The core issue:

[juan good eye]

Schenn and Buch absolutely have to be 3rd liners, Schenn may be a 4th liner on Colorado, Anaheim, etc. Monty has to elevate Snuggerud, Dvorksy, Holloway as much as possible. Also Suter is not really a 2c, doesnt skate very well at all hes fine but hes on the 3rd line with Schenn and Buch

This was obvious last season.

[juan good eye]

The issue is our expectations are too high.
Enjoy the games or dont.

Jake Neighbours returns thursday. Its gonna be a rough year. Progress will be made, and new blood is coming. Not as fast as we want. This is a transition year.


There is no issue. Keep playing the games. Stay the course.
Thomas Kyrou Neighbours Holloway Snuggerud Dvorsky Broberg Hofer all keepers.
The rest of the guys are still here until they are not. When Lindstein or Stenberg or Pekarcik or Carbonneau or Jiricek or Fischer are knocking on the door--they will force Gm's hand.

You’ve been drinking.

There’s nothing in the system to replace the aging vets they have now. You think they have prospects who will have equal careers to Schenn, Parayko, Binny, Fowler, Faulk? The guys I mentioned aren’t even stars. The team needs to rebuild.

[xweazel75]

The core issue from my perspective is all about getting to the tough area on offense.

The forwards have to be willing to go between the dots and get to the front of the net. This opens space, helps the cycle, shots from the point are more dangerous, and scoring happens. It requires toughness and a willingness to take the puck to the net, or to take that lane when you dont have the puck. You will get slashed, hooked, held, crosschecked, and ultimately end up bruised or worse. But, the other team must committ a defender or else. The puck will end up on your stick, it will get deflected, and you will prevent the other teams goalie from seeing the shot. Its the path to winning in the o zone.

I think Neighbors injury possibly put a chill on the forwards and the go to the net mentality for the team. They need it back. Getting him back in the lineup helps, but he can't be the only forward who does this at 5x5. Suter and Bjukstad know this. Its time for everyone in the forward group to embrace this mentality.

-x

[DawgDad]

The core issue from my perspective is all about getting to the tough area on offense.

The forwards have to be willing to go between the dots and get to the front of the net. This opens space, helps the cycle, shots from the point are more dangerous, and scoring happens. It requires toughness and a willingness to take the puck to the net, or to take that lane when you dont have the puck. You will get slashed, hooked, held, crosschecked, and ultimately end up bruised or worse. But, the other team must committ a defender or else. The puck will end up on your stick, it will get deflected, and you will prevent the other teams goalie from seeing the shot. Its the path to winning in the o zone.

I think Neighbors injury possibly put a chill on the forwards and the go to the net mentality for the team. They need it back. Getting him back in the lineup helps, but he can't be the only forward who does this at 5x5. Suter and Bjukstad know this. Its time for everyone in the forward group to embrace this mentality.

-x

Not all players are equipped to play a Neighbours style physical game. Some are (should be), like Schenn, Buchnevich, Toropchenko, but they aren't consistent and they aren't finishing. Holloway tries at times but he's getting himself beat to a pulp. The Blues need to get production from those three or ultimately replace them. That may take some time.

[Bacchk29]

The core issue from my perspective is all about getting to the tough area on offense.

The forwards have to be willing to go between the dots and get to the front of the net. This opens space, helps the cycle, shots from the point are more dangerous, and scoring happens. It requires toughness and a willingness to take the puck to the net, or to take that lane when you dont have the puck. You will get slashed, hooked, held, crosschecked, and ultimately end up bruised or worse. But, the other team must committ a defender or else. The puck will end up on your stick, it will get deflected, and you will prevent the other teams goalie from seeing the shot. Its the path to winning in the o zone.

I think Neighbors injury possibly put a chill on the forwards and the go to the net mentality for the team. They need it back. Getting him back in the lineup helps, but he can't be the only forward who does this at 5x5. Suter and Bjukstad know this. Its time for everyone in the forward group to embrace this mentality.

