50�Ȼ���Ƶ

Jordan, who do you want to be?

Let’s talk about this. Who do you truly burn inside to become?

Because I think you, Jordan Kyrou, have the talent to become just the 15th Blues player to ever score 40 goals in a season.

But what we’ve seen so far is a guy who is, I suppose, a fine goal scorer, a good goal scorer, a nice goal scorer. But not an elite goal scorer. The past three years, your goal totals have been 27, 37 and, this past season, 31. In the National Hockey League, you’ve scored the 36th-most goals in the past three years. Impressive but not extraordinary.

OK, so this needs to be the season it all comes together. There have been too many scoreless stretches. Too many floundered power-play opportunities. Too many questions about your tenacity on defense and on the boards. You’re a guy with extreme speed, exceptional hands and exquisite abilities when attacking the net. You’re now 26. Come into your own.

Oh, and only once have the Blues ever missed the postseason in three straight seasons. For your team to avoid tying that dubious mark, you need to maximize what’s inside your body — and your head.

And sorry to bring this up, but after 69 games played last season, you had just 21 goals. But in the final 13 games, you scored 10 goals with seven assists. So credit where credit’s due on how you finished — but how did you get to that point after 69 games in the first place?

I asked your coach, Drew Bannister, what a successful 2024-25 season for you looks like. He summed it up in one word (but then followed up with a bunch of them): “Consistency. I think if you look at the last four to six weeks last year and how consistently he played, I think that we have to see that consistency in his game over 82 games. And that’s we know what he brings to the table offensively.

“I think we saw a concerted effort in his defensive game that maybe took away from his offensive game a little bit. And then I think in the last four to six weeks, he kind of put both of them together. And now we’re going to look for that for the next eight months.”

As for the list of 14 Blues players who have scored 40 or more goals in a season at least once, it’s a fascinating fraternity you could join. Of course, you’ve got your Brett Hulls and Brian Sutters and Brendan Shanahans. And there’s Wayne Babych’s famous 54-goal season from 1980-81 (he never scored more than 27 in any other season). But there are also some pretty surprising names on there. Tony McKegney scored exactly 40 in 1987-88. And Chuck Lefley had 43 in 1975-76.

Interestingly, only three times has a Blues player netted 40 in the 21st century.

Scott Young had 40 in 2000-01, your old teammate Vladimir Tarasenko had 40 in 2015-16 and Brad Boyes had 43 in 2007-08 (interestingly, the 2007-08 season was the third season of the only three-year span the Blues missed the playoffs).

As for your potential, I truly think you can be the fourth 40-goal scorer this century. But do you have the drive to do it?

“Just watching him out on the ice (in training camp), I’ve been extremely happy with him in his competitive level,” Bannister said. “Staying in battles, using his speed. I mean, all the things that we know he’s good at. I see a more focused player that’s ready for a breakout season. ...

“I mean, he can (score in bunches), but I think when he’s playing with confidence, there’s not a lot of downtime in his scoring. I think he becomes a consistent scorer. As an offensive player, when you’re feeling it, the goals come easy. But I think just with him, it’ll just be more consistent play of what he did really well towards the end of last season for us.”

As the Post-Dispatch writer Matthew DeFranks has pointed out before, you statistically fare pretty well in five-on-five play (notably when it comes to goals per 60 minutes). But the power-play production (or lack thereof) hurts you and the team.

I want to think that your best center pairing is Robert Thomas. For one, he’s the best player on the team. And you two are linked forever because of your mirroring contracts.

But I’m also intrigued by your connection with Pavel Buchnevich playing that center role. Late last year, you connected with Buchnevich and forward Brandon Saad.

“I mean, He’s an unbelievable player,” Saad said recently during training camp. “I don’t think we ever worried about him scoring goals. I think we know how talented he is and how much skill he brings to the team. I know through with playing with him that he can obviously shoot the puck and score goals. He’s a great player, and I think we all know he’s going show up for us.”

And that’s the thing. You’ll show up and finish among the team leaders in goals. But you have the ability to be among the league leaders.

Challenge yourself. Prove yourself.

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Healed and healthy, Justin Faulk looks forward to added responsibility in Blues defense

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

One of many young additions, Pierre-Olivier Joseph has hopes of long tenure in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ

• Matthew DeFranks

The Blues expect a different Justin Faulk to patrol the 50�Ȼ���Ƶ blue line.

So does Justin Faulk.

