Whose fault for this train wreck?

[Harry S Deals]

I mean if Hofer plays well we are probably 3-1-1 and I'm not that worried about 2 bad games from Hofer but yeah there are some holes.

The LM trade was really bad and the plan for making it work even worse.

I also thought our preseason and over all approach coming in was very poor

I still disagree LM had modest improvement in his game and the Blues dont need Bolduc, he's a -3 in his last three games playing 10-11 minutes a night. Bolduc still has to develop his game. At some point this trade will be judged a lot differently but its hard to fathom in the clickbait, satisfaction now era.
Simply put the Blues core, well paid players need to lead. Hofer needs to snap out of it. Those two factors are the difference between 3-3-2 and 5-2

whoa whoa whoa.. there's no place for logic in here.. show yourself out mister

I know im too old for internet doom scrollers and attention seeking rage posting whores. All i know is logic for a living

[TampaBlues78]

It's really hard to call 3-3-1 a trainwreck. especially when given the context. You have the stars/mild/kings/oilers who were all playoff teams last year off to similar starts. Things get concerning once you reach 20-25 hockey games. You haven't found an identity by then, you are going to have some trouble growing.

Anyways, the real context is that Hofer came out and gave you basically 2 unwinnable games. If you played 10 games with the starts that hofer gave you in the Blackhawks games and last nights, you maybe win 1. You don't just come back from back breakers like that. And at least from the condensed version of the game I got to see, it looked like the Blues found some game in the 2nd and 3rd. But you push a boulder up a mountain, it's eventually going to run you over. And that's what was happening.

As far as who I would be looking at as whose "fault" it is. Hofer is candidate number 1, and then the trio of Hollywood/Kyrou/Thomas. Kyrou and Thomas have to be held to a higher standard than everyone else in terms of driving offense. We know Thomas is on his game when he is shooting. Last 2 seasons Thomas is shooting the puck on net at minimum 2 times per game. So far this season he has 7 shots in 7 games. Kyrou shoots the puck on net 3 shots ppg in the past 3 seasons. Currently he has 12 shots in 7 games. Holloway I'm willing to bet is going to break out. The pressure of reliving that 2nd year in a contract year is probably getting to him a bit. I'm willing to be patient there.

But Kyrou/Thomas/Buchy, aren't getting enough pucks to the net. There's something not right there. But Kyrou and Thomas were paid and given the reigns to the Org to be OFFENSIVE drivers. If they aren't doing it, can't expect anyone else to.

I am not calling our record a train wreck
5-0 wild
8-3 blackhawks
7-4 mammoth
That is a train wreck not competitive at all

[TampaBlues78]

I mean if Hofer plays well we are probably 3-1-1 and I'm not that worried about 2 bad games from Hofer but yeah there are some holes.

The LM trade was really bad and the plan for making it work even worse.

I also thought our preseason and over all approach coming in was very poor

I still disagree LM had modest improvement in his game and the Blues dont need Bolduc, he's a -3 in his last three games playing 10-11 minutes a night. Bolduc still has to develop his game. At some point this trade will be judged a lot differently but its hard to fathom in the clickbait, satisfaction now era.
Simply put the Blues core, well paid players need to lead. Hofer needs to snap out of it. Those two factors are the difference between 3-3-2 and 5-2

whoa whoa whoa.. there's no place for logic in here.. show yourself out mister

I know im too old for internet doom scrollers and attention seeking rage posting whores. All i know is logic for a living

I am not trying to get attention, I love my team even from Arizona and paid money to see a pro team get handled like this already with no injuries to lay blame to

[DawgDad]

Something else Monty spoke to is funneling the attack to the net. I and some others have picked up on this, the Blues are too pass-happy and pulling the puck outside and back when there are shots or drive lanes to the net. Another way of saying some of the top players are trying to be too finesse and precise. It's not a one or the other but guys like the non-Sunny centers and Kyrou need to take the puck to the slot or net more often. They are playing too much like a PP unit at even strength, and their PP play isn't yet good enough to do that.

EDIT: Thomas in particular is setting up low in the left circle, CATCHING the pass, looking around, THEN passing. He needs to just unload a one-timer now and then because the defenses are boxing up with him outside, expecting him to patiently look to pass.

[TampaBlues78]

Something else Monty spoke to is funneling the attack to the net. I and some others have picked up on this, the Blues are too pass-happy and pulling the puck outside and back when there are shots or drive lanes to the net. Another way of saying some of the top players are trying to be too finesse and precise. It's not a one or the other but guys like the non-Sunny centers and Kyrou need to take the puck to the slot or net more often. They are playing too much like a PP unit at even strength, and their PP play isn't yet good enough to do that.

I mean when you only have two shots against a run and gun team like the mammoth something is off.. something is off about this team and isn’t LM

[ManitobaBlues]

The Blues were touted as having one of the best goaltending tandems in the league.

[WilliamWestcliffe]

Hofer will be fine. He definitely takes a step back from “reliable future #1” but this start isn’t who he is.

As for the rest….

This is the same core team it’s always been. The same team that plays uninspired, unmotivated hockey for 9/10s of the season and only tunes up when a coach gets fired or jobs are on the line. Here’s looking at you Thomas, Kyrou, Buchnevich.

The top six is criminally void of physicality and forecheck.

The defense is still - and even more so now - overmatched and horribly weak playing defensive hockey. Couple that with a more aggressive approach this year and it’s been a disaster.

The fourth line, which has traditionally been the beating heart of this putrid core group, was stripped of its identity when we forced guys like Texier and Bjugstad into the mix. Thankfully Sunny’s back but there’s still an edge/swagger missing from that line.

Snuggerud ain’t snuggeruding and Holloway isn’t playing out of his mind yet.

At the end of the day, there’s three things that have needed to change with this team the last several years and we just haven’t seemed to close these gaps:
1. Need to solidify the defense with a proper mix of experienced, defensive specialists.
2. Need a fourth line with identity and an edge.
3. Need to rethink the top 6 and infuse some new backbone and leadership. They need their Brady Tckachuk.

[SameOldBlues]

So many slackjawed simpletons dyin to find fault first, and to hell with patience.

[Aesa]

So many slackjawed simpletons dyin to find fault first, and to hell with patience.

Patience is a virtue the "chicken little" crowd does not possess.

[SameOldBlues]

So many slackjawed simpletons dyin to find fault first, and to hell with patience.

Patience is a virtue the "chicken little" crowd does not possess.

And when they turn it around, and chances are they will once things settle down, none of them will admit they were wrong per usual. Same as it ever was.

[hotrivets]

Something else Monty spoke to is funneling the attack to the net. I and some others have picked up on this, the Blues are too pass-happy and pulling the puck outside and back when there are shots or drive lanes to the net. Another way of saying some of the top players are trying to be too finesse and precise. It's not a one or the other but guys like the non-Sunny centers and Kyrou need to take the puck to the slot or net more often. They are playing too much like a PP unit at even strength, and their PP play isn't yet good enough to do that.

EDIT: Thomas in particular is setting up low in the left circle, CATCHING the pass, looking around, THEN passing. He needs to just unload a one-timer now and then because the defenses are boxing up with him outside, expecting him to patiently look to pass.

Changing lines and pairings based on strengths and weaknesses of players makes sense. Changing them based on injuries makes sense. Changing them mid-game because the team is not playing well sometimes works but not as a regular tactic.

Changing them because players are not playing smart or bringing the effort is a fool's errand.

The bad positional play, bad passing, and generally poor effort level suggest better coaching and practices makes more sense.

Players do need to develop some familiarity with their linemates and D partners to play at the highest level so constantly blendering things up is lazy and counter productive. Coaches have so many tools now to show players exactly what is and isn't working the coaching should be doable if not easier.

We have an excellent goalie coach- Ellis just referred to him in his interviews. How can Hofer be leaving his 5 hole open and making basic mistakes?

