The Blues held their last practice before heading off to start their regular season on Saturday morning at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, before part of the team headed to Milwaukee for the final preseason game, against Chicago, and coach Drew Bannister said the roster isn鈥檛 quite set yet.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 still difficult decisions to make,鈥 he said. 鈥淥bviously, with some of the forwards, (Oskar Sundqvist) being injured, (Brandon Saad) not being available for us on the first trip, there鈥檚 still decisions to be made. But also, some players have come in and played themselves into the lineup and grabbed a spot.鈥
One of the players who hasn鈥檛 grabbed a spot is forward Zack Bolduc, who has had a quiet preseason, too quiet, and is in danger of starting the season in Springfield, Mass., instead of 最新杏吧原创.
鈥淚 think I had a good camp,鈥 Bolduc said Saturday before flying to Milwaukee, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 still going on. I think I did well. I had one tough game, against Columbus here, but now I think I鈥檓 playing with confidence and skating well. Just gotta use my strength as much as I can.鈥
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In three preseason games before Saturday, Bolduc had not recorded a point and he acknowledged he had troubles away from the puck in that Columbus game.
鈥淏ut these things happen,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always the way you answer to those games.鈥
The Blues鈥 Zack Bolduc, left, skates under pressure from the Blackhawks鈥 Ethan Del Mastro in a game involving prospects for both teams on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
He again was set to skate with what looks like a fifth line with Saad and Zach Dean on Saturday, and the mere fact he was on the trip for the final preseason game said his spot is uncertain.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 just to be consistent,鈥 he said. 鈥淔or me, that鈥檚 the biggest thing. I think I just got to be a bit more consistent in my performance.鈥
鈥淭he one thing I鈥檝e learned about 鈥楤oldie鈥 from coaching him in the American League level,鈥 Bannister said, 鈥渉e鈥檚 a very coachable player. He wants to learn and he wants to get better. And for a younger player, when you鈥檙e talking to him, he鈥檚 looking at you straight in the eye, like he鈥檚 getting the message. So as a coach, you appreciate that, because you don鈥檛 always have that. He鈥檚 a player that wants to get better and he wants to play in the NHL.鈥
鈥淔or sure, I want to be here,鈥 Bolduc said. 鈥淚 want to help the team to win some games and have a great season. But right now, I鈥檓 honestly just focusing on going day to day.鈥
Buchnevich not on ice for practice
With the callups from Springfield for the final preseason game going straight to Milwaukee, the Blues had what amounted to a full practice on Saturday, with everyone on the ice at the start and the game group leaving early while the players not making the trip kept working.
The only player not on the ice for the Blues was Pavel Buchnevich. Bannister said Buchnevich had 鈥渁 little bit of lower body tenderness鈥 that the team had been able to manage on Friday. The Blues won鈥檛 skate on Sunday as they fly to Seattle for their opener Tuesday, but will have a practice there on Monday to check things out.
鈥淛ust making sure that he鈥檚 100% going into the game on Tuesday,鈥 Bannister said.
Asked if there were concerns about Buchnevich missing the opener, Bannister said, 鈥淣othing that鈥檚 been told to me from trainers right now. Just continued maintenance on the lower body issue.鈥
