Army is out of options

[Bacchk29]

He clearly needs to send a message. What are we even playing for? I don’t want to keep hearing we are 3pts out of a playoff spot….i guess it’s 5 now so that’s a bonus. This team is absolute hot garbage and there is a serious problem in that locker room and it needs to be addressed before it infects our young players

Question is what’s the message. What’s the identity? The scheme? Army has drafted lean fast players to play a quick transition game. The coaching staff seems to teach a heavy, north south, on the forecheck style we won the Cup with 7 years ago. Surely confusing to your players. The former is the league trend not the latter. Look around the league teams generally don’t play the heavy game anymore. Also your team scoring is dependent on your top 6 producing every night. Generally there’s no supplemental scoring from your D or the bottom 6.

I agree except Florida just went to 3 consecutive Stanley Cup Finals and won 2 with that exact style. If some of the players won't adjust to the system, then get players who will.

Florida's style is what is going to win most of the time.

The Oilers with Gretzky aren't going to be resurrected and neither are the Penguins and Lemieux.

Being able to keep that kind of skill with the salary cap isn't sustainable.

Maybe they don't play a "heavy" game in the regular season but when the playoffs start its a different animal.

This is exactly what I’ve been saying the whole time — the playoffs are a completely different animal. Look at Florida: that team is built for playoff hockey. Same with Tampa — heavy, mean, and miserable to play against when it matters.

Carolina is the perfect example of a great regular-season team that turns into a bunch of passengers in the playoffs because half the roster isn’t built for it. All pace, no bite.

Colorado? They’ll be a wagon in the regular season, no doubt. But come playoff time, don’t be shocked if they’re bounced by the second round. Talent wins you games — playoff hockey needs something else.

The Blues need to pick an identity already. Either you sell and build a heavier team that’s actually made for playoff hockey, or you keep the core, move on from the coach, and bring in someone who wants to play fast. Straddling the fence gets you nowhere.

Florida is loaded with players 27-28 and up in age. If the Blues try to transition to THAT they'll either be loaded with JAGs (terrible) or waiting years.

I’m not asking for 27–28-year-old players. I’m saying the team needs to decide what kind of team it wants to be. Monty is a 200-foot coach, and we’ve got players who simply can’t play a 200-foot game.

So you either bring in younger guys and groom them into a heavy, structured team — or you move on from Monty and hire a coach who wants to play fast. Pick a lane and commit, because this middle ground isn’t working.

You’re spot on completely agree. That being said, Army does himself no favors when he says he’s not taking draft picks or prospects in trades, just roster players. That just doesn’t happen these days. Probably the reason no deals have been made.

[Pierre McGuire]

The OP was an open call for hot troll garbage, and that's what all this is.

Pretty sure everyone here knows I don’t troll. This was a thread for discussion purposes for the forum.

He clearly needs to send a message. What are we even playing for? I don’t want to keep hearing we are 3pts out of a playoff spot….i guess it’s 5 now so that’s a bonus. This team is absolute hot garbage and there is a serious problem in that locker room and it needs to be addressed before it infects our young players

There's your OP. Troll bait. "Hot garbage", "there is a serious problem in that locker room".

This IMHO is not typical of the vast majority of your normal posts. Have you been in the locker room? Have you been talking to the players or coaches? If so, say so. Otherwise, that may be your opinion but it's wild speculation, and it unquestionably feeds the "hot garbage" and "serious problem" troll narratives we wade through. It even led to postings about Holloway wanting out.

The locker room would be important if your speculation is true, but IMHO your statement is speculative.

Something with you has changed, you are normally FAR more analytical and insightful. Frustrated? Sure, most of us are. Expectations have not been met, and the expectations for this season are shifting in the wrong direction. This is akin to watching a stock drop in value today. What are the long-range expectations and trends? Does the long range plan need to be altered or ripped up? Why or why not? I don't think the current problems really impact the long term plan in ways that cannot be addressed. The kids are doing OK, if not great. The biggest issues appear to me to be Buchnevich, Kyrou, and Holloway's health and durability, all of which might yet self-correct.

This team is hot garbage and there are issues in that locker room. Binner ignoring the coach, we’ve seen Monty argue with other players this season..namely Kyrou. There is something off with this team.
Some of the guys have been here too long, and it’s grown stale. JR said today that he believes they are exploring moving guys like Thomas and Kyrou. He also mentioned Buch.

[theograce]

Armstrong bit the hands that fed him and showed more loyalty to outsiders than devoted Blues who gave their all for a championship.

He heavily disrespected Pietrangelo, Perron, Maroon and others.

It’s karma and I don’t feel bad for him.

Time to turn the page…like Dallas did

[Pierre McGuire]

Armstrong bit the hands that fed him and showed more loyalty to outsiders than devoted Blues who gave their all for a championship.

