Army's fatal flaw over the past 5 years

[rezero]

How did Army take a Stanley Cup champion and turn it into the worst scoring offense and 3rd most porous defensive team in just 6 years. The answer is easy as he took a team with a clear identity as we the toughest most physical team in the league and tried to transition them to a small finesse team. Now we are in the middle in a lot of areas, but great in none.

The problem is that to win in the NHL you need to have a clear identity and do something better than the other 31 teams. If you want to be a small ultra-fast team you need to do that better than anyone else. If you want to be a team with a centralized star player that you build around, then that start player better burn the brightest. If you want to have a team without a start but is balanced across 4 lines, then your top line needs to have the defense to stop other teams' top lines and your 3rd and 4th line needs to outscore and outplay everyone's 3rd and 4th lines. If you want a shutout defense team, you need at least 4 elite shutdown defenders and a great goalie.

We have no uber elite star player. We are on the smaller size across the lineup. We do not have a quick/fast team. We simply do not have a clear identity as I have no idea what type of team Army is trying to build.

Despite this, we have played our worst hockey the first half and are on the cusp on a playoff. For me I would love to see us get into the playoff (would help the team financially also) just for the entertainment value but then do a full dismantling and start building a team with an identity whatever that may be. Players like Schenn are keepers if you want to get back to the black and blue. Players like Kyrou are keepers if you want to build finesse. A few players like Thomas and Parayko are keepers regardless. Let's pick a direction and go all in towards one identity.

[TheSolution]

Doug thought he was Jerry Krause.

Doug wanted to win and then win again with his fingerprints all over it instead of it being certain players era, it would be the Doug era.

Management wins championships, not players is the specific mentality.

Doug destroyed what should have been when he pushed Petro out. Which he did do. He 100% pushed him out.

From that point many mistakes were made.

[ManitobaBlues]

Doug thought he was Jerry Krause.

Doug wanted to win and then win again with his fingerprints all over it instead of it being certain players era, it would be the Doug era.

Management wins championships, not players is the specific mentality.

Doug destroyed what should have been when he pushed Petro out. Which he did do. He 100% pushed him out.

From that point many mistakes were made.

I agree on the Petro situation — at this point, it doesn’t even matter who was right or wrong. Losing Petro was the rock slide that started it all. After that it was Perron, Tarasenko, Maroon, Mikkola, Dunn, and then Schwartz — one after another.

If we’d signed Petro, where would this team be right now? Who knows. But realistically, Armstrong is the expert and his decision so maybe he made a gamble who knows.

[Bubble4427]

Doug thought he was Jerry Krause.

Doug wanted to win and then win again with his fingerprints all over it instead of it being certain players era, it would be the Doug era.

Management wins championships, not players is the specific mentality.

Doug destroyed what should have been when he pushed Petro out. Which he did do. He 100% pushed him out.

From that point many mistakes were made.

I agree on the Petro situation — at this point, it doesn’t even matter who was right or wrong. Losing Petro was the rock slide that started it all. After that it was Perron, Tarasenko, Maroon, Mikkola, Dunn, and then Schwartz — one after another.

If we’d signed Petro, where would this team be right now? Who knows. But realistically, Armstrong is the expert and his decision so maybe he made a gamble who knows.

Losing Petro was not where the rock slide started.
The cap was a problem and you were going to lose players regardless.
IMO, losing Jbow unexpectedly is what started it all…. We spent 4+ yerars trying to patch that hole of who was going to play with Parayko and be your #1 defensive pair.

[Tony Palazzolo]

Doug thought he was Jerry Krause.

Doug wanted to win and then win again with his fingerprints all over it instead of it being certain players era, it would be the Doug era.

Management wins championships, not players is the specific mentality.

Doug destroyed what should have been when he pushed Petro out. Which he did do. He 100% pushed him out.

From that point many mistakes were made.

