Mikkola is the real boss

[a smell of green grass]

Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.

Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.

Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.

Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?

While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.

Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.

Barbashev, and now Mikkola. I get a real charge out of seeing our draft assets making key contributions on Cup teams. I'm just happy that we at least got peanuts in return for both of them. That Army sure drafts well.

This year. Instead of guessing what prospects we will add to the prospect pipleline, let's all guess which prospect will be let go by Army, and make it to the Cup Finals on some other team.

You mean like how Colorado and Buffalo gave up on ROR for him to win a Cup as soon as he played for the Blues?

Or how LA and Philly gave up on Schenn?

Or how Toronto developed Bozak for 9 years just to see him join the Blues and win a Cup the first year he wasn’t in Toronto?

Or is it Steener Leafs fans are still mad they just gave to us?

I’m sure Pittsburgh is still lamenting not keeping Sunny.

Players change teams, bud. And you can’t keep them all. Especially when they reach UFA status (like both Barbashev and Mikkola did). Every team can play the “wish we had kept them” game.

No question that you can never keep them all.

My question is why is that we find ourselves needing young defenseman... and Mikkola is skating for a Cup in Florida.
Meanwhile, we are hiring Suter and Fowler and MORE...
The players that we KEPT when we left Mikkola go ARE OUT OF HOCKEY...

Why is that we find ourselves needing a 200 ft Forward... and Barbashev is skating for a Cup in Vegas.
Meanwhile, we are paying the guy that last touched the puck in Game 7 for 7 more years, wondering how many more Game 7s he can blow up.

We shouldn't gloss over Army's apparent mistakes with blanket statements such as "every GM does it". As always, the details and circumstances matter. Ask yourself if the players are as sign that we are gaining ground by making wise decisions, or losing ground and making poor decisions.

[a smell of green grass]

Time and time again...
When you look at why a young player didn't bloom in St Louis, the base reason is always the same.

The Blues and Doug Army want to WIN EVERY GAME IN THE CURRENT YEAR. Future, be damned. Rookie mistakes can never be tolerated.

[a smell of green grass]

Dallas let Faksa go, and he played very well for the Blues in the playoffs.

Was that a mistake by Dallas? NO! WHY? Because Dallas was OVERLOADED at the position. They kept better options, and they are set at the position for the next 5 years.

This is not what is occurring in Blues Land. NO, we let people like Mikkola go, and keep the guys that are dead ends. When there is a young player skating for another team, and you DESPERATELY WOULD LIKE THAT PLAYER TO COME BACK, that is a GM problem!!! That is the Lou Brock trade in reverse. That is an Army problem.

[moose-and-squirrel]

poor baby... no one's responding to their posts so keeps posting the same drivel... hahahaha

[a smell of green grass]

poor baby... no one's responding to their posts so keeps posting the same drivel... hahahaha

As a general rule, no one can respond to me. The truth doesn't need a reply.

All happy here.

[seattleblue]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

[a smell of green grass]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

[seattleblue]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

You have zero argument integrity. Zero. You have been told articulately by many people many times what the issues are with your arguments, but you are doing a performance. I would highly recommend regular exercise. It'll affect your brain chemistry and you will not have the impulse to do your dismal brainworm show. Exercise might help you not need to play your character.

[netboy65]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

You have zero argument integrity. Zero. You have been told articulately by many people many times what the issues are with your arguments, but you are doing a performance. I would highly recommend regular exercise. It'll affect your brain chemistry and you will not have the impulse to do your dismal brainworm show. Exercise might help you not need to play your character.

Responding is what he wants. Whether he’s an employee trying to drive clicks or he just gets jollies off it who knows. I’ve been guilty of feeding him more than I care to admit but he’ll just always move the goalposts.

[a smell of green grass]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

You have zero argument integrity. Zero. You have been told articulately by many people many times what the issues are with your arguments, but you are doing a performance. I would highly recommend regular exercise. It'll affect your brain chemistry and you will not have the impulse to do your dismal brainworm show. Exercise might help you not need to play your character.

Responding is what he wants. Whether he’s an employee trying to drive clicks or he just gets jollies off it who knows. I’ve been guilty of feeding him more than I care to admit but he’ll just always move the goalposts.

Respond or don't respond. Makes me no difference at all. I'm here to provide opinions and influence minds. If an opposite opinion arrives, it doesn't affect my argument much at all. Truth is not affected by stupid thinking.

Cheers.

