The St. Louis Blues look like they have their fourth-line center figured out with Pius Suter. On paper, that probably doesn't sound like a very important position, but Suter is going to have a much bigger role than simply centering the fourth line.
Suter is basically a Swiss Army knife for the Blues. He can play center, move to the wing, and play up and down the lineup when needed. Although he isn’t a huge name, he is going to be a big part of the Blues’ roster this season.
Suter is the Blues' Swiss Army knife
He can start the game on the fourth line and then move up if the Blues need him somewhere else. If there is an injury, he can fill in. If the Blues need someone on the penalty kill, he can do that too. He can also be used late in games when St. Louis is trying to protect a lead. He is the type of player that coaches rely on because he does whatever is asked of him.
For St. Louis, having a player who can do all of that is pretty valuable. Suter doesn't need to put up big offensive numbers from the fourth line. He needs to be reliable, win some faceoffs, kill penalties and be ready to move wherever the Blues need him.
That also gives the Blues some options with the rest of their forwards. Suter doesn't have to stay on the fourth line every night, and that means he can move up if someone is struggling or if an injury changes the lineup. The coaching staff can use him in different situations without having to completely change things around.
For the Blues, it also takes some pressure off the rest of the lineup. He can be used in more defensive zone situations. Which allows for their top stars in offensive situations, making them more of a threat as a team.
Suter probably won't get a ton of attention for doing all of this, but that doesn't mean his role isn't important. He is going to start at the bottom of the lineup, but there is a good chance he ends up playing all over it throughout the season. It’s what makes Suter such a useful player for the Blues. But also it shows how important it is to have reliable depth forwards. An NHL team can’t just rely on their top stars to do everything. It’s players like Suter who are all over the league who help teams win games.
Add us as a preferred source on Google