Servings of Crow

[TAFKAP]

I knew Monty was the guy when Doug waited until the Bruins made it to the second round to extend Bannister. I may have been wrong about Bannister being Davis Payne 2.0, I guess we'll find out if he gets behind an NHL bench again. I have to admit I thought they were done when 55 went down. I'm just glad to watch this team play the way they are playing and coming here and it not being a troll bashfest on anyone who has anything good to say. It's fun to be here again.


LET'S
GO
BLUUUUUUUUUUESSSSS!

[wiscrev]

Eagerly awaiting rollin and the other trolls to respond.

Eagerly? I can do without those Karens.

[Army's Mom]

With the Blues playing some of their most entertaining hockey since the Cup run, I thought those of us who came into the year all doom and gloom might enjoy our crow communal style. So, admit one thing you were pessimistic about that the Blues proved you wrong on. Misery loves company, and I've sure been wrong enough to be miserable

Here are some of mine:

When they extended Bannister, I thought there was every chance we'd see a better coach become available and Army would miss out. WRONG.

I thought Schenn would be lucky to push 15 goals and 30 pts. WRONG.

I thought Kyrou would top out as a minus player full of empty calorie goals. WRONG.

Heading into 4 nations, I thought Binner would wet the bed. WRONG.

When Broberg got hurt after his hot start, I thought he'd cone back resembling the tweener who struggled to find ice time in Edmonton. WRONG.

...And when Army said this was a playoff caliber team, I laughed and penciled them in for another top 10 pick. WRONG.

Anyone else? I KNOW I wasn't the only one all gloomy at the start.

I'm probably the only one who predicted that if everything went right, this team had the talent to take 3rd in the division.

However, this is all WAY PREMATURE. They haven't win d*ck yet and I refuse to believe they will until if and when they clnch a playoff spot.

So hold the crow because if there's an epic collapse, all this thread will do is attract the carrion buzzards like flies to a corpse.

I get the skepticism. But even if they fail to make the playoffs, this has still been an improvement - which almost as important to me (given that it's a retool):

1. Improved coach. The Blues haven't been able to reach this level of play for this long since the Cup run. They are consistently out-chancing opponents over the last six weeks. That bodes well for next year, when they should make good on your "top 3 in the division" prediction.

2. Improved experience/development. Kyrou, Holloway, Neighbours, Bolduc, Broberg, Parayko, and Tucker have all leveled up this year. Schenn looks revitalized.

3. Improved style of play. They're so much more fun to watch now, and it's not just because they're winning. They're playing faster, making more plays in transition and forechecking aggressively when they don't.

I'm enjoying the ride. Even if it doesn't end the way I want it to, I can be grateful they're can't miss viewing for me again.

Oh I'm more than enjoying it! But I'm also superstitious to my core. This is exactly what I'd hoped to see at some point this season just hope they can keep it going.

(bleep) straight! I thought long and hard about creating this thread and jinxing the team - so I feel the superstitious bit!

[dhsux]

I thought Walker was JAG who would only be effective on a part time basis, not the true 4th liner that he is.

I thought Suter was a waste of a signing

I like Walker, but he IS a JAG. Guys like him are a dime a dozen and can pretty much be found on any roster. I liked the Suter signing as he came cheap, but I envisioned him more as a 6-7 depth guy. Injuries and ineffective play thrust him into a much bigger role and, fortunately, he’s responded in a big way. I hope the Blues can find some rest for him before the playoffs start.

It's clear to me you don't understand huge pieces of why they are playing winning hockey.

[SRV1990]

Eagerly awaiting rollin and the other trolls to respond.

Eagerly? I can do without those Karens.

Highly unlikely any of those gutless pansies respond.

[dhsux]

With the Blues playing some of their most entertaining hockey since the Cup run, I thought those of us who came into the year all doom and gloom might enjoy our crow communal style. So, admit one thing you were pessimistic about that the Blues proved you wrong on. Misery loves company, and I've sure been wrong enough to be miserable

Here are some of mine:

When they extended Bannister, I thought there was every chance we'd see a better coach become available and Army would miss out. WRONG.

I thought Schenn would be lucky to push 15 goals and 30 pts. WRONG.

I thought Kyrou would top out as a minus player full of empty calorie goals. WRONG.

Heading into 4 nations, I thought Binner would wet the bed. WRONG.

When Broberg got hurt after his hot start, I thought he'd cone back resembling the tweener who struggled to find ice time in Edmonton. WRONG.

...And when Army said this was a playoff caliber team, I laughed and penciled them in for another top 10 pick. WRONG.

Anyone else? I KNOW I wasn't the only one all gloomy at the start.

I'm probably the only one who predicted that if everything went right, this team had the talent to take 3rd in the division.

However, this is all WAY PREMATURE. They haven't win d*ck yet and I refuse to believe they will until if and when they clnch a playoff spot.

So hold the crow because if there's an epic collapse, all this thread will do is attract the carrion buzzards like flies to a corpse.

I had them at 98 points. A few others did too. The board was 50/50 on making play offs and as you say, that question is still not resolved.

The buzzards will always find a way to seek the attention they need.

They have zero to do with hockey.

[11WSChamps]

I don't remember handing out any specifics other than believing the team couldn't score enough goals and didn't have a good enough pp to make the playoffs.

