looks about right to me, with what we have in the organization as of now. in case of injury who would be the likely potential call ups?

the real question for me is how will the D pairings shake out. Not sold on petro being ready, and not sure what will happen with the Polak negotiations.

So you don’t think that Eller will be in the mix?

Thinking more like this:

Kariya-Mcdonald-Boyes

Berglund-Oshie-Perron

Winchester-Walt-Backes

Steen-JMac-Crombeen

IMO, Palushaj has the best shot at making the team of the forwards…taking Crombeen’s spot…Can’t wait for the camp!

I hope Eller wins a spot in the lineup and pushes Steen down to the 4th line.

I hope we don’t see a Kariya - McDonald - Boyes line. They would get pushed around at even strength and scored on a lot. Maybe McDonald - Backes - Perron.

If Tkachuk is traditionally a winger and Oshie grew up playing center, would it make sense to switch them?

How do you not have McDonald at center?

If one of the young guys makes a strong impression, then you may have to choose whether we keep King or Janssen. I just don’t see a good reason to keep both of those guys and would be surprised to see King actually come back from last year’s injury and be effective.

Kariya…I just hope he will return totally recovered and in good shape. I read some article in the past that wonder as to wether his career had ended. I wish the best to him !

Keep the kids together, tuvm.

How soon does the kid line reunite! Kariya and McDonald will be paired up due to their speed if Kariya is healthy. You are not accounting for any freshman to make the team.

If everyone agrees that Walt is better on the wing, why not have him on wing and put Oshie, a center, at center? Same for Backes (a winger) at wing, and McDonald (a center) at center?

Kariya - McDonald - Boyes
Oshie - Berglund - Perron
Backes - Tkachuk - Winchester
Steen - McClement - Crombeen

Blues have enough depth now for 3 lines, you can almost mix and match them anyway you want. Big question is how much will the starting 6 on defense improve, and who will be that starting 6?……..I don’t think Yan Stastny will stick around too long. Thanks

I’d love to see you take a shot at the D pairings, considering there are some big question marks there.

I think JR has Walt and Backes at center because he’s thinking like Andy Murray, not like a fan. It’s pretty obvious that Murray prefers bigger centers in his system. Also, Oshie can play anywhere, and we are thinner at RW than C.

Mcdonald was dominant in playoffs and why break up the kid line?

Backes-Mcdonanld-Boyes
Perron-Berglund-Oshie
Kariya-Tkachuk-Steen
Crombeen-Mcclement-Winchester

Against a skill based team (Detroit) I would expect:
Kariya-McDonald-Boyes
Berglund-Oshie-Perron
Steen-Backes-Tkachuk
Winchester-McClement-Crombeen

Against a tougher team (last season’s Ducks) I would say:
Kariya-Oshie-Tkachuk
Backes-Berglund-Boyes
Perron-McClement-McDonald
Crombeen/Stastny-Steen-Janssen

But of course after the first 5 minutes Murray will switch them up so who cares…hah…

Switch Boyes with McDonald so it will be Kariya-Backes-McDonald and then Boyes-Berglund-Perron for the top 2 lines…… reunite the kid line if things don’t work

I think Karyia, Mcdonald, boyes would be a great line…Have alot of speed, it would be hard for people to run with that line

PAUL KARIYA - ANDY McDONALD - DAVID BACKES

DAVID PERRON - PATRICK BERGLUND - T.J. OSHIE

PAUL KARIYA - KEITH TKACHUK - BRAD BOYES

B.J. CROMBEEN - JAY McCLEMENT - D.J. KING

SORRY.

ALEX STEEN -KEITH TKACHUK - BRAD BOYES

First, congrats to the Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins. Looking at their model of excellence, we can see that the Blues are on a very good path. The Pens got bounced first round by the Senators, only to sweep them the next year (just like the Blues will do to the Canucks next year, if they even make the playoffs) and win the Cup the following. Their team is build around a core nucleus of young players. The Blues are now in a similar position.

My lines, trying to keep people somewhat in their natural positions:

Kariya-McDonald-Boyes
Perron-Backlund-Backes
Tkachuk-Oshie-Steen
Winchester-McClement-Crombeen
King-Stastny-Janssen

That’s a SOLID 15, with the top 9 virtually (excepting Steen) virtually interchangeable. Great diversity within the group. Only concern is too many natural centers (which is always the problem, isn’t it?).

Looks good to me, but I still dont know why we have King if we have Cam Janssen? -BS

kariya-mcdonald-boyes
perron-oshie-berglund
steen-mcclement-backes
winchester-tkachuk-crombeen

Backes-McDonald-Boyes
Perron-Berglund-Oshie
Tkachuk-Kariya-Steen
Winchester-McClement-Crombeen

But I think Steen & Crombeen are on the chopping block if Eller makes a move. Top two lines are sick! Keith and Kariya should add enough offensive juice for the 3rd. 4th is Murray’s “checking line.” Although I could easily see a switch with McClement and Tkachuk.