-x

Not all players are equipped to play a Neighbours style physical game. Some are (should be), like Schenn, Buchnevich, Toropchenko, but they aren't consistent and they aren't finishing. Holloway tries at times but he's getting himself beat to a pulp. The Blues need to get production from those three or ultimately replace them. That may take some time.

The plan seems to be , once there’s an entry and possession, cycle, cycle,cycle, kick it to the point high tip. There has to be some east west play sometimes get pucks to the goals then drive the crease. Seems to be so hard just get set up with possession. Again, easy to defend.

[xweazel75]

The core issue from my perspective is all about getting to the tough area on offense.

The forwards have to be willing to go between the dots and get to the front of the net. This opens space, helps the cycle, shots from the point are more dangerous, and scoring happens. It requires toughness and a willingness to take the puck to the net, or to take that lane when you dont have the puck. You will get slashed, hooked, held, crosschecked, and ultimately end up bruised or worse. But, the other team must committ a defender or else. The puck will end up on your stick, it will get deflected, and you will prevent the other teams goalie from seeing the shot. Its the path to winning in the o zone.

I think Neighbors injury possibly put a chill on the forwards and the go to the net mentality for the team. They need it back. Getting him back in the lineup helps, but he can't be the only forward who does this at 5x5. Suter and Bjukstad know this. Its time for everyone in the forward group to embrace this mentality.

-x

Not all players are equipped to play a Neighbours style physical game. Some are (should be), like Schenn, Buchnevich, Toropchenko, but they aren't consistent and they aren't finishing. Holloway tries at times but he's getting himself beat to a pulp. The Blues need to get production from those three or ultimately replace them. That may take some time.

The plan seems to be , once there’s an entry and possession, cycle, cycle,cycle, kick it to the point high tip. There has to be some east west play sometimes get pucks to the goals then drive the crease. Seems to be so hard just get set up with possession. Again, easy to defend.

High tip works when its packed in down low. There should be room for the defense and high forward to manuever with speed at the blue line as well in that situation. if one of the forwards goes to the net, its going to pull a defender or two with them. If the defending forwards go too high to the point the middle is wide open for a slot pass east/west, or a slot shot from someone driving the lane.

Not everyone who is a forward has to play Jake's physical game, but in the NHL, even the most skilled forwards must get to the slot, and be around the net to be successful. The middle of the ice is where the games are won and lost.

-x

[netboy65]

The core issue from my perspective is all about getting to the tough area on offense.

The forwards have to be willing to go between the dots and get to the front of the net. This opens space, helps the cycle, shots from the point are more dangerous, and scoring happens. It requires toughness and a willingness to take the puck to the net, or to take that lane when you dont have the puck. You will get slashed, hooked, held, crosschecked, and ultimately end up bruised or worse. But, the other team must committ a defender or else. The puck will end up on your stick, it will get deflected, and you will prevent the other teams goalie from seeing the shot. Its the path to winning in the o zone.

I think Neighbors injury possibly put a chill on the forwards and the go to the net mentality for the team. They need it back. Getting him back in the lineup helps, but he can't be the only forward who does this at 5x5. Suter and Bjukstad know this. Its time for everyone in the forward group to embrace this mentality.

-x

Not all players are equipped to play a Neighbours style physical game. Some are (should be), like Schenn, Buchnevich, Toropchenko, but they aren't consistent and they aren't finishing. Holloway tries at times but he's getting himself beat to a pulp. The Blues need to get production from those three or ultimately replace them. That may take some time.

The plan seems to be , once there’s an entry and possession, cycle, cycle,cycle, kick it to the point high tip. There has to be some east west play sometimes get pucks to the goals then drive the crease. Seems to be so hard just get set up with possession. Again, easy to defend.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[Harry York 37]

The core issue from my perspective is all about getting to the tough area on offense.

