St. Louis Blues 2018 All Too Early Forward Lineup Guesses

The St. Louis Blues have made their big splashes for the offseason, even if any more additions are coming. Now, the team (and us fans) can settle in and figure out who goes where.

The St. Louis Blues have shocked us for the second summer in a row. Just when we were settling into our depression, they give us a happy pill and dramatically change the team.

We went from thinking it would be the same team with an addition or two of prospects and maybe the return of Robby Fabbri. Now, the Blues feel like they have a completely different squad. Only three players have been added so far. There are rumors of another winger potentially on the way, but that has as much to do with the player’s willingness as anything.

Even if that move or any other move does not happen, the Blues have a very interesting team. So, with that in mind, let us see who might play with whom.

Lines I’d Like To See

Robert Thomas, Ryan O’Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko
Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou
David Perron, Tyler Bozak, Alexander Steen
Zach Sanford, Ivan Barbashev, Nikita Soshnikov

Ok, first thing is this won’t be all that different from the lines I present later that we are more likely to seem. Of course, the main differences are the inclusion of the two main prospects.

I am definitely in the section that believes kids have to earn a spot, not be given it. However, until we see they cannot handle it, I would prefer to assume they can.

I was a little hesitant to put Thomas on the top line this early, considering we have not seen anything from him as a professional. However, Doug Armstrong seemed high on the idea that Thomas could move to center with those other two by Christmas. If that is the case, just get him used to those teammates early on.

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Kyrou might be better suited to the third line, in terms of playing time. However, in terms of speed and ability, he would fit better with Schwartz and Schenn.

I like this particular third line. It does lessen Perron’s minutes, which will lower his numbers, but he’s improved enough defensively that he would fit with the other two. Also, this could be a sneaky good line. Bozak isn’t a fancy playmaker, but he puts the puck where it needs to be. Seen and Perron still have enough goals in the tank to play off a good center quite well.

Last, but not least, this fourth line is much more dynamic than we have seen in the past. Soshnikov is much more like the old Vladimir Sobotka than what we saw the last couple years. Barbashev still has talent hidden in there, but might be better utilized as a change of pace fourth liner than higher up the lineup. Sanford is still a question mark, but like Soshnikov, we saw enough from him in flashes to think he can be a solid contributor in a bottom-six role.

Many fans have been assuming we will see Tarasenko, Schenn and Schwartz all together. I would not mind that, but given Schenn’s comments about Tarasenko last season, it might be better to separate them for a bit.

Anybody asking where Robby Fabbri is, well, I would prefer to use him sparingly at first. Yes, he’s cleared and yes, he’ll have all of training camp again. But with a twice surgically repaired knee, the Blues should be cautious. They don’t have money tied up in him, but you can’t just disregard his own future too. Use him every second or third game to start the year and give the bulk of time to the others. That’s just me, though.

Lines We Are Likely To See

David Perron, Ryan O’Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko
Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn, Alexander Steen
Robby Fabbri, Tyler Bozak, Robert Thomas
Dmitrij Jaskin, Oskar Sundqvist, Chris Thorburn

These lines are a little more realistic. Again, I think you don’t put Tarasenko with Schenn.

At this point in his career, I don’t think Perron is a top line player. However, he will open up more lanes and space for Tarasenko than Steen would. Also, you break up the left-handed mess with a righty option.

Steen can still skate, but he’s not got the pace of the other two on this line. However, he can still get up there and do his job. Also, he can focus more on the dirty parts of the job while the other two deal and score.

Fabbri makes his way into this lineup because, if he’s healthy, the Blues are going to use him. Bozak takes up his third line spot and Robert Thomas gets to learn at his side. That’s not a bad player to learn from and it keeps Thomas’ minutes down with less pressure.

The fourth line is the most disappointing. I dislike thinking this way, but until the team proves different, they seem determined to make something of Oskar Sundqvist. Every fan has a player they think has no business in there and that player is Sundqvist for me. Jaskin is not too far behind him, but he has shown some good worth as a fourth line player. I think those wing spots on the fourth line are the most fluid, but I could see the Blues rewarding Chris Thorburn with a starting role to begin 2018-19.

Any way you slice it, all the line combinations are much more interesting than they would have been had this been written two weeks ago. The Blues now have legitimate depth and options.

Next: St. Louis Building A Solid AHL Team For San Antonio

It will be disappointing for the kids to not make the team, but they will get their break eventually. Either way, it will be fun to keep guessing once training camp begins.