Kapenen just had a 3 point night, he’s not getting dropped from the lineup

Also Hayes on the wing 💀💀

In AHL his stats very dissapointing. Looks like they want give him morale boost. And when Doug can earliest give contract offer to Snuggerud?

He actaully has had a good stretch recently. A lot young players can have rough growing pains the first time they play in a pro league. I believe he has 9 pts. in the last 11 games.

I hope so, if not, barby trade will look not good in perspective.

He also just had a 20 game goal drought. I don't disagree that he probably wouldn't be the one scratched, but we aren't keeping him and if we are looking to get Zach Dean reps he is a person I am fine dropping.

Heck... I am alright with waiving Kapanen. I don't see a point in playing him

Its also important to remember that Zach Dean was never really projected to be a points players. He does bring a pretty strong two way game and will be a good bottom 6 center.

It's worth noting that he's been on the wing for that entire stretch of scoring in the AHL, so that's probably where he'll line up on the big roster if/when he plays.

Fair enough, but Center is what I would want him to eventually play in the NHL and would want to use this stretch of the season to at least get a look at how he looks in both positions.

I know some people are going to say that we are only one spot of playoffs and as funny as it would be to take the Golden Knights spot after they spent their farm for the 8th year in a row, I just don't see us a playoff time and would rather use this time to develop our youth. Play them around the lineup and really get a sense of direction for next season.

He’s not behind development. I’d give him 2 years still before he’s an everyday skater, just general human physical development needs to occur - only a very small few have the skill set to overcome, but he’s on the depth chart, and could be in the nhl if there were a whole bunch of injuries above him the coming seasons. Outside chance he directly makes the team next year, but possible.

Snuggerud is interesting: we won’t know if he’ll sign until he signs. Doug Armstrong has previously stated he would burn a year off the elc. This is a benefit to snuggerud and motivation to encourage him to sign. His NCAA career ends the day he signs, so typically this occurs when their season ends. He could sign any day, or decide not to at all.

I would Cry if we got the Cutter Gauthier treatment.

You have reasons for this specific scenario?

There's no reason to suspect it's going to happen with Snuggerud (there were warning signs with Gauthier long before that trade) but it does just illustrate the leverage college guys have over their career- more than most prospects do. Snuggerud's their best prospect and that one ELC year probably doesn't really matter in the long run given where this team is, he's earned NHL time and they should probably give it to him based on merits alone. But they should also give it to him because he does have leverage to force a trade if he's not happy with the Blues.

No there isn't any evidence it will happen. It's just that he isn't obligated to sign here, but I would guess that he does.

I got 0. Well, one, but I’m keeping it to myself cause it’s baseless, has to do with year b4 last years training camp.

Historically stl has taken care of its college prospects.

They got Reinke into the nhl, gave perunovich a very large initial contract. I do not think anything would block the process for snuggerud. There is no demand that would be a red line based on the past.

Stl also can guarantee some level of roster slot if that is what it takes to do the deal since our top 9 is kinda wack.

Stl is a good team to be a prospect of. They do not have many guys in long term roles up front. The own their entire goalie pipeline from the 4th slot up and have control over AHL lineups. The guys with term, like specifically schenn and Saad will move around the lineup to accommodate. Lotsa jobs, flexibility and opportunity. Many teams do not have all of the above perks.