Also, other than Emily Kaplan I've seen nothing else definitive on Berggren returning. JR had a piece this morning in which the Blues say they are "still talking"

“We’re still in communication,” Steen said. “We like the player — (Blues coach Jim Montgomery) and his coaching staff like the player — so we’re hopeful that we can get to common ground and Bergy continues to grow with a Blue Note on.”

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:41 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:26 am

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:19 am

We'd be adding THREE former first rounders!

Then we flip all 3 for Hellebuyck. What's the point in signing Perron if you don't get to eventually trade him again anyway?

In all seriousness though, a Vet on such a youthful team wouldn't be the worst thing this team could do.

No, it would make sense to sign one guy like that, but this team is so winger heavy. Besides Thomas, none of the centers are really sure thing centers anyway. Finley is a fine 4th line center, but I'm not super concerned about the 4th line. I don't see any UFA middle six centers out there anyway, so if you're hoping 2 of McTavish, McMichael and Suter can fill those spots, just be sure what you're going to do with all the wingers if you add another one.

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:51 am

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:41 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:26 am

Then we flip all 3 for Hellebuyck. What's the point in signing Perron if you don't get to eventually trade him again anyway?

In all seriousness though, a Vet on such a youthful team wouldn't be the worst thing this team could do.

No, it would make sense to sign one guy like that, but this team is so winger heavy. Besides Thomas, none of the centers are really sure thing centers anyway. Finley is a fine 4th line center, but I'm not super concerned about the 4th line. I don't see any UFA middle six centers out there anyway, so if you're hoping 2 of McTavish, McMichael and Suter can fill those spots, just be sure what you're going to do with all the wingers if you add another one.

Ideally though, the Vet they brought in was also a sandpiper type guy and those just aren't hanging around out there. We'll see, but I think the roster is mostly set.

JR just put together an opening night lineup projection. I will admit earlier this morning when discussing centers, I completely forgot about Dvorsky. Here's what he had:

Holloway-Thomas-Snuggerud
McMichael-McTavish-Buchnevich
Neighbours-Dvorsky-Stenberg
Toropchenko-Suter-Walker
Finley, Berggren

He didn't insert Berggren since they haven't technically announced his signing yet. That aside, I don't hate it. That third line looks really slow, but otherwise it looks like a pretty competitive group.

Broberg-Mailloux
Lindstein-Parayko
Fowler-Carlo
Tucker

Seems logical. You don't want Mailloux and Lindstein playing together, and if that's the case you kind of have to go with this lineup.

Just mentioned on free agent frenzy when discussing Hurricanes potentially moving Alexander Nikishin. "I think he ends up in the West, I know St Louis was a team that was interested"

That would be great, unsure if the Carlo move would have changed that or not. We're kind of stuck with this Fowler contract taking up one of the LHD spots tho. But if you have the chance to get a guy that was just named to the all rookie team, DO IT

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 10:10 am Just mentioned on free agent frenzy when discussing Hurricanes potentially moving Alexander Nikishin. "I think he ends up in the West, I know St Louis was a team that was interested"

That would be great, unsure if the Carlo move would have changed that or not. We're kind of stuck with this Fowler contract taking up one of the LHD spots tho. But if you have the chance to get a guy that was just named to the all rookie team, DO IT

I don't despise the strategy of "adding every decent 21-26 year old player possible at every position and figuring it out later" as a guiding principle right now.

Berggren deal now official. 1 year 2million

Well, I got the sandpiper I wanted. 3 years seems odd but who cares at this point.

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 11:58 am Well, I got the sandpiper I wanted. 3 years seems odd but who cares at this point.

3 years. WTF...

BluesSK wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:03 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 11:58 am Well, I got the sandpiper I wanted. 3 years seems odd but who cares at this point.

3 years. WTF...

It is what it is, but he's a legit goon. Something we haven't had since Reaves. He's not going to win us any games, but he's something we don't have. He'll play 50ish games a year and serve a valuable role.

Being his first signing, I hope it's a trend for Steen showing he wants this team to be tougher.

Given that it's the year 2026, I'm suddenly incredibly worried about Steen.

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:09 pm Being his first signing, I hope it's a trend for Steen showing he wants this team to be tougher.

The only other conclusion would be that he wants them to be shitty at hockey, so it better be the toughness thing. I will enjoy watching him fight. I won't enjoy when they have to pay a team a 4th round pick to take him away.

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:30 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:09 pm Being his first signing, I hope it's a trend for Steen showing he wants this team to be tougher.

The only other conclusion would be that he wants them to be shitty at hockey, so it better be the toughness thing. I will enjoy watching him fight. I won't enjoy when they have to pay a team a 4th round pick to take him away.

If a 2 million dollar contract breaks this team, they have far bigger issues. He makes less than Torpo who, as much as it pains me to say, has had two years to show something and has offered nothing to the 4th line.

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:32 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:30 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:09 pm Being his first signing, I hope it's a trend for Steen showing he wants this team to be tougher.

The only other conclusion would be that he wants them to be shitty at hockey, so it better be the toughness thing. I will enjoy watching him fight. I won't enjoy when they have to pay a team a 4th round pick to take him away.

If a 2 million dollar contract breaks this team, they have far bigger issues. He makes less than Torpo who, as much as it pains me to say, has had two years to show something and has offered nothing to the 4th line.