I agree on the Petro situation — at this point, it doesn’t even matter who was right or wrong. Losing Petro was the rock slide that started it all. After that it was Perron, Tarasenko, Maroon, Mikkola, Dunn, and then Schwartz — one after another.

If we’d signed Petro, where would this team be right now? Who knows. But realistically, Armstrong is the expert and his decision so maybe he made a gamble who knows.

Losing Petro was not where the rock slide started.
The cap was a problem and you were going to lose players regardless.
IMO, losing Jbow unexpectedly is what started it all…. We spent 4+ yerars trying to patch that hole of who was going to play with Parayko and be your #1 defensive pair.

Teams have a window when they are SC competitive teams. No team stays in that window for long. Players age and injuries catch up. Younger players get paid and take up more cap space. Some players leave for more money.

The Blues window was open for a couple of seasons. Obviously they won the cup. The next year was covid. I for one never bought into the "not playing in front of crowds" theory on why they lost to Vancouver. But it is what it is.

There are many ways to build a SC team. Armstrong chose not go the full rebuild route. I happen to agree because you still had young talent. He traded away older talent for extra picks in a deep draft. We are just getting to see the benefits of those decisions 4 years ago. Next year you may very well have all 3 of those first rounders on the roster with two of them having a season under their belt. This was never the year that planned out to be a playoff team. The heist of Broberg and Holloway quickened the process and got everyone excited. There is no doubt they should be better than their record but you still have to look at the future as bright.

[Cahokanut]

For two years and three drafts. Management tried to bring the team up to the new times.

But, Yeo could not get the squad of slower older guys, to work full speed for a full shift. With no pressure, the ending of the Yeo era, and freedom to play their way. The team took on the story being wrote and danced right in to a Gloria cup for the road.

This is when armys fatal flaw showed it's ugly head again. That's his big ego.

Thinking he was the real reason for the cup. Army dove back in and doubled down on the only game he had ever known. Hitch Hockey.

This is when Contracts was no longer negotiated, but dictated. This is when the smartest guy in the room let everyone know he was also the toughest. Not only did he know which guys to throw a 6yr,6mill(Those he traded for/signed). He also wasn't afraid to give home grown(drafted before him) fan favorites away that wouldnt agree to his great knowledge. After the Cup, Army Went fully no regrets, his way.

Army's biggest fatal flaw has always been his Ego.

[a smell of green grass]

Fatal flaws in judgment:

1. Core players (Thomas, Kyrou, Buchnevich) are average to below average. Army bet on the wrong horses.
2. Parayko was very solid, but has aged to average with no offense. Army should have found his young replacement years ago.
3. Is there a hockey fan in the world that would consider Army's "retool" over? How stupid does Army think that the fans are? How many combined goals and assists has the retool players achieved? 10 points max.
4. The book on Mailloux was written about 2 years ago. Every hockey fan in Canada older than 5 knew his limitations. Army and his scouts, smartest guy in the room, knew differently. Instead of trading Bolduc for something valuable, we acquired an additional 2-years of RHD distraction.
5. Army considered the playoff games last year as evidence of an upward trajectory, and told the fan base to expect 5% better. Anyone that analyzed that series would see the the team of Jan 2025 was going to return in October of 2025.
6. Army brought in Montgomery to hit teams in the mouth in February and March, and April. While Florida and other teams were resting up for the playoffs and playing prospects, the Blues were playing big man on campus. The same is set to happen this year as the Blues are on national TV often in the final month of the regular season. This will spoil our draft position yet again for the sake of cash register benefit.
7. Binnington has been the Army's giant eraser. His career has made Army look brilliant. Sadly, Binny has lost a step, and now Army has to fly without that advantage. Army should have traded Binnington to a contender last year. His value going forward is near zero.

