10-3-3 in last 16 ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!?!

[LewisL]

I have a lot of respect for some of the posters who were hoping for a losing streak to garner a top 10 pick. I didn’t necessarily agree with them, but I understood their points. My concern with them losing, though, was that likely meant our young guys were failing and I thought that was a bad precedent.

Yes, Schenn, Buch, Faulk and Binny have been better, but so too have Thomas, Neighbours, Toropchenko, Tucker, and Bolduc. And Holloway and Kyrou have continued their top end play. These games mean something and the young guys have risen to the challenge. That you have your future core playing this well, at this time, may actually provide more impact in the future than the guy you could have drafted four or five slots higher this Sunner. We’ll see.

It's scary.
Once you invite a losing culture into a locker room (because you choose to tank).....it can be a very long time before that culture changes back to winning.
Just ask the Sabres. That team is super talented....but they have NO IDEA what it takes to win.

The players and coaches never tank, they’re playing/coaching for their jobs, it’s the front office that takes away their guns and leaves them with pocketknives. It is tough to get over that hump the first time though, I’ll agree with that.

Agree about the players & the coach. Here's the ugly part about tanking or hoping to lose to improve draft position. In that situation the players know that the ownership & the GM want them to play hard, give it their best effort, show what they have, etc. but hope their efforts result in a loss. You can say that players know it's a business & they should look past that, but like Bubble said, you're inviting a losing culture.

I also feel that allowing players to gain playoff experience might benefit the franchise more than a draft position.

[bluesXwinXtheXcup]

Also don't look now, but we are the only team in the Western Conference outside of the top 6 that doesn't have a negative goal differential.

I noticed the same thing.

To me, this means we are the 8th team, if not 7th.

But we'll see....

[netboy65]

Big game tonight, Calgary at Toronto

Also would be fun if LA beat Minn, I’d like to see how they handle some pressure

[MikoTython]

THG thinks the Blues, based upon remaining schedule, have the inside track for the last PO spot :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6oDRyYJt8

[Harry York 37]

If you followed the Stanley Cup Finals and paid attention, you remember two players who were thrust into big minutes considering their NHL experience ( or lack thereof).And you saw them both put on big boy skates and play very, very solid hockey in the most challenging, hard-fought, and important seven games of the entire NHL Season.
When DA made the offer sheets, it seemed unreal that the Blues might steal these kids, who looked like stars in the making.I don’t follow cap situations- they bore me to death- I watch the teams and their players and how they play the Game. I was paranoid that the Oilers would match. I couldn’t imagine they could let them both go. I tempered my expectations that we might steal one of them.
Armstrong’s played it like a Grand Master and both became members of the 2024/25 AND the 2025/2026 St Louis Blues.
I was astonished.
There were fans who didn’t pay deep attention to the Finals, who somehow missed the incredible promise they displayed. They spoke of their youth limited experience. Jeebus- sure it was a small sample size… but isn’t was THE most challenging sample size in the Ice Hockey World. Watching Holloway’s guts and heart, and his speed and offensive gifts made me a huge fan. He had one bad game out of the seven- most of the Oilers had at least that many. The next game he showed up with a vengeance.Broberg put on a few end to end rushes that were stunning, and played great defense.
It was like Christmas in late August for our beloved Blues.

Then the season began.
Krug stopped playing hurt, which meant he stopped playing. Broberg more than picked up the slack was one of the best Defensemen in the league until he got hurt.Holloway had a bit of a slower start because of the glut of new forwards.
The biggest three monpments of the season were,in my opinion-

Waiving Saad. He was a shining example of not playing hard every shift for his teammates.if he had, he would still be here and might be leading the team in goals.

Hiring Monty- he brought a seasoned hand and a stellar record. This team needed both and they needed structure, confidence, and stability. The got ( my apologies) the full goddanged Monty.

Adding Cam Fowler, a smooth, calm, seasoned, and veteran defender was …another goddanged Grand Master play by Armstrong.
Now, our Defense was was and savvy enough to play as a five man unit with the Forwards. This, was the final piece of the puzzle.
We began rolling out five man units that play hard offensive hockey every single shift.
We are “relentless” and the boys are having incredible fun being thataway. They see it working and they believe….

However this plays out, I have seen few seasons of Blues Hockey when where I have been more entertained.
At least to this point.

Let’s go Blues!