The forwards have to be willing to go between the dots and get to the front of the net. This opens space, helps the cycle, shots from the point are more dangerous, and scoring happens. It requires toughness and a willingness to take the puck to the net, or to take that lane when you dont have the puck. You will get slashed, hooked, held, crosschecked, and ultimately end up bruised or worse. But, the other team must committ a defender or else. The puck will end up on your stick, it will get deflected, and you will prevent the other teams goalie from seeing the shot. Its the path to winning in the o zone.

I think Neighbors injury possibly put a chill on the forwards and the go to the net mentality for the team. They need it back. Getting him back in the lineup helps, but he can't be the only forward who does this at 5x5. Suter and Bjukstad know this. Its time for everyone in the forward group to embrace this mentality.

-x

Not all players are equipped to play a Neighbours style physical game. Some are (should be), like Schenn, Buchnevich, Toropchenko, but they aren't consistent and they aren't finishing. Holloway tries at times but he's getting himself beat to a pulp. The Blues need to get production from those three or ultimately replace them. That may take some time.

The plan seems to be , once there’s an entry and possession, cycle, cycle,cycle, kick it to the point high tip. There has to be some east west play sometimes get pucks to the goals then drive the crease. Seems to be so hard just get set up with possession. Again, easy to defend.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

There is such little enthusiasm for making a great play. Dump and chase, and cycling don't require the bursts and stops and reversals with speed that will wear you out much more quickly. You have to be eager to make a great "play" manifest. We don't have an excess of top-notch playmakers.
It's one of the reasons we hang onto Kyrou, as he can make a play anytime he feels like making one....but he dogs it as badly as anyone.
The top-six need to do the work, and play with speed and confidence, and the Defense must to do their part for puck support which will unleash the five-man unit.
The Forwards need to cover for the pinches and the goalies need to excuse as many mistakes as it takes to win games.
Easy peasey.

[willie1985]

Coaching. Period. For some reason, Monty has switched to a playing "not to lose" instead of "to win" mentality. Offensive players are gripping their sticks. Offensive flow and transition game is slow and poor, mainly due to all the line switching IMHO. Defensive pinches and activation in the O-zone is down (i.e. Parayko with zero goals). They just seem afraid to make mistakes and therefore are making mistakes and the goalies aren't playing out of their minds and bailing them out.

I only see a few players that are getting after it and playing well: Broberg and Faulk on the backend. Suter, Holloway (after a slow start), Snuggerud, Neighbours and Thomas (after slow start). That isn't enough to overcome the poor play of Buch, Schenn, 4th line, and 3rd pairing on D. Guys in the middle who are playing just "ok" are Parayko, Fowler, Kyrou, Joseph, Bjug, Dvo

My exact thoughts on all.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

The core issue: is the overrated and overpaid the "core" 3 prima donnas. (Thomas may be worth it)

[a smell of green grass]

The issue is our expectations are too high.
Enjoy the games or dont.

Jake Neighbours returns thursday. Its gonna be a rough year. Progress will be made, and new blood is coming. Not as fast as we want. This is a transition year.


There is no issue. Keep playing the games. Stay the course.
Thomas Kyrou Neighbours Holloway Snuggerud Dvorsky Broberg Hofer all keepers.
The rest of the guys are still here until they are not. When Lindstein or Stenberg or Pekarcik or Carbonneau or Jiricek or Fischer are knocking on the door--they will force Gm's hand.

You’ve been drinking.

There’s nothing in the system to replace the aging vets they have now. You think they have prospects who will have equal careers to Schenn, Parayko, Binny, Fowler, Faulk? The guys I mentioned aren’t even stars. The team needs to rebuild.

Army has shown VERY LITTLE relative to using the NHL draft to replace the aging talent on his roster.

Army was better at using free agency, but even that was hit and miss, especially in regards to the C and defense. Remember the complete disaster that was Kevin Hayes? And now with the CAP going up, Army's one useful well has dried up.

There is NO QUESTION that the Blues need to rebuild. I believe that the more important question is should Army be the guy at the steering wheel for that? His last re-whatever was a complete failure. He has shown so little in bringing talent to the roster via the draft for years.