Zack Bolduc looking for consistency as final roster decisions loom for Blues
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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
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.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
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
These are the players expected to be on the 最新杏吧原创 Blues opening day roster for the 2024 season.
Zack Bolduc 'a very coachable player,' Blues coach Drew Bannister says
Blues forward Mathieu Joseph brings the mojo in more ways than one
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The Blues have plenty of new players on the roster this season. But after Thursday鈥檚 4-3 preseason overtime win over the Stars, did a new one show up?
In discussing his breakout exhibition game, Kasperi Kapanen spoke about his linemates Brayden Schenn and 鈥 MoJo. MoJo? That鈥檚 Mathieu Joseph, and the nickname was as 鈥渂rand new鈥 to him as it was to onlookers, he said.
鈥淢ost guys here call me Matty, but I don鈥檛 mind MoJo,鈥 Joseph said with a laugh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 got a good mojo going. I like it.鈥
The story is fairly simple. Mathieu鈥檚 brother, Blues defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, has a pretty straightforward nickname. Because of his initials, P.O. became known as PoJo. So it was only natural that Mathieu Joseph would become MoJo, as coined by defenseman Tyler Tucker and repeated by assistant coach Mike Weber.
Then Kapanen dropped it in his postgame interview, and now Mathieu Joseph has a new nickname to add to Joe, Matty, Jos, Matt or Joey, which he has accumulated in his six-year NHL career. It might also fit the style of game he plays, a punchy, fast game with moxie.
鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 also another synonym (for grit),鈥 Joseph said.
After Thursday鈥檚 game against Dallas, Blues fans could be looking forward to more MoJo mojo. Joseph had a goal against the Stars, and was one-third of perhaps the best line on the ice with Kapanen and Schenn.
Blues forward Dylan Holloway is congratulated by teammate Mathieu Joseph on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, after scoring the tying goal in a preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
When Joseph, Schenn and Kapanen were on the ice at 5 on 5, the Blues held a 12-7 edge in shot attempts and a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal across 9:55 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Of course, 最新杏吧原创 also outscored Dallas, 2-0, during that time. It would have been 3-0 if Ryan Suter鈥檚 goal wasn鈥檛 disallowed when officials ruled that Joseph interfered with Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.
鈥淚 knew there was maybe contact,鈥 Joseph said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know if I was in the crease or not. I think good thing it happens in preseason.
鈥淚 feel like it would have sucked a little bit more in the regular season. I鈥檝e got to make myself a little bit smaller next time.鈥
On Joseph鈥檚 goal, his line took over after an extended offensive zone shift from Pavel Buchnevich鈥檚 line, and Schenn鈥檚 wall play to win a puck set up Joseph for a clean look in the slot.
鈥淪chenner won two or three battles in a row to get that puck to Kappy and I feel like that鈥檚 how our line was tonight,鈥 Joseph said. 鈥淲e were responsible defensively, and when we could hound pucks, we did. We created some offense.鈥
The line played together in a game for the first time on Thursday.
Throughout training camp, Joseph mostly played alongside Dylan Holloway and Radek Faksa.
鈥淭hey were outstanding (Thursday),鈥 Bannister said.
鈥淭hey did a lot of good things. They were very responsible tracking, getting above the puck, filling for their D and then in the offensive zone, they made good things happen.鈥
As the Blues conducted a late-camp line shuffle that mixed up all their combinations and resulted in a more balanced looking forward corps, their third line could take on added importance as a potential difference-maker. If the Blues want to become a playoff team again, they may need to develop a productive third line, and that could involve Joseph no matter who his other two linemates are.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of new guys,鈥 Joseph said. 鈥淚t takes time to get to your new systems and know your teammates and develop chemistry with guys, and see what works.鈥
The NHL group is done playing games after Thursday night鈥檚 preview, and their next chore will be opening the season on Tuesday in Seattle against the Kraken.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e kind of fired up,鈥 Joseph said.
鈥淵ou can see the start of the season coming up, and everyone鈥檚 definitely excited. Training camp is always kind of a grind, but also, it鈥檚 good that you get to know systems, know your teammates, spend some time with them.鈥
Blues extend AHL affiliation agreement with Springfield through 2030-31 season
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The Blues and AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) extended their affiliation agreement through the 2030-31 season, the parties announced Friday morning.
The Blues have used Springfield as their AHL club for the last three seasons, and the extension will keep the relationship for at least another seven seasons. In recent history, the Blues had AHL agreements with Utica (2020-21), San Antonio (2018-2020), Chicago (2013-17) and Peoria (2005-13).
With the AHL relationship secured long-term, and an ECHL affiliation announced this summer with Florida, the Blues have found stability in their development program.
Blues coach Drew Bannister worked in Springfield, Utica and San Antonio before becoming the Blues interim coach last December, and full-time coach over the summer. He praised the organization鈥檚 move to Springfield.
Springfield Thunderbirds forward Mackenzie Maceachern, right, and the Charlotte Checkers鈥 Gustav Olofsson go for the puck during a game in the Calder Cup Playoffs Atlantic Division Finals on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Leon Nguyen, The Republican
鈥淔or the development side for our players, we didn鈥檛 get what we needed (in San Antonio),鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淭he change going from Texas to Springfield really fast-tracked some of our players.鈥
In San Antonio, the team faced tougher travel schedules with fewer teams around, and many of their road games required a flight to get to. In Springfield (Massachusetts), the Thunderbirds are close to frequent foes Hartford (30 minutes), Providence (90 minutes) and Bridgeport (90 minutes). That meant 鈥渕ore time to practice, more skill days, more time off,鈥 Bannister said.
鈥淚n Texas, we were constantly in the air in an airplane,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淥ur days off were travel days. It was tough, and that鈥檚 where I thought Springfield, the organization, the ownership there was outstanding. It was a real positive step for the development of our players.鈥
Blues recall group from AHL
最新杏吧原创 recalled eight players from Springfield on Friday afternoon so that they can play in Saturday鈥檚 preseason finale against the Blackhawks in Milwaukee.
The Blues brought back forwards Mackenzie MacEachern, Mathias Laferriere, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Dalibor Dvorsky, Hugh McGing and Dylan Peterson, plus defensemen Hunter Skinner and Samuel Johannesson after previously sending them to the AHL.
While it should be a relatively young group playing in Milwaukee, Bannister said there still remains time to influence the staff鈥檚 NHL evaluation of players.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say it鈥檚 complete,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淚 still think there鈥檚 evaluating going on. I still think there鈥檚 players that want to prove themselves that they鈥檙e going to have an opportunity to prove themselves to find a place on our roster, in our lineup and tomorrow night鈥檚 another good night for them.鈥
For instance, it could be the final game for the three bubble defensemen (Scott Perunovich, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Tyler Tucker) to separate themselves.
Extra letters
Blues prospect Jimmy Snuggerud was named one of four captains for the University of Minnesota, becoming the third 最新杏吧原创 prospect to wear a 鈥淐鈥 this season. He joins defensemen Quinton Burns (Kingston, OHL) and Lukas Fischer (Sarnia, OHL).
最新杏吧原创 native Clayton Keller was named the first captain in Utah Hockey Club history on Friday. Keller is one of two NHL captains from 最新杏吧原创, in addition to Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa).
鈥楢 different phase鈥: What's next for Blues, Doug Armstrong after piling up young assets
New Blues defenseman Philip Broberg skates during training camp on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
The blinds in the second-floor office are half-open. The light flicks on sometime before practice begins. The chair farthest from the door faces the window, its back to the desk. The architect watches his construction site come to life.
For most Blues practices, that鈥檚 how general manager Doug Armstrong consumes the action on the ice below him at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, peering over the benches to watch his coaches, his players 鈥 his projects. When he watched his club throughout training camp, there were different groups he could theoretically see.
There were the dwindling players who helped the Blues win their only Stanley Cup in 2019, holding onto the coastline in hopes of bridging one successful era to another. There were the veterans who were supposed to extend the contention window, now trying to avoid the blasphemous thought of missing the playoffs three years in a row.
There were the franchise cornerstones around whom Armstrong and the Blues chose to build instead of detonating, key cogs signed until the end of the decade. There were the kids 鈥 both drafted and offer-sheeted 鈥 offering the hope of something more promising in the years to come.