After a season marred by injuries, Faulk returns this fall healthy — free from ankle and shoulder ailments that plagued him down the stretch in 2023-24 and ready to take on perhaps his biggest role since arriving in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ in the fall of 2019. This season, Faulk will be asked to play with a new partner (Torey Krug has been lost for the season due to ankle surgery) and is the top candidate to run the No. 1 power-play unit (also because Krug is out).

“I’m pretty aware of when I play well and when I don’t,” Faulk said. “I have a standard that I have internally that I think I can play at and an expectation. It’s just play hard, be hard to play against, make things happen and I know my game’s still there, and I’m not too concerned about getting back to it.”

Faulk finished last season with 30 points (two goals and 28 assists) across 60 games, his worst per-game output since 2019-20, his first season in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ, when he mustered just 16 points in 69 games. His ice time dipped by about a minute and a half per game. He missed about a quarter of the season dealing with injuries.

“With Justin, what I can tell you about him and what we missed last year is just the leadership qualities, not only in the dressing room but on the ice,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “That goes a long way with our group. Play-wise, we know who he is as a player. He’s an important player for us. It was difficult when we didn’t have him last year.”

Faulk said his ankle flared up on him three times last season. Once was a minor issue around Christmas. The big one was in the final minute of a loss to Colorado on Dec. 29, when his leg got caught under his body during an awkward fall, leading to him missing five games. Then he suffered a setback in Calgary on Jan. 23, forcing him out for another dozen.

The Blues didn’t see Faulk on the ice again after April 6, when he suffered a shoulder injury. His last play of the season was a fight with San Jose’s Luke Kunin, and Faulk missed the last five games of the season.

“With a lot of athletes, there’s a little bit of an ego thing that gets involved that you want to try and get out there and help your team,” Faulk said. “Sometimes, to be honest, it’s maybe at the detriment of yourself and possibly the team if you’re not playing well enough or if you’re not healthy enough.”

In his first attempt to return to the lineup after the injury vs. Colorado, Faulk was on the ice for 10 of the 16 goals that Blues allowed.

“I’m not trying to make excuses or anything. I wasn’t 100% from just before Christmas on,” Faulk said. “My ankle, I had probably three different times that something came up with it. It was tough. It’s good to not be dealing with it now, I’ll tell you that.”

Faulk rested his body over the summer and allowed it to heal. Last year, “it just wasn’t ready to be where it needed to be for me to play my game,” he said, but he’s pain-free now.

Faulk is no stranger to running a power play, but he hasn’t had to be the No. 1 option since arriving in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ. Sometimes, he wasn’t even the No. 2 candidate.

He overlapped one year with Alex Pietrangelo, and then Krug arrived to direct the top unit. Some years, Vince Dunn averaged more power-play time than Faulk. Other years, Scott Perunovich got more work on a per-game basis, even if he was in the lineup less consistently.

In Carolina, though, Faulk was the top option. Across his last three years as a Hurricane, no player had more power-play time than Faulk, and of course, no Carolina player had as many shot attempts or shots on goal with the man advantage, according to Natural Stat Trick.

“Power play is a big responsibility, and I get to play with some pretty good players if I’m going to go out there with those guys,” Faulk said. “I think I can do it. I’m not scared of the opportunity again.”

Last year, the Blues power play ranked 24th in the league (18%), which was actually remarkable considering they were the second-worst unit in the NHL (8.4%) when Craig Berube was fired 28 games into the season.

From then until the end of the season, the Blues power play ranked 13th (22.8%), in part thanks to Jake Neighbours’ emergence at the net front and a more downhill approach that resulted in more pucks in high-danger areas.

“It took us a while last year to get it going, and there was times there was probably some games sitting there for us that if we could have potted one on the power play, it could have gone the other way,” Faulk said. “It put us in a different spot. Every night is not going to be 2 for 5, 2 for 3, whatever it is. But you have to create momentum. You have to bring some energy to the group. You want to get scoring chances and, at a minimum, not be getting shut down all night.”

Faulk is also likely to be playing with new acquisition Philip Broberg, a 6-3 left-hander plucked from Edmonton via offer sheet over the summer.

“To be honest, I knew nothing about him,” Faulk said. “The way he moves, he’s a big skater for how big he is. He takes up space. Looks to make plays, too, so it’s nice. I’m sure he’s getting comfortable in the new setting and new teammates. Early impressions are he’s a good player, he’s a good skater. That’s a good start in this league, especially the way it is today. If you can get around the ice well, get your head up, make plays, should be able to figure it out, I think.”

With a healthy body, a new partner and more responsibility, perhaps Faulk is on track to do the same.

“My confidence hasn’t changed,” Faulk said. “I’m healthy, I feel good. I know what I can do in this league.”

