Monti Is Lucky

[BobbyBlue]

Any other coach would be facing the reality of getting fired with the team looking this bad. It’s basically the same team that was arguably the best team during the 2nd half of the season last year. Now…worst goal differential in the league…PP and PK down from last year…0 for whatever in OT…can’t score more that (2) goals a game…no passion…no physicality…no consistent forecheck…no line consistency whatsoever…consistent low shots on goal…in almost every game played to date. Almost every player’s statistic is down from last year. He has a (5) year deal…but are we watching a mass mutiny of whatever system he is trying to install. Subtracting Bolduc, Suter and Leddy can not possibly lead to what we are watching now with the additions to the line-up…injuries sustained aside. So what is it? We weren’t expected to win last night…that’s a given. But we shouldn’t be looking like a men’s league team. To come out and play like that in the first (4) minutes of the game looking totally unprepared and not engaged is a direct reflection of the coach and his message falling on deaf ears. Something has to change…and it just might be a new voice…or better yet…a fresh new approach to the system that he wishes to install and play by the coaching staff…because this is the NHL…and AHL performances like last night won’t last in this league…no matter the length of one’s contract.

[Rollin' on the River]

Let’s can Ott.

Firing an assistant worked for Toronto for a game .

[Jeff Goldblum]

I mean how long do we need to watch this nonexistent power play before somebody gets held accountable. It's literally been going on for years.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Not saying it was THE difference, but losing Faksa has hurt this team. He was a big, physical, defensively responsible center that brought a lot of intangibles, along with stability on that 4th line. The WTF line could play against any line and brought the hammer.

Suter was a calming presence on the bottom pair and had a little nasty in him around the crease. The other differences that I see was the play of Holloway, Kyrou and the emergence of Bolduc. Between injuries, lack of production and the trade, this team is way down in goal production and is missing the element of two lines that could score.

So yes, it’s a different team. Faksa was a loss, as evidenced by how quickly Dallas realized their mistake and got him back. Suter was a loss. Bolduc was a loss. Holloway and Kyrou have underperformed/been injured.

[succinct712]

I think he's just as surprised as anyone. He seemed very confident at the start of the season and thought he was going to be building on any success from last year but that has not materialized, and it seems that he has little clue how to proceed from the initial/unexpected failure. This team shows very little compete game to game and way too much inconsistency.

[dhsux]

I think he's just as surprised as anyone. He seemed very confident at the start of the season and thought he was going to be building on any success from last year but that has not materialized, and it seems that he has little clue how to proceed from the initial/unexpected failure. This team shows very little compete game to game and way too much inconsistency.

I pretty much agree it's a mystery....and likely something big picture versus individual vacancies.

If the schedule would ever allow 2 days off I'd get them all together secluded off campus for a few nights of bonding and reevaluation of them as individuals and team. Do something do anything.

[succinct712]

I think he's just as surprised as anyone. He seemed very confident at the start of the season and thought he was going to be building on any success from last year but that has not materialized, and it seems that he has little clue how to proceed from the initial/unexpected failure. This team shows very little compete game to game and way too much inconsistency.

I pretty much agree it's a mystery....and likely something big picture versus individual vacancies.

If the schedule would ever allow 2 days off I'd get them all together secluded off campus for a few nights of bonding and reevaluation of them as individuals and team. Do something do anything.

I agree. It's time for any type of action. Current state of affairs is unacceptable!

[11WSChamps]

Team plays like its flag football.

Softest hockey team I've ever seen.

What is this team's identity?

What do they do well?

Answers: don't know and nothing.

[Boomac]

Between Leddy and Suter, we probably lost 2400 games of experience. Suter seemed to really help us settle down defensively. Leddy could compliment the top pair or be the #5-#6 guy. I think we forget how good he played on that win streak with Parayko being injured.

Our top 6 forwards - they've all but disappeared in terms of compete and production. After the 4 nations, Thomas was playing like a top line center and Schenn was producing and executing like a #2 center. Holloway was a completely different player last year. Kyrou was, too. Faska provided stability. Walker brought energy every night. Our 3rd line had emerging young talent that was produced depth scoring.

Right now there's no compete level. Fly bys, feet standing still, weak little poke checks, not getting into lanes, among other things, is brutal to watch. The team literally looks like they couldn't care less with the results this year.