It鈥檚 a group in transition for Armstrong and the Blues. But if you ask Armstrong, perhaps it鈥檚 a different phase of the organization鈥檚 metamorphosis.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e never sure how you鈥檙e going to be able to do it, but we brought in good players with good pedigree that are in the league now,鈥 Armstrong said. 鈥淣ow, they鈥檙e ready to take off. I do think we鈥檙e in a different phase. I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing how it plays itself out.鈥
What exactly is the different phase?
Well, the Blues are past accumulating assets. They鈥檙e on to developing them and pushing the older wave to qualify for the postseason.
New Blues forward Dylan Holloway waits his turn during warmups on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, before a preseason game against the Blackhawks at Enterprise Center
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Over the summer, the Blues made their biggest splashes by bringing in defenseman Philip Broberg (No. 8 overall pick in 2019) and forward Dylan Holloway (No. 14 pick in 2020), prying them away from Edmonton with seldom-used offer sheets. The moves cost them a lot, in terms of salary (a combined $6,871,374 cap hit the next two seasons) and in terms of draft capital.
When accounting for the interconnected Kevin Hayes salary dump to Pittsburgh, the acquisition of Mathieu Joseph from Ottawa, the transaction to reacquire a draft pick from the Penguins, the offer sheet compensation to Edmonton and the ransom to quell the threat of Edmonton matching the offer sheets, the cost of doing business became 鈥 well, costly.
In? Broberg, Holloway, Joseph and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Out? A 2025 second-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2025 third-round pick, a 2028 third-round pick, prospect Paul Fischer and Hayes.
Add in that the Blues traded their 2025 fourth-rounder to Columbus for Alexandre Texier and their 2025 seventh-rounder to Detroit for Jakub Vrana and 最新杏吧原创 has just three picks next summer: a first, a fifth and a sixth. It鈥檚 not a draft board indicative of a team that has missed the playoffs in two straight seasons.
鈥淲e have restocked the cupboard,鈥 Armstrong said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have a thin draft this year, the way it sits now. We don鈥檛 have a second, third or a fourth, but we also have young players at 22 or 23 that were former first-round picks. You have to give to get.鈥
Part of why Armstrong was comfortable parting with future assets is the number of pieces the Blues have gathered across the past year-plus, essentially since the 2023 trade deadline when 最新杏吧原创 sold Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O鈥橰eilly, Ivan Barbashev, Niko Mikkola and Noel Acciari.
In adding Broberg, Holloway and picking defenseman Adam Jiricek at No. 16, the Blues now have 10 players drafted in the first round since 2019. Seven of those players 鈥 Broberg, Holloway, Jiricek, Zach Dean, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein 鈥 have been acquired in the past year and a half. Zack Bolduc, Jake Neighbours and Jimmy Snuggerud were already in the fold.
Blues defenseman Philip Broberg skates at training camp on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
There鈥檚 reason to be excited about that.
Across the past six drafts, only Montreal (12) and Buffalo (11) have more former first-round picks in their system than the Blues (10). Across the past five drafts, only Chicago (10) has more than 最新杏吧原创 (nine). Across the past four drafts, it鈥檚 just Chicago (nine) and Nashville (eight) that have more than the Blues鈥 seven.
You get the picture. The Blues have a prospect pool overflowing with future contributors.
But is that enough?
鈥淭he Blues have a lot of depth in their system,鈥 said Chris Peters, a draft and prospects analyst for FloHockey. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have a super-great high end where it鈥檚 going to be a lot of first-line players. Some of these guys could develop into that but not a lot of first line (players); there鈥檚 some good secondary scoring here. There鈥檚 probably a top-four defenseman here. Maybe there鈥檚 a (No.) 4, 5 defenseman here.
鈥淔rom right now, and development does not move in a straight line, it looks like they have a lot of mid-range guys that are going to help them in the middle of their lineup but maybe not in the top of their lineup.鈥
While the Blues have piled up first-rounders, they have not piled up highly drafted first-rounders. Only Broberg and Dvorsky were drafted in the top 10. On average, those 10 players were drafted at 19.8. Only eight teams have, on average, lower-drafted first-rounders currently in their system.