[Harry York 37]

If you followed the Stanley Cup Finals and paid attention, you remember two players who were thrust into big minutes considering their NHL experience ( or lack thereof).And you saw them both put on big boy skates and play very, very solid hockey in the most challenging, hard-fought, and important seven games of the entire NHL Season.
When DA made the offer sheets, it seemed unreal that the Blues might steal these kids, who looked like stars in the making.I don’t follow cap situations- they bore me to death- I watch the teams and their players and how they play the Game. I was paranoid that the Oilers would match. I couldn’t imagine they could let them both go. I tempered my expectations that we might steal one of them.
Armstrong’s played it like a Grand Master and both became members of the 2024/25 AND the 2025/2026 St Louis Blues.
I was astonished.
There were fans who didn’t pay deep attention to the Finals, who somehow missed the incredible promise they displayed. They spoke of their youth and limited experience. Jeebus- sure it was a small sample size… but it was THE most challenging sample size in the Ice Hockey World. Watching Holloway’s guts and heart, and his speed and offensive gifts made me a huge fan. He had one bad game out of the seven- most of the Oilers had at least that many. The next game he showed up with a vengeance.Broberg put on a few end to end rushes that were stunning, and played great defense.
It was like Christmas in late August for our beloved Blues.

Then the season began.
Krug stopped playing hurt, which meant he stopped playing. Broberg more than picked up the slack was one of the best Defensemen in the league until he got hurt.Holloway had a bit of a slower start because of the glut of new forwards.


The biggest three moments of the season were,in my opinion-

Waiving Saad. He was a shining example of not playing hard every shift for his teammates. If he had, he would still be here and might be leading the team in goals.

Hiring Monty- he brought a seasoned hand and a stellar record. This team needed both and they needed structure, confidence, and stability. The got ( my apologies) the full goddanged Monty.

Adding Cam Fowler, a smooth, calm, seasoned, and veteran defender was …another goddanged Grand Master play by Armstrong.
Now, our Defense was was fast and savvy enough to play as a five man unit with the Forwards. This, was the final piece of the puzzle.
We began rolling out five man units that play hard offensive hockey every single shift. We knew that we always had a smooth-skating fourth forward anytime we needed it, and our D Men knew that our forwards were aware- as a five man unit must be aware-be- of how to cover for their routine and devastating rushes to join or even lead the play.
That started to gel before the Tournament, and I think the team was so shocked and surprised at how well it worked that it took until the break and the three solid and I pressured practices for them to feel comfortable with this new style.
We are “relentless” and the boys are in an incredible high right now as they enjoy their mastery of it.

However this plays out, I have seen few seasons of Blues Hockey when where I have been more entertained.
At least to this point.

Let’s go Blues!

[Harry York 37]

Sorry for the double post.
The PD’s website is very wonky.

[We Want Tacos]

IMG_2024.JPG (243.89 KiB) Viewed 1021 times

[Bacchk29]

IMG_2024.JPG

Fantastic!

[fish]

We’re going to be out of town for a few games and we would normally find a way to tune into the games if had a chance, now we are going to have to plan on it.
Also, hats off to the best captain we have had in awhile. I grew up with Brian Sutter as captain so he is the bar I measure against.

[callitwhatyouwant]

the game tonight is interesting. Nashville has always seemed like a it bills itself as a rivalry game. I know this nashville squad is playing way different than last years, but our record is 5-5 in our last 10 against them. Hopefully they have all but given up and the U2 phenomenon last year was literally just that. The Blues could use 3 soft ones vs the preds over this stretch.

The more likely scenario, is that preds treat this as their last real games of the season since they have 3 games in 9 days. These matchups always get chippy because people get annoyed of each other. Highly doubt they are layups.

The neutral goal differential is the most exciting thing this team has going ATM. Usually that spells playoffs. Hopefully we can finish on the right side of that thing by the end of the year.

Monty also said something interesting, since the New Year, he believes the Blues have a top 4 power play. Would be interesting to get that data.

[aslord]

14 games left. They can maybe afford to lose 2 of them. 3 max, but I wouldn't risk it. Possible, if unlikely.

[TheJackBurton]

14 games left. They can maybe afford to lose 2 of them. 3 max, but I wouldn't risk it. Possible, if unlikely.

Well they certainly aren't going 14-0

10-4 is a very possible scenario.

It also very likely, especially with goal differentials, that both Vancouver and Calgary with their current schedules don't go .500.

The big issue will be the 3 point game, the more they lose in regulation the better.

[Blues Dave]

It's definitely more fun now. Lots of things happening better. Faster passes (short or long). Accuracy. And someone seems to have told Tucker to shoot all he wants to. I thought our boys were a better team than some folks thought they were. Now that they are playing like it, it's easier to believe.

[blues2112]

Last night, as entertaining of a regular-season game as you could get. Near goals, great saves.

As much as I've yelled at the TV in a while!

[zamadoo]

It's definitely more fun now. Lots of things happening better. Faster passes (short or long). Accuracy. And someone seems to have told Tucker to shoot all he wants to. I thought our boys were a better team than some folks thought they were. Now that they are playing like it, it's easier to believe.

+1 on all fronts

I remember hearing about Tucker's shot since he was in Jrs, then he displayed it two years ago in the first couple games of the season... It just seems like he just gets shots on goal. He may never be an everyday player, but he's clutch and is diverse in what he brings and is a big part of this team right now.