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Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: Blues’ Jordan Kyrou has talent to score 40 goals. Does he have the drive to do it?

• Benjamin Hochman

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

One of many young additions, Pierre-Olivier Joseph has hopes of long tenure in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ

• Matthew DeFranks

Alexandre Texier didn’t make much of playing against his former team during a preseason game on Wednesday night.

“A little bit (weird),” Texier said, “but it’s what it is.”

Texier’s focus is no longer on being a member of the Blue Jackets. Instead, he’s just trying to figure his way around the Blues. 50�Ȼ���Ƶ acquired Texier from Columbus in exchange for a fourth-round pick over the summer and then signed him to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million annually.

Texier had 30 points in 78 games last season in Columbus, his first back in North America after playing in Switzerland in 2022-23 for personal reasons. He will be counted on to contribute as a depth forward for the Blues this season.

“The offensive side is there, and I think he would be correct in saying most offensive guys have to work on their defensive game,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “I think he has the ability to move up and down your lineup. I don’t think we have him penciled in on the bottom six. I think he’s a player than can push for spots in your top six, too. I think there’s an ability with his speed to score goals.”

Texier made positive impressions on Blues coaches and fans alike during his two preseason games on Saturday against Chicago and Tuesday against Columbus. He had seven shots on goal and an assist vs. the Blackhawks and added another three shots vs. the Blue Jackets.

While Texier began each game on a line with Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko, he was elevated during the third period on Tuesday night and again during practice on Wednesday to a line with Pavel Buchnevich.

“I thought he did some good things,” Bannister said. “I thought he did some good things when we moved him up with Buchy’s line. Another positive step in the right direction for him.”

Texier, 25, fit what the Blues were trying to do this summer by adding young, fast and bigger forwards (6-1). 50�Ȼ���Ƶ also picked up Dylan Holloway and Mathieu Joseph over the summer, in addition to a veteran like Radek Faksa.

Texier also got a little bit of a later jump on preseason action as the Blues were giving him some additional time off after he played for France before training camp as the nation tried to qualify for the Olympics. In three games, Texier had three goals and three assists.

France will play in the 2026 Olympics if Russia is not allowed to compete.

“He’s great, very silky with the puck, very shifty,” Walker said. “I caught myself a couple times just watching him out on the ice. He’s a great player.”

Texier is an outlier in the NHL as the only active French-born player in the league. He’s third all time in both games played and points by a Frenchman, behind both Antoine Roussel and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. With a good season this year, Texier (79 career points) could move past Bellemare (138) into second-most all time.

“I’ve been really impressed with him and his practices, not knowing a ton about him as a player,” Bannister said. “The speed, the skill, he’s heavy on his stick, makes creative plays, but he’s always around the puck.”

Originally a second-round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2017, Texier had only known Columbus during his NHL career. And there wasn’t much crossover for him when he arrived in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ (outside of speaking the same language as French-Canadians Zack Bolduc and Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph).

“I didn’t know anybody here, so you’ve got to adapt quick,” Texier said. “I will say (it’s) still the same game but with different teammates, different team, different mentality. But I like it, it’s been really good.

“I think I still have a lot to do and to show. I think it’s been good so far. It’s only going to get harder and harder. I’m ready for that, and I can’t wait.”

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Drew Bannister disappointed with his team's effort as Blues drop to 1-4-0 in preseason play

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

One of many young additions, Pierre-Olivier Joseph has hopes of long tenure in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Nathan Walker making his argument to be on the Blues' season-opening roster

• Matthew DeFranks

With less than a week until the start of the regular season, Blues coach Drew Bannister shook up his forward combinations in practice Wednesday morning, unveiling five new lines.

This is what the Blues showed during practice, one day after a 3-1 loss to the Blue Jackets dropped 50�Ȼ���Ƶ to 1-4-0 in the preseason:

• Dylan Holloway — Robert Thomas — Jake Neighbours.
• Alexandre Texier — Pavel Buchnevich — Jordan Kyrou.
• Mathieu Joseph — Brayden Schenn — Kasperi Kapanen.
• Alexey Toropchenko — Radek Faksa — Nathan Walker.
• Brandon Saad — Zach Dean — Zack Bolduc.

The Blues tried some different looks during the third period of the loss to Columbus.

“We did that yesterday, trying to get some life into our group and see,” Bannister said. “Today’s a new day. Yesterday was yesterday. We’ve moved on from that. I thought our group had a good response out on the ice. The guys worked. I thought we got what we needed to accomplish here today to get ourselves ready for tomorrow.”

