We’ve Done It !!!!

[Hazelwood72]

https://youtu.be/afdsYtguBcs?si=DIWNWqfaTn5tJVch

We are now at the bottom! Number 32 in “The Hockey Guy’s” weekly power rankings.

Thank you, Douggie.

[hockey jedi]

It's not all on Armstrong. The players had something to do with it. The vast majority of this forum went into the season with optimism about this team. It just didn't work out and then spiraled downward. Your sense of entitlement is really out there.

[Hazelwood72]

It's not all on Armstrong. The players had something to do with it. The vast majority of this forum went into the season with optimism about this team. It just didn't work out and then spiraled downward. Your sense of entitlement is really out there.

Hi Jedi,
Yes, I know, Doug doesn’t wear the skates or pads, and it’s the players who play the game. But you have to admit, Doug has pulled a lot of the wrong levers ever since the COVID bubble.

And regarding last year’s team and this year’s outlook, I’ve said all along that we were still a wild card team and not top 3 in the division. And were depending on who we faced in the first round as to whether or not we lived to see a second round. Which is still kinda meh. I was hopeful, but not highly optimistic.

But unlike a few other posters, I’m not on here every day complaining about Doug. But I still think he’s highly overrated as a GM. He caught lightning in a bottle with Binnington’s otherworldly goaltending in Spring 2019.

That’s my $0.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers,
HW72

[DawgDad]

It's not all on Armstrong. The players had something to do with it. The vast majority of this forum went into the season with optimism about this team. It just didn't work out and then spiraled downward. Your sense of entitlement is really out there.

Hi Jedi,
Yes, I know, Doug doesn’t wear the skates or pads, and it’s the players who play the game. But you have to admit, Doug has pulled a lot of the wrong levers ever since the COVID bubble.

And regarding last year’s team and this year’s outlook, I’ve said all along that we were still a wild card team and not top 3 in the division. And were depending on who we faced in the first round as to whether or not we lived to see a second round. Which is still kinda meh. I was hopeful, but not highly optimistic.

But unlike a few other posters, I’m not on here every day complaining about Doug. But I still think he’s highly overrated as a GM. He caught lightning in a bottle with Binnington’s otherworldly goaltending in Spring 2019.

That’s my $0.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers,
HW72

You don't seem to get it. The fan base is clammoring for a top-5 draft pick! Army is pulling all the RIGHT levers, the team getting younger and losing consistently. If he tanks too aggressively he'll lose fans and revenue, ticking off Stillman et al. He's a magician, spraining ankles, concussing heads, collapsing knees, convincing veterans to stop scoring and focus on deflecting shots in their own net. Nope, you don't seem to get it.

[Hazelwood72]

It's not all on Armstrong. The players had something to do with it. The vast majority of this forum went into the season with optimism about this team. It just didn't work out and then spiraled downward. Your sense of entitlement is really out there.

Hi Jedi,
Yes, I know, Doug doesn’t wear the skates or pads, and it’s the players who play the game. But you have to admit, Doug has pulled a lot of the wrong levers ever since the COVID bubble.

And regarding last year’s team and this year’s outlook, I’ve said all along that we were still a wild card team and not top 3 in the division. And were depending on who we faced in the first round as to whether or not we lived to see a second round. Which is still kinda meh. I was hopeful, but not highly optimistic.

But unlike a few other posters, I’m not on here every day complaining about Doug. But I still think he’s highly overrated as a GM. He caught lightning in a bottle with Binnington’s otherworldly goaltending in Spring 2019.

That’s my $0.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers,
HW72

You don't seem to get it. The fan base is clammoring for a top-5 draft pick! Army is pulling all the RIGHT levers, the team getting younger and losing consistently. If he tanks too aggressively he'll lose fans and revenue, ticking off Stillman et al. He's a magician, spraining ankles, concussing heads, collapsing knees, convincing veterans to stop scoring and focus on deflecting shots in their own net. Nope, you don't seem to get it.

Hiya Dawg! Loved your post. Almost made me spew my cup o’ Joe!

Yell with me: “WE WANNA SUCK! WE WANNA SUCK!”

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry over the 2025-2026 Blues.

Lean times for us lifelong Cards & Blues fans. Oh well, it’s only sports and not real life. . My golf game still sucks, and I can’t even blame Army for that!

[Tony Palazzolo]

I've seen a Blues team so devoid of talent that it was going to take years to rebuild. This is not that. No doubt there needs to be some tweaking. He'll make a couple of trades that will bring back some young talent. It certainly looks like we'll get a top 5 pick that might help us next year.

We've got players in the minors that within the next two years will be up on the big club. I'm not happy rooting for them to lose, but it is what it is.

[DawgDad]

It's not all on Armstrong. The players had something to do with it. The vast majority of this forum went into the season with optimism about this team. It just didn't work out and then spiraled downward. Your sense of entitlement is really out there.