It makes for a lot of serviceable NHL players but maybe not difference-makers.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e lottery tickets, but how many of them have star as a ceiling?鈥 Peters said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e projecting them out, you at least have some idea of where they鈥檙e going to go. They have a lot of guys that project to contribute. Honestly, when you have more of those, you increase the odds that one of them is going to overshoot what you expected of them.鈥
The potential jackpots could be Dvorsky (thanks to his supreme skill) and Jiricek (whose evaluation was maybe stunted by his knee injury). But, Peters said, a lot of the other prospects are more known quantities with floors and ceilings a bit closer to each other.
鈥淚 think they did a really good job of getting guys that are going to play in the NHL,鈥 Peters said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot harder than it sounds. Just getting guys that鈥檒l be part of your roster is really difficult, especially at the number they have within their system. I think there鈥檚 a lot of guys where I鈥檓 like, 鈥楾hat guy is going to play.鈥欌
One Eastern Conference evaluator cautioned against the approach of picking up middle-of-the-lineup talent, which Broberg and Holloway could be considered at this point in their careers.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e adding at the middle or bottom of the lineup and hoping they鈥檙e moving up, as opposed to going a little bit more all-in and getting a first-line, top-pair guy that鈥檚 going to push guys down,鈥 they said.
Essentially, the Blues need some of those guys to play above their draft level. And then they need some of their later-round picks to hit as if they were top-end selections. That鈥檚 not unique to the Blues relative to the rest of the league.
The good news? The Blues have shown that they can find players who produce above their draft slot.
Robert Thomas was picked 20th in 2017. He鈥檚 fourth in his draft class in both games played and points.
Jordan Kyrou went 35th in 2016. He鈥檚 ninth in goals and 10th in points among his draft class.
Jake Neighbours was 26th in 2020. He鈥檚 eighth in goals scored in his draft class.
Toss in players like Tage Thompson or Vince Dunn and the Blues have a decent recent history of hitting on picks. Of course, the Blues have also missed big. Klim Kostin hasn鈥檛 panned out. Dominik Bokk never played an NHL game, but he helped the Blues acquire Justin Faulk.
And so there is another avenue for the Blues to pursue at this stage of their transition: trading from their prospect surplus to supplement the NHL roster.
鈥淭here鈥檚 probably a path given his history to move those players for the pieces that can get him there,鈥 an Eastern Conference evaluator said.
Bokk (in the Faulk trade) and Thompson (in the trade that brought O鈥橰eilly to 最新杏吧原创) are the easy examples of Armstrong鈥檚 willingness to deal from his prospect pool to help build the NHL roster. Older examples include Erik Johnson鈥檚 trade to Colorado or swapping David Rundblad for the pick that became Tarasenko.
Armstrong could be given another opportunity to do so, and it wouldn鈥檛 be a new part of his playbook.
鈥淵ou have to accumulate as many puzzle pieces as you can, and then at some point, you have to start making the puzzle,鈥 Armstrong said. 鈥淚 go back to when I first got here, I thought Larry Pleau and John Davidson did a great job of acquiring a lot of young players, and then we moved some of those chess pieces around to build a team.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e getting in that team-building mode now. We expect to compete. If it鈥檚 not fitting in with our puzzle, we have to move pieces along to find better fits.鈥
So while the Blues may not have the choose-your-own-adventure assets like draft picks available, they do own about a dozen half-baked prospects in the pipeline. And other teams know Armstrong is open to wheeling and dealing.
鈥淎rmy is not shy,鈥 a Western Conference evaluator said. 鈥淗e is not shy. Even before the offer sheets, he was really aggressive.鈥
There are potential pitfalls along the way.
What if the Blues underperform and miss the playoffs again, resulting in next year鈥檚 draft capital becoming more valuable than anticipated? What if Snuggerud鈥檚 or Bolduc鈥檚 development stalls? What if Jiricek鈥檚 injury history is an ongoing concern? What if the former Oilers don鈥檛 adjust to bigger roles?
These are risks the Blues and Armstrong have to be willing to take in order to whip around a tight U-turn back into contention, and they鈥檝e put themselves in a position to win big on the right bets.
Armstrong compares the current state of the Blues to the teams in 2010-12, teams that were incubating a young nucleus that included Alex Pietrangelo, David Perron, Jaden Schwartz, T.J. Oshie, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ian Cole, Chris Stewart and Tarasenko.