I did remain confident in Binnington regardless how the team played offensively.

Wasn't down on him but prior to the injury I thought parayko was our MVP and wouldn't have thought that when the season started.

[skilles]

I can say the Blues are about where I thought they would be but the journey to get there has been a little wild.

[StLouis-4Life2]

I thought the Blues wouldn't get Monty till next year. I thought Holloway would be a decent third liner. I thought schenn was done at center and needed to be a winger. I thought Thomas and Kyrou needed to play well together for the Blues to possibly make the playoffs. I thought Kyrou would be a minus player or maybe a slightly plus player. I thought Bolduc would have played more on the first or second line and finish with 23-25 goals. I figured we would see snuggles later in the year for sure and I thought we would see dvorsky right after 4 nations. I thought Leddy had played his last game as a blue already. So yeah, I was wrong on a few things

[Red7]

I thought Walker was JAG who would only be effective on a part time basis, not the true 4th liner that he is.

I thought Suter was a waste of a signing

I like Walker, but he IS a JAG. Guys like him are a dime a dozen and can pretty much be found on any roster. I liked the Suter signing as he came cheap, but I envisioned him more as a 6-7 depth guy. Injuries and ineffective play thrust him into a much bigger role and, fortunately, he’s responded in a big way. I hope the Blues can find some rest for him before the playoffs start.

It's clear to me you don't understand huge pieces of why they are playing winning hockey.

There are any number of guys in the league that do what Walker does. There’s no question Suter has outplayed his signing. And, yes, it’s a big reason why the Blues are winning. But, please, don’t try and sell the Blues have something special in these guys.

[dhsux]

I thought Walker was JAG who would only be effective on a part time basis, not the true 4th liner that he is.

I thought Suter was a waste of a signing

I like Walker, but he IS a JAG. Guys like him are a dime a dozen and can pretty much be found on any roster. I liked the Suter signing as he came cheap, but I envisioned him more as a 6-7 depth guy. Injuries and ineffective play thrust him into a much bigger role and, fortunately, he’s responded in a big way. I hope the Blues can find some rest for him before the playoffs start.

It's clear to me you don't understand huge pieces of why they are playing winning hockey.

There are any number of guys in the league that do what Walker does. There’s no question Suter has outplayed his signing. And, yes, it’s a big reason why the Blues are winning. But, please, don’t try and sell the Blues have something special in these guys.

I'll say it again.

You haven't a clue what's going on with this team and their cohesive play and playing for each other.

Not a clue.

[Bluesfan1978]

I didn’t think Bannister would be fired this year.
I definitely didn’t think they would fire Bannister to hire Montgomery even though others were putting the idea out there.
The two players I’ll eat the most crow in are Tucker and Walker. I love what Walker brings but thought at best he should be an extra forward playing 40-50 games a year. No players like that and the chemistry that’s currently there aren’t easy to replace.
I felt the same about Tucker. Actually I thought he should be about 8 in the depth chart. If he lasts as a number 6 than that’s a win for him and the Blues.
Kyrou is more committed to defence this year that I thought he would be. He also looks like he’s maturing some physically which to me I thought he looked the same every year prior. Hope he keeps improving in this area.
Suter is playing better than I thought.
Broberg and Holloway have exceeded what I was hoping they would become during their two year contract.
Bolduc is also exceeding what I thought he would do this year.
Lastly: last night I would have bet that the Blues would have lost to Montreal. They seem to struggle with them the last few years and I thought after winning 6 they would be due for a loss. A 6-1 game is a statement from the team. Also to score on the PP with just a few mins to go while leading 5-1 shows this team means business. No idea if they will make the playoffs or not but I do know they definitely have something to build on from this year.

[a smell of green grass]

I predicted this outcome! This is the page 1 recipe from the Army cookbook.

Mediocre during the regular season. No real contender.

Win big in the last month to obliterate our draft position.

Barely make the playoffs, or not.

If they make the playoffs, get humiliated.

Draft Adam Jiricek #2.

I'll eat crow if they win more than 1 in the playoffs.

[ShakeyWalton]

I predicted this outcome! This is the page 1 recipe from the Army cookbook.

Mediocre during the regular season. No real contender.

Win big in the last month to obliterate our draft position.

Barely make the playoffs, or not.

If they make the playoffs, get humiliated.

Draft Adam Jiricek #2.

I'll eat crow if they win more than 1 in the playoffs.

What in the hell makes you think this team wouldn't compete heavily in the PO the way they are rolling right now?

[a smell of green grass]

I predicted this outcome! This is the page 1 recipe from the Army cookbook.

Mediocre during the regular season. No real contender.

Win big in the last month to obliterate our draft position.

Barely make the playoffs, or not.

If they make the playoffs, get humiliated.

Draft Adam Jiricek #2.

I'll eat crow if they win more than 1 in the playoffs.

What in the hell makes you think this team wouldn't compete heavily in the PO the way they are rolling right now?

History tends to repeat.

[Bacchk29]

I thought 12th in the conference. Fowler was a waste of a trade. Forward group as a whole not talented enough to compete for a playoff spot. Pretty much I was spot on until one game after the break. Somehow a switch flipped. It’s a pleasant surprise to see puck battles being won up and down the lineup. Club finally found someone with enough speed to play with Kyrou (Holloway).