Hi Jedi,
Yes, I know, Doug doesn’t wear the skates or pads, and it’s the players who play the game. But you have to admit, Doug has pulled a lot of the wrong levers ever since the COVID bubble.

And regarding last year’s team and this year’s outlook, I’ve said all along that we were still a wild card team and not top 3 in the division. And were depending on who we faced in the first round as to whether or not we lived to see a second round. Which is still kinda meh. I was hopeful, but not highly optimistic.

But unlike a few other posters, I’m not on here every day complaining about Doug. But I still think he’s highly overrated as a GM. He caught lightning in a bottle with Binnington’s otherworldly goaltending in Spring 2019.

That’s my $0.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers,
HW72

You don't seem to get it. The fan base is clammoring for a top-5 draft pick! Army is pulling all the RIGHT levers, the team getting younger and losing consistently. If he tanks too aggressively he'll lose fans and revenue, ticking off Stillman et al. He's a magician, spraining ankles, concussing heads, collapsing knees, convincing veterans to stop scoring and focus on deflecting shots in their own net. Nope, you don't seem to get it.

Hiya Dawg! Loved your post. Almost made me spew my cup o’ Joe!

Yell with me: “WE WANNA SUCK! WE WANNA SUCK!”

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry over the 2025-2026 Blues.

Lean times for us lifelong Cards & Blues fans. Oh well, it’s only sports and not real life. . My golf game still sucks, and I can’t even blame Army for that!

I laugh, I cry, I cheer, but too often I cringe. The worm will turn. Olympics give us all a break, and there's a Super Bowl coming up. Will March Madness be a race to the bottom?

[dhsux]

I've seen a Blues team so devoid of talent that it was going to take years to rebuild. This is not that. No doubt there needs to be some tweaking. He'll make a couple of trades that will bring back some young talent. It certainly looks like we'll get a top 5 pick that might help us next year.

We've got players in the minors that within the next two years will be up on the big club. I'm not happy rooting for them to lose, but it is what it is.

I don't root for them to lose. Last night no exception. They are what they are if the players want to play I'll cheer them on and let the chips fall where they fall.

I agree though....this team is not going into a tear down and I'm pleased with that.

And btw, no one ever brings up ownership regarding this teams basic building/competing strategy. DA could not have torn this team down no matter what his wishes were.

[Quas]

Even if the Blues finish 2nd to last they will be subject to the lottery. As long as they finish in the bottom 5 or 6 they will still have a decent chance at the lottery and if they don’t win they will still get a good player. We probably won’t finish below VAN or NYR and CGY are the only other ones close.

The young guys have at least been entertaining. Give them more ice time! Hopefully after the Olympic break they can move a few guys out and bring up a couple more.

[Hazelwood72]

I've seen a Blues team so devoid of talent that it was going to take years to rebuild. This is not that. No doubt there needs to be some tweaking. He'll make a couple of trades that will bring back some young talent. It certainly looks like we'll get a top 5 pick that might help us next year.

We've got players in the minors that within the next two years will be up on the big club. I'm not happy rooting for them to lose, but it is what it is.

I don't root for them to lose. Last night no exception. They are what they are if the players want to play I'll cheer them on and let the chips fall where they fall.

I agree though....this team is not going into a tear down and I'm pleased with that.

And btw, no one ever brings up ownership regarding this teams basic building/competing strategy. DA could not have torn this team down no matter what his wishes were.

You make 2 good points I agree with:

1) I still root for them to win — even if I predict against them in the PTS.

2). Like ANY team, each GM still has to work within the constraints of ownership. So Tom Stillman and the other minority owners will influence Army’s decisions.

[TheJackBurton]

I've seen a Blues team so devoid of talent that it was going to take years to rebuild. This is not that. No doubt there needs to be some tweaking. He'll make a couple of trades that will bring back some young talent. It certainly looks like we'll get a top 5 pick that might help us next year.

We've got players in the minors that within the next two years will be up on the big club. I'm not happy rooting for them to lose, but it is what it is.

I don't root for them to lose. Last night no exception. They are what they are if the players want to play I'll cheer them on and let the chips fall where they fall.

I agree though....this team is not going into a tear down and I'm pleased with that.

And btw, no one ever brings up ownership regarding this teams basic building/competing strategy. DA could not have torn this team down no matter what his wishes were.

There is no point for a tear down at this point. If there was going to be a tear down it had to have been when they traded O'Reilly, Achari, and the others.

It needs tweaks that's it. The top teams are getting older, we are much younger along with Utah so the odds of a turnaround are much greater.

[Army's Mom]

I've seen a Blues team so devoid of talent that it was going to take years to rebuild. This is not that. No doubt there needs to be some tweaking. He'll make a couple of trades that will bring back some young talent. It certainly looks like we'll get a top 5 pick that might help us next year.

