What are we hoping to accomplish in the Playoffs?

[DUFF8989]

It’s going to show the young guys and the vets what the bar needs to be moving forward. They are learning there needs to be another gear and any success in the regular season means nothing.

[rezero]

We have one of the best teams in the NHL since all star break. I want to limp past Jets, get Holloway back and win it all!

[seattleblue]

but the answer to your question is that 1, 2 and 3 are all real and outweigh your approach

I think the rudeness stems from the frustration of the topic not moving anywhere.

I think my approach outweighs 1,2,3 because I know that we don't have the secret sauce yet, and the only way to get it is via the draft. As I've said before, however, I'm glad to see that some think so highly of our roster and prospect pool etc. I hope that I'm wrong.

My frankness (not rudeness) stems from the frustration of watching other cities get phenomenal superstar talent, while I don't. Maybe I retaliate too nasty, so maybe I'm related to Bolduc way back.

oh just to clarify I wasn't saying you have been rude. you haven't been at all to me. I more meant it as a generalized tone to the discussion that this seems to have been taking lately. looks like what I thought might happen in this thread is not. sweet

[STL fan in MN]

I actually somewhat agree with the OP’s main overarching point in that you usually need a superstar or two to win the Cup and that the core the Blues are building is much more likely to end up being very competitive but unlikely to be the best, the team that wins the Cup. I see the current Carolina Hurricanes as a good comp to where the Blues are likely headed - very competitive but unlikely to win the Cup as they just don’t have the top-end horses.

Is it guaranteed that’s where the Blues are going though? No. And right or wrong, the Blues are clearly not on board with a full rebuild. They’d have to trade away pretty much all of their good players to be truly awful. So given the reality we actually live in, I’m happy they made the playoffs as this will be good experience for the young players. Just about any team that wins the Cup has to struggle in the playoffs for a few years first.

[a smell of green grass]

but the answer to your question is that 1, 2 and 3 are all real and outweigh your approach

I think the rudeness stems from the frustration of the topic not moving anywhere.

I think my approach outweighs 1,2,3 because I know that we don't have the secret sauce yet, and the only way to get it is via the draft. As I've said before, however, I'm glad to see that some think so highly of our roster and prospect pool etc. I hope that I'm wrong.

My frankness (not rudeness) stems from the frustration of watching other cities get phenomenal superstar talent, while I don't. Maybe I retaliate too nasty, so maybe I'm related to Bolduc way back.

oh just to clarify I wasn't saying you have been rude. you haven't been at all to me. I more meant it as a generalized tone to the discussion that this seems to have been taking lately. looks like what I thought might happen in this thread is not. sweet

Ok, great.

This thread opened my eyes a bit. I knew that there were people who were happy with the team's progress and state, but I underestimated the level of it, and I wasn't seeing their reasons and rationale at all.

I also missed that while I'm not happy, many are very happy, and I really don't want to throw rocks at their party balloons.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

I actually somewhat agree with the OP’s main overarching point in that you usually need a superstar or two to win the Cup and that the core the Blues are building is much more likely to end up being very competitive but unlikely to be the best, the team that wins the Cup. I see the current Carolina Hurricanes as a good comp to where the Blues are likely headed - very competitive but unlikely to win the Cup as they just don’t have the top-end horses.

Is it guaranteed that’s where the Blues are going though? No. And right or wrong, the Blues are clearly not on board with a full rebuild. They’d have to trade away pretty much all of their good players to be truly awful. So given the reality we actually live in, I’m happy they made the playoffs as this will be good experience for the young players. Just about any team that wins the Cup has to struggle in the playoffs for a few years first.

Where does a team like winnipeg and their first overall. Regular season finish fit into that worldview? Granted they have not won anything yet, but a highly successful team with no superstars and certainly no one who was a lottery pick. You can just as easily make a a more compelling case that the superstar or two on the roster skews and weights yiur salary cap tha you can't fill out a team to win 4 rounds.

