Blues preseason cuts

[theohall]

13 players cut:

Assigned to AHL Springfield: Kaspick, Laferriere, McGing, Peca, Stevens, Todd, Toropchenko, Washkurak, Luce and Wesley.

Back to juniors: Bolduc (Quebec, QMJHL), Tyson Galloway (Calgary, WHL) Cranley (Ottawa, OHL). #stlblues

If anyone wants to track Bolduc and his QMJHL team, the Quebec Remparts, their standings acronym is THAT - no idea why - it just is. Bolduc is the Remparts big acquisition this off-season. If anyone cares, the Remparts are Patrick Roy's team (he is VP of Hockey Ops, GM, and Coach).

[theohall]

Tommy Cross, Tyler Tucker and Joel Hofer re-assigned to Springfield (AHL). Surprised Rosen wasn't sent down also.

[theohall]

Forwards Nikita Alexandrov, Sam Anas and Nathan Walker, defensemen Calle Rosen and Steven Santini and goaltender Charlie Lindgren to the team's AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Frolik released from PTO.

So - Neal is still around along with Brown, Kostin, Neighbors, Joshua, and Perunovich. Looks like they are still trying to find somewhere for Ellis to play, since he's still around also.

Won't be surprised if the Blues try to move Kyle Clifford somewhere.

[glen a richter]

I find it hard to believe, with the depth on this team, that Brown would make team unless injuries necessitated it. He needs more work at the AHL level plus there's the opportunity to get an extra pick out of it.

[theohall]

Was discussing this on Discord and only one person is on the Brown bandwagon - no idea why because it doesn't make sense to keep him up when he'd be a 4th liner with special teams time or be scratched a ton.

This is where the discussion led:

Top 8 - ROR, Perron, Schenn, Buchnevich, Tarasenko, Saad, Thomas, and Kyrou

Barbashev and Bozak - who are staying. This brings it up to 10 of your top 13 forwards. (My assumption is the Blues go 13 F, 8 D to get Perunovich in while Sunny recovers. When Sunny returns, late November or early December, then the decision on 7 vs 8 D or 13 vs 14 F gets made for real).

To start the season, you don't have to count Neighbors, because he doesn't count against the roster limit unless he stays after his 10th game, so I'm not listing him since that decision will be deferred until November. As long as he is playing though, his salary will count against the cap. It's weird, I know. But it gives the Blues extra time and can see who stands out when the games matter among those who will still be fighting to stay.

Joshua, Kostin, Brown, MacEachern, Clifford, and Neal. Pick 3. However, if Neighbours stays, one of them goes after Neighbours 10th game. And when Sunny returns, one of them goes. With the general caveat of no one else winding up on LTIR. My picks would be Joshua, Kostin and MacEachern. Clifford just doesn't bring enough to warrant keeping him around, IMO. Then decide who goes based on how they play when the time comes.

(I'm writing off Neal. He's 34 but plays like he's 50. Something ain't right with his skating).

One weird idea I could see the Blues pull - manage Neighbours 10 games to try and make it coincide with when Sunny returns. If Sunny returns in late November, this wouldn't be that hard to pull off, and would give that extra time to Kostin, Joshua, or Brown, depending who stays.

[glen a richter]

The more I think about it the more I want Perunovich to start in Springfield. Better he gets first pair minutes down there than third pair minutes up here and let him season a bit, especially being out last season injured.

[gaijin]

Neal signs one-year contract worth $750k.

https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/neal-agr ... -326707090

[gaijin]

Also, Ellis, Joshua, and Perunovich sent down to Springfield.

[glen a richter]

I like taking a cheap chance on Neal. If he works out then that's great the kids can get a real year in the AHL to be better ready to go next season. IF he doesn't work out, there's depth in the farm system to take his place at a moment's notice. He provides some nice veteran leadership and he'll be a welcome voice in the locker room.

Also glad Perunovich will get a chance to log 1st pairing minutes in Springfield, like I said earlier. He can be 1st call up if needed and will definitely make the club next year out of the gate assuming he doesn't fall flat on his face which I highly doubt he will.

[glen a richter]

Since Logan Brown has to clear waivers, if someone takes him does that satisfy the condition of him not playing in 35 games or can the claiming team screw the Blues by playing him rendering the trade absolutely worthless aside from dumping Sanford?

Now that I re-think my question, losing Sanford for nothing would still have been a huge win. Be that as it may, was the condition less than 35 games played on the NHL roster as a Blue or 35 games on any roster?

[gaijin]

Just got a notification that Kostin has been sent down to Springfield as well. I would imagine he will be one of the first called up when the injuries start.

[theohall]

While it didn't happen with Brown, never overly worry about waivers, especially with marginal forwards, which is where Logan Brown currently sits. What is often forgotten - if a player is claimed from waivers, that player must stay on the claiming team's NHL roster for the remainder of the season in which he is claimed and the claiming team takes on the entire contract of the claimed player. No one was going to dedicate a permanent NHL roster spot for this season to Logan Brown right now.

[theohall]

Don't like the Neal signing. It's based on what he did vs non-NHL level competition this preseason and was probably the difference between Perunovich staying or being sent down, since it meant keeping an extra forward. IMO, by mid-season, many will be questioning why the Blues bothered signing Neal. Here is the big question, since Kostin has been sent down. When Sundqvist returns from injury, who goes? Barbashev, Clifford, Bozak, Neal, someone else?? If Neighbours sticks, he can't be sent anywhere. Yes, the obvious answer is Clifford, but why not just bite that bullet now and keep a younger, potentially more skilled, player?

Perunovich doesn't have anything to learn in the A. He has been one of the top 5 d-men in the NCAA for 3 straight seasons. He's already at NHL size and NHL speed. The only thing to gain is adjusting to playing more games. Not keeping Perunovich up is a mistake, IMO. It's not like he is an 18 or 19 year old coming out of juniors.