Too many misfits?

[BalotelliMassive]

I didn't understand why a team with so many positive looking prospects didn't make room for them. The Blues are stacked with just another guys...

[Unfathomable]

My problem with this season has been the bad messaging/PR coming from this team. They have everybody thinking we skipped a step in the re whatever because of how we finished last season and played against wpg in the playoffs.

I see it as we played to out potential down the stretch last season but are still struggling to figure out how to do it on a consistent basis... Some How...

Also really didn't like the mailloux pronger trade comparison just didn't do the kid ANY favors with that..

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

I do not see any fire in Thomas at all, and not sure why, he does have the A on his sweater so he needs act like it and take control of this team. I am afraid that Thomas has no leadership in him at all....and this is our future captain.

Thomas has a little Jeff Spicoli in him.

....and the next Captain should be Neighbours, they will F-up if they give it to Thomas.

[Tabasco Flowers]

I didn't understand why a team with so many positive looking prospects didn't make room for them. The Blues are stacked with just another guys...

We have a bunch of JAGs to hold places for the developing players. This wasn't intended to be "the" season.

Anyone that thought we were going to be contenders with spare parts were deluded by their optimism, which isn't a bad thing.

Prove me wrong, boys, prove me wrong.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Taking a bit of a contrarian view. I think Monty is overthinking some things and the team is paying for it. His line combos are approaching Bannister level mindset with trying so hard to prevent goals, he’s giving up offense. In other words, coaching is hurting the team imho.

- having a defense first forward on each line, is hindering. As an example, having Buch on the first line with his play right now is bad. Moving Holloway to the 3rd line is puzzling.
- Dong the same with d pairings. Bro/Faulk are good together, as were CP55/Fowler. Switching them two pairings isn’t helping.
- Trying to play a physical and forechecking style, without the right players is hurting the team and they are playing tight. Too many tweeners (Suter/Holloway/Neighbours) and old vets (Schenn/Buch) are not thriving.

Bottom line, Monty is feeling the heat and I don’t think his constant tweaking is working. When healthy, they need to adjust the system a bit to fit their team better. This makes us a middle of the road team, which way back in the pick the standings thread, I had us fighting for a WC. That is slipping away fast.

[BalotelliMassive]

I didn't understand why a team with so many positive looking prospects didn't make room for them. The Blues are stacked with just another guys...

We have a bunch of JAGs to hold places for the developing players. This wasn't intended to be "the" season.

Anyone that thought we were going to be contenders with spare parts were deluded by their optimism, which isn't a bad thing.

Prove me wrong, boys, prove me wrong.

That's what Chicago had last season - placeholders. Once those guys were jettisoned the speed, heart, morale and fun skyrocketed... Maybe the same thing happens late this season for St Louis...they have enough talent to make it happen imo.

[Tabasco Flowers]

I didn't understand why a team with so many positive looking prospects didn't make room for them. The Blues are stacked with just another guys...

We have a bunch of JAGs to hold places for the developing players. This wasn't intended to be "the" season.

Anyone that thought we were going to be contenders with spare parts were deluded by their optimism, which isn't a bad thing.

Prove me wrong, boys, prove me wrong.

That's what Chicago had last season - placeholders. Once those guys were jettisoned the speed, heart, morale and fun skyrocketed... Maybe the same thing happens late this season for St Louis...they have enough talent to make it happen imo.

Probably, but you can't keep shuffling spare parts and expect success. Every year, there's a turnover in the roster. I realize this is a temporary thing, but here we are.

[skilles]

nah...Its time to start rethinking off season work, whatever we are doing ain't working.

The team we have is good enough, they have proven to be good enough and my bet is they will prove to be good enough again.

They were not ready to play when the season started and they weren't last year either.

[Harry York 37]

Long time Blues fan here.

I see the questions about individual players all the time here, the culture, coaching.

I'm going to resonate what Chris Pronger said the other day. This team doesn't have an identity, and hasn't for awhile...since the cup.

By that, and my thread title is that I mean we have too many random pieces. All great players in their own right, but not a good fit for the Blues grinding, blue collar type of play we're used to, and is clearly expected by coaching.

Jordan Kyrou, great goal scorer, clearly, but also doesn't do the little things needed by a physical team. His game was improving last year, until he took that hit in the playoffs against Winnipeg. He has shyed off everything since then. He's scared to be hit and doesn't subscribe to the type of play asked by this organization. I think that contributes to his lacksidasical play. So he just floats mostly. He is a finesse player, not this teams identity.

Robert Thomas, decent player, decent passer, not the gritty make it happen center his contract warranted. He's good, but he's no Adam Oates. Would Thomas fit in here, absolutely, but he shouldn't be our #1C imo.

I'm going to go big group here....Neighbors, all day long Blues type of player. Holloway, absolutely, still recovering from injury but has the grit. Broberg, absolutely. Fowler, solid acquisition, Faulk, I know many don't like but he's usually solid but aging, Schenn, love the guy to death but he is markedly not who he was just a couple years ago, age catches us all. Tucker and Moli should never have been on the same line, they can grind but the skill isnt there for them to be paired together. Nothing to say about their talent, or lack thereof, just a poor decision imo by coaching, and I have a strong feeling it was pushed by the front office. Plus Suter is one of the best acquisitions we've gotten since the offer sheet for Broberg and Holloway. The kid is a solid 2 way player and his hockey IQ is on point. Joseph has oddly enough shown, imo, to be an integral part of this team in 3rd or 4th line, maybe higher. Sunny wnd Walker....key components, and no one wants to deal with their tenacity. Last but not least in this group is Buchy. He gets beat up, isn't fancy, but his stats with the Blues speak for themselves. I think he's trying to lift this team up with his play, but he just isn't that guy that can carry a team, he's a complimentary piece to better players, which he really doesn't have around him but still does well.

The youngins....Snuggy has proven a spot on this team imo. From what I've seen from DD in his games, he has too. Would love to see Carbo get a shot too. They've definitely interjected some energy into this team. Love Torpy's fire and drive, grind and physical play. Honestly would love to see Schenemann get some time over Kessel, Tucker, and Mali. Any time I've seen him in the lineup he's played solid D.

And finally the goaltenders...Binner, one of the elite imo when he's on. Hofer, great #2 but struggling although I feel he did well tonight.

In summary of my ramblings, we have many great players, just not players that fit into this system. You can't expect a round peg to fit into a square hole and I feel that's where the Blues are right now. Too many different shapes trying to fit into the same hole.

I agree completely and wholly… except I think you are a bit hard on Thomas. He hasn’t had the stud wingers that a number one Center should have. Kyrou is a head case, Buchnevich has skills but is not a first liner, and Neighbours is not going to make many all star teams, even though he might be our finest all around forward, and is the Blue of whom I am most proud.

The tough heart and soul guys are either too old or too placid or too young .

It’s tough for goalies to feel confident when Mailloux is not ready and has the weight of Zach Bolduc’s “Lost potential” hanging over him like the skate blade of Damocles.


Dvorsky has shown me he is ready. When Thomas and Neighbours return, we will, like the fabled Newt…. Get better.

[Bluesfan1988]

I appreciate all the decent conversation in this thread.

I apologize for not responding, I was for some reason locked out of my login.

I will address responses now.

[Bluesfan1988]

To suggest that Thomas isn’t worth his contract is preposterous. 8M isn’t some massive contract in 2025.

You aren't wrong about that, but my feeling is Army locked him into that contract thinking he would be a command presence on the ice at center. Don't get me wrong, I love Thomas, but I don't think he's meeting the expectations the franchise wanted. As I said, he is a solid player, but he's no Adam Oates.

[Bluesfan1988]

Long time Blues fan here.

I see the questions about individual players all the time here, the culture, coaching.

I'm going to resonate what Chris Pronger said the other day. This team doesn't have an identity, and hasn't for awhile...since the cup.

By that, and my thread title is that I mean we have too many random pieces. All great players in their own right, but not a good fit for the Blues grinding, blue collar type of play we're used to, and is clearly expected by coaching.

Jordan Kyrou, great goal scorer, clearly, but also doesn't do the little things needed by a physical team. His game was improving last year, until he took that hit in the playoffs against Winnipeg. He has shyed off everything since then. He's scared to be hit and doesn't subscribe to the type of play asked by this organization. I think that contributes to his lacksidasical play. So he just floats mostly. He is a finesse player, not this teams identity.

Robert Thomas, decent player, decent passer, not the gritty make it happen center his contract warranted. He's good, but he's no Adam Oates. Would Thomas fit in here, absolutely, but he shouldn't be our #1C imo.

I'm going to go big group here....Neighbors, all day long Blues type of player. Holloway, absolutely, still recovering from injury but has the grit. Broberg, absolutely. Fowler, solid acquisition, Faulk, I know many don't like but he's usually solid but aging, Schenn, love the guy to death but he is markedly not who he was just a couple years ago, age catches us all. Tucker and Moli should never have been on the same line, they can grind but the skill isnt there for them to be paired together. Nothing to say about their talent, or lack thereof, just a poor decision imo by coaching, and I have a strong feeling it was pushed by the front office. Plus Suter is one of the best acquisitions we've gotten since the offer sheet for Broberg and Holloway. The kid is a solid 2 way player and his hockey IQ is on point. Joseph has oddly enough shown, imo, to be an integral part of this team in 3rd or 4th line, maybe higher. Sunny wnd Walker....key components, and no one wants to deal with their tenacity. Last but not least in this group is Buchy. He gets beat up, isn't fancy, but his stats with the Blues speak for themselves. I think he's trying to lift this team up with his play, but he just isn't that guy that can carry a team, he's a complimentary piece to better players, which he really doesn't have around him but still does well.

The youngins....Snuggy has proven a spot on this team imo. From what I've seen from DD in his games, he has too. Would love to see Carbo get a shot too. They've definitely interjected some energy into this team. Love Torpy's fire and drive, grind and physical play. Honestly would love to see Schenemann get some time over Kessel, Tucker, and Mali. Any time I've seen him in the lineup he's played solid D.

And finally the goaltenders...Binner, one of the elite imo when he's on. Hofer, great #2 but struggling although I feel he did well tonight.

In summary of my ramblings, we have many great players, just not players that fit into this system. You can't expect a round peg to fit into a square hole and I feel that's where the Blues are right now. Too many different shapes trying to fit into the same hole.

Your opinion is well stated.

What's kind of weird is even if you are correct on all points, of which I do not subscribe to all, it still doesn't describe a last place team with a 7 game losing streak.

They are what they are and right now they have mired themselves down by not playing anywhere near a 60 minute game of good hockey. If not one or two or three players on a night it's them on another night. The weight of each loss now compounding the next game challenge.

These guys are under perfoming at an amazing level.

Thank you.

Loses, especially close ones weigh heavily on players, especially at this level. What didn't I do right, what did I do right, what can I do better.

This losing streak is in their heads now, and I look to Monty, Schenn, Parayko, and Faulk as veterans to work them through this.

I completely agree on the not playing 60 minutes as well.

[Bluesfan1988]

The loss last night, and every loss for that matter, is clearly Mailloux’s fault. To think otherwise is denying the blatant facts.

Sincerely,
Typical awesomely hockey knowledged Blues fan

You’re right on the money. The guy was absolutely invisible last night.

Frank you nailed it again.. dude was literally unnoticeable last night.. what an embarassment

oh, and thomas is ' a decent passer'.. lolz

Mallioux needs time, I like the fact let him play.

Robert Thomas....OK I will say it the guy is way to inconsistent to be a #1 center, he will most likely be left off Team Canada for the Olympics AGAIN. He is all the tools, but for someone who lived with the Tkachuk family when he was a Blue....Obviously he did not listen or is Matt and Brady are better skilled players and more of a complete hockey player than Thomas?

I do not see any fire in Thomas at all, and not sure why, he does have the A on his sweater so he needs act like it and take control of this team. I am afraid that Thomas has no leadership in him at all....and this is our future captain.

This exactly echos my feelings about Thomas and his contract. Zero fire, not really much of a take control guy like I feel Army was hoping for locking him into a long term contract.

[Bluesfan1988]

Last but not least, hoping the conversation can keep being decent as it has in this thread, but Thomas....


I like him, but he is not the command presence, #1 center he was expected to be for this team. He is a solid player, but he is not the put the team on your shoulders and carry the game player I think Army thought he would be.

[Bluesfan1988]

Long time Blues fan here.

I see the questions about individual players all the time here, the culture, coaching.

I'm going to resonate what Chris Pronger said the other day. This team doesn't have an identity, and hasn't for awhile...since the cup.

By that, and my thread title is that I mean we have too many random pieces. All great players in their own right, but not a good fit for the Blues grinding, blue collar type of play we're used to, and is clearly expected by coaching.

Jordan Kyrou, great goal scorer, clearly, but also doesn't do the little things needed by a physical team. His game was improving last year, until he took that hit in the playoffs against Winnipeg. He has shyed off everything since then. He's scared to be hit and doesn't subscribe to the type of play asked by this organization. I think that contributes to his lacksidasical play. So he just floats mostly. He is a finesse player, not this teams identity.

Robert Thomas, decent player, decent passer, not the gritty make it happen center his contract warranted. He's good, but he's no Adam Oates. Would Thomas fit in here, absolutely, but he shouldn't be our #1C imo.

I'm going to go big group here....Neighbors, all day long Blues type of player. Holloway, absolutely, still recovering from injury but has the grit. Broberg, absolutely. Fowler, solid acquisition, Faulk, I know many don't like but he's usually solid but aging, Schenn, love the guy to death but he is markedly not who he was just a couple years ago, age catches us all. Tucker and Moli should never have been on the same line, they can grind but the skill isnt there for them to be paired together. Nothing to say about their talent, or lack thereof, just a poor decision imo by coaching, and I have a strong feeling it was pushed by the front office. Plus Suter is one of the best acquisitions we've gotten since the offer sheet for Broberg and Holloway. The kid is a solid 2 way player and his hockey IQ is on point. Joseph has oddly enough shown, imo, to be an integral part of this team in 3rd or 4th line, maybe higher. Sunny wnd Walker....key components, and no one wants to deal with their tenacity. Last but not least in this group is Buchy. He gets beat up, isn't fancy, but his stats with the Blues speak for themselves. I think he's trying to lift this team up with his play, but he just isn't that guy that can carry a team, he's a complimentary piece to better players, which he really doesn't have around him but still does well.

The youngins....Snuggy has proven a spot on this team imo. From what I've seen from DD in his games, he has too. Would love to see Carbo get a shot too. They've definitely interjected some energy into this team. Love Torpy's fire and drive, grind and physical play. Honestly would love to see Schenemann get some time over Kessel, Tucker, and Mali. Any time I've seen him in the lineup he's played solid D.

And finally the goaltenders...Binner, one of the elite imo when he's on. Hofer, great #2 but struggling although I feel he did well tonight.

In summary of my ramblings, we have many great players, just not players that fit into this system. You can't expect a round peg to fit into a square hole and I feel that's where the Blues are right now. Too many different shapes trying to fit into the same hole.

I agree completely and wholly… except I think you are a bit hard on Thomas. He hasn’t had the stud wingers that a number one Center should have. Kyrou is a head case, Buchnevich has skills but is not a first liner, and Neighbours is not going to make many all star teams, even though he might be our finest all around forward, and is the Blue of whom I am most proud.

The tough heart and soul guys are either too old or too placid or too young .

It’s tough for goalies to feel confident when Mailloux is not ready and has the weight of Zach Bolduc’s “Lost potential” hanging over him like the skate blade of Damocles.


Dvorsky has shown me he is ready. When Thomas and Neighbours return, we will, like the fabled Newt…. Get better.

I feel that is a fair assessment.

As I've said, I like Thomas, maybe he just hasn't had the pieces to make him shine, and exactly the point of this thread.

[Aesa]

Long time Blues fan here.

I see the questions about individual players all the time here, the culture, coaching.

I'm going to resonate what Chris Pronger said the other day. This team doesn't have an identity, and hasn't for awhile...since the cup.

By that, and my thread title is that I mean we have too many random pieces. All great players in their own right, but not a good fit for the Blues grinding, blue collar type of play we're used to, and is clearly expected by coaching.

Jordan Kyrou, great goal scorer, clearly, but also doesn't do the little things needed by a physical team. His game was improving last year, until he took that hit in the playoffs against Winnipeg. He has shyed off everything since then. He's scared to be hit and doesn't subscribe to the type of play asked by this organization. I think that contributes to his lacksidasical play. So he just floats mostly. He is a finesse player, not this teams identity.

Robert Thomas, decent player, decent passer, not the gritty make it happen center his contract warranted. He's good, but he's no Adam Oates. Would Thomas fit in here, absolutely, but he shouldn't be our #1C imo.

I'm going to go big group here....Neighbors, all day long Blues type of player. Holloway, absolutely, still recovering from injury but has the grit. Broberg, absolutely. Fowler, solid acquisition, Faulk, I know many don't like but he's usually solid but aging, Schenn, love the guy to death but he is markedly not who he was just a couple years ago, age catches us all. Tucker and Moli should never have been on the same line, they can grind but the skill isnt there for them to be paired together. Nothing to say about their talent, or lack thereof, just a poor decision imo by coaching, and I have a strong feeling it was pushed by the front office. Plus Suter is one of the best acquisitions we've gotten since the offer sheet for Broberg and Holloway. The kid is a solid 2 way player and his hockey IQ is on point. Joseph has oddly enough shown, imo, to be an integral part of this team in 3rd or 4th line, maybe higher. Sunny wnd Walker....key components, and no one wants to deal with their tenacity. Last but not least in this group is Buchy. He gets beat up, isn't fancy, but his stats with the Blues speak for themselves. I think he's trying to lift this team up with his play, but he just isn't that guy that can carry a team, he's a complimentary piece to better players, which he really doesn't have around him but still does well.

The youngins....Snuggy has proven a spot on this team imo. From what I've seen from DD in his games, he has too. Would love to see Carbo get a shot too. They've definitely interjected some energy into this team. Love Torpy's fire and drive, grind and physical play. Honestly would love to see Schenemann get some time over Kessel, Tucker, and Mali. Any time I've seen him in the lineup he's played solid D.

And finally the goaltenders...Binner, one of the elite imo when he's on. Hofer, great #2 but struggling although I feel he did well tonight.

In summary of my ramblings, we have many great players, just not players that fit into this system. You can't expect a round peg to fit into a square hole and I feel that's where the Blues are right now. Too many different shapes trying to fit into the same hole.

I agree completely and wholly… except I think you are a bit hard on Thomas. He hasn’t had the stud wingers that a number one Center should have. Kyrou is a head case, Buchnevich has skills but is not a first liner, and Neighbours is not going to make many all star teams, even though he might be our finest all around forward, and is the Blue of whom I am most proud.

The tough heart and soul guys are either too old or too placid or too young .

It’s tough for goalies to feel confident when Mailloux is not ready and has the weight of Zach Bolduc’s “Lost potential” hanging over him like the skate blade of Damocles.


Dvorsky has shown me he is ready. When Thomas and Neighbours return, we will, like the fabled Newt…. Get better.

Nice movie reference... Major League.