[a smell of green grass]

I actually somewhat agree with the OP’s main overarching point in that you usually need a superstar or two to win the Cup and that the core the Blues are building is much more likely to end up being very competitive but unlikely to be the best, the team that wins the Cup. I see the current Carolina Hurricanes as a good comp to where the Blues are likely headed - very competitive but unlikely to win the Cup as they just don’t have the top-end horses.

Is it guaranteed that’s where the Blues are going though? No. And right or wrong, the Blues are clearly not on board with a full rebuild. They’d have to trade away pretty much all of their good players to be truly awful. So given the reality we actually live in, I’m happy they made the playoffs as this will be good experience for the young players. Just about any team that wins the Cup has to struggle in the playoffs for a few years first.

Thanks for the reply. I'll try to eat more walleyes so that I can think this clearly too.

[Bluesfan1978]

I love the Blues approach. Will it result in a cup? No idea.
But looking at current prospects and how the team played at times this year it’s very encouraging. Especially if Bolduc, Neighbors, Snuggy, Holloway etc keep improving.
If the team keeps drafting and developing how they have the last 10 years they will have the assets to upgrade a couple top 6 forwards or top 4 D in the future for players like an Eichel or Chychrun type players. I look at the current team and think their top line may not get any better but I can see how this team can improve every other line in the future. I can also see easily how the bottom pair of D improves Dramatically in the coming years. Broberg, Lindstein, Fisher, Ralph, Burns should be able to produce a strong left D with maybe extra for a trade. Exciting times as this year has showed me this team has improved drastically from last year.

[TBone]

For the folks that are extra happy to be in the playoffs, I'm curious to know what you want to achieve from it.

I don't expect to win the Cup or even this series, but I hope the main takeaway for Doug Armstrong is to evaluate who he needs to add or subtract from the core of this club to be serious contenders for another Cup starting next year. And I don't think it's much. Maybe a player or two here or there.

[STL fan in MN]

I actually somewhat agree with the OP’s main overarching point in that you usually need a superstar or two to win the Cup and that the core the Blues are building is much more likely to end up being very competitive but unlikely to be the best, the team that wins the Cup. I see the current Carolina Hurricanes as a good comp to where the Blues are likely headed - very competitive but unlikely to win the Cup as they just don’t have the top-end horses.

Is it guaranteed that’s where the Blues are going though? No. And right or wrong, the Blues are clearly not on board with a full rebuild. They’d have to trade away pretty much all of their good players to be truly awful. So given the reality we actually live in, I’m happy they made the playoffs as this will be good experience for the young players. Just about any team that wins the Cup has to struggle in the playoffs for a few years first.

Where does a team like winnipeg and their first overall. Regular season finish fit into that worldview? Granted they have not won anything yet, but a highly successful team with no superstars and certainly no one who was a lottery pick. You can just as easily make a a more compelling case that the superstar or two on the roster skews and weights yiur salary cap tha you can't fill out a team to win 4 rounds.

There’s a reason why Winnipeg, despite being the best regular season team, doesn’t have many people picking them to win the Cup. They too lack some superstar power. But what they do have is Hellebuyck. If they win the Cup it’s because Hellebuyck elevates himself to playoff superstar caliber.

[PPG]

I think Kyle Connor is very underrated- if he's not a superstar he is very close to it. Players that score 40 goals every single year don't grow on trees.