He heavily disrespected Pietrangelo, Perron, Maroon and others.

It’s karma and I don’t feel bad for him.

Time to turn the page…like Dallas did

They are turning the page. They aren’t gonna fire him but his time is about up. Not sure Steen is the answer but I guess we are gonna find out

[theograce]

Armstrong bit the hands that fed him and showed more loyalty to outsiders than devoted Blues who gave their all for a championship.

He heavily disrespected Pietrangelo, Perron, Maroon and others.

It’s karma and I don’t feel bad for him.

Time to turn the page…like Dallas did

They are turning the page. They aren’t gonna fire him but his time is about up. Not sure Steen is the answer but I guess we are gonna find out

Yeah…just time for a new chapter of Blues hockey.

He should have been fired. There’s no doubt about that, but I appreciate that he has acknowledged some mistakes and has some regrets…because he should. He treated some really good people poorly and let his old school beliefs get in his own way.

[rezero]

Agree with Harry. If we just bench or trade Binnington, we make the playoffs. He is the worst goal tender in the league right now. That is the easy way to progress this team.

[dtkblueshockey]

Army literally just said he will still have the final call on decisions made reg hockey operations. But he did say that he and Steen will basically be making those decisions together.

So, I don't think much is going to change in the big scheme until Army decides to retire or his contract as POHO expires.

[juan good eye]

Agree with Harry. If we just bench or trade Binnington, we make the playoffs. He is the worst goal tender in the league right now. That is the easy way to progress this team.

Omg the playoffs! Only half the league qualifies folks and nothing tastes like sweet 16. Forget building a Cup contender let’s go streaking! Two in a row! Two in a row! Two in a row! Toss the blue chew bc it’ll be hard to not get up for the avs beating. First round bound and down make the Lou proud boys!

[Blues Dave]

We just bench or trade one player, we make the playoffs.

[Jeff Goldblum]

Agree with Harry. If we just bench or trade Binnington, we make the playoffs. He is the worst goal tender in the league right now. That is the easy way to progress this team.

Omg the playoffs! Only half the league qualifies folks and nothing tastes like sweet 16. Forget building a Cup contender let’s go streaking! Two in a row! Two in a row! Two in a row! Toss the blue chew bc it’ll be hard to not get up for the avs beating. First round bound and down make the Lou proud boys!

Do you feel better now?

[a smell of green grass]

That being said, Army does himself no favors when he says he’s not taking draft picks or prospects in trades, just roster players. That just doesn’t happen these days. Probably the reason no deals have been made.

My guess is a bit different.

Consider what would happen if Army traded Kryou for draft picks, and the draft picks received were Round 2 and lower. That would be exceptionally embarrassing and humiliating to Army. Fans would ask how Army's best players only draw that much value in return.

Conversely, consider what would happen if Army trades Kyrou for a player. The "value" of that received player is a great big unknown often. Army can tell us that the player is a hidden gem, etc.

This is why Army is telling the world that he "doesn't want picks". It's saves Army from humiliation.

[Harry S Deals]

He clearly needs to send a message. What are we even playing for? I don’t want to keep hearing we are 3pts out of a playoff spot….i guess it’s 5 now so that’s a bonus. This team is absolute hot garbage and there is a serious problem in that locker room and it needs to be addressed before it infects our young players

Question is what’s the message. What’s the identity? The scheme? Army has drafted lean fast players to play a quick transition game. The coaching staff seems to teach a heavy, north south, on the forecheck style we won the Cup with 7 years ago. Surely confusing to your players. The former is the league trend not the latter. Look around the league teams generally don’t play the heavy game anymore. Also your team scoring is dependent on your top 6 producing every night. Generally there’s no supplemental scoring from your D or the bottom 6.

I agree except Florida just went to 3 consecutive Stanley Cup Finals and won 2 with that exact style. If some of the players won't adjust to the system, then get players who will.

Florida's style is what is going to win most of the time.

The Oilers with Gretzky aren't going to be resurrected and neither are the Penguins and Lemieux.

Being able to keep that kind of skill with the salary cap isn't sustainable.

Maybe they don't play a "heavy" game in the regular season but when the playoffs start its a different animal.

This is exactly what I’ve been saying the whole time — the playoffs are a completely different animal. Look at Florida: that team is built for playoff hockey. Same with Tampa — heavy, mean, and miserable to play against when it matters.

Carolina is the perfect example of a great regular-season team that turns into a bunch of passengers in the playoffs because half the roster isn’t built for it. All pace, no bite.

Colorado? They’ll be a wagon in the regular season, no doubt. But come playoff time, don’t be shocked if they’re bounced by the second round. Talent wins you games — playoff hockey needs something else.

