St. Louis Blues: Opening Day Roster We'd Like vs What We'll Get

The St. Louis Blues injury problems are well documented at this point. There were still line combinations that would have caused less consternation among fans, but whether we see those or not remains a mystery.

The St. Louis Blues are doing what they feel is best in terms of trying to win now. Sometimes, as fans, we forget that and think outlandish things that don’t exist in reality.

We are all guilty of that. We all wonder why this guy is on this line or that guy gets this amount of minutes when that’s not how we would arrange it.

By no means do we need to simply put our trust in the front office or staff. If it was that easy, the Blues might have won championships in the past. Instead, something always manages to mess it up.

Right now the injury problem seems to be messing things up for the Blues. It has left quite a few important holes in the roster and question marks about how to fill certain roles.

Mike Yeo is doing his best to flesh out his roster for at least the first month. Still, there are plenty of things we might do differently even with such a hodge podge lineup.

With that in mind, let’s take one final look at the roster we’d probably prefer vs. the one we will likely get against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Forwards we’d like to see.

Line 1: Jaden Schwartz, Paul Stastny, Vladimir Tarasenko
Line 2: Vladimir Sobotka, Brayden Schenn, Magnus Paajarvi
Line 3: Dmitirj Jaskin, Ivan Barbashev, Tage Thompson
Line 4: Scottie Upshall, Kyle Brodziak, Wade Megan

The top line should be the top line. I get the idea that the Blues want to spread out the talent and have scorers on each line, but I just think you should go with chemistry to start the year.

You get that trio off to a really good start and you’re going to have a good start to the season.

The second line is causing problems no matter what with the injuries. I feel bad for Brayden Schenn since he seems to be getting the shaft.

Vladimir Sobotka should not be a second line player, but the second line would be better than the top line. I’d rather not have Magnus Paajarvi up there either, but his speed would fit in well with that trio if he can get off to a good start to the year.

I was going to put Ivan Barbashev as a winger on the second line, but I’d prefer him at center so it is the third line. Put two big-bodied wingers with him and that third trio could be formidable even if they don’t seem to compliment each other at first glance.

I wanted Wade Megan higher than the fourth line, but the main point was to keep Chris Thorburn off the opening night roster. The only reason to have him in is to combat Ryan Reaves.

Megan deserves at least a third line spot, but his game seems to compliment the other fourth liners a lot better than some of the other wingers.

Defenders we’d like to see

Pair 1: Joel Edmundson, Alex Pietrangelo
Pair 2: Vince Dunn, Colton Parayko
Pair 3: Carl Gunnarsson, Robert Bortuzzo

The top pairing is actually what we are likely to see no matter what, so that was an easy pick.

It’s the second pairing where there is deviation. I just think Vince Dunn compliments Colton Parayko better for what the Blues want to get done.

He has speed, is a good puck mover and looks to head up ice. Parayko is also enough of a veteran and has enough speed to make up for any lack of defensive abilities Dunn has.

Forward lines we are likely to get.

Line 1: Vladimir Sobotka, Paul Stastny, Vladimir Tarasenko
Line 2: Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn, Dmitrij Jaskin
Line 3: Magnus Paajarvi, Oskar Sundqvist, Tage Thompson
Line 4: Scottie Upshall, Kyle Brodziak, Chris Thorburn

The top line is just questionable to me. I love Sobotka’s grit and determination, but I’m not sure he doesn’t just present a hole in that top line.

The second line is actually, visually, a little better this way. Schenn gets a much better complimentary player with Schwartz. Jaskin…I just don’t know. I hope I’m wrong, but I just see him as a bust even though he’s still quite young.

This third line gives me stomach issues. I really hope that Oskar Sundqvist’s inclusion is not the team justifying the Reaves trade, because the guy did absolutely nothing during preseason (in games anyway) to earn an opening night spot.

Lastly, the fourth line is what it is. I’ve said so many negative things about possibly using Thorburn that I feel sorry for him. It’s not his fault he got signed. He wants to go out there and help the team. If he can do so, great. My only issue with him is he does not fit the mold of what this team claims it wants to be.

Defenders we are likely to see.

Pair 1: Joel Edmundson, Alex Pietrangelo
Pair 2: Carl Gunnarsson, Colton Parayko
Pair 3: Vince Dunn, Robert Bortuzzo

Again, the only main difference is the placement of Dunn and Gunnarsson. Why we are likely to get that swap is unclear other than wanting a more veteran presence on the second pairing.

Gunnarsson just does not fit with Parayko and Bortuzzo does not compliment Dunn’s game. I think the idea is to have a stay at home defender with each puck mover, but it just does not pass the eye test until we actually see it work.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of who is out there, it is exciting to have hockey back for real. It’s fun trying to analyze preseason stuff, but the real thing cannot be beat.

We are all Blues fans and just want what is best for the team and to finally get a Stanley Cup. If the Blues somehow won with the lineup they are likely to put out there, nobody is going to look back and complain. Nobody is going to go, yeah this Cup is great, but I just wish they hadn’t played this player or that.

Next: Jordan Binnington's Future Is Up In The Air

So, hopefully the staff knows what they are doing. Hopefully they know how the players will work best together and they get off to a great start.

It’s going to be fun to see. Let’s go Blues and beat Pittsburgh!

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