The St. Louis Blues have made a plethora of moves this summer, adding four
forwards to their group of nine through trade and free agency. In addition, the
 Blues have a number of prospects that may be prepared to make the jump to the
NHL in the 2018-19 season. The implications of this turnover have been
thoroughly and well dissected, and will continue to be until the puck drops on
opening night and beyond.

One area of the team that may have been overlooked in the excitement is the
Blues'; fourth line. A number of players formerly in the top-nine will now be
reassigned into competing for fourth line roles. Let';s take a look at who
these players might be, and whether these changes will benefit the team.A
Traditional Blues Strength

In recent memory, the Blues have always had a strong fourth line that served as
 defensive grinders and team energizers. Former head coach Ken Hitchcock, who
served as the Blues'; coach from November 2011 until February 2017, was a big
believer in the fourth line. Players like Ryan Reaves, Kyle Brodziak, and
Scottie Upshall, among others, became fixtures on that line, valued for their
experience and determination.Ryan Reaves (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Now, all of those players are gone, and the Blues are faced with the choice of
who will serve the team in those vital but overlooked roles going forward. The
players in question will need to be physical, hard-working, and defensively
responsible, if they are going to fill the skates of those that have gone
before them.Familiar Faces: Thorburn and Jaskin

The Blues have several players returning who spent some of last season on the
fourth line who could continue to do so this year. There is a year remaining on
 the contract of Chris Thorburn, the player the Blues signed in the wake of
trading Ryan Reaves to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He brings grit and a
willingness to drop the gloves, a skill that the Blues have continued to value
despite its decline in the league. Thorburn played 50 games and averaged only
7:02 in ice time last season, but still managed to collect almost two hits a
game and participate in eight fights.Blues forward Chris Thorburn (Perry
Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

Dmitrij Jaskin is another strong candidate for fourth line minutes. Jaskin
played in 76 games last year and recorded only 17 points. Even so, he was a
solid defensive player, with a plus-minus of plus-6, a plus-19 in turnover
differential, and he had a 53.9-percent Corsi-for percentage, meaning the team
controlled the puck more often than not when he was on the ice. Jaskin could
provide the steady defensive presence that a fourth line needs to succeed, and
it might be a better role for him than trying to provide depth scoring on a
higher line.

Ready to get back to work! See you soon St. Louis! ✈️

- Dmitrij Jaskin (@DmitrijJaskin) August 28, 2018

Two other players spent some significant time on the fourth line, particularly
after Kyle Brodziak moved up the roster. Oskar Sundqvist, who was something of
an afterthought in the trade that sent Ryan Reaves to Pittsburgh, played only
42 games in 2017-18, but averaged almost 10:30 TOI when he did play. He was
underwhelming and would need to bounce back to earn a consistent role this
season. Ivan Barbashev averaged over 12 minutes per game in his 53 appearances
last season. He also had a down year from his rookie season, and it';s not
certain whether he';ll be strong enough as a defensive center to lock down a
spot on the fourth line.New Arrivals: Soshnikov, Maroon & Prospects

Before moving on from Paul Stastny at the trade deadline, the Blues quietly
traded for Nikita Soshnikov, a Russian winger who had lost out on playing time
in an over-crowded Toronto system. "Nik Flair," as he';s nicknamed for his
incredible celebration after his first NHL goal, is exactly the kind of player
who could steal hearts in a fourth-line role, especially in St. Louis.Blues
forward Nikita Soshnikov (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)

Soshnikov is a blue-collar worker on the ice who is willing to sacrifice his
body despite his relatively small size (he';s averaged two hits per game across
 his career). He is defensively capable-so much so that the notoriously picky
Mike Babcock trusted him on the penalty kill-and he';s hard working. On top of
everything else, he has a pretty strong shot (as evidenced in the goal linked
above). He was beloved by many in Toronto, and if he can stay healthy (he';s
struggled with concussions in his career) he will likely become a fan favorite
in St. Louis.

Patrick Maroon is a potential player for the fourth line, too. His relatively
meager contract makes this a possibility, as does his physical skill set. With
that said, Maroon is more of a scoring threat than a traditional fourth-line
player and brings a desperately needed net-front presence. Considering that, it
 seems unlikely he';ll spend much time on the fourth line.

A few players the Blues have developed or brought in through free agency have a
 small chance of making a fourth line impact. The Blues signed Jordan Nolan,
formerly of the Buffalo Sabres, to a one-year, two-way deal. Most likely, Nolan
 will spend his season in the AHL, but if he impresses in training camp, he
could earn a fourth line role. Nolan Stevens, who stood out in college
captaining the Northeastern University squad, and Adam Musil, who struggled
some last year with the Blues'; inconsistent AHL situation, but has projected
to be a good bottom-six, two-way center, could slide into roles, but both will
probably be playing alongside Nolan in San Antonio.

Finally, the Blues might consider utilizing top prospect Robert Thomas in a
fourth-line role as he adjusts to the NHL game. He would certainly be capable
in that role: he plays a very sensible two-way game. The only question for
Thomas is whether a fourth-line assignment might be a waste of his burgeoning
talent. If he were used in that capacity, it certainly wouldn';t be for
long.Robert Thomas of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL
Images.The Blues'; Future Backbone

The Blues have a surplus of options on the fourth line, but a dearth of
certainty. Their longtime stalwarts in Kyle Brodziak and Scottie Upshall are
now departed (though recently reunited in Edmonton), leaving a significant hole
 on a line that has been a traditional strength. Mike Yeo is now tasked with
sifting through the remaining options to find the players who can form a fourth
 line that brings energy, defense, and a change-of-pace.

I believe the most likely options to fill those roles are Nikita Soshnikov,
Ivan Barbashev, and Dmitrij Jaskin. Soshnikov and Jaskin, when healthy, are
relative certainties. The center role remains somewhat up in the air, with
Barbashev and Sundqvist as strong possibilities. Robert Thomas is unlikely to
spend much time on the fourth line, if he spends any at all.Dmitrij Jaskin
(Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)

In Jaskin and Soshnikov, the Blues will find energy and defensive capability.
Those two players alone could continue the tradition of a responsible fourth
line in St. Louis, and even offer some scoring potential. While the fourth line
 for the Blues has been an afterthought all offseason, the pieces may be
falling into place to make it a strength yet again.

The post St. Louis Blues: Fourth-Line Focus appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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