MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Drew Banister wasn’t kidding when he was unhappy with another preseason performance Tuesday.

The St. Louis Blues coach was in regular-season mode Wednesday when the ranks were shuffled at practice at the Centene Community Ice Center:

There were some interesting combinations to say the least, including the fact that Kasperi Kapanen was running alongside Brayden Schenn, who was back at center after spending much of training camp on the wing, and Mathieu Joseph on the left wing and Zack, the first-round pick of 2021, dropped Bolduc out of the top six and with the extra line of Brandon Saad (baby alert duty) and Zach Dean, another 2021 first-round pick.

The separation of Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou is no surprise, but the promotion of Dylan Holloway to the top line with Thomas and Jake Neighbors and Alexandre Texier from the fourth to the second line with Pavel Buchnevich and Kyrou caused a stir.

“We were impressed with them,” Bannister said of Holloway and Texier being elevated. “Now it’s about them going up there and also making a difference and giving them a chance, but we were happy with the way they played and I think it’s important to give the players, who came in, gave those reps and those opportunities and played well.”

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There appear to be clear signs that Bannister and the Blues, less than a week before their season opener on October 8th against the Seattle Kraken, are trying to find the level and equipment needed to start the season at the right level to go. And the coach has made it clear to some that what he sees is really not what he expects.

“I think that’s what we did yesterday, trying to inject some life into our group,” Bannister said of the reshuffle he made in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets that put them up in the preseason fell behind 1:4:0. “Today is a new day and yesterday was yesterday. We put that behind us and I thought our group responded well on the ice. The guys have been working and I thought we got everything we needed done here today to prepare for tomorrow.”

There were really no surprises on defense as no one competing for roster positions on Tuesday stood out from everyone else, but it was the first game that will likely form one of the top two pairings in Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk.

“I thought Broberg seemed like a player who tried too much at times and was probably trying to impress in the first home game,” Bannister said. “I remember the Iowa game again, he was outstanding. I think there’s a lot more to it. I think for him it’s just about being comfortable and living up to the expectations that are appropriate for him. But when he’s at his best, that’s it.” Iowa, he’s a good player. But as a group we weren’t very good. He wasn’t at his best, but 95 percent of our players weren’t at their best.

The Blues will have a dress rehearsal at home against the Dallas Stars on Thursday before sending something of a minor league squad to Milwaukee for the preseason finale against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Related: The St. Louis Blues’ takeaways from a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets