Blues four points out of a wildcard with 16 games left

[skilles]

It's more than just winning. It's seeing the team come together and play exciting hockey against good teams. It's watching young players grow into effective NHL players at a young age, and knowing more help is on the way. The Blues were two seconds away from being in the final eight teams last year. I wish I understood why the Blues haven't woken up the last two years until after the break, but they can be a good team.

I would argue the Blues were pretty bad last night and the Canes said "hold my beer"

[Jeff Goldblum]

Anyone else remember 2019 when people kept posting about being better off losing down the stretch when the Blues were pretty far out of a playoff spot. You would think some people would rather of had a top 5 pick over a Stanley Cup parade.

Im so tired of hearing this 2019 comment. This is obviously a different team. Glad to see them playing well but leave 2019 in 2019.

You can be tired of listening to it but the reason it continually gets brought up (just like the Cards in 2011) is because for 30 games now we have been seeing people hoping and wishing for losses because of a draft pick.

If Army had done that at the 2019 TDL then we don't get that parade. To give up on a season before even half of it is played because of some mythical high draft pick becoming a top 5 player in the league has been worn out. They are winning and quite frankly it is upsetting fans which blows my mind.

Just like in 2009, these games matter in teaching young kids how to win in the NHL which is massively important and many don't think it matters. I'd much rather teach young kids how to win in this league than teaching them to lose for a better draft pick.

Its not upsetting fasn; its upsetting trolls.

[Harry S Deals]

I'm still torn, a top pick moves the team along although the Blues have made picks and now a young team is winning..they need to do this Oct-Feb too next year

[BleedingBleu]

Anyone else remember 2019 when people kept posting about being better off losing down the stretch when the Blues were pretty far out of a playoff spot. You would think some people would rather of had a top 5 pick over a Stanley Cup parade.

It’s not even Stanley cup parade this year. We are the 4th youngest team in the league. This team feeling urgency to play for wins and figuring out how to do it Is a big deal. For context, we snuck in last year, but we were 12th youngest team. We have gotten younger but somehow expected better results.

Anyways. Meaningful games matter for guys who are developing skill. We aren’t the maple leafs or the jets who are 1st and 4th oldest. They need to tank. We just need to ride that ole screaming eagle and hope it doesn’t toss us off the rails.

I’m a big fan of the youth movement the Blues have going on. Chef’s Kiss on the Offer Sheet Heist. However, just think about the possibilities of the Blues rebuild and possible outcome vs that of the Maple Leafs.

Toronto had that 1 Playoff appearance between 2005/06-2015/16. For those counting… 11 years, 1 Playoff Appearance; which was a Game 7 Loss to the Bruins.

So, after all those losses, they cap their “rebuild” with Auston Matthews #1 Overall, then make the playoffs immediately (L 4-2) after 95 points.

2016/17 - 4-2 L First Round Capitals
2017/18 - 4-3 L First Round Bruins
2018/19 - 4-3 L First Round Bruins
2019/20 - 3-2 L Qualifying Round Columbus
2020/21 - 4-3 L First Round Canadians
2021/22 - 4-3 L First Round Lightning
2022/23 - 4-1 L Second Round Panthers
2023/24 - 4-3 L First Round Bruins
2024/25 - 4-3 L Second Round Panthers

Kind of reminds me of the 90’s Blues, but the TML were making it to Game 7’s while setting Franchise records for wins in a season.

Anyway, as you’ve pointed out several times, tanking doesn’t equal happiness. Headlines were ordaining the Maple Leafs as not just a future Stanley Champ, where the question wasn’t “when?” but “How many?”

This Blues team could become one of the deepest teams this franchise has ever had. The experience for these young guys today is invaluable. My hope is they can finish strong and under the grace of Divine (or Gary) Intervention, they can win the Draft Lottery.

If there was EVER an example of the Draft Lottery rewarding a rebuilding team for trying not to tank, it’s this obnoxious beautiful team

[dhsux]

It's more than just winning. It's seeing the team come together and play exciting hockey against good teams. It's watching young players grow into effective NHL players at a young age, and knowing more help is on the way. The Blues were two seconds away from being in the final eight teams last year. I wish I understood why the Blues haven't woken up the last two years until after the break, but they can be a good team.

I would argue the Blues were pretty bad last night and the Canes said "hold my beer"

I would argue they are 7-2 since the break and winning games like any other team going 7-2 with good breaks and bad.

[dhsux]

Blues need to take 1 game at a time and start picking off a few in front of them and then it could be a horse race.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Last night's game was awesome. For the life of me, anyone fan who watched that game hoping for an oiler win in regulation "because of the top five pick" needs a big asterisk by their fan designation. "Hey lets go to the Oilers game and pull for the Oil." I clearly understand the import of high draft picks but when you are more obsessed with fetishizing draft picks and the draft then the actual play on the ice , why even bother at that point?

[hotrivets]

Last night's game was awesome. For the life of me, anyone fan who watched that game hoping for an oiler win in regulation "because of the top five pick" needs a big asterisk by their fan designation. "Hey lets go to the Oilers game and pull for the Oil." I clearly understand the import of high draft picks but when you are more obsessed with fetishizing draft picks and the draft then the actual play on the ice , why even bother at that point?

+1

[Bluesfan1978]

Last night's game was awesome. For the life of me, anyone fan who watched that game hoping for an oiler win in regulation "because of the top five pick" needs a big asterisk by their fan designation. "Hey lets go to the Oilers game and pull for the Oil." I clearly understand the import of high draft picks but when you are more obsessed with fetishizing draft picks and the draft then the actual play on the ice , why even bother at that point?

+1

It’s harder for some fans to see the benefits of this team making the playoffs vs just losing and getting a top 5 pick.
Players are worth more, young players develop, UFA’s consider coming to ST Louis and current players want to stay. They also have the draft capital to trade up in the draft. Not sure about the top 5 but maybe just outside it.

[Younghopp1991]

Anyone else remember 2019 when people kept posting about being better off losing down the stretch when the Blues were pretty far out of a playoff spot. You would think some people would rather of had a top 5 pick over a Stanley Cup parade.

Im so tired of hearing this 2019 comment. This is obviously a different team. Glad to see them playing well but leave 2019 in 2019.

You obviously don't understand the suffering and disappointment some of us experienced for over 50 years waiting for the first cup.

No we will not forget or stop talking about 2019. It was and will remain a magical year for us.

Don't like it? Too freakin' bad, don't read it.

Comparing every half arsed season to the 2019 team IS ridiculous. You guys get so high and mighty over this “never give up” attitude as if your faith behind your tv sets you apart in anything that is going on. I am also hear watching the same games. I am also a fan of the same team. But no im not giving every underachieving blues team the title of “2019” built solely on the characteristic that the team was trash for 55+ games. Ive been a blues fan my entire life. Just because you are 50+ doesnt make you anymore of a fan than me.

[Bluesfan1978]

As fun as the team is to watch they don’t have a second line centre or really even a second line.
2019 had depth at centre.
2019 had one of the next 4th lines in the league.
The team was relentless with the checking.
The D had some bite to them.
This team has two rookies playing on D, a couple 2nd year players and Parayko who’s had a down year.
However you shake it it’s an inexperienced D, one forward line scoring and really hit goaltending that I don’t think is sustainable.

[PPG]

People forget a few details from 2019.
Granted we were last place in January but only 2-3 games under .500.
The 11 game winning streak put them right back in a playoff spot.That streak ended in mid February with over 20 games left.
By this time in 2019 they were Already in the playoffs.
They used the remainder of the schedule to move up to 3rd place...

[PPG]

I still think there is a decent chance we pick in the top 10.
There are 15 teams in the East that we probably won't catch and at least 8 in the West, more than likely.
That would put the Blues at around the 9th worst record.
Every team ahead of us is fighting for their playoff lives.
This isn't last year when it was just basically the Blues, Calgary & Utah fighting for the last spot

[Hockey Pete]

Anyone else remember 2019 when people kept posting about being better off losing down the stretch when the Blues were pretty far out of a playoff spot. You would think some people would rather of had a top 5 pick over a Stanley Cup parade.

It’s not even Stanley cup parade this year. We are the 4th youngest team in the league. This team feeling urgency to play for wins and figuring out how to do it Is a big deal. For context, we snuck in last year, but we were 12th youngest team. We have gotten younger but somehow expected better results.

Anyways. Meaningful games matter for guys who are developing skill. We aren’t the maple leafs or the jets who are 1st and 4th oldest. They need to tank. We just need to ride that ole screaming eagle and hope it doesn’t toss us off the rails.

The FLAT OUT most astute post in this thread....

The bolded part above says it all. The young-in's need to learn to fight and win tough games when they matter, and these games matter. Snuggy, Devo, Lindy, Stenberg (we need to come up with a nickname for him) and even Hofer need to experience these tough games in a critical stretch to grow, as the hockey they're playing now is NOT the same hockey in October (which is part of the problem with our Blues).

Whether we make it or not isn't whats good for THIS club THIS season, it's the journey that these kids need to experience.

[wiscrev]

Anyone else remember 2019 when people kept posting about being better off losing down the stretch when the Blues were pretty far out of a playoff spot. You would think some people would rather of had a top 5 pick over a Stanley Cup parade.

It’s not even Stanley cup parade this year. We are the 4th youngest team in the league. This team feeling urgency to play for wins and figuring out how to do it Is a big deal. For context, we snuck in last year, but we were 12th youngest team. We have gotten younger but somehow expected better results.

Anyways. Meaningful games matter for guys who are developing skill. We aren’t the maple leafs or the jets who are 1st and 4th oldest. They need to tank. We just need to ride that ole screaming eagle and hope it doesn’t toss us off the rails.

The FLAT OUT most astute post in this thread....

The bolded part above says it all. The young-in's need to learn to fight and win tough games when they matter, and these games matter. Snuggy, Devo, Lindy, Stenberg (we need to come up with a nickname for him) and even Hofer need to experience these tough games in a critical stretch to grow, as the hockey they're playing now is NOT the same hockey in October (which is part of the problem with our Blues).

Whether we make it or not isn't whats good for THIS club THIS season, it's the journey that these kids need to experience.

This+

[DawgDad]

We waited a long time this season to see them play like this, as a team.

As for the 2019 references, winning the Cup becomes an enduring benchmark. If you don't understand that grab a dictionary.

And yes, some of us waited a LONG time, some of us back to the beginning. It was a treat watching the Blues in those early Finals and making the playoff runs to get there, in a benchmark context akin to watching their run last season down to 2OT in ROUND 1 game 7. Memories, some very good, some gut-wrenching.