Army is out of options

[John Cocktoastin]

I think it's addition by subtraction. However, they need to get optimal value, if they can.

For me, the biggest reason is this team is going nowhere fast and I would like to rid it of any negative mojo as these younger guys develop. That's what scares the bejeezus out of me.

[Army's Mom]

Wanna send a message? Waive (yes, I said WAIVE) an NTC player. Show the team you're more willing to eat the loss than to endure the madness.

You make a good point — I’ve been wondering the same thing. And honestly, I’ve got a feeling nobody wants to trade with us right now. If you’re going to send a message, that’ll do it… but he’d better make sure he picks the right one to waive.

Starts with Ky and ends in rou.
I dont care how many 50 goal seasons he has in his future. The team played better when he was out.

[Inglewood Jack]

Army is the architect who blueprinted this this mansion with bales of hay. Not much the builder (Berube, Monty) can do, but build the house with hay bales and watch the big bad wolf blow the whole doggone thing down. The "Core" is from a rotten apple. But I still love the Blues... Oh well. Like trading any "key" pieces is going to hurt this team - they are already hurting. There is no core at this time IMO.

[ManitobaBlues]

Thomas, I’m on the fence. He’s a great player, but what drives me crazy is when things don’t go his way — he pouts and spends half the shift looking up at the rafters. He was doing it again last night.

[mph6689new]

Thomas, I’m on the fence. He’s a great player, but what drives me crazy is when things don’t go his way — he pouts and spends half the shift looking up at the rafters. He was doing it again last night.

Agree,his attitude is felt through the tv screen, so imagine how it is perceived by teammates. He needs someone with “a bigger aura” around him. Can reduce the impact of his attitude, and take away some pressure. Love his talent.

[bluecalgary]

I've never been a big fan of Kyrou. Hated his straight legged skating back to the bench since the first time I saw him.. Never any urgency in his game. Looking at the cap implications he has a $8.125M hit each year but after next season his real $$ cost is $6.6M. Perhaps an offer to another team where the Blues carry $1.75M for next season to cover the difference might entice a lower revenue team to bite...

I believe that we are missing leadership pieces that when a game goes badly will make the rest of game uncomfortable for the opposition. I really miss the aggressiveness that 'Blues Hockey' used to mean. Not dirty but the opposition always knew there would be a price to be paid paying the Blues. Can't say I've seen any of this in the players the Blues have drafted over the past 6 years.

[ManitobaBlues]

Armstrong’s days are done — the game has completely passed him by. I mean, look at what Zito’s doing in Florida, BriseBois in Tampa, even Kent Hughes in Montreal. Meanwhile, Armstrong’s still stuck trying to figure out the basics. Time to retire now and not at the end.

[a smell of green grass]

This team is out of options until until Army's DNA has left the building. Army and the ghost of Army (Steen) are going to "stay competitive", and our flight path is set for at least 3 more years.

Why are our options limited?
1. Army's exit affects Army's long-term reputation. No way that the team is going to do the necessary tanking to significantly retool.
2. Army has convinced far too many fans that "staying competitive" is a grand idea.
3. Army has convinced far too many fans that "getting into the playoffs" is the holy grail.
4. There is no follow-up GM that is going to make Army look bad. Nope. Army has "trained" the new guy to be Army 1.000000001. So Army can be assured that the transition out of this Hell will be slow and measured. We won't even remember Army was GM before he could be blamed.

Face it. We are stuck in this Army spiraling toilet bowl, Sports Fans. Staying competitive is our holding pattern. Stop waxing poetic about all the young guys coming on. Our new world will arrive on a gray horse and a man in a gray beard. You won't be seeing any Matthew Schaefer type coming over the horizon. When we lose Thomas/Buch/Kyrou, we will be getting slight upgrades to Kevin Hayes in return. That will be "the direction" that we must run.

Enjoy your "staying competitive", Sports Fans.

[Old_Goat]

Go the Blues website...watch the Locker Room Video clip of last night's game...carefully look at/study the body language of Robert Thomas (mute the video of that helps you). https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/topic/l ... 7401226112

A lot of good points made in various posts above. We cannot change the past, but does that mean we have to be married to it?
A lot of these recent draft picks made in the past 4 years and other recent young player acquisition/additions to the roster deserve better from management and the team.
And while I am at it, can someone help me understand what/if our defensive zone scheme is the same as last year, or the year before that, or if it's zone coverage, or man coverage, or some form of a hybrid coverage?
And is it possible that no "structure" (whatever the heII that is) is better than a confusing/messed-up structure (again whatever the heII that is)?

[smilinjoefission]

The perfect option would be fire Army. Can't fire Monty, well you could, but then you have this used heap of former Blues coaches and nothing to show for it leading many like myself to assume the problem now isn't 100% on the coach. You could cull the roster; Kyrou, Faulk, Parayko, etc, but given Army's mindset of late; his still unwarranted and 100% unneeded contract to Fowler and the recent re-up of Torop (yes his game has come on lately, but he's not a difference maker on offense, defense, or physicality, I worry about him getting violated by more street savvy GMs.

[Bacchk29]

Wanna send a message? Waive (yes, I said WAIVE) an NTC player. Show the team you're more willing to eat the loss than to endure the madness.

You make a good point — I’ve been wondering the same thing. And honestly, I’ve got a feeling nobody wants to trade with us right now. If you’re going to send a message, that’ll do it… but he’d better make sure he picks the right one to waive.

Starts with Ky and ends in rou.
I dont care how many 50 goal seasons he has in his future. The team played better when he was out.

I’ve been a staunch defender of the guy because of the skill. I’m at the point that a change of scenery is probably best. Here’s the issue- you get rid of him. Then what? Are we getting a top 6 consistent player in return? You would have to otherwise you’re not trading him. I’ve mentioned this several times you’re last in the league in scoring. If trades are made you have to address your issues not just addition by subtraction.

[blues2112]

Go the Blues website...watch the Locker Room Video clip of last night's game...carefully look at/study the body language of Robert Thomas (mute the video of that helps you). https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/topic/l ... 7401226112

A lot of good points made in various posts above. We cannot change the past, but does that mean we have to be married to it?
A lot of these recent draft picks made in the past 4 years and other recent young player acquisition/additions to the roster deserve better from management and the team.
And while I am at it, can someone help me understand what/if our defensive zone scheme is the same as last year, or the year before that, or if it's zone coverage, or man coverage, or some form of a hybrid coverage?
And is it possible that no "structure" (whatever the heII that is) is better than a confusing/messed-up structure (again whatever the heII that is)?

Wish one of the reporters would have asked about waving off Binnington!

[bluecalgary]

Wanna send a message? Waive (yes, I said WAIVE) an NTC player. Show the team you're more willing to eat the loss than to endure the madness.

You make a good point — I’ve been wondering the same thing. And honestly, I’ve got a feeling nobody wants to trade with us right now. If you’re going to send a message, that’ll do it… but he’d better make sure he picks the right one to waive.

Starts with Ky and ends in rou.
I dont care how many 50 goal seasons he has in his future. The team played better when he was out.

I’ve been a staunch defender of the guy because of the skill. I’m at the point that a change of scenery is probably best. Here’s the issue- you get rid of him. Then what? Are we getting a top 6 consistent player in return? You would have to otherwise you’re not trading him. I’ve mentioned this several times you’re last in the league in scoring. If trades are made you have to address your issues not just addition by subtraction.

Raises the point. Do you need a top 6 producer now in return. Perhaps having the roster spot open it allows one of our prospects the opportunity to show some skills they don't/won't get playing on the 3rd line (Carboneau, Jecho)... or the prospects we get in return.

[Bluesfan1978]

Army’s tone a couple games ago sounded like they were looking to make changes. Kerber said how good the team was playing and Army said I need to have a much wider view on how the team is playing.
I think some of the leadership needs to be changed out. At a minimum Kyrou needs to be shipped out and replaced with some that will try to impact the game.
Thomas may be fine if a stronger leader plays with him. He’s not a captain.
Buch is not a top line player. Might help Thomas to not be with Buch.
Carbonneau and Jiricek and two of the type of players this team needs but realistically may still be two years away.
Trade Faulk, Kyrou, Schenn, at minimum and turn the returned assets into 1 impact player.
Draft a top 5 pick this year, and maybe a top 10 pick next year while the young guys develop. I wouldn’t attach a draft pick to Buch to trade him but I’d move him down to the 3-4th line if that’s what his play dictates.

[Bluesfan1978]

Also no idea how to fix the goaltending but a sub 900 save percentage will make it hard to make the playoffs any year.

[theograce]

Players are waiting to be traded right now. It’s a hard place for an everyone to be.

The problem is Armstrong is bent over with pants down. Team sucks and nobody is wanting to offer what he feels is acceptable for Kyrou . It’s just like Tarasenko again.