Saad Has Been an Underrated Signing for Blues & How the Club Has Improved Under Interim Bannister
Also, how Buchnevich is becoming an intriguing trade asset & more
Welcome to the THW St. Louis Blues Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Blues writers.
In today’s edition, we have why Brandon Saad has been an underrated signing for the Blues, how the club has improved under interim head coach Drew Bannister, and more.
Don’t forget to check out all of our FREE team Substacks, and sign up for your favorites…or all of them if you want.
You can also upgrade your subscription to a paid THW account, and get access to ALL of our Premium content from ALL of our team Substacks for one low price.
Now on to the good stuff…
Blue Note Weekly Audio Report: Two Rough Performances Lead to Losses
February 19th, 2024 by Ethan Carter (Premium THW Substack Content)
In this week’s edition, the St. Louis Blues went 1-2-0 with poor performances in losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators. The club remains in a playoff spot with 60 points. The other performance was a win over the Edmonton Oilers, where they scored six goals and looked good.
Blues’ Saad Has Been Underrated Signing
February 19, 2024 by Stephen Ground
On Feb. 13, in a stinging 4-1 loss in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, Brandon Saad quietly played his 200th game for the franchise. The lack of fanfare is an ironic reflection of his entire tenure with the Blues, which has gone mostly unheralded and under-discussed. But upon closer examination, though the team has not thrived since he arrived in town, general manager Doug Armstrong’s decision to sign Saad when he did was a good one.
Blues Have Improved Under Interim Coach Drew Bannister
February 19, 2024 by Ethan Carter
The St. Louis Blues moved on from head coach Craig Berube on Dec. 12 this season. With the move, they brought up Drew Bannister from the American Hockey League (AHL) to serve as the club’s interim head coach. The Blues were 13-14-1 under Berube before making the call. They were coming off of a brutal loss to the Detroit Red Wings. General manager Doug Armstrong is more to blame for the Blues’ struggles over the past two seasons, but firing Berube was an easier move to make in the middle of the season.
Revisiting the Blues’ Trade for Ryan O’Reilly
February 17, 2024 by Mike Meyer
On July 1, 2018, the St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres agreed to a trade that sent shockwaves through the National Hockey League. The two teams agreed to send Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis in exchange for Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson, a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Upon initial review, the deal seemed lopsided and in favor of St. Louis. Nearly four years later, the trade may not be as lopsided as once perceived.
Pavel Buchnevich Becoming Intriguing Trade Asset for Blues
February 16, 2024 by Mike Meyer
The St. Louis Blues and Pavel Buchnevich could be destined for an unfortunate breakup and the separation could be sooner than expected. With the March 8 trade deadline quickly approaching, there could be plenty of opportunities for the Blues to cash in on a golden opportunity to continue their retooling efforts and build toward the future. Though it may be an unpopular opinion among the fan base and one that would certainly sting, the return for the dynamic forward could be great.