Let's Go Blues

Blues lost 7-1 to Columbus.

Nothing really stood out in this game, other than Colten Ellis looked awful. Guessing on shots going high while he's going to his knees. Missing clean looks on shots from just inside the outside edge of both circles. Only one goal would I lay on poor defensive play. The rest - if the goalie has a clean look and the shot is from the top of the circles outside the dot - the goalie should stop it - most of the time.

I’d truthfully rather see Ellis in the echl. I think Zherenko will jump him on the depth chart so Hofer/Zherenko in Springfield then Hofer in the NHL next year, Zherenko moves up to the #1 in the AHL. I just haven’t been overly impressed with everything I’ve seen and read of Ellis.

Will Cranley played the final 30 minutes stopping 9 of 10.

Game 2: Blues 8, Maple Leafs 3
Andrei Bakanov lead the way with a hat trick - which began with a successfully-converted penalty shot - in Friday's big win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Landon Sim continued to shine, too, netting two goals and two assists to help power an elite performance on special teams. The Blues killed four separate penalties in the first period alone, scored two power-play goals and sealed the win by killing a two-minute, 5-on-3 advantage penalty kill. Zachary Bolduc produced with three points, and Jake Neighbours deflected in a power-play goal. Will Cranley started in net and delivered, stopping 28 out of 31 shots faced.

Given these two games - Cranley will be Hofer's backup while Ellis toils in the ECHL until his contract ends.

While I don't generally like to denegrate goalies, especially ones under 24, Ellis at 21 just doesn't seem to have the "stoppage" factor. It stands out what Cranley is doing in a tournament against equivalent competition. The issue with Cranley - he simply hasn't played enough the past 2 seasons... He's out to prove he belongs. Meanwhile, Ellis was in the ECHL playoffs and directly prevented his team from advancing in the playoffs. He had 2 shots to get his team a win - and failed - twice!!! I'm not sold on Ellis.

Given how Cranley is performing here - he is earning a shot at the AHL backup role.

Last game Blues Game is Sunday at 10 am ET and I strongly suspect Zherenko will finally get to play. He hasn't faced a minute thanks to
Cranley stealing the show with his 9 of 10 and 28 if 31 outings. If a goalie is giving up 3 goals behind the Blues current roster, he's going to win more than he loses. Why? Blues had 9 20 goal scorers last season. They still have 8. Blues had 11 40 point guys last season. The Blues still have 10.

Oh wait..... you say the Blues lost a 20 goal and a 40 point guy? Yes... but it wasn't 2 players. It was just Perron. The Blues offensively still have 8 20 G guys and 10 40 point guys without any impact from whatever replacements can provide.

FYI - No other roster in the NHL can claim this. The major issue for the Blues will be goaltending and can the defense do more to protect the net. IMO - Leddy should be #1 LD with Krug as #2. Right side - depends largely on what Kessel shows. I really don't want an undersized Perunovich playing on his off-side. While this sounds contrary - trading Krug would probably help the Blues... Leddy, Perunovich, xxx (plenty of LD after that) Right Side - Faulk, Parayko, Kessel - and I'm betting Kessel can fill in more on the left if needed giving Bortuzzo his minutes when needed. The Bottom 5 LD for the Blues is a logfam - the right side - 3rd pairing is wide open and I'm betting Kessel fills it - even to the point Bortuzzo gets pushed down to 3rd pairing - which is where he belongs, and he knows it and accepts contracts which fit his role.... I've got mad props for Bortz, because he accepts his role, plays his role, and doesn't force ludicrous contract demands beyond his role. Granted, after the 23-24 season if someone wants to pay him, the Blues should be capable of finding a 3rd pairing right D or might not even need to, since Faulk, Parayko, and Kessel should all be here.

Just take a look at CapFriendly. Kessel is the "next" RD. Don't be surprise if the Blues let Kessel develop, even if it's just for one year, and call Lyle Brady up in his place. Both Brady and Kessel made significant contributions in the AHL playoffs last season. So... it's going to be Kessel being a massive standout, Lyle being a good standout - whatever - to decide who gets recalled when the inevitable Bortz injury happens.

So if you are watching Springfield - look at Kessel and Lyle on the right side - one of them will be called up when Bortuzzo gets hurt.

Caveat: I haven't seen this game yet and can't seem to find it on youtube. All I can find is a Leafs fan talking about the game while he watches it, which is useless to me.

Game 2: Blues 8, Maple Leafs 3
Andrei Bakanov lead the way with a hat trick - which began with a successfully-converted penalty shot - in Friday's big win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Landon Sim continued to shine, too, netting two goals and two assists to help power an elite performance on special teams. The Blues killed four separate penalties in the first period alone, scored two power-play goals and sealed the win by killing a two-minute, 5-on-3 advantage penalty kill. Zachary Bolduc produced with three points, and Jake Neighbours deflected in a power-play goal. Will Cranley started in net and delivered, stopping 28 out of 31 shots faced.

Based just on that, Cranley has moved ahead of Ellis on the depth chart and should be backing up Hofer at Springfield. The 3rd goalie, Zherenko hasn't played yet. Hope he plays tomorrow/

Bakanov is on a PTO, Landon Sim was a 2022 6th round pick. In the first game he was working his ass off and it showed, just not on the score sheet. No idea about Game 2 since I can't flipping find it.

But.... the above game description - Bolduc 1G 2A, Neighbours PPG, and they killed a 5-on-3 with Cranley in net. The guy I'm looking now at the A or E level - is Cranley - a 6th rd goalie pick in 2020. All I have to say about him - we have no idea since he essentially lost 2 seasons to Covid. He is a goalie playing to "prove it" given how late he was drafted and how little development opportunity he had.

Meanwhile, Ellis played on 4 straight quality QMJHL teams - including playing in Memorial Cup - (that Memorial Cup is why the Blues drafted him). He' s only had one season outside of the Q, so there is time still to develop, I'd just expect him to be better in a prospects tournament given his experience. OTH, goalies develop the most slowly of all positions... and he's only 21. My issue - Cranley, at 20, is outplaying him in the same tournament against equivalent competition.

I still think Kyrou and Thomas will make another step forward that more than makes up for Perron leaving. My biggest concern on this team remains the defense which I think was also Army’s when he chose Leddy over DP. Kessel definitely next man up, I’m excited to see what he can do at the NHL level when his number gets called. I still think it was asinine to not trade Barbashev though maybe Army tried and came up empty. He’ll never duplicate last season, should have sold high.

I'm curious why Zherenko didn't see any action in the 3rd game Ellis and Cranley both put up clunkers in split duty; 7-1 loss.