We've got players in the minors that within the next two years will be up on the big club. I'm not happy rooting for them to lose, but it is what it is.

I don't root for them to lose. Last night no exception. They are what they are if the players want to play I'll cheer them on and let the chips fall where they fall.

I agree though....this team is not going into a tear down and I'm pleased with that.

And btw, no one ever brings up ownership regarding this teams basic building/competing strategy. DA could not have torn this team down no matter what his wishes were.

You make 2 good points I agree with:

1) I still root for them to win — even if I predict against them in the PTS.

2). Like ANY team, each GM still has to work within the constraints of ownership. So Tom Stillman and the other minority owners will influence Army’s decisions.

Given what Stillman and Army have said about this not being a market that can sustain a long rebuild with multiple years of not even contending for the playoffs, I think from the moment the Cup window closed (whether they recognized that event as 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023), the marching orders have all along been "sell vets for youth while retaining enough to remain close enough to the playoffs".

That's not because Army is too stupid to realize the mushy middle is "no man's land", nor is it because Stillman is greedy. It's because they need to remain competitive enough for long enough each season to drive enough gate sales to keep their investor owners happy. Stillman can't afford to keep paying for a franchise losing money each year, and the owners in his group who can might not want to make changes sooner than we'd want (ie selling off long term contracts for financial reasons, not hockey ones... Pronger).

It's a tough balancing act, and admittedly I think Army hasn't walked it very well. But that's with the benefit of hindsight. At the time, most of the moves seemed reasonable to me. The only one I remember disagreeing with was the Buchnevich extension.

[SameOldBlues]

https://youtu.be/afdsYtguBcs?si=DIWNWqfaTn5tJVch

We are now at the bottom! Number 32 in “The Hockey Guy’s” weekly power rankings.

Thank you, Douggie.

next drafted generational talent…COME ON DOWN! You’re the #1 draft pick of…Oops, wrong draft I guess…we’ll still get a great player tho, barring another late season heater.

[zamadoo]

Last year on this day, the Blues had 23 wins. At 55GP they had 24 wins. Plus their 5 OT losses, they had 53pts. Blues currently have played 55 games and have 20 wins and 49 pts. Check my counting https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/ ... melog.html

Is this team 4pts worse than last year's?

Being so close, with another big break coming, it does make you pause, but 4 fewer points last season and we don't make the playoffs (I think), and it's hard to imagine them going on another franchise record 13 game win streak.

So, I lean towards sell if there is a deal to be made, and I lean towards finding the right deal for some core players between now and next fall.

[Tony Palazzolo]

I've seen a Blues team so devoid of talent that it was going to take years to rebuild. This is not that. No doubt there needs to be some tweaking. He'll make a couple of trades that will bring back some young talent. It certainly looks like we'll get a top 5 pick that might help us next year.

We've got players in the minors that within the next two years will be up on the big club. I'm not happy rooting for them to lose, but it is what it is.

I don't root for them to lose. Last night no exception. They are what they are if the players want to play I'll cheer them on and let the chips fall where they fall.

I agree though....this team is not going into a tear down and I'm pleased with that.

And btw, no one ever brings up ownership regarding this teams basic building/competing strategy. DA could not have torn this team down no matter what his wishes were.

I guess I should say I'm "not rooting for them" to lose. It's not unlike watching a football game. Without having a hometown team when I watch I'm not rooting for either team. It's about the same watching the Blues. The perfect game now would be a one goal loss in regulation with the younger players scoring.

[callitwhatyouwant]

Last year on this day, the Blues had 23 wins. At 55GP they had 24 wins. Plus their 5 OT losses, they had 53pts. Blues currently have played 55 games and have 20 wins and 49 pts. Check my counting https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/ ... melog.html

Is this team 4pts worse than last year's?

Being so close, with another big break coming, it does make you pause, but 4 fewer points last season and we don't make the playoffs (I think), and it's hard to imagine them going on another franchise record 13 game win streak.

So, I lean towards sell if there is a deal to be made, and I lean towards finding the right deal for some core players between now and next fall.

you bring up a good point. Which is also why I have said it's kind of funny to see fan reaction. Last year there were almost 0 vocal upset people whether it be the radio, this board, or reddit. You had the usual Bot trolls, but most people were just elated to get Monty midseason, and we were waiting for things like Snuggy to show up. It was probably right around this time when Bolduc started finally finding the back of the net too.

People were just happy because they could tell the young team was getting better and Army posted it. that's why I was saying we were an 8-11 seed team. That up to 6-10. but There was just as likely a chance we wouldnt make the playoffs vs we would. Well, here we are. And while losing those 4 points last year would have knocked us out, you have to remember that last year was a really high points year for the West. Usually you have to get to 91-93 to most likely be in. The Mild once got in with 87 in 2015.