I get it that it's a nothing cap hit in an increasing cap world, but he's just here so they don't have to play Tucker against the teams that might want to fight. That's worth something I guess, but not for 3 years. I think Torpo brings more to the table the rest of the time. It's not a disaster signing by any means, but wholly unnecessary.

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:38 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:32 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:30 pm

The only other conclusion would be that he wants them to be shitty at hockey, so it better be the toughness thing. I will enjoy watching him fight. I won't enjoy when they have to pay a team a 4th round pick to take him away.

If a 2 million dollar contract breaks this team, they have far bigger issues. He makes less than Torpo who, as much as it pains me to say, has had two years to show something and has offered nothing to the 4th line.

I get it that it's a nothing cap hit in an increasing cap world, but he's just here so they don't have to play Tucker against the teams that might want to fight. That's worth something I guess, but not for 3 years. I think Torpo brings more to the table the rest of the time. It's not a disaster signing by any means, but wholly unnecessary.

You can have all the size and speed you want, but if it translate to nothing than it offers nothing. He doesn't play physical, he doesn't get PP time, occasionally kill penalties, doesn't score. He's just a guy.

Unless there's a surprise trade, it looks like all the Blues really have left to do until training camp is sign McMichael. Plenty of cap space, just hope it's done sooner rather than later so there's not even a whiff of an offer sheet.

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:21 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:38 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:32 pm

If a 2 million dollar contract breaks this team, they have far bigger issues. He makes less than Torpo who, as much as it pains me to say, has had two years to show something and has offered nothing to the 4th line.

I get it that it's a nothing cap hit in an increasing cap world, but he's just here so they don't have to play Tucker against the teams that might want to fight. That's worth something I guess, but not for 3 years. I think Torpo brings more to the table the rest of the time. It's not a disaster signing by any means, but wholly unnecessary.

You can have all the size and speed you want, but if it translate to nothing than it offers nothing. He doesn't play physical, he doesn't get PP time, occasionally kill penalties, doesn't score. He's just a guy.

Caveat here is that this is the 4th line and it doesn't really matter that much, but A. Torpo had over 100 minutes of PK time last year, and Johnston had none, and B. If you have 2 big dudes that do pretty much the same thing on the ice, give me the younger, faster one.

Again, doesn't matter that much and I'll enjoy watching him punch people in the face.

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:35 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:21 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 12:38 pm

I get it that it's a nothing cap hit in an increasing cap world, but he's just here so they don't have to play Tucker against the teams that might want to fight. That's worth something I guess, but not for 3 years. I think Torpo brings more to the table the rest of the time. It's not a disaster signing by any means, but wholly unnecessary.

You can have all the size and speed you want, but if it translate to nothing than it offers nothing. He doesn't play physical, he doesn't get PP time, occasionally kill penalties, doesn't score. He's just a guy.

Caveat here is that this is the 4th line and it doesn't really matter that much, but A. Torpo had over 100 minutes of PK time last year, and Johnston had none, and B. If you have 2 big dudes that do pretty much the same thing on the ice, give me the younger, faster one.

Again, doesn't matter that much and I'll enjoy watching him punch people in the face.

Then replace Nathan Walker, I dont care. This team needed toughness and got it

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:10 am

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:49 am Perron, Tarasenko, and Jaden Schwartz are all free agents. Get the whole band back together!!

Why don't they just build the entire plane out of the black box? But in this metaphor the black box is bottom 6 wingers.

Black boxes are actually red I found out

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:48 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:35 pm

DPW wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:21 pm

You can have all the size and speed you want, but if it translate to nothing than it offers nothing. He doesn't play physical, he doesn't get PP time, occasionally kill penalties, doesn't score. He's just a guy.

Caveat here is that this is the 4th line and it doesn't really matter that much, but A. Torpo had over 100 minutes of PK time last year, and Johnston had none, and B. If you have 2 big dudes that do pretty much the same thing on the ice, give me the younger, faster one.

Again, doesn't matter that much and I'll enjoy watching him punch people in the face.

Then replace Nathan Walker, I dont care. This team needed toughness and got it

I think the Aussie is on his way out regardless of whether Johnston was signed or not.

And if a prospect impresses Toropchenko could be history too someone will trade for him I'm sure.

80 comments on this tweet in just a few minutes. Must be all the fans talking about how excited they are about the player and nothing else, right?

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:32 pm

80 comments on this tweet in just a few minutes. Must be all the fans talking about how excited they are about the player and nothing else, right?

Do they not realize he was already in the organization?

BluesSK wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:57 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:32 pm

80 comments on this tweet in just a few minutes. Must be all the fans talking about how excited they are about the player and nothing else, right?

Do they not realize he was already in the organization?

Legitimately, probably a lot of them don't since he never saw time in St. Louis. This is a one way deal so he probably will now.

For anyone that doesn't know, Dube was among the Canadian WJC players that were accused of and cleared of sexual assault. While cleared of the charges, Dube's role as described in the players texts that were used in court doesn't exactly scream high character guy.

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 3:12 pm

BluesSK wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:57 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:32 pm

80 comments on this tweet in just a few minutes. Must be all the fans talking about how excited they are about the player and nothing else, right?

Do they not realize he was already in the organization?

Legitimately, probably a lot of them don't since he never saw time in St. Louis. This is a one way deal so he probably will now.

For anyone that doesn't know, Dube was among the Canadian WJC players that were accused of and cleared of sexual assault. While cleared of the charges, Dube's role as described in the players texts that were used in court doesn't exactly scream high character guy.

That's a fair analysis.