[Russdv14]

I thought it was interesting that after Binnington made really really substantial saves in the 2nd period to keep us in the game leading 3-2, you could hear the TNT announcer & color woman suddenly buy into
the mystique & folklore of Binnington the goalie who psyches out the other teams! I don’t think they are right about him, but he did provide the magic in 2019. I think the progress of Thomas & Kyrou playing separately in the big 12 game win streak has helped the Blues teammates buy into what Monty is teaching. We were one of the hot hand teams making the playoffs so frankly anything can happen. I felt great when we took the lead 3 to 2. I felt terrible seeing the demise of the play in the third period and sloppy defense. I stopped hearing the announcers say Binnington was great after their (deserved) 2nd period play. But when I look at the statistics of a team like Winnipeg. I realistically see how they win so much. They have some very very high scores so many more than us. Eventually, we hope a combination of a Holloway and Kyrou lead us deep into a playoff picture. They talk about our experienced defenseman, but that makes me wonder if we will ever get anybody to complement Parayko. We can hope Broberg continues to progress. So what are my expectations it’s wait-and-see, but if we can beat Winnipeg do well in a second series who knows what would happen. I anticipate is losing game two and the series. You never know though. The expression is” that’s why they play the games”. We really showed them in the first two periods that we can play with Winnipeg. I hope we go all the way because I am older and would love to see another Stanley Cup or at least a deep run in my lifetime.

[desertrat23]

Whether or not making the playoffs “ahead of schedule” was best for the franchise in the long term, you’re here now. The goal is to win, which is why I struggle with the “moral victory” tone I saw here yesterday. Let’s not hold these guys to any lesser standard than we would any other playoff team.

[Blue Sabbath]

Win.

But am happy they made it.

Team is a few pieces away from being a serious contender.

We probably become a serious contender through a few ways.

Younger players improving and more of them arriving on the scene and fulfilling or exceeding their present potential.

Older players maintaining their level of play before they're replaced.

New better players obtained through trades and free agency.

I'd say that team appears in '26-'27 or '27-'28. Next year is too soon imo although I admit I could be wrong. A trade at the '25 draft and a free agent signing this off-season to go along with it could do wonders though.

[JoshInFenton]

a top 5 draft picks gets you a really solid chance to get a good player

However, i can think of two organizations right now that have multiple of them in their lineup and are sitting on the sidelines still trying to get back into the big dance. So, a big prospect can help you get further, but it doesn't get you a guaranteed playoff team either.

I still think if we had failed to make the playoffs, at best we're picking 8th or 9th. Top 7 would've required us to lose 12 in a row rather than win 12 in a row. So the real question isn't "would you rather a top 5 pick" it's "would you rather a top 10 pick or a playoff birth?". I'd rather lose the 8-10 picks and have a chance to make some noise. if we had a legit chance at a top pick maybe i'd think differently.

[Unfathomable]

a top 5 draft picks gets you a really solid chance to get a good player

However, i can think of two organizations right now that have multiple of them in their lineup and are sitting on the sidelines still trying to get back into the big dance. So, a big prospect can help you get further, but it doesn't get you a guaranteed playoff team either.

I still think if we had failed to make the playoffs, at best we're picking 8th or 9th. Top 7 would've required us to lose 12 in a row rather than win 12 in a row. So the real question isn't "would you rather a top 5 pick" it's "would you rather a top 10 pick or a playoff birth?". I'd rather lose the 8-10 picks and have a chance to make some noise. if we had a legit chance at a top pick maybe i'd think differently.

I just want to know why people use examples of franchises like buffalo or even Edmonton before McDavid as the examples of organizations drafting in the top of a round I get they are or were there every year.

That speaks more to the franchise doesn't know how to develop the players they draft... which can be showm by people like Reinhart etc going on to win cups after they leave buffalo...

The blues don't have a development problem as referenced by the many successes of players in the late teens and 20s so I ask again why are so many afraid of drafting high? Worked out pretty well for Colorado sure wouldn't mind a Mackinnon or a Makar seems their development has worked out just fine

As far as what I hope to achieve in this playoff run is simply experience.. Thomas and Kyrou are learning what is going to be required of them being THE guys. The younger kids are learning about the pace of the playoffs keeping emotions in check etc all good things...

I do hope doug messes around and trades for a "star" it's going to be huge for marketing going forward with the leagues momentum and growth..

What I wouldn't do for prime hullie right now couple goals a game and 5 sound bites for Twitter every other night... this is how teams make money in today's society.