stlblue06 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 15:55 pm
Man I know Thompson got us ROR and no cup without ROR but man the reality is that Thompson was a late 1st rounder that showed next to nothing in his first stint with the Blues. I’m sure Buffalo would have taken a number of different prospects instead or even an extra pick.
Crazy for any #26 overall pick to turn into a top tier goal scorer and of course it’s the Blues that let him go when he didn’t have a chance to develop.
Not only can he score, he has size and strength. All things badly missing from this Blues offense
Who else was going to bring back O’Reilly?
How did Buffalo do during that time?
What do you mean? You know Thompson was just a recent late 1st rounder that had shown nothing yet right? The Blues could have included a different prospect or another 1st.
Yes easier to say in hindsight, I’m just saying the Blues could have easily got ROR without given up Thompson.
First-Off, we can’t change history no can we know what Buffalo was demanding. Second, here’s an article from 2017 about the Blues Prospects.
Now, that’s just some random list, but you’re looking at Kyrou as the #1 Prospect, but actually drafted after Thompson, and Robert Thomas drafted the next year. So, who’s to argue Thompson wasn’t the #1 Center Prospect in the organization and most NHL-Ready Prospect at that time?
Tage actually played in 41 Games for the Blues in 2017/18 as a 20 year old. So, do you think Buffalo would have taken Oskar Sundqvist (23) or Ivan Barbashev (22) over Tage? Those were the young Centers who played for the Blues the year prior to the Buffalo trade for O’Reilly.
....maybe would, if we never added/ forced them on Berglund and Sobotka.
Doubt they’d if had the Cap Space to bring in O’Reilly.
2017/18 Blues
Bergy - $3.85M
Sobotka - $3.5M
2018/19 Blues
O’Reilly - $7.5M
Didn't we sign somebody earlier in the day that forced us to add/ forced them to take/ Berglund and Sobotka IF they wanted it to happen? (they came back around). maybe I'm mis-remembering.
edit: Perron and Bozak.
Last edited by crookedfeeder on 20 Feb 2026 17:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
DawgDad wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 16:54 pm
Boy, this thread got hijacked!
No joke!
On topic, I will take a big win like that any day! Hopefully Sudays game is entertaining but would not mind USA blowing out Canada... that probably won't happen.
stlblue06 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 15:55 pm
Man I know Thompson got us ROR and no cup without ROR but man the reality is that Thompson was a late 1st rounder that showed next to nothing in his first stint with the Blues. I’m sure Buffalo would have taken a number of different prospects instead or even an extra pick.
Crazy for any #26 overall pick to turn into a top tier goal scorer and of course it’s the Blues that let him go when he didn’t have a chance to develop.
Not only can he score, he has size and strength. All things badly missing from this Blues offense
Who else was going to bring back O’Reilly?
How did Buffalo do during that time?
What do you mean? You know Thompson was just a recent late 1st rounder that had shown nothing yet right? The Blues could have included a different prospect or another 1st.
Yes easier to say in hindsight, I’m just saying the Blues could have easily got ROR without given up Thompson.
First-Off, we can’t change history no can we know what Buffalo was demanding. Second, here’s an article from 2017 about the Blues Prospects.
Now, that’s just some random list, but you’re looking at Kyrou as the #1 Prospect, but actually drafted after Thompson, and Robert Thomas drafted the next year. So, who’s to argue Thompson wasn’t the #1 Center Prospect in the organization and most NHL-Ready Prospect at that time?
Tage actually played in 41 Games for the Blues in 2017/18 as a 20 year old. So, do you think Buffalo would have taken Oskar Sundqvist (23) or Ivan Barbashev (22) over Tage? Those were the young Centers who played for the Blues the year prior to the Buffalo trade for O’Reilly.
....maybe would, if we never added/ forced them on Berglund and Sobotka.
Doubt they’d if had the Cap Space to bring in O’Reilly.