鈥淲e like the depth of our group now,鈥 Armstrong said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to continue to try and add to that, but we鈥檙e at that point now where we were in 2010, 鈥11, 鈥12 where we鈥檝e accumulated assets.
鈥淣ow we have to build a team and I鈥檓 excited about the opportunity to build a team.鈥
New Blues forward Dylan Holloway pauses to acknowledge fans in the stands during warmups on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, before a preseason game against the Blackhawks at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
New Blues defenseman Philip Broberg skates during training camp on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Dylan Holloway shoots the puck on the opening day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, left, and new forward Dylan Holloway battle for the puck during drills on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, the opening day of training camp, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Dylan Holloway skates around a defender during the opening day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues prospect Dalibor Dvorsky (54) skates with the puck away from Blackhawks prospect Landon Slaggert during third-period action of a prospect showcase game on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Dalibor Dvorsky (54) works against Simon Robertsson during the second day of Blues development camp on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Dalibor Dvorsky maneuvers at the Blues鈥 development camp on Monday, July 1, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Allie Schallert, Post-Dispatch
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to do something that鈥檚 difficult, which is stay competitive and find good players and make good trades and win a championship,鈥 Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said while speaking at the team鈥檚 news conference to cap the season on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights. Over the course of the next several months, Armstrong brought in several young players, including multiple former first-round picks, to aid the Blues as their contending window gets closer to reopening.
Post-Dispatch photo
With chance to prove he belongs in Blues lineup, Kasperi Kapanen shows out vs. Dallas
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If some selective amnesia came over Kasperi Kapanen, he wouldn鈥檛 mind it.
Of course, games like Thursday鈥檚 4-3 preseason overtime win over the Stars might help just as well. Kapanen had a goal and an assist against Dallas, potentially securing a spot in the season-opening lineup for the Blues and pushing a disappointing 2023-24 season further away.
鈥淧ersonally, (I鈥檇 like) to learn from last year,鈥 Kapanen said, 鈥渂ut to also kind of forget about it.鈥
On Thursday night, Kapanen was arguably the best player on the ice. He was around pucks on the forecheck. He was physical at times. He was using his speed. He was active in shooting pucks. With a chance to prove himself worthy of a role in 最新杏吧原创, Kapanen delivered.
Philip Broberg also had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who were lifted when Jordan Kyrou scored 1:43 into overtime. Mathieu Joseph also scored for 最新杏吧原创, and Jordan Binnington made 17 saves.
Kapanen entered camp on the bubble, and if he wasn鈥檛 to make the NHL roster, would have to face waivers for the first time since the Blues claimed him off waivers in Feb. 2023. At times during the preseason, Kapanen appeared on the outside looking in. When the Blues split into NHL and AHL groups, Kapanen was in the AHL group. Other times, he skated on an extra line.
Blues coach Drew Bannister said after Kapanen鈥檚 first preseason game that he wanted more out of the 28-year-old Finnish forward. Now, those messages have dissolved.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 a player that maybe overthought things early on in the camp,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淚 think now, he鈥檚 more focused on his strengths and I think we saw that last game where I felt like he was trying to make an impact. Today, obviously, he made an impact offensively with the play he made to Matty and obviously with the goal being around the net. I thought he played extremely well here today.鈥
Kapanen on the communication with Bannister: 鈥淛ust playing aggressive and using my speed. I think sometimes, I start to overthink and wonder what鈥檚 going to happen during my shift. I think can I get into a rhythm and let my instincts do the work. When I play like that, I think it shows and I鈥檓 just using my feet and trying to shoot and be around the net.鈥
On Thursday night, Kapanen helped form a line with Joseph and Brayden Schenn that contributed two goals. During Kapanen鈥檚 12:25 of ice time at 5 on 5, the Blues outshot the Stars 10-2, and had a 0.92-0.19 advantage in expected goals.
Kapanen picked up an assist on Joseph鈥檚 goal after Schenn won a wall battle with Mason Marchment. Kapanen scored on Broberg鈥檚 rebound to the side of the net, spinning a no-look backhand into the net.
That doesn't include Kapanen's almost-assist on a disallowed Ryan Suter goal in the second period, or Kapanen's miss of an open net in the first period.