The Blues will finish their home exhibition slate on Thursday night when they host the Stars. 50�Ȼ���Ƶ will also play the Blackhawks on Saturday in Chicago, though it’s possible that it is more of an AHL lineup than one expected to take the ice next week in Seattle.

There were a bunch of notable changes during the shuffle, including Schenn moving from second-line wing to third-line center and Bolduc dropping out of the top four lines entirely. Throughout camp, Bolduc had been placed in the top six, appearing destined for a role there, especially considering Saad could miss the opening trip of the season while expecting the birth of his third child.

Additionally, the Blues split up Thomas and Kyrou and moved summer acquisitions Holloway and Texier into the top six.

“We’ve been impressed with them,” Bannister said of Texier and Holloway. “Now it’s can they go there and make a difference too, and give them an opportunity. We’ve been happy with the way they’ve played. I think it’s important to those reps and those opportunities to players that have come in and played well.”

It’s unclear whether these lines are actual possibilities to start the season together, or whether they are preseason combinations that can fizzle once the regular season begins. The Blues have yet to play a preseason game with their entire expected NHL roster in the lineup.

“It’s them getting touches together and getting some familiarity,” Bannister said of Wednesday’s practice. “Obviously, it’s not going to come in one practice. You’d like to see it come together in one game. That’s yet to be seen. The guys will play tomorrow and then hopefully, things for the lines match up. It’s another opportunity for them to play with some different players. We’re coming down to a point where we have to lock in some lines.”

Watching new pairing

In Wednesday’s game, defensemen Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk played together in a game for the first time this preseason. They are expected to form the Blues’ second defensive pair this season behind Nick Leddy and Colton Parayko.

“I thought Broberg looked like a player that was trying to do too much at times,” Bannister said. “Sometimes, first home game, probably trying to impress. I go back to the game in Iowa, he was outstanding. I think there’s a lot more there. For him, it’s just getting comfortable and having expectations that are fair for him. When he’s at his top which we saw in Iowa, he’s a good player. As a group, we weren’t very good. He wasn’t at his best, but 95% of our players weren’t at their best.”

During the 16:21 of ice time at five on five that Broberg and Faulk were on the ice together, the Blues were outshot 13-1, and Columbus had a 22-3 edge in shot attempts.

“I think we were all right,” Broberg said. “I think it takes time to get used to a new partner, so we just learn get better from here.”

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Drew Bannister disappointed with his team's effort as Blues drop to 1-4-0 in preseason play

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

One of many young additions, Pierre-Olivier Joseph has hopes of long tenure in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Down to one practice group, Blues provide potential preview of opening day lineup

• Matthew DeFranks

Read the full transcript of our weekly Blues chat.

Matthew DeFranks: The Blues are about two weeks into training camp. There are two preseason games remaining. Let's get to some questions.

Blueliners Alumni: So, Bannister is baffled by the Blues' hapless play thus far. What's your take on why they haven't been able to get going?

Matthew DeFranks: I think it's a couple things: for the most part, veterans don't really care about the preseason, especially the first week when there's still a ton of junior and AHL players around. And then there hasn't been a lot of players that are on the bubble that have shown they deserve a spot in the NHL.

When you have those two things, you have games were it seems like guys are floating around out there.

Matt L: Went to the game last night and read your article this morning. I share Bannister’s disappointment about the performance last night. It was way too reminiscent of last year. CBJ didn’t have a ton of high danger chances (to my eye from section 112 at least) and the blues missed the net on a couple of breakaways, but being handily outshot at home with 75% or more of your expected opening night roster is very concerning. This team has to come out ready to play from opening night. I could see them getting better over the course of the year but they won’t be able to dig themselves out of a hole the way Edmonton did last year. There should be enough young guys trying to earn a long term contract and enough veterans tired of missing the playoffs to light a fire under this team, but it didn’t look like that last night and from Bannisters comments, it sounds like it’s been an ongoing problem in the preseason. Have you had the chance to talk with any of the players about this?

Matthew DeFranks: I think we also have to remember that this is preseason. Personally, I think it's probably a bit early for coaches to be pushing buttons, and grating players when the NHL lineup hasn't even played one game out there.

If this continues into the regular season, that's all fair game once we at least see a full lineup or see the starting goalie play a game or see both power play units. Until then, it's just not all that consequential.

For the guys that are on the bubble, this has been a bad camp and none have really argued for their spot except for Bolduc early on and Walker lately. That would be more of my concern than the veterans not (seemingly) giving a hoot about preseason.

Dave Lowry: I like the Blues lines in practice today. 18 and 25 can’t be on the same line, it simply doesn’t work. Is Bolduc looking more like a player destined to start in the AHL?

