera gone because of his lack of production......so how does that make Barbashev look like a second liner?

So are you wrong about Lehtera? Or Barbashev? Because if they look similar, they either both aren't top 6 or they both are.

And no, Tarasenko isn't dragging Lehtera's points up. He still hasn't gotten a ton with them playing together (when they do). But Lehtera is always passing to Tarasenko in spots he can get a good shot off. It isn't like Lehtera is touching the puck but Tarasenko is doing everything to score and Lehtera gets token assists on goals.
- carcus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfJSE5mz3Q0

Tarasenko isn't dragging Lehtera's points up? I mean, sure, not all of Lehtera's even strength points are like that one, but 3 or 4 of them are. That's a quarter of his production.

And the statement "either both aren't top 6 or they both are" is completely false. We have Statsny as one center in the top 6. Meaning, quite literally, only one of them can be a top 6 center for us. They have the same production level, but Barbarshev doesn't have his dragged up by Tarasenko.

People want Lehtera gone because he is making 4.7m. If Lehtera is gone, we get the same or better production from Barbarshev, and have money to add or keep another player as well. If Lehtera is the standard, Barbarshev is a second line player. Meaning we can afford to get rid of Lehtera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfJSE5mz3Q0

Tarasenko isn't dragging Lehtera's points up? I mean, sure, not all of Lehtera's even strength points are like that one, but 3 or 4 of them are. That's a quarter of his production.

And the statement "either both aren't top 6 or they both are" is completely false. We have Statsny as one center in the top 6. Meaning, quite literally, only one of them can be a top 6 center for us. They have the same production level, but Barbarshev doesn't have his dragged up by Tarasenko.

People want Lehtera gone because he is making 4.7m. If Lehtera is gone, we get the same or better production from Barbarshev, and have money to add or keep another player as well. If Lehtera is the standard, Barbarshev is a second line player. Meaning we can afford to get rid of Lehtera.
- Antilles

That is the problem. Lehtera isn't a 2nd line player the way he is producing now. Neither is Barbashev

At Even Strength:
Barbarshev is scoring a point every 49.3 minutes of ice time.
Lehtera is scoring a point every 47.7 minutes of ice time.

Barbarshev looks like a second liner because he is producing at the same rate as the guy we've been playing on the second line. Only Barbarshev hasn't needed Tarasenko on his line to do it. Is Barbarshev a second line guy on most teams? No. Is he compared to Lehtera? Yep.
- Antilles

That's not enough of sampling size to make any kind of determination as to how much he will score at the NHL level. I'm certainly not ready to hand him the #2 center slot.

In all honesty, Stastny should be the #2 center. The gaping hole for the Blues is a #1.

That's not enough of sampling size to make any kind of determination as to how much he will score at the NHL level. I'm certainly not ready to hand him the #2 center slot.

In all honesty, Stastny should be the #2 center. The gaping hole for the Blues is a #1.
- bcallaway

It's not like I want Barbarshev as a second line center, as I said earlier he wouldn't be on most teams. But Lehtera has completely proven he isn't up to the task. Barbarshev has given every reason to think the would, at worst, be Lehtera's equal. There is no reason to not see if he can perform there.

Sure, Statsny SHOULD be a #2 if you compare play league wide. Unfortunately, Blues have to choose 1, 2, 3, & 4 comparing players team wide right now.

Long term, top line center looks to be Blues biggest problem for the forseeable future. Between Thompson, Sanford, and Barbarshev, I think we'll have a solid #2 & #3 Center. We have young D prospects to add to the young core of Petro, Parayko, & Edmundson; and Kyrou to add to the young wingers in Fabbri, Schwartz, & Tarasenko. Husso looks top end in net. But top line center... don't see how Blues are going to fix that problem.

That's not enough of sampling size to make any kind of determination as to how much he will score at the NHL level. I'm certainly not ready to hand him the #2 center slot.

In all honesty, Stastny should be the #2 center. The gaping hole for the Blues is a #1.
- bcallaway

That right there is the elephant in the room and the main reason the Blues have not been able to break through to win a cup these last few years. Problem is, that is one of, if not THE hardest position to fill in hockey. You pretty much have to draft these guys near the top of the class.

One thing that is for sure though, Lehtera is not a number 1, or a number 2, and at near 30 years old, he's not going to be getting much better. We do have several younger guys in the system that with more development and experience should be able to at least hit the pretty low bar that is being currently set, for a fraction of the cost.

It's not like I want Barbarshev as a second line center, as I said earlier he wouldn't be on most teams. But Lehtera has completely proven he isn't up to the task. Barbarshev has given every reason to think the would, at worst, be Lehtera's equal. There is no reason to not see if he can perform there.

