As the St. Louis Blues construct their roster to start the new season, they will have choices to make on the bottom-six lines. There are multiple players who could take on the roles.
Analyzing the Blues Bottom-Six Options
Bottom-Six Options: Returning Faces
Returning Face #1 Kasperi Kapanen
The Blues re-signed Kapanen on the first day of free agency. Since claiming Kapanen off waivers in 2023, the Blues have seen the good and bad from Kapenan. Eight goals in 23 games after joining the team was the good. Only scoring six goals in seventy-three games last season was the bad.
However, Kapanen was brought back to the Blues to be a depth forward. Kapanen will not be expected to be a goal scorer. Morever, Kapanen’s role will be to be a veteran presence on the bottom-six. As long as Kapanen is a reliable forward on his line, the Blues will be satisfied.
Returning Face #2: Oskar Sundqvist
Sundqvist was having a productive return to the Blues last season before an ACL injury ended his season early. Sundqvist’s availability to start the season will depend on his recovery. A typical ACL injury takes six to nine months to recover. The six-month mark will come at the start of training camp. General Manager Doug Armstrong is confident Sundqvist will be ready sooner rather than later.
If Sundqvist is ready, he could slide right into the third or fourth line centre position. He has been such a reliable centre in his career that is almost a guarantee he will make the top-six as long as he is healthy.
Returning Face #3 Alexey Toropchenko
Toropchenko played in all 82 games last season for the first time in his career. Furthermore, the young winger scored a career-high 14 goals. The sample size is small, but it seems Toropchenko is a player who can be a reliable bottom-six forward who can help generate offence.
Toropchenko has made enough of an impression to at least get strong consideration before training camp even starts. However, the Blues did bring in some veteran faces who could challenge for the bottom-six roles. Toropchenko would benefit from a strong training camp and preseason.
Returning Face #4 Zachary Bolduc
The former first-round pick played in 25 games last season, scoring five goals. Bolduc looked comfortable at the NHL level. Bolduc is a two-time 50-goal scorer in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hokey League (QMJHL). Therefore, there is an expectation that Bolduc will one day be an elite scorer in the NHL. Until that day comes, Bolduc could be serviceable bottom-six player.
While Bolduc could make the team as a bottom-six forward, it is possible the Blues will send him to the minors to play on a top-six role. The Blues might find it is better for Bolduc’s development to get consistent minutes on a top-six group, even if it is in the minor leagues. Furthermore, the Blues brought in multiple veteran forwards, so the Blues could afford to send Bolduc down.
Returning Face #5 Zach Dean
Dean played in nine NHL games last season. He scored no goals and had no assists. Dean looked fine on the ice, but there does seem to be some room for improvement. He is a former 30-goal scorer in the QMJHL. Like Bolduc, there are expectations that Dean will be able to play a top-six role in his career.
It would be to Dean’s benefit to start the season in the minors. While he is certainly an option for the bottom-six, and the Blues will certainly give him consideration, it seems he would benefit from further development.
Returning Face #5 Nathan Walker
The former Stanley Cup Champion played in a career-high 45 games last season. At 30-years old, Walker is a seasoned veteran who has played on all lines for the Blues. His experience is something the Blues will consider when making their choice. Walker also has the ability to play physical when need be.
It is likely Walker will definitely make the team coming out of the preseason. However, the question is if he is a starter of if the Blues have him as an extra forward. Regardless, it can be assumed Walker will see a fair amount of ice time this season.
Returning Face #6 Nikita Alexandrov
Alexandrov has played in 51 NHL games in his career. The centre has a little bit of speed to his game. Furthermore, Alexandrov is a former 30-goal scorer in the QMJHL and has come close to 20 goals in the American Hockey League. At 23-years old, there is still an opportunity for Alexandrov to blossom into a goal scorer.
What happens with Alexandrov will depend on how the Blues see his future. Unlike Bolduc and Dean, Alexandrov was not drafted with the expectation of being an elite goal scorer. The Blues may want him in the minor leagues to continue to develop. Conversely, they may want him in the NHL as the player he has been so far.
Returning Face #7 Hugh McGing
McGing has played in six career games. Of all the returning faces listed, McGing is probably the least likely to make the team. However, there are multiple ways in which a door can open for McGing to make the team, such as an injury to another player.
Bottom-Six Options: New Faces
New Face #1 Radek Faksa
The Blues acquired Faksa in a trade with the Dallas Stars earlier this month. Faksa is a nine-year veteran. He has played in bottom-six roles with the Dallas Stars. In addition, Faksa has playoff experience. He helped the Stars reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2020. The Stars reached the Western Conference Final two more times with Faksa on the team. Only injury or major ineffectiveness will prevent Faksa a role on the bottom-six. Furthermore, Faksa will most likely be the team’s third-line centre.
New Face #2 Mathieu Joseph
The Blues acquired Joseph in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. Joseph has some speed but can play physical. In his career, Joseph has also spent time on the penalty kill. Furthermore, Joseph has played on a Stanley Cup champion. Joseph was on the Tampa Bay Lightning when they won back-to-back Stanley Cups and an additional appearance in 2022. Joseph’s experience can be valuable to the Blues. Like Faksa, it is likely Joseph takes one of the bottom-six roles.
New Face #3 Alexandre Texier
The Blues acquired Texier from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Furthermore, they signed him to an extension. At 24-years old, Texier still has some developing to do. However, in his career so far, he has been a two-way forward who plays physical. Also, the 2023-24 season was a career-year for Texier.
The Blues appear to be thinking long-term with Texier, hence the extension. The hope might be that Texier can be what Oskar Sundqvist was for the Blues in 2019 and what David Backes was for the Blues in his time with the team. Coming off a career season, the only question surrounding Texier’s role with the team is where he plays. If Sundqvist is not ready to start the season, Texier can slide into the fourth-line centre spot. Otherwise, Texier can play on the wing for either bottom-six line.
Projecting The Blues Bottom-Six
We will assume that Sundqvist is ready by training camp and will be ready to start the season.
Third Line
Joseph-Faksa-Kapanen
This line would combine the experience of Faksa and Joseph. Also, Kapanen’s depth presence would add stability to the line. This line would be reliable for faceoffs in the defensive zone. Furthermore, each player does have potential for an offensive spark.
Fourth Line
Texier-Sundqvist-Toropchenko
If Sundqvist is not ready, Texier could play centre and Nathan Walker joins the line on the left wing. With a pair of two-way forwards on this line, the Blues could use this line in the third period when holding a lead. Moreover, Sundqvist could be a mentor to to Texier as he continues to develop.
Healthy Scratches
The Blues will also carry at least one extra defenceman, so they will only have one or two extra forwards. Nathan Walker would certainly be one of them. Nikita Alexandrov would make the most sense to be the other one.
What Does This Bottom-Six Do For the Blues?
These line combinations will keep the Blues competitive this season. Furthermore, it will give young players like Zachary Bolduc and Zach Dean time to continue to develop in the minors. The Blues are unlikely to be contenders this year, so these line combinations balance the line between remaining competitive while also preparing for the future.
Main photo: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
