On the fifth day of training camp, the Blues presented a first look at what could be molded into an NHL lineup on opening night in less than three weeks.
During practice Tuesday morning, the Blues ran out forward lines and defensive pairings that could — with some slight adjustments — become the ones that face the Wild on Oct. 9. Here were the NHL-relevant combinations:
Pavel Buchnevich — Robert Thomas — Jimmy Snuggerud
Dylan Holloway — Pius Suter — Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours — Brayden Schenn — Mathieu Joseph
Alexandre Texier — Nick Bjugstad — Justin Carbonneau
Alexey Toropchenko — Oskar Sundqvist — Nathan Walker
Milan Lucic — Dalibor Dvorsky — Otto Stenberg
Cam Fowler — Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg — Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker — Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein — Matthew Kessel
“We want to put guys back together that have played together before or see some guys that are new with other players that have been here,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “That was a little bit (of the thinking) behind it. We’re starting to get people together that we think might be part of our lineup.”
Previously in training camp, the Blues mixed and matched their lines and pairs. On the first two days of camp, they placed a young prospect with two veterans in order to give them an opportunity to show themselves and also to ask experienced players to elevate others. Then came jumbled groups due to preseason games on Saturday in Dallas and Sunday in Columbus and an off-day Monday.
Tuesday offered a look into the ongoing battles in training camp.
The biggest one is the race for the final spot in the bottom six, notably on the wing of the third line, which could impact what happens on the fourth line, of course.
The Blues used newcomer Pius Suter as the second-line center between Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou, pushing captain Brayden Schenn to third-line duty.
It was Jake Neighbours’ first day back skating with the club after missing the first three days due to personal reasons, and he took his position on Schenn’s wing. That Mathieu Joseph was the player that joined them was a mild surprise.
“I think his habits and his details have been better,” Montgomery said of Joseph. “He’s really made an effort to be really good with his stick on the forecheck, his stick in the D-zone, in tracking situations. He’s playing fast. He’s hitting holes with his speed, which is always very noticeable. But now he’s having time and space with the puck because of those things.”
If the fourth line ends up as it was in practice, with Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker flanking Oskar Sundqvist, that leaves Nick Bjugstad without a home. He could be an easy fit at right wing on the third line, even if he has played exclusively center during training camp.
The three recent first-round forwards (Justin Carbonneau, Dalibor Dvorsky and Otto Stenberg) remain in notable positions to battle for a roster spot, though it might appear that Carbonneau could be more highly regarded at this moment as at least one player on his line (Bjugstad) is guaranteed to be in the NHL this fall.
“We have a lot of guys,” Montgomery said. “Camp is only five days going or six days going. We have a lot of days left here before (the regular season). Everyone’s going to be moved around here, right wing and center, and seeing different people with different combinations.”
On the back end, the defense unfurled as anticipated on Tuesday morning.
The top pair of Cam Fowler and Colton Parayko remained steady, as did the second pair of Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk. Tyler Tucker and Logan Mailloux formed a new third pair that should be physical and balanced between Tucker’s defensive skills and Mailloux’s offensive ones.
Lucic leaves practice early
Forward Milan Lucic, trying to earn an NHL contract in St. Louis, left the ice early during the late group on Tuesday. Montgomery said Lucic tweaked his groin on a rut in the ice and is 50-50 to participate in practice on Wednesday.
When Lucic was first injured, he whacked his stick on the top of the boards in front of the bench in frustration.
If the injury hampers Lucic throughout the remainder of camp, it will hurt his chances of making the team. The 37-year-old winger has not played professionally in almost two years.
AHL-contracted forward Matthew Peca was not on the ice for practice Tuesday after getting injured late in Sunday’s practice. Montgomery said he was also 50-50 to practice on Wednesday.
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Matthew DeFranks | Post-Dispatch
Hockey reporter
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