[seattleblue]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

You have zero argument integrity. Zero. You have been told articulately by many people many times what the issues are with your arguments, but you are doing a performance. I would highly recommend regular exercise. It'll affect your brain chemistry and you will not have the impulse to do your dismal brainworm show. Exercise might help you not need to play your character.

Responding is what he wants. Whether he’s an employee trying to drive clicks or he just gets jollies off it who knows. I’ve been guilty of feeding him more than I care to admit but he’ll just always move the goalposts.

FWIW I think the employee theory has always been way, way out there. He's obviously more intelligent than the character he's playing, so I'm trying to separate the two, The person himself has a wound. The character is not very talented. The character has no integrity. I can understand people having wounds and he's a Blues fan so I'm inclined to give the person more grace even if I disrespect the character. Because change is only a decision away, and it's his.

[MiamiLaw]

[thegibby.]

That doesn't look overly good.

[Spyro Gyra]

That doesn't look overly good.

Looks like his shoulder took the brunt of that. Sure doesn't look good for him.

[George Zipp]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

You have zero argument integrity. Zero. You have been told articulately by many people many times what the issues are with your arguments, but you are doing a performance. I would highly recommend regular exercise. It'll affect your brain chemistry and you will not have the impulse to do your dismal brainworm show. Exercise might help you not need to play your character.

Responding is what he wants. Whether he’s an employee trying to drive clicks or he just gets jollies off it who knows. I’ve been guilty of feeding him more than I care to admit but he’ll just always move the goalposts.

FWIW I think the employee theory has always been way, way out there. He's obviously more intelligent than the character he's playing, so I'm trying to separate the two, The person himself has a wound. The character is not very talented. The character has no integrity. I can understand people having wounds and he's a Blues fan so I'm inclined to give the person more grace even if I disrespect the character. Because change is only a decision away, and it's his.

I've seen this theory bantered about over the years about trolls, clowns and attention whored being post-dispatch employees. I too think it is beyond farfetched and a silly. This board, on any random day, has what, 25 regular posters. When the team goes on a 12-game heater or wins in the playoffs, sure it goes up. On the average day what on earth does a dying newspaper board have to gain by having some dillweed post his drivel over and over. I mean at this point you occasionally give him some attention. It's no longer positive interaction though you certainly displayed the patience of a saint with it before you gave up. Once or twice a week someone will blast him with a bucket of facts that completely refute whatever it is he is trying to say (Armstrong sucks). Beyond that, he's laughed at and ignored. He's mostly talking to himself at this stage.

[a smell of green grass]

it's one thing to [shirt] everywhere, but when you're gutless and don't respond to arguments nobody respects you fwiw

FWIW
I let my argument stand next to the rebuttal, and then people can decide for themselves which argument make sense, and which is nonsense.

I 100% encourage as many replies to my comments as possible. I love it when people tell me how wrong I am. My stuff sells better when it is stocked on the same shelf next to the poor quality nonsense.

You have zero argument integrity. Zero. You have been told articulately by many people many times what the issues are with your arguments, but you are doing a performance. I would highly recommend regular exercise. It'll affect your brain chemistry and you will not have the impulse to do your dismal brainworm show. Exercise might help you not need to play your character.

Responding is what he wants. Whether he’s an employee trying to drive clicks or he just gets jollies off it who knows. I’ve been guilty of feeding him more than I care to admit but he’ll just always move the goalposts.

FWIW I think the employee theory has always been way, way out there. He's obviously more intelligent than the character he's playing, so I'm trying to separate the two, The person himself has a wound. The character is not very talented. The character has no integrity. I can understand people having wounds and he's a Blues fan so I'm inclined to give the person more grace even if I disrespect the character. Because change is only a decision away, and it's his.

I've seen this theory bantered about over the years about trolls, clowns and attention whored being post-dispatch employees. I too think it is beyond farfetched and a silly. This board, on any random day, has what, 25 regular posters. When the team goes on a 12-game heater or wins in the playoffs, sure it goes up. On the average day what on earth does a dying newspaper board have to gain by having some dillweed post his drivel over and over. I mean at this point you occasionally give him some attention. It's no longer positive interaction though you certainly displayed the patience of a saint with it before you gave up. Once or twice a week someone will blast him with a bucket of facts that completely refute whatever it is he is trying to say (Armstrong sucks). Beyond that, he's laughed at and ignored. He's mostly talking to himself at this stage.

I regret saying anything in response to posts like this. Nevertheless, I'd like to call attention to truth--as always... Readers want to talk hockey. I'm smart enough to realize that. Some aren't.

Cheers to the hockey talk.... Let it resume.