鈥淚 thought we played a great game,鈥 Kapanen said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we spent too much time in our zone, which is always a plus. MoJo and Schenner are two great players, so I thought we had some good chemistry and it was a good game.鈥
Last season, Kapanen endured the worst season of his career since he became an NHL regular. He managed just six goals and 16 assists. Kapanen began the year in the top-six, and was a healthy scratch for two games down the stretch.
Kapanen was supposed to carry over his strong finish in the spring of 2023 (14 points in 23 games with 最新杏吧原创), but instead failed to provide secondary scoring.
鈥淓verybody knows it wasn鈥檛 my best, and I know that,鈥 Kapanen said. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to hold myself to a higher standard. That鈥檚 hockey and that鈥檚 just sports in general. Sometimes, you have bad years and you鈥檝e got to forget about that and move on.鈥
For Kapanen, moving on is better when he has someone to talk to, he said. And that someone is his father Sami Kapanen, who played 831 career NHL games for the Whalers/Hurricanes and Flyers.
鈥淚f it bothers you like it bothered me a little bit, I think it鈥檚 important to talk to somebody about it,鈥 Kapanen said. 鈥淚鈥檝e got a great guy that listens to me, my dad. Obviously, he鈥檚 been in the league for a while and knows the ups and downs of hockey. I just try to talk to him.
鈥淗onestly, I was happy to spend some time with my family and my friends back home. It was a long summer, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Try to play some golf, and mentally, be fresh coming into camp. I feel great right now.鈥
It also wasn鈥檛 always certain that Kapanen would be back in 最新杏吧原创 this season. His contract expired at the end of last season, and the Blues appeared ready to let their unrestricted free agents walk. Instead, Kapanen signed a one-year contract worth $1 million on the first day of free agency to return to the Note.
Kapanen said 鈥淚 love being here, and I love being a Blue.鈥
So far, Kapanen appears to have earned a spot 鈥 jumping over Zack Bolduc in the process 鈥 on the opening day roster. But that鈥檚 not the end of Kapanen鈥檚 journey. Brandon Saad will return to the lineup after his wife gives birth. Oskar Sundqvist is recovering from knee surgery. Bolduc, and prospects Dalibor Dvorsky and Zach Dean will push.
If Kapanen has a spot now, a future one isn鈥檛 promised either.
鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to fight for a spot,鈥 Kapanen said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a ton of great players in this organization and I鈥檝e just been trying to find my way into the lineup. If I keep playing like that, I鈥檝e got a good chance.鈥
Photos: 最新杏吧原创 Blues beat Dallas Stars 4-3 in overtime preseason match-up
最新杏吧原创 Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich gets crossed up with Dallas Stars defender Brendan Smith on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, in the first period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
最新杏吧原创 Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich collides with Dallas Stars defenders Lian Bichsel, left, and Thomas Harley on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, in the first period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger blocks a shot on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, as Stars defender Ilya Lyubushkin tangles with Blues center Brayden Schenn in the first period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
最新杏吧原创 Blues defenseman Justin Faulk loses site of the puck on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, in a tussle with Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment in the second period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Mathieu Joseph vies for possession of the puck with Stars defender Nils Lundkvist in the first period of a preseason game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024,聽at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Blues goalie Jordan Binnington stops a shot in front of Stars defenseman Thomas Harley on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, in the second period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center. Binnington stopped 17 shots in the Blues鈥 4-3 overtime win.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger lets a shot by Blues forward Kasperi Kapanen get by on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, in the third period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko handles the puck on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, as Stars forward Oskar Back pursues in the first period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
最新杏吧原创 Blues fans celebrate forward Jordan Kyrou's winning overtime goal on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, against the Dallas Stars in a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
最新杏吧原创 Blues players celebrate forward Jordan Kyrou's winning overtime goal on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, against the Dallas Stars in a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven celebrates a goal on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, against the 最新杏吧原创 Blues in the third period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Jake Neighbours tries to keep possession of the puck on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in the first period of a preseason game against the Stars at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
最新杏吧原创 Blues forward Kasperi Kapanen tries to escape Dallas Stars defenders Nils Lundkvist and Thomas Harley on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024, in the third period of a preseason game at Enterprise Center in 最新杏吧原创.