Matthew DeFranks: I don't know what to think of today's lines. For those that missed it, this is what it looked like.

Holloway-Thomas-Neighbours

Texier-Buchnevich-Kyrou

Joseph-Schenn-Kapanen

Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker

Saad-Dean-Bolduc

Leddy-Parayko

Broberg-Faulk

Suter-Kessel

Joseph-Perunovich

Schueneman-Tucker

Every forward line is different than it was before, and that's a pretty drastic change from just a few days ago when it looked like an NHL lineup in practice. I guess we'll find out more in the next week whether today was just fooling around with lines or whether the Blues coaching staff actually wants to look at these combinations moving forward.

If it's the latter, it's not good news for a guy like Zack Bolduc, and it's suddenly good news for ... Kasperi Kapanen?

Dave Lowry: PO Joseph has looked solid, has he done enough to claim the 7th defender role?

Matthew DeFranks: As of right now, I think Joseph is the 7th defenseman, though it's hard to tell whether the coaches view him in that role or Perunovich. Last night, he played on his off side, which he hadn't done a lot of in the past, and didn't look all that comfortable with it. But with so many left-handers on the roster now, you wonder if they'll have to play on the off side in order to get into the lineup throughout the season (maybe spelling Matt Kessel)

Matt L: Why are the Blues-Kraken opening the season with a 3:30 pm start on a Tuesday? I know the games on ESPN and that’s why but what genius at the World Wide Leader in Sports came up with this idea?

Matthew DeFranks: It's an odd time, but I look at it the same way I would look at Opening Day in baseball, which are almost always during the middle of the day in the middle of the week. The concept is no different.

Matt L: Bally’s parent co. Diamond Sports Group dropped a bombshell statement to the bankruptcy court this morning that they were cancelling all their cardinals contract and all their other MLB contracts for next year except one. Do you know if Ballys is locked in to carry the Blues all year or could they get out of that too?

Matthew DeFranks: I am under the impression that the Blues and Bally will be together throughout the season, but the longer that we have to wait for the Blues to announce the local broadcast schedule, the more I wonder if things have changed.

The plan beyond Bally is pretty clear. The Blues have partnered with Victory+ for free streaming direct to consumer. They have had some programming on channel 32 over the air. So it would make sense if the Blues did like the Ducks and had free options both for streaming and over the air.

Easy Ed - fan since 1967: Hey Matt, enjoying to insightful coverage. On the Blues defense, they have some real decisions to make. Who has to pass through waivers if the sent down of all the bubble players? who does not? It looks like they have to keep Perunovich up in case their PP goes flat. How's he been doing. He could be a generational offensive defenseman possibly, but they criticized Krug so much, how will they be on Peru? How's he look so far? That third pair, you have to give Suter a spot. So who joins him to begin the season: it was looking like Kessel, but P-O Joseph is very intriguing. The two brothers on ice will probably add something special to the team, especially spiritwise, like the Plager Bros (minus Billy, of course). Your thoughts, please. Be well.

Matthew DeFranks: Joseph, Tucker and Perunovich all have to pass through waivers, as do Walker and Kapanen.

Let's go easy on the generational tag. That's Erik Karlsson. Scott Perunovich is nowhere close to that.

So far, I haven't seen anything from Perunovich that would suggest he's ready to become a full-time NHL player. The power play hasn't done much with him out there. He still doesn't shoot the puck enough. I have noticed him having more effort in the defensive zone, but still, overall hasn't been enough to wow me.

As far as Joseph goes, he's a guy that played 52 NHL games last year, and a good chunk of them alongside Kris Letang. So he's got some experience, and I think he'll push Kessel to get into the lineup on a somewhat regular basis.

Eric: Looks like from the lines posted today for practice that Bolduc has been moved to the extra skaters line and Holloway and Texier have been elevated. Have the coaches said anything that is missing from Bolduc's game that they need to see? I'd say based on these lines he may start the season in Springfield. Thanks!

Matthew DeFranks: That's what it looks like, but I still don't know what to make of these. It feels awfully premature to scrap the lines of two days ago when those lines haven't even played a preseason game together yet.

Whenever we've talked to Bannister about Bolduc, hasn't been anything negative to pull out. I do wonder if they would like to see more production from a guy in that situation.

Matt L: I hate to call Bannister into question before the season even starts but in all honesty I haven’t been a big fan of his hiring from the get go. I thought the Blues could really benefit from a new voice. Obviously he’s not Berube so he’s new in a sense but he’s not new to the org and the teams underlying numbers didn’t really get any better after he took over. Their special teams numbers just recovered to the mean from terrible starts. Did Army ever address whether they thought a fresh voice would be beneficial?

