Good news for sure. Curious to see what role he plays in Springfield by the end of the year. Also, does anybody know why Zach Dean has only played 3 games this year? I assume it's injury based, but man that's a rough one for him.This is/was a big year for his development, and a guy you're fighting with on the organizational depth chart just got to town.

Dave's a mess wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 8:33 am Good news for sure. Curious to see what role he plays in Springfield by the end of the year. Also, does anybody know why Zach Dean has only played 3 games this year? I assume it's injury based, but man that's a rough one for him.This is/was a big year for his development, and a guy you're fighting with on the organizational depth chart just got to town.

He's just been listed as week to week all season, no clue what the injury is though.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 8:50 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 8:33 am Good news for sure. Curious to see what role he plays in Springfield by the end of the year. Also, does anybody know why Zach Dean has only played 3 games this year? I assume it's injury based, but man that's a rough one for him.This is/was a big year for his development, and a guy you're fighting with on the organizational depth chart just got to town.

He's just been listed as week to week all season, no clue what the injury is though.

That is a rough break for him. My recollection was that he had a brutal first half of the year last season, but a much better second half. I seem to recall he had a solid if unspectacular camp this fall. Unfortunately for him, the lack of immediate forward depth this summer that gave him an outside shot at cracking the NHL roster is fading away. Stenberg is on track, Snuggerud is coming, Bolduc and Dvorsky are already ahead of him. Things can always change, but you'd at least hope he gets a chance to return to the ice this year.

I really regret that Dean/Barbashev trade.

BluesSK wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:20 pm I really regret that Dean/Barbashev trade.

We weren't going to re-sign Barbashev anyway, as much as I would have liked it. He was going to earn (rightly, IMHO) a bigger contract than the Blues were willing to offer.

At least he was on the Stanley Cup winner.

RAFritchey wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:42 pm

BluesSK wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:20 pm I really regret that Dean/Barbashev trade.

We weren't going to re-sign Barbashev anyway, as much as I would have liked it. He was going to earn (rightly, IMHO) a bigger contract than the Blues were willing to offer.

At least he was on the Stanley Cup winner.

That's the problem. The Blues undervalued him. He should have been re-signed.

He's a vital part of Vegas' team.

BluesSK wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:49 pm

RAFritchey wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:42 pm

BluesSK wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:20 pm I really regret that Dean/Barbashev trade.

We weren't going to re-sign Barbashev anyway, as much as I would have liked it. He was going to earn (rightly, IMHO) a bigger contract than the Blues were willing to offer.

At least he was on the Stanley Cup winner.

That's the problem. The Blues undervalued him. He should have been re-signed.

He's a vital part of Vegas' team.

But here he wouldn't be playing with the likes of Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, Alex Pietrangelo, Jonathan Marchesseault, etc.

Yes, he's a LOT more than his numbers, and I'd have LOVED to keep him in the Bluenote for his career, but we knew we'd be 'retooling' for the next 2-3 seasons or so at the time of the trade.

We still could have signed him after the trade anyway. He's in the 2nd year of his 5 x $5 mil contract now which, as much as I like him, I still think is a bit high. Just speculation, but if the Blues thought they could have extended him at around $3.5-4 mil per season, they might very well have kept him.

The idea that Barbashev was just some impossible signing is a bit overblown by Blues fans. He got 5 million a year, they just never saw him as a value of that. They were wrong on it but it is what it is.

Also, it's not like his production is simply a byproduct of his team. His best season came as a Blue when he had 60 points.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 9:40 am The idea that Barbashev was just some impossible signing is a bit overblown by Blues fans. He got 5 million a year, they just never saw him as a value of that. They were wrong on it but it is what it is.

Also, it's not like his production is simply a byproduct of his team. His best season came as a Blue when he had 60 points.

I don't think they had a spare $5M at the time, but the kicker is that they probably could've signed him for much less during that season. If you want to feel really bad about things, just remember one reason they didn't think they had the space was because Saad was/is making $4.5M. It wasn't a bad value at the time, but still.

Anyway it's always a bit scary trading for first round prospects that haven't made it yet. What's wild is that Dean was Vegas's 6th ever 1st round pick, and including Dean they've traded 5 of them.

Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:23 am

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 9:40 am The idea that Barbashev was just some impossible signing is a bit overblown by Blues fans. He got 5 million a year, they just never saw him as a value of that. They were wrong on it but it is what it is.

Also, it's not like his production is simply a byproduct of his team. His best season came as a Blue when he had 60 points.

I don't think they had a spare $5M at the time, but the kicker is that they probably could've signed him for much less during that season. If you want to feel really bad about things, just remember one reason they didn't think they had the space was because Saad was/is making $4.5M. It wasn't a bad value at the time, but still.

Anyway it's always a bit scary trading for first round prospects that haven't made it yet. What's wild is that Dean was Vegas's 6th ever 1st round pick, and including Dean they've traded 5 of them.

They invested the money they could've used for Barbashev into Saad leading up to his Free Agency.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:43 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:23 am

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 9:40 am The idea that Barbashev was just some impossible signing is a bit overblown by Blues fans. He got 5 million a year, they just never saw him as a value of that. They were wrong on it but it is what it is.

Also, it's not like his production is simply a byproduct of his team. His best season came as a Blue when he had 60 points.

I don't think they had a spare $5M at the time, but the kicker is that they probably could've signed him for much less during that season. If you want to feel really bad about things, just remember one reason they didn't think they had the space was because Saad was/is making $4.5M. It wasn't a bad value at the time, but still.

Anyway it's always a bit scary trading for first round prospects that haven't made it yet. What's wild is that Dean was Vegas's 6th ever 1st round pick, and including Dean they've traded 5 of them.