2017/18 Blues
Bergy - $3.85M
Sobotka - $3.5M
2018/19 Blues
O’Reilly - $7.5M
Didn't we sign somebody earlier in the day that forced us to add/ forced them to take Berglund and Sobotka IF they want it to happen.
Bozak ($5M) & Maroon ($1.75M), but were also on the hook for Stastny’s salary in 2017/18.
What are you arguing here? That by keeping Berglund and not signing Tyler Bozak that we win a Cup w/Bergie & Thompson because Buffalo would mysteriously settle for Sammy Blais or Oskar Sundqvist?
6th Round Sammy never had the pedigree and Pittsburgh freaking threw in Sunny for an Enforcer… this is an exercise in futility.
stlblue06 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 15:55 pm
Man I know Thompson got us ROR and no cup without ROR but man the reality is that Thompson was a late 1st rounder that showed next to nothing in his first stint with the Blues. I’m sure Buffalo would have taken a number of different prospects instead or even an extra pick.
Crazy for any #26 overall pick to turn into a top tier goal scorer and of course it’s the Blues that let him go when he didn’t have a chance to develop.
Not only can he score, he has size and strength. All things badly missing from this Blues offense
Who else was going to bring back O’Reilly?
How did Buffalo do during that time?
What do you mean? You know Thompson was just a recent late 1st rounder that had shown nothing yet right? The Blues could have included a different prospect or another 1st.
Yes easier to say in hindsight, I’m just saying the Blues could have easily got ROR without given up Thompson.
First-Off, we can’t change history no can we know what Buffalo was demanding. Second, here’s an article from 2017 about the Blues Prospects.
Now, that’s just some random list, but you’re looking at Kyrou as the #1 Prospect, but actually drafted after Thompson, and Robert Thomas drafted the next year. So, who’s to argue Thompson wasn’t the #1 Center Prospect in the organization and most NHL-Ready Prospect at that time?
Tage actually played in 41 Games for the Blues in 2017/18 as a 20 year old. So, do you think Buffalo would have taken Oskar Sundqvist (23) or Ivan Barbashev (22) over Tage? Those were the young Centers who played for the Blues the year prior to the Buffalo trade for O’Reilly.
....maybe would, if we never added/ forced them on Berglund and Sobotka.
Doubt they’d if had the Cap Space to bring in O’Reilly.
2017/18 Blues
Bergy - $3.85M
Sobotka - $3.5M
2018/19 Blues
O’Reilly - $7.5M
Didn't we sign somebody earlier in the day that forced us to add/ forced them to take Berglund and Sobotka IF they want it to happen.
Bozak ($5M) & Maroon ($1.75M), but were also on the hook for Stastny’s salary in 2017/18.
What are you arguing here? That by keeping Berglund and not signing Tyler Bozak that we win a Cup w/Bergie & Thompson because Buffalo would mysteriously settle for Sammy Blais or Oskar Sundqvist?
6th Round Sammy never had the pedigree and Pittsburgh freaking threw in Sunny for an Enforcer… this is an exercise in futility.
I'm not arguing with anyone. Just stated what I believe went on.
stlblue06 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 15:55 pm
Man I know Thompson got us ROR and no cup without ROR but man the reality is that Thompson was a late 1st rounder that showed next to nothing in his first stint with the Blues. I’m sure Buffalo would have taken a number of different prospects instead or even an extra pick.
Crazy for any #26 overall pick to turn into a top tier goal scorer and of course it’s the Blues that let him go when he didn’t have a chance to develop.
Not only can he score, he has size and strength. All things badly missing from this Blues offense
Who else was going to bring back O’Reilly?
How did Buffalo do during that time?
What do you mean? You know Thompson was just a recent late 1st rounder that had shown nothing yet right? The Blues could have included a different prospect or another 1st.
Yes easier to say in hindsight, I’m just saying the Blues could have easily got ROR without given up Thompson.