Matthew DeFranks: Yeah, down the stretch of the season, it was basically the elite goaltending and a hot power play that led them to the record they had. The underlying possession numbers were still down there with the Sharks and the Blackhawks.

It wasn't asked explicitly, as far as I can remember, of Armstrong. But the question of "why Bannister?" was answered basically with "We kept coming back to him with the way he coached the rest of the season."

The two-year contract, to me, also feels like this is a transitional period until Steen takes over in 2026. So many different coaching contracts line up at that point.

Dave Lowry: Faska seems like a better fit on the 4th line at this stage of his career, agree?

Matthew DeFranks: Yeah, he hasn't produced as a third-line guy in a few years now. Still a very effective piece doing what he does: playing defensively, winning faceoffs, killing penalties, etc. But you're not counting on building a third scoring line around him.

Matt L: I completely appreciate what you’re saying about not overreacting to the preseason. But obviously Bannisters not happy about it either. The Blues aren’t good enough to simply throw the switch on opening night. They have to have better puck management habits. They really need to find a second pp unit that works. Lots of new pieces on the pk that need to come together. If the veterans don’t see that and the tone they’re setting is “Ahh, it’s the preseason, big whup,” that sounds like a recipe for disaster and potentially a big problem in their leadership group. Is that the impression you get from the vets? (So much for me not overreacting to the preseason.)

Matthew DeFranks: It's not a vibe I've gotten specifically talking about the Blues and their leadership group. But it's a generally overarching feeling across NHL veterans around the league, so I don't think it's a unique attitude for guys that know they'll be on the roster.

Also: I still have no idea what the second unit it going to look like, because the Blues haven't practiced once with it.

As far as camps go, this has been the most regular-season practice-y one that I've covered. The Stars used to have marathon camps where they would flood the ice midpractice and go for about 1 1/2 hours, and then do it for three groups. Berube was big into scrimmages during camp, and there hasn't been one scrimmage and probably won't be any.

For the most part, the Blues have stayed to on-ice sessions that have lasted about an hour. Outside of morning skates, they haven't practiced the power play at all.

Easy Ed - fan since 1967: Matt, I actually liked the top 4 lines from today's practice you put up. The Joseph-Schenn-Kappy line looks a bit wierd, by Kappy has played will in the bit I've watched on the intractable Victory+ network, and the line has speed on the wings and Schenner, so good D for a third line. Also, line 2, splitting up 18-25, giving the top 3 so far with 18, and giving Buchy some O with 2-way Texier, who's played well, and 25, who's dangerous. Good 2/3 D on that line.

Matthew DeFranks: It was a line blender practice for sure. A bit early for blending season, but here we are.

Dave Lowry: Do you view Texier, Halloway, and Joseph as top 9 players? If so, I can’t see how Bolduc makes this lineup. Army has been pretty adamant that Bolduc has to be in the top 6 at the NHL level to play here. I’d prefer Saad and Schenn on the third line. That leaves Buch, Jake, Kyrou, and Thomas locked in the top 4. 2 spots open.

Matthew DeFranks: I think all of Texier, Holloway, Joseph, Toropchenko and Kapanen will be moving all over the lineup through different parts of the season. There are differences among them, sure, but for the most part, a lot of their core skills are similar: speed, forechecking, touch of skill.

I also think that if the Blues are going to eventually return to contention, building three scoring lines will be a big help, and we can stop thinking of guys being limited to just being labeled "top-six" guys.

AL: I'm not sure who said it, but I would agree that Kyrou and Thomas should be split up. Both players become way too deferential when they play together and both are much more effective when they are aggresive.

Matthew DeFranks: I am of the camp that the Blues should at least look at loading up the top line with Buchnevich-Thomas-Kyrou. When they're on, they are as dynamic as can be. Given what the Blues think they added below them, why wouldn't they want to at least give that a shot and see if the depth can hold up even a little bit?

AL: How likely do you think it is that Pavel starts the season at C? Have we seen Texier at C at all so far? I thought he was a C in Columbus?

Matthew DeFranks: He hasn't been at wing for a single practice or game, so the Blues will start Buchnevich at center.

Texier was a wing in Columbus with the ability to also play center. I don't think we'll see much of that this year in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ.

Matt L: Any updates on Sundqvist’s timeline recently?

Matthew DeFranks: He's been on the ice every day during training camp, but he has stayed out of contact drills. He's still not expected to play in the preseason, and Bannister basically said "we have to wait for the doctors to give the OK," and I think that's based on a certain date.