They invested the money they could've used for Barbashev into Saad leading up to his Free Agency.

They signed Saad in the summer of 21 and traded Barbashev in February of 23. It wasn't the season before his free agency, but wasn't that hard to see the cap crunch coming.

Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:29 pm

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:43 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:23 am

I don't think they had a spare $5M at the time, but the kicker is that they probably could've signed him for much less during that season. If you want to feel really bad about things, just remember one reason they didn't think they had the space was because Saad was/is making $4.5M. It wasn't a bad value at the time, but still.

Anyway it's always a bit scary trading for first round prospects that haven't made it yet. What's wild is that Dean was Vegas's 6th ever 1st round pick, and including Dean they've traded 5 of them.

They invested the money they could've used for Barbashev into Saad leading up to his Free Agency.

They signed Saad in the summer of 21 and traded Barbashev in February of 23. It wasn't the season before his free agency, but wasn't that hard to see the cap crunch coming.

That's literally what I said lol. They invested the money they could have used to give Barb an extension to Saad. Barbashev got a 2 year extension from the Blues in 2021 which took him toward his free agency in 23.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:31 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:29 pm

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:43 am

They invested the money they could've used for Barbashev into Saad leading up to his Free Agency.

They signed Saad in the summer of 21 and traded Barbashev in February of 23. It wasn't the season before his free agency, but wasn't that hard to see the cap crunch coming.

That's literally what I said lol. They invested the money they could have used to give Barb an extension to Saad. Barbashev got a 2 year extension from the Blues in 2021 which took him toward his free agency in 23.

We've been saying the same thing the whole time. Go in peace to love and serve the Gord.

Good read on snuggerud

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/602187 ... minnesota/



It’s well-documented that Snuggerud’s dream is to win an NCAA title at Minnesota because he, his father (Dave Snuggerud) and his grandfather (Jim Westby) have come up just short. So while joining the Blues last season was enticing, it would’ve meant leaving some business unfinished.

“These kids, especially the Snuggerud family, you’re vested,” Motzko said. “Once these guys are grown men and have kids and grandkids, they bring them back here and say, ‘This is where I played college hockey.’ This is a special time in these players’ lives, and he wasn’t ready for it to be over, knowing he’s going to have a long run (in the NHL). The next step is going to be there.”

With the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis this season, it makes it more difficult not to think about the fairy-tale ending his story could have.

“I told him the ultimate end to the season would be to pack a big suitcase when he comes to St. Louis for the Final Four, win that, and then come to us,” Armstrong said. “But one of the things we left him with was, ‘Keep your head where your feet are,’ and right now his feet are at the Gophers. We want his head to stay there, and the rest will take care of itself.”

“It’s always in the back of your head,” Snuggerud admitted. “Everyone in here knows that we want to make the Frozen Four, and it’s cool that it’s in St. Louis. That’s another cool factor of it. But I’m just trying to be where my feet are, like Army said, because who knows how much college hockey I really have left. I’m trying to enjoy the little things, like the crowds here and the road games, and just do everything I can to embrace the moment.”

There doesn’t seem to be the same pressure on Snuggerud’s pending decision about joining the Blues as there was last season.

“Yeah, I’d say there’s a little less in my own mind,” he said. “St. Louis did a really good job of not applying too much pressure throughout the whole year, but in my own mind there was definitely a lot of pressure. This year, it’s a lot easier to know everything and know what’s going on. It’s a lot easier, yes.

“The Blues were incredible, but I think sometimes with these first-round guys, they’ve got the (NHL) team that drafts them in their ear when they’re freshmen and sophomores,” Motzko said. “I’ve watched it be very distracting for young players, and I think it was in Jim’s mind last year. It really bothered him at the end last year because he wasn’t sure. But once you make the decision, ‘I’m going back and it will be last year,’ you’re comfortable. There’s a comfort level in that you made your decision and you’re not looking over your shoulder.”

Snuggerud may not be looking over his shoulder, but whenever he arrives in St. Louis, he’ll have to be looking for a new number to put on his back. He wears No. 81 with the Gophers and when he’s played in development camps with the Blues. But now those digits belong to Dylan Holloway.

“He was there before me,” Snuggerud said. “A number is just a number. He’s doing really well with it, so I’m happy to see him having success this season and hopefully he can keep moving forward with it.”

Very good breakdown of the Blues top prospects here. Something that stands out to me is 5 of the top 10 are defensemen and they are 6'2 6'0 6'3 6'5 and 6'2. Size size size.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607525 ... ings-2025/

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:02 am Very good breakdown of the Blues top prospects here. Something that stands out to me is 5 of the top 10 are defensemen and they are 6'2 6'0 6'3 6'5 and 6'2. Size size size.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607525 ... ings-2025/

Screenshot 2025-02-04 at 9.03.32 AM.png

It's nice to see Jiricek being fairly productive in Brantford. I really hope Ralph makes it. I know his ceiling isn't the highest in the prospect pool, but who doesn't love a big, mean defenseman?

Dave's a mess wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:04 am

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:02 am Very good breakdown of the Blues top prospects here. Something that stands out to me is 5 of the top 10 are defensemen and they are 6'2 6'0 6'3 6'5 and 6'2. Size size size.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607525 ... ings-2025/

Screenshot 2025-02-04 at 9.03.32 AM.png

It's nice to see Jiricek being fairly productive in Brantford. I really hope Ralph makes it. I know his ceiling isn't the highest in the prospect pool, but who doesn't love a big, mean defenseman?

Yeah, he's been OKAY for them. You'd like him to show more offensively than he has( 9 points in 17 games) but at this point, I'll settle for him just showing he can stay healthy.