[Jeff Goldblum]

Fatal flaws in judgment:

1. Core players (Thomas, Kyrou, Buchnevich) are average to below average. Army bet on the wrong horses.
2. Parayko was very solid, but has aged to average with no offense. Army should have found his young replacement years ago.
3. Is there a hockey fan in the world that would consider Army's "retool" over? How stupid does Army think that the fans are? How many combined goals and assists has the retool players achieved? 10 points max.
4. The book on Mailloux was written about 2 years ago. Every hockey fan in Canada older than 5 knew his limitations. Army and his scouts, smartest guy in the room, knew differently. Instead of trading Bolduc for something valuable, we acquired an additional 2-years of RHD distraction.
5. Army considered the playoff games last year as evidence of an upward trajectory, and told the fan base to expect 5% better. Anyone that analyzed that series would see the the team of Jan 2025 was going to return in October of 2025.
6. Army brought in Montgomery to hit teams in the mouth in February and March, and April. While Florida and other teams were resting up for the playoffs and playing prospects, the Blues were playing big man on campus. The same is set to happen this year as the Blues are on national TV often in the final month of the regular season. This will spoil our draft position yet again for the sake of cash register benefit.
7. Binnington has been the Army's giant eraser. His career has made Army look brilliant. Sadly, Binny has lost a step, and now Army has to fly without that advantage. Army should have traded Binnington to a contender last year. His value going forward is near zero.

Do you not like Armstrong or something??

[a smell of green grass]

Fatal flaws in judgment:

1. Core players (Thomas, Kyrou, Buchnevich) are average to below average. Army bet on the wrong horses.
2. Parayko was very solid, but has aged to average with no offense. Army should have found his young replacement years ago.
3. Is there a hockey fan in the world that would consider Army's "retool" over? How stupid does Army think that the fans are? How many combined goals and assists has the retool players achieved? 10 points max.
4. The book on Mailloux was written about 2 years ago. Every hockey fan in Canada older than 5 knew his limitations. Army and his scouts, smartest guy in the room, knew differently. Instead of trading Bolduc for something valuable, we acquired an additional 2-years of RHD distraction.
5. Army considered the playoff games last year as evidence of an upward trajectory, and told the fan base to expect 5% better. Anyone that analyzed that series would see the the team of Jan 2025 was going to return in October of 2025.
6. Army brought in Montgomery to hit teams in the mouth in February and March, and April. While Florida and other teams were resting up for the playoffs and playing prospects, the Blues were playing big man on campus. The same is set to happen this year as the Blues are on national TV often in the final month of the regular season. This will spoil our draft position yet again for the sake of cash register benefit.
7. Binnington has been the Army's giant eraser. His career has made Army look brilliant. Sadly, Binny has lost a step, and now Army has to fly without that advantage. Army should have traded Binnington to a contender last year. His value going forward is near zero.

Do you not like Armstrong or something??

I think that Armstrong is a shady car salesman, but I don't dislike him. I'm sure that he is a fine person in real life.

What I don't like is that Armstrong runs the BLUES differently than other GMs in other cities. Other cities get much more NHL excitement. St Louis gets Rd 1 #15 or worse for 20 years in a row. The kids in St Louis have no idea what name to put on their jersey. I see that as a crime.

[Jeff Goldblum]

Fatal flaws in judgment:

1. Core players (Thomas, Kyrou, Buchnevich) are average to below average. Army bet on the wrong horses.
2. Parayko was very solid, but has aged to average with no offense. Army should have found his young replacement years ago.
3. Is there a hockey fan in the world that would consider Army's "retool" over? How stupid does Army think that the fans are? How many combined goals and assists has the retool players achieved? 10 points max.
4. The book on Mailloux was written about 2 years ago. Every hockey fan in Canada older than 5 knew his limitations. Army and his scouts, smartest guy in the room, knew differently. Instead of trading Bolduc for something valuable, we acquired an additional 2-years of RHD distraction.
5. Army considered the playoff games last year as evidence of an upward trajectory, and told the fan base to expect 5% better. Anyone that analyzed that series would see the the team of Jan 2025 was going to return in October of 2025.
6. Army brought in Montgomery to hit teams in the mouth in February and March, and April. While Florida and other teams were resting up for the playoffs and playing prospects, the Blues were playing big man on campus. The same is set to happen this year as the Blues are on national TV often in the final month of the regular season. This will spoil our draft position yet again for the sake of cash register benefit.
7. Binnington has been the Army's giant eraser. His career has made Army look brilliant. Sadly, Binny has lost a step, and now Army has to fly without that advantage. Army should have traded Binnington to a contender last year. His value going forward is near zero.