It looks like the Blues have been planning like he's not going to be playing in Seattle, but we know things can change there. Sundqvist himself wants to wait until he's fully back to talk about his recovery process.

Easy Ed - fan since 1967: Well, Matt, I've lost you on the Post's high-tech masterpiece here. The paper didn't have Doonesbury, the best cartoon of all, for many decades, they finally get it, and they changed all the comics and dump it for kiddie stuff. Probably a money thing. There was a good single toon for adults in the old group, and that's gone, too. Any chance of your passing along this complaint? Thanks. Go Blues!

Matthew DeFranks: I had no idea. I'll try to figure out who to alert.

Blueliners Alumni: Lots of good discussion on here today about how this season goes. Seems like a good start will be crucial, so the pre-season woes is worrisome.

Matthew DeFranks: Something to note, sure, but it's not always an even correlation between preseason results and regular season success.

Sctdog: If you can help by adding some perspective to some of the comments I have heard from Blues connected media. Each year going into a new season there always seems to be a bit of hype and then the real games are played. I have heard this is a tough roster for a forward or D to make, but you have two guys who were bought out and had been pushed down the line up at their previous teams. You have a guy traded for a 4th on a modest contract from bottom dwelling Columbus who is now a candidate for the top 6, and a few perpetual prospects fighting for the team, is this really a tough line up to make if you’re a legit playoff team?

Matthew DeFranks: There were a lot of bodies that were going to make it difficult to wade through, and rise up. But I've mentioned before that it wasn't like a prospect was truly being blocked. If they couldn't beat out Kapanen or Walker or Sundqvist for a job, they didn't deserve it. If they couldn't push Schenn or Saad down to the third line, they didn't deserve a spot in the top two lines.

The Blues also thought this would breed competition, and that hasn't really happened consistently. No one is grabbing a job.

Sctdog: Are there any prospects still with the team or recently sent down that look like potential top 6 F or top 4 D? I know Dvorsky and Bolduc are expected to be in the top 6 but I am thinking more about a surprise like a Robertsson, or someone on D. Many of these guys are 2-4 rounders and it’s a real gem if they move higher up the lineup. I’m not asking about the Snuggy/Lidstein/etc who weren’t in the camp.

Matthew DeFranks: Maybe Buchinger if he progresses well. The Blues have given him the Vince Dunn comp, and would be overjoyed if he lives up to that. Robertsson, Kaskimaki, Peterson, Dean all strike me as middle-of-the-lineup players.

Eric: I know it is the preseason, but I did have some concerns after watching the game in person last night. Honestly, I hate to say it, but not much was different from last season. Forecheck was non-existent, puck possession wasn't there, lot of turnovers. I know the final NHL group wasn't there and it is a preseason game, but obviously Bannister is concerned and has expressed concern all preseason. Is this line-blender of a practice kind of a last ditch effort to get something else out of these group before the season starts?

Matthew DeFranks: Bannister has said he's been happy with the way that the Blues have practiced, so not sure if he really needed to do something like that to get better practice results. We'll just have to wait and see what it looks like in games.

Matt K: You mentioned earlier that the Blues have not practiced the power play at all yet. This seems odd, especially since special teams were a major issue last year. Knowing how important special teams are to winning, why would they not practice at all? Is that normal in pre-season until the bodies clear out?

Matthew DeFranks: It's usually around this time of camp, when it's around 30 bodies that you'll see full special teams practices. 5v4, 5v3, 4v3, 6v5

All situational stuff once you're down to one group and ready to give those units a chance to work together. I asked Bannister a couple days ago when we would see power play practices, and he mentioned it would come across the next few days. So far, it's just been yesterday's morning skate, and probably tomorrow's morning skate, too.

STCBluesFan: MD thanks for the chat. Really liked what I saw out of Texier Saturday night. Good vision, skates well, will shoot, and reminds me of O'Reilly with how well he keeps the puck on his stick. On the other end Faska showed me nothing. He looked slow, out place, uninvolved. Why waste a roster spot when we all know the game is faster on a slower vet who really does look like he wants to be here?

Matthew DeFranks: Faksa is an ideal fit on the fourth line, even if his cap figure is a little high. He did love being in Dallas, but I think he likes that he's wanted in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ and wanted in a role that he's familiar with. With the Stars, his ice time dwindled, he was scratched in the playoffs. Here, he'll probably be a key part of the penalty kill and will be counted on to win late-game draws.

Also, have you seen the rest of the Blues' centers? It's not a perfect option, but the alternatives aren't high-end either.