The Blues need to pick an identity already. Either you sell and build a heavier team that’s actually made for playoff hockey, or you keep the core, move on from the coach, and bring in someone who wants to play fast. Straddling the fence gets you nowhere.

Florida is loaded with players 27-28 and up in age. If the Blues try to transition to THAT they'll either be loaded with JAGs (terrible) or waiting years.

I’m not asking for 27–28-year-old players. I’m saying the team needs to decide what kind of team it wants to be. Monty is a 200-foot coach, and we’ve got players who simply can’t play a 200-foot game.

So you either bring in younger guys and groom them into a heavy, structured team — or you move on from Monty and hire a coach who wants to play fast. Pick a lane and commit, because this middle ground isn’t working.

You’re spot on completely agree. That being said, Army does himself no favors when he says he’s not taking draft picks or prospects in trades, just roster players. That just doesn’t happen these days. Probably the reason no deals have been made.

Army took draft picks that ended us as Stenberg and Lindstein. The Blues are absolutely trying to play fast however the guys up front are kind of an odd mix and the guys getting paid arent doing a very good job. This was supposed to be a rush/pressure forecheck team

[bud white]

He clearly needs to send a message. What are we even playing for? I don’t want to keep hearing we are 3pts out of a playoff spot….i guess it’s 5 now so that’s a bonus. This team is absolute hot garbage and there is a serious problem in that locker room and it needs to be addressed before it infects our young players

I heard this in a Blues feature. Something for their social channels.

When asked what resolution they would make for a team mate, someone said "For Rouzy to get more sleep, you know? Wake up a little earlier. Maybe. Get the mind going." Interpret how you will...

[MandatoryDenial]

Some of the guys have been here too long, and it’s grown stale. JR said today that he believes they are exploring moving guys like Thomas and Kyrou. He also mentioned Buch.

Who exactly is going to trade for Buch? I think the only movement you can expect with Buchnevich is the waiver wire for sending him down. May I suggest the ECHL with this guy. I wouldn't send him where your putting draft picks as he has shown nothing at all this season while holding down key minutes. I would want that guy out of the room completely. Bury him in the ECHL and recoup your 1 million. Eat the rest and pray that he asks for a contract termination to return to the NHL.

[theograce]

Armstrong publicly said that NHL teams would tank for Kyrou.

Yet, he’s been trying to trade him for 2 years and can’t get traction.

It’s embarrassing…I hope he feels that like a normal person would.

[zuck698]

The OP was an open call for hot troll garbage, and that's what all this is.

Pretty sure everyone here knows I don’t troll. This was a thread for discussion purposes for the forum.

He clearly needs to send a message. What are we even playing for? I don’t want to keep hearing we are 3pts out of a playoff spot….i guess it’s 5 now so that’s a bonus. This team is absolute hot garbage and there is a serious problem in that locker room and it needs to be addressed before it infects our young players

There's your OP. Troll bait. "Hot garbage", "there is a serious problem in that locker room".

This IMHO is not typical of the vast majority of your normal posts. Have you been in the locker room? Have you been talking to the players or coaches? If so, say so. Otherwise, that may be your opinion but it's wild speculation, and it unquestionably feeds the "hot garbage" and "serious problem" troll narratives we wade through. It even led to postings about Holloway wanting out.

The locker room would be important if your speculation is true, but IMHO your statement is speculative.

Something with you has changed, you are normally FAR more analytical and insightful. Frustrated? Sure, most of us are. Expectations have not been met, and the expectations for this season are shifting in the wrong direction. This is akin to watching a stock drop in value today. What are the long-range expectations and trends? Does the long range plan need to be altered or ripped up? Why or why not? I don't think the current problems really impact the long term plan in ways that cannot be addressed. The kids are doing OK, if not great. The biggest issues appear to me to be Buchnevich, Kyrou, and Holloway's health and durability, all of which might yet self-correct.

This team is hot garbage and there are issues in that locker room. Binner ignoring the coach, we’ve seen Monty argue with other players this season..namely Kyrou. There is something off with this team.
Some of the guys have been here too long, and it’s grown stale. JR said today that he believes they are exploring moving guys like Thomas and Kyrou. He also mentioned Buch.

I said at the time, I did not agree with Army signing Monty to 5 years. No, I am not blaming the coach here, but it does limit Army's ability to make a change when it is needed. And we all know shelf life's are usually not 5 years or longer in the NHL. That being said, this is not on Monty at this point. Yes, I don't love his constant line changes or goalie choices, but here the "Cancers" have tuned out yet another coach. So I see the rationale in Army's thinking, but it does leave Steen in a tough spot if they needed to move on from Monty at some point. At this point, I say tear it down to the studs. When I watch slow line changes and moping attitudes all over the ice, the time for change was yesterday!