Sure, Statsny SHOULD be a #2 if you compare play league wide. Unfortunately, Blues have to choose 1, 2, 3, & 4 comparing players team wide right now.

Long term, top line center looks to be Blues biggest problem for the forseeable future. Between Thompson, Sanford, and Barbarshev, I think we'll have a solid #2 & #3 Center. We have young D prospects to add to the young core of Petro, Parayko, & Edmundson; and Kyrou to add to the young wingers in Fabbri, Schwartz, & Tarasenko. Husso looks top end in net. But top line center... don't see how Blues are going to fix that problem.
- Antilles

Our best bet right now is Thompson. He'll never be Crosby or Mcdavid but he could be in the same vein as a Kopitar or Pavelski.

Barbs looks like a second liner?

He has 2 goals, 1 assist in 14 games. Puts him on a pace of 12 goals, 6 assists (roughly) over a full 82 game season.

How can you say he looks like a second liner? He has promise, but he is not close to a top 6 NHL player yet.
- carcus

Well it's minutes played bud. If he got Lehtera's minutes I'll put a grand down that says he produces more.

That's not enough of sampling size to make any kind of determination as to how much he will score at the NHL level. I'm certainly not ready to hand him the #2 center slot.

In all honesty, Stastny should be the #2 center. The gaping hole for the Blues is a #1.
- bcallaway

That's the truth.

But playing the hand your dealt Barb's is superior and I can see how he will produce at a higher rate.

Well it's minutes played bud. If he got Lehtera's minutes I'll put a grand down that says he produces more.
- BluemanGuruu

You would probably lose that grand......

You would probably loose that grand......
- carcus

Give Barbashev a few games with Tarasenko and lets see what he does. Then we would know for sure

To be fair to Barbashev he was playing with Upshall and Reaves. Then maybe a game or 2 on the 3rd line

Give Barbashev a few games with Tarasenko and lets see what he does. Then we would know for sure

To be fair to Barbashev he was playing with Upshall and Reaves. Then maybe a game or 2 on the 3rd line
- BluesDroogie

He started a game with Tarasenko. But they switched him back because Lehtera was killing the other line.

He started a game with Tarasenko. But they switched him back because Lehtera was killing the other line.
- BluemanGuruu

Lehtera is already on the third line as per the projected lineup for tonight. Barbashev or whoever wouldn't go directly to full time second line duty, they also will have Berglund, Steen, and presumably Sobotka who can play C in the interim. All of whom are better than Lehtera but the main thing is, these younger guys actually have room to grow and get better, whereas Lehtera does not.

I hate to pile on the guy but he has been in the league three years now and his play has deteriorated on pretty much a daily basis.

He started a game with Tarasenko. But they switched him back because Lehtera was killing the other line.
- BluemanGuruu

didnt that only last for like 3 shifts or something?

Lehtera is already on the third line as per the projected lineup for tonight. Barbashev or whoever wouldn't go directly to full time second line duty, they also will have Berglund, Steen, and presumably Sobotka who can play C in the interim. All of whom are better than Lehtera but the main thing is, these younger guys actually have room to grow and get better, whereas Lehtera does not.

I hate to pile on the guy but he has been in the league three years now and his play has deteriorated on pretty much a daily basis.
- fattyboubatty

You said the dreaded S name

So any word of Army talking to him trying to bring him back as soon as the khl season is done, or does Army truly want him for a full year. Would he bring him back if we were definitely in the playoffs just for a run?

Trade his rights in the off season we dont need that extra cap hit anyway

A last minute trip to St. Louis allowed me to go to the game tonight. Is there a more boring line in the league than our 3rd line tonight? I've been a Lehtera apologized on the past, but it's like he's a cancer now.

You said the dreaded S name

So any word of Army talking to him trying to bring him back as soon as the khl season is done, or does Army truly want him for a full year. Would he bring him back if we were definitely in the playoffs just for a run?

Trade his rights in the off season we dont need that extra cap hit anyway
- BluesDroogie

I haven't heard of any communication, and I highly doubt he'd bring him over for the stretch run because thats what he'll want to do to get out of the contract. I expect Armstrong cuts off all talks until he actually shows up and then he'll be dealt.

Lehtera scratched for Barbarshev tonight. Finally a healthy scratch to hopefully wake him up; injury from that puck to the face last night; or a bit of both?

Lehtera scratched for Barbarshev tonight. Finally a healthy scratch to hopefully wake him up; injury from that puck to the face last night; or a bit of both?
- Antilles

He was on the bench at the end of the game so its probably a little of both, most likely parayko is also out for tonight