First-Off, we can’t change history no can we know what Buffalo was demanding. Second, here’s an article from 2017 about the Blues Prospects.
Now, that’s just some random list, but you’re looking at Kyrou as the #1 Prospect, but actually drafted after Thompson, and Robert Thomas drafted the next year. So, who’s to argue Thompson wasn’t the #1 Center Prospect in the organization and most NHL-Ready Prospect at that time?
Tage actually played in 41 Games for the Blues in 2017/18 as a 20 year old. So, do you think Buffalo would have taken Oskar Sundqvist (23) or Ivan Barbashev (22) over Tage? Those were the young Centers who played for the Blues the year prior to the Buffalo trade for O’Reilly.
....maybe would, if we never added/ forced them on Berglund and Sobotka.
Doubt they’d if had the Cap Space to bring in O’Reilly.
2017/18 Blues
Bergy - $3.85M
Sobotka - $3.5M
2018/19 Blues
O’Reilly - $7.5M
Didn't we sign somebody earlier in the day that forced us to add/ forced them to take Berglund and Sobotka IF they want it to happen.
Bozak ($5M) & Maroon ($1.75M), but were also on the hook for Stastny’s salary in 2017/18.
What are you arguing here? That by keeping Berglund and not signing Tyler Bozak that we win a Cup w/Bergie & Thompson because Buffalo would mysteriously settle for Sammy Blais or Oskar Sundqvist?
6th Round Sammy never had the pedigree and Pittsburgh freaking threw in Sunny for an Enforcer… this is an exercise in futility.
I'm not arguing with anyone. Just stated what I believe went on.
Lopsided game today. Still think Canada takes it. The Binnington factor cannot be ignored.
Regarding the trade that sent Thompson out…
Most of what we’re reading in here is speculation. That said, there are things we know and can infer — specifically, that the GM of the St. Louis Blues said, “Teams tank for players like Kyrou.” We can deduce from this that he overvalued Kyrou and seemingly undervalued Thompson, especially in the context of the shared player rankings in this thread.
That is pretty clearly an error in player evaluation, specifically character and compete level.
Yes, that trade brought ROR and subsequently the cup, but it’s clear he whiffed on Thompson, and he most assuredly whiffed by turning champs into chumps within three years.
Too much quality compete and talent going out without enough heart coming up or in.
SweeneyAstray wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 18:08 pm
Lopsided game today. Still think Canada takes it. The Binnington factor cannot be ignored.
Regarding the trade that sent Thompson out…
Most of what we’re reading in here is speculation. That said, there are things we know and can infer — specifically, that the GM of the St. Louis Blues said, “Teams tank for players like Kyrou.” We can deduce from this that he overvalued Kyrou and seemingly undervalued Thompson, especially in the context of the shared player rankings in this thread.
That is pretty clearly an error in player evaluation, specifically character and compete level.
Yes, that trade brought ROR and subsequently the cup, but it’s clear he whiffed on Thompson, and he most assuredly whiffed by turning champs into chumps within three years.
Too much quality compete and talent going out without enough heart coming up or in.
You realize this Kyrou/Thompson thing is all in your head? The deal is done. It took Thompson to land ROR. Now, the shoe is somewhat on the other foot, we'll see how life plays out.
SweeneyAstray wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 18:08 pm
Lopsided game today. Still think Canada takes it. The Binnington factor cannot be ignored.
Regarding the trade that sent Thompson out…
Most of what we’re reading in here is speculation. That said, there are things we know and can infer — specifically, that the GM of the St. Louis Blues said, “Teams tank for players like Kyrou.” We can deduce from this that he overvalued Kyrou and seemingly undervalued Thompson, especially in the context of the shared player rankings in this thread.
That is pretty clearly an error in player evaluation, specifically character and compete level.
Yes, that trade brought ROR and subsequently the cup, but it’s clear he whiffed on Thompson, and he most assuredly whiffed by turning champs into chumps within three years.