On top of that - what exactly is our defensive structure? It looks like they try to stay man on man but in a zone and it's leaving lanes completely wide open. If we do get the puck, it makes for a very difficult transition to attacking - nobody is in position, everybody's feet are not moving, and The Blues get burnt either way.

[Bacchk29]

Let’s can Ott.

Firing an assistant worked for Toronto for a game .

He and Julien should’ve been gone when they hired Monty. I’ve said this before - HCs usually have some say who their assistants are.

[Mike Tricky]

The team doesn't care, you have too many players that play for themselves and just collect a pay check. Getting blown out 6-1 and not having any answer physically is a problem. Way too many eurpeons on this team, along with super soft players = what we have now. Tyler Tucker, Braden Schenn scare nobody. I have been watching the blues play since 1983 and this is the softest team I have ever seen. It's starts with Army, he didn't feel that toughness was needed anymore even though players have said they needed someone. Hopefully Steen can right this wrong and get some mean North American boys that actually care.

[dman1]

Between Leddy and Suter, we probably lost 2400 games of experience. Suter seemed to really help us settle down defensively. Leddy could compliment the top pair or be the #5-#6 guy. I think we forget how good he played on that win streak with Parayko being injured.

Our top 6 forwards - they've all but disappeared in terms of compete and production. After the 4 nations, Thomas was playing like a top line center and Schenn was producing and executing like a #2 center. Holloway was a completely different player last year. Kyrou was, too. Faska provided stability. Walker brought energy every night. Our 3rd line had emerging young talent that was produced depth scoring.

Right now there's no compete level. Fly bys, feet standing still, weak little poke checks, not getting into lanes, among other things, is brutal to watch. The team literally looks like they couldn't care less with the results this year.

On top of that - what exactly is our defensive structure? It looks like they try to stay man on man but in a zone and it's leaving lanes completely wide open. If we do get the puck, it makes for a very difficult transition to attacking - nobody is in position, everybody's feet are not moving, and The Blues get burnt either way.

+1 Well said.

[Rollin' on the River]

Let’s can Ott.

Firing an assistant worked for Toronto for a game .

He and Julien should’ve been gone when they hired Monty. I’ve said this before - HCs usually have some say who their assistants are.

Not when your owners head is buried so far up your GMs (donkey).

Stillman doesn’t have the guts to do what’s needed to be done because to him Army can do no wrong and if Army says to keep Ott, Stillman bows down rather than remind Armstrong who’s team it is.

[Russdv14]

If I were Monty, I would have taken a leave of absence from the team a few weeks back. This group of players has quit on him. He cannot motivate them to start a game properly and with energy. He’s going to make his money so why put up with this aggravation. So many people (maybe outside of St. Louis?) think Steve Ott will make a great coach one day. Put it on him to motivate the team for a while. Frankly, I think Steve and maybe the other assistant coaches are the real ones who should move on. Whoever runs the repetitive power-play should give that task to someone else. Let Ott suffer for awhile

.
Either the players aren’t listening or they are taught wrong.
Monty is the victim and should not put up with this. The players quit on him. He should make some excuse and walk out for a while.

[juan good eye]

Let’s can Ott.

Firing an assistant worked for Toronto for a game .

He and Julien should’ve been gone when they hired Monty. I’ve said this before - HCs usually have some say who their assistants are.

Not when your owners head is buried so far up your GMs (donkey).

Stillman doesn’t have the guts to do what’s needed to be done because to him Army can do no wrong and if Army says to keep Ott, Stillman bows down rather than remind Armstrong who’s team it is.

Honestly the owner needs to not micromanage but trust his guys. OTOH yeah Army was toast 5 years ago.

[Rollin' on the River]

Let’s can Ott.

Firing an assistant worked for Toronto for a game .

He and Julien should’ve been gone when they hired Monty. I’ve said this before - HCs usually have some say who their assistants are.

Not when your owners head is buried so far up your GMs (donkey).

Stillman doesn’t have the guts to do what’s needed to be done because to him Army can do no wrong and if Army says to keep Ott, Stillman bows down rather than remind Armstrong who’s team it is.

Honestly the owner needs to not micromanage but trust his guys. OTOH yeah Army was toast 5 years ago.

Call it a preference in management style.

Some of us are more hands on “micromanagement” and others haven’t been burned bad enough by incompetence to trust their people