Do you not like Armstrong or something??

I think that Armstrong is a shady car salesman, but I don't dislike him. I'm sure that he is a fine person in real life.

What I don't like is that Armstrong runs the BLUES differently than other GMs in other cities. Other cities get much more NHL excitement. St Louis gets Rd 1 #15 or worse for 20 years in a row. The kids in St Louis have no idea what name to put on their jersey. I see that as a crime.

Thanks for the clarification. You've never mentioned that before. It definitely is a crime. On par with manslaughter.

[Frank Underwood]

Jeff Goldblum……..

I don’t think he is bright enough to pick up on the sarcasm!

[Bubble4427]

Doug thought he was Jerry Krause.

Doug wanted to win and then win again with his fingerprints all over it instead of it being certain players era, it would be the Doug era.

Management wins championships, not players is the specific mentality.

Doug destroyed what should have been when he pushed Petro out. Which he did do. He 100% pushed him out.

From that point many mistakes were made.

I agree on the Petro situation — at this point, it doesn’t even matter who was right or wrong. Losing Petro was the rock slide that started it all. After that it was Perron, Tarasenko, Maroon, Mikkola, Dunn, and then Schwartz — one after another.

If we’d signed Petro, where would this team be right now? Who knows. But realistically, Armstrong is the expert and his decision so maybe he made a gamble who knows.

Losing Petro was not where the rock slide started.
The cap was a problem and you were going to lose players regardless.
IMO, losing Jbow unexpectedly is what started it all…. We spent 4+ yerars trying to patch that hole of who was going to play with Parayko and be your #1 defensive pair.

Teams have a window when they are SC competitive teams. No team stays in that window for long. Players age and injuries catch up. Younger players get paid and take up more cap space. Some players leave for more money.

The Blues window was open for a couple of seasons. Obviously they won the cup. The next year was covid. I for one never bought into the "not playing in front of crowds" theory on why they lost to Vancouver. But it is what it is.

There are many ways to build a SC team. Armstrong chose not go the full rebuild route. I happen to agree because you still had young talent. He traded away older talent for extra picks in a deep draft. We are just getting to see the benefits of those decisions 4 years ago. Next year you may very well have all 3 of those first rounders on the roster with two of them having a season under their belt. This was never the year that planned out to be a playoff team. The heist of Broberg and Holloway quickened the process and got everyone excited. There is no doubt they should be better than their record but you still have to look at the future as bright.

I completely agree.
Great post and enjoy the New Year

[theograce]

Army's biggest fatal flaw has always been his Ego.

When he said he realized that he rides the backs of players and that he sees pietrangelo every time he sees statues…it was too little too late.

He’s entitled and old school which has pros and cons. He didn’t learn from his Dallas days in that regard

[BalotelliMassive]

His fatal flaw is arrogance.

[rlogue06]

Let’s just hope he reads this forum so he knows what to do and what not to do going forward….

[JoshInFenton]

Doug is good when you hand him a bunch of assets at pushing the team a bit further at the cost of other aspects. He's not amazing at building from the ground up, knows it, and chooses not to do it.

He's also pretty mid at some of his financial choices. not the worst GM at it, not the best.

Decent at bigger asset deals, good at knowing where his team is at typically. Kinda wondering if he's not fully tinkering this club due to his status as an outbound GM. If he didn't have someone waiting in the wings to make their own mark, i kinda feel like he'd push someone out as he's done with a few players.