Too much quality compete and talent going out without enough heart coming up or in.
You realize this Kyrou/Thompson thing is all in your head? The deal is done. It took Thompson to land ROR. Now, the shoe is somewhat on the other foot, we'll see how life plays out.
The whole Thompson/Kyrou thing is goofy. The Blues make the trade 100 times out of 100. It will always and forever be a win for the Blues, and it’s also a win for Buffalo. It worked out for both teams. The end.
SweeneyAstray wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 18:08 pm
Lopsided game today. Still think Canada takes it. The Binnington factor cannot be ignored.
Regarding the trade that sent Thompson out…
Most of what we’re reading in here is speculation. That said, there are things we know and can infer — specifically, that the GM of the St. Louis Blues said, “Teams tank for players like Kyrou.” We can deduce from this that he overvalued Kyrou and seemingly undervalued Thompson, especially in the context of the shared player rankings in this thread.
That is pretty clearly an error in player evaluation, specifically character and compete level.
Yes, that trade brought ROR and subsequently the cup, but it’s clear he whiffed on Thompson, and he most assuredly whiffed by turning champs into chumps within three years.
Too much quality compete and talent going out without enough heart coming up or in.
You realize this Kyrou/Thompson thing is all in your head? The deal is done. It took Thompson to land ROR. Now, the shoe is somewhat on the other foot, we'll see how life plays out.
He's just saying that the same person currently in charge of consequential decisions has a history of misjudgment that leads to consequences. To aggressively declare this all in someone's head is to play the old game of choosing absence of tension. The problem with absence of tension is that it's a numb, unthinking place where progress is impossible and cycles endlessly repeat.
SweeneyAstray wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 18:08 pm
Lopsided game today. Still think Canada takes it. The Binnington factor cannot be ignored.
Regarding the trade that sent Thompson out…
Most of what we’re reading in here is speculation. That said, there are things we know and can infer — specifically, that the GM of the St. Louis Blues said, “Teams tank for players like Kyrou.” We can deduce from this that he overvalued Kyrou and seemingly undervalued Thompson, especially in the context of the shared player rankings in this thread.
That is pretty clearly an error in player evaluation, specifically character and compete level.
Yes, that trade brought ROR and subsequently the cup, but it’s clear he whiffed on Thompson, and he most assuredly whiffed by turning champs into chumps within three years.
Too much quality compete and talent going out without enough heart coming up or in.
You realize this Kyrou/Thompson thing is all in your head? The deal is done. It took Thompson to land ROR. Now, the shoe is somewhat on the other foot, we'll see how life plays out.
The whole Thompson/Kyrou thing is goofy. The Blues make the trade 100 times out of 100. It will always and forever be a win for the Blues, and it’s also a win for Buffalo. It worked out for both teams. The end.
Of note: The Blues won the Cup immediately. They have been in the playoffs five of the last seven seasons, Buffalo WITH Tage Thompson is 0-for-7. They might make the playoffs this season, and the Blues probably do not. Yet, somehow, this evidence of Armstrong's failings?
I actually came back to post about Dvorsky. I think we saw in the USA game just how overmatched he still is at times. The fourth US goal in particular, there was a puck battle along the back boards, he left his position in the slot to help out on the puck but COASTED in while the puck battle was lost and the puck was passed out to the goal scorer he would have been in position to cover or block the shot. He abandoned the net front and took himself completely out of the play. Rookie mistake on a stage full of world class players.
I'm not totally down on Dvorsky by any means. He played well in games where the opposing talent and skill wasn't overwhelmingly stacked against his team. What I saw is a player who does not yet appear ready to make a real difference as a top-6 center. His instinctive reactions need to maximize his potential to impact play, coasting around in his own zone isn't in the playbook. Hope he shows better today and progresses over the remaining games.
I'm not arguing with anyone. Just stated what I believe went on.