How do other teams "start on time" when that has been a constant problem for the Blues for multiple seasons?

Mammoth were firing everything at the net and getting rewarded. Blues almost refused to take a shot often trying to force passes through defended areas. Excessive passing gives the goalie and other team time to set up their defense and also develop their breakout.

[WilliamWestcliffe]

So many slackjawed simpletons dyin to find fault first, and to hell with patience.

What would you like people to be patient for?

Another year of the team coming out the gates with their true colors of unmotivated compete for a month, then slightly ramp it up to .500 hockey until Christmas…and then when a coach is fired or trades threatened, they wake up and finally throw a Hail Mary to squeeze into the postseason?

Same start and red flags from the last 3+ years, same “slack jaw” hopers coming running out preaching “patience” and talking down to fans who are tired of the same [shirt]. I’d bet dollars to pennies this team is in the same desperate, [shirt] spot by Christmas that they are every year after this core group kicks off the season selling the fans a [shirt] effort.

[Harry S Deals]

I mean if Hofer plays well we are probably 3-1-1 and I'm not that worried about 2 bad games from Hofer but yeah there are some holes.

The LM trade was really bad and the plan for making it work even worse.

I also thought our preseason and over all approach coming in was very poor

I still disagree LM had modest improvement in his game and the Blues dont need Bolduc, he's a -3 in his last three games playing 10-11 minutes a night. Bolduc still has to develop his game. At some point this trade will be judged a lot differently but its hard to fathom in the clickbait, satisfaction now era.
Simply put the Blues core, well paid players need to lead. Hofer needs to snap out of it. Those two factors are the difference between 3-3-2 and 5-2

whoa whoa whoa.. there's no place for logic in here.. show yourself out mister

I know im too old for internet doom scrollers and attention seeking rage posting whores. All i know is logic for a living

I am not trying to get attention, I love my team even from Arizona and paid money to see a pro team get handled like this already with no injuries to lay blame to

I knew it was a bad match up Mammoth play the Blues well. Like many have already said, whats the score after the 1st period if Binnie starts? Did the soft goals deflate the team? For some reason at home this core comes out lacking intensity you are correct its befuddling. AND the Thomas line is always a bit off personnel wise. Buch Thomas and Kyrou, too many soft playmakers. Holloway and Neighbours arent the right fits either, Snuggerud didnt last too long. I like the bottom six and the top 4 dmen in total.
They are going to have to find a way to get some balls and come out like they want to win. In this era of the NHL winning means out skating, out checking the other team, have to win board battles have to have a consistent attack and none of this is there for home games.

[ManitobaBlues]

I know it is still early in the season, but this team does not look like they are inspired at all, not sure what is going with them. Like I said bring the kids and trade the vets let the rebuild begin.

[Cahokanut]

Coach is to blame for this mess.

We are gearing our game towards the wall and the players who play the wall.

But doing so takes the game from our top players. Skilled players play to the net, not the boards. So having Schenn, Suter, Sunny, and all the others throwing the puck to the end board, while Kyrou, or Holloway is streaking on the wing. Takes Them out of the game. But leaves the captain crew in prime position.

Coach isn't stupid. He has to know whose game he is working with, and whose game he isn't.

Regardless. We go as far as goaltending takes us. It's been like that for many of years.

[TheJackBurton]

I mean you would think after having a full off season with Monty the team would be better than they were playing towards the end?!?

Honestly I don’t think losing any of the players we lost would help this team…

We know now Hofer is trash and is not a 1b…

Who is ultimately to blame for what’s going on?

What is the issue?

This team has looked uninspired for most this season. Really tough for me to tune in every night and watch this brand of hockey

I think Hofer has shown enough over the last couple years to be given the benefit of the doubt over a couple bad games

That’s two really, really bad games… but I agree he didn’t have much help… but he couldn’t stop a bowling ball.. this is not a Snuggy, May-you, Byoogy, and a Suter thing…


Is monty’s seat getting warm?

There is a 800 lb block of ice underneath Monty's seat. He has 4 more years on his contract.