Texier has shown well in the two home games I've seen in person. I think he'll be bouncing up and down the lineup all year, so I'm sure we'll see a decent amount of him.

STCBluesFan: I'd rather a young hungry center who wants to stay up with the club over a over priced veteran who really doesn't seem like he wants to be here. SPEED. It is what the game is now. I mean look at Saad, he seemed to be struggling trying to keep up at times last year and didn't exactly have the afterburners ignited Saturday night.

Matthew DeFranks: I get your point. I'm just saying that it's not like he doesn't want to be here. He asked out of Dallas.

That'll be all for today. Thanks for stopping by. Have a good day and rest of the week. See you next week.

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The calendar says October, and just barely.

But the date did little to temper Blues coach Drew Bannister’s disappointment following his team’s 3-1 preseason loss to Columbus on Tuesday night. The loss dropped 50�Ȼ���Ƶ to 1-4-0 in the preseason, with two games remaining.

“You’ve got to take a step back (and look at the date), but at the end of the day, we have to get ourselves going,” Bannister said. “This isn’t the way that you’re going to have success starting the season if you think you’re just going to turn it on when the season starts. We have to get ourselves up to speed here and quickly.”

This is not the first time this preseason that Bannister has been unhappy with his team’s play, even if they haven’t iced their entire projected NHL lineup yet. After an 0-3 start to the preseason, Bannister thought the Blues were easing into games, and that they were being outcompeted. Throughout the almost two-week old preseason, Bannister has harped on some of the bad habits that the Blues have carried into the exhibition season.

On Tuesday, the Blues were outshot 35-23 against the Blue Jackets and their only goal came on a second-period power play. In five preseason games, the Blues have scored eight total goals, and one of those was Utah putting the puck into its own net.

50�Ȼ���Ƶ picked up its lone preseason win on Saturday against Chicago, when the Blues erased a two-goal, third-period deficit to beat the Blackhawks in overtime.

“It’s disappointing,” Bannister said. “I thought we took a step forward last game in the way we played, especially in the last 40 minutes. I thought tonight we took a step backwards. We didn’t drive enough plays. We didn’t force ourselves to get into the fight.

“I thought it seemed like we were looking for an easy game and there are no easy games regardless of the competition or what part of the season, preseason or regular season. We’re a week away from starting the season and it didn’t look that way tonight.”

Justin Faulk had the only goal of the game for the Blues, ripping a one-timer on the power play. Yegor Chinakhov (power play), Gavin Brindley and Mathieu Olivier (empty-net) scored for the Blue Jackets.

Joel Hofer made 32 saves in his first complete game of the preseason.

Tuesday was a game that could have served as a differentiator for some of the Blues players on the fringe of the NHL roster. Scott Perunovich, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Tyler Tucker were all in the lineup, as were Zach Dean and Kasperi Kapanen. But Bannister wasn’t quite ready to assess the play of his young defenseman after the game, nor could he pull out anything he liked about Tuesday’s performance.

“It’s lack of execution,” Bannister said. “I think we’re a much faster team, but we looked slow tonight. We moved the puck slow, we didn’t support each other. There were a lot of things that went into play for our overall game. … They outworked us. They came to work and we weren’t ready to work.”

The Blues technically have two more preseason games remaining before they open the regular season on Tuesday in Seattle. But in actuality, Thursday against Dallas could be the last time 50�Ȼ���Ƶ sees their NHL roster on the ice before facing the Kraken. Many NHL teams opt to dress a more AHL-tinted lineup in the final preseason game, which will come Saturday in Milwaukee against the Blackhawks.

“It’s got to start with us (being) willing to work and compete,” Bannister said. “Everything else will fall into place.”

Bannister has said multiple times that he likes the way the Blues are practicing, but that hasn’t overflowed into the games so far. The Devils (1-5-0) and Kraken (1-3-1) are the only other NHL teams with only one win in at least five preseason games.

“We’ll continue to push our guys in practice until we see that translate to our games,” Bannister said. “That’s the only way to do it. We’ll continue to compete and we’ll continue to work. We’ve got to see results on the ice in games. You don’t get any points in practice, so we need to come out and play and be ready to play for the games.”

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

One of many young additions, Pierre-Olivier Joseph has hopes of long tenure in 50�Ȼ���Ƶ

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Blues cut prospect Dalibor Dvorsky, 13 others from training camp roster

• Matthew DeFranks

50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues

Down to one practice group, Blues provide potential preview of opening day lineup

• Matthew DeFranks

Photos: 50�Ȼ���Ƶ Blues fall 3-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets