Most improved offseason

[DawgDad]

For some perspective, as bad as the Blues were at times last season they finished with the SAME regulation record as 4th place Utah and BETTER than:
Nashville
Winnipeg
Chicago
ANAHEIM
LA
San Jose
Seattle
Calgary
Vancouver

Key players are all young except for Buchnevich, Parayko, Finley, and Binnington, and all of them remain very serviceable. The top line and top pair are very athletic and skilled. Much player development and TEAM development growth is reasonably expected, there are top-6/top-4 and depth prospects remaining to be tapped. How much growth? We'll see. Unless there are debilitating injuries to top players or utter face-plant performances there is NO reason the Blues should be headed down.

[Harry S Deals]

As far as Kyrou goes, sometimes it’s just best to move on from a player from both the organizations side as well as the players side. This is a great opportunity for Jordan to get his career back on track. The Blues did him a huge favor and they got a great return back for him. I hope he goes to Washington and scores 40 and if he does, it doesn’t mean the Blues made a mistake, sometimes you just have to move on from players. The best trades are ones that help both teams.

This exactly. I actually think McMichael will be a better player for the Blues than McT. I like the player more anyway, perhaps McT will surprise me. But with Kyrou it was clear he needed a change of scenery two years ago and the Blues did a great job on the return. They got more than I figured they would after last season.

I'll be here to eat crow but I think McTavish is being a little over looked by some fans I think he will be surprisingly good

[Harry S Deals]

For some perspective, as bad as the Blues were at times last season they finished with the SAME regulation record as 4th place Utah and BETTER than:
Nashville
Winnipeg
Chicago
ANAHEIM
LA
San Jose
Seattle
Calgary
Vancouver

Key players are all young except for Buchnevich, Parayko, Finley, and Binnington, and all of them remain very serviceable. The top line and top pair are very athletic and skilled. Much player development and TEAM development growth is reasonably expected, there are top-6/top-4 and depth prospects remaining to be tapped. How much growth? We'll see. Unless there are debilitating injuries to top players or utter face-plant performances there is NO reason the Blues should be headed down.

Had the Blues had ANY success in OT or SOs they probably would have been in the post season and they acquired a great OT/SO guy

[Bluesfan1978]

McMichael and McTavish play the game much closer to how the Blues want to play. Kyrou no matter his skill set doesn't gel well with many forwards, he's even struggled with Thomas for long stretches.
McTavish if he can return to his 24-25 season and improve his D play and speed some thats a win all day long for the Blues who had no centre outside of Thomas reach 30 points last year. If McTavish can hit 60 points plus a year than that on its own is huge for the Blues.
McMichael can kill penalties and return to wing I assume which most people think is where is was best suited. Again he doesn't need to score 70 points. If he can get in the 50-55 range each year and be solid defensively that would be huge for the Blues to have a 2nd line of 50 plus point players.

[Frank Barone]

The Blues will miss Kyrou a lot. McTavish should be able to fill the key role at 2C. Their bottom pair was a disaster last year but should be stable this year. Binnington should be better and hopefully Hofer plays at least as well as last year. They should be a playoff contender assuming they avoid a slow start.

[ratonmono2]

As far as Kyrou goes, sometimes it’s just best to move on from a player from both the organizations side as well as the players side. This is a great opportunity for Jordan to get his career back on track. The Blues did him a huge favor and they got a great return back for him. I hope he goes to Washington and scores 40 and if he does, it doesn’t mean the Blues made a mistake, sometimes you just have to move on from players. The best trades are ones that help both teams.

This exactly. I actually think McMichael will be a better player for the Blues than McT. I like the player more anyway, perhaps McT will surprise me. But with Kyrou it was clear he needed a change of scenery two years ago and the Blues did a great job on the return. They got more than I figured they would after last season.

I'll be here to eat crow but I think McTavish is being a little over looked by some fans I think he will be surprisingly good

You may well be right. I did see in a deeper examination that McT's linemates have been abysmal in Anaheim, so his metrics do need to be considered in that context.

[netboy65]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

[Aesa]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

Please name a team that, at several times during a game, does NOT play dump and chase. It is a standard tactic used by every team, in every game, that I have watched since 1967.

[DawgDad]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

Please name a team that, at several times during a game, does NOT play dump and chase.

Carolina perfected the art, seemingly as close as humanly possible. But they don't lead with dump and chase, they execute it as entry option 2 or 3 with excellent situational awareness. I STILL have visions of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake digging pucks with ferocious tenacity and teamwork. D&C is a fundamental tactical approach that good teams must master or at least embrace as a necessary part of winning hockey.

[Harry York 37]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

Please name a team that, at several times during a game, does NOT play dump and chase.

Carolina perfected the art, seemingly as close as humanly possible. But they don't lead with dump and chase, they execute it as entry option 2 or 3 with excellent situational awareness. I STILL have visions of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake digging pucks with ferocious tenacity and teamwork. D&C is a fundamental tactical approach that good teams must master or at least embrace as a necessary part of winning hockey.

They surely did DD. It was stunning, and Vegas was lost when it ran smoothly.

We have the personnel to work it MUCH better this year.

[UMR-alum-05]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

Please name a team that, at several times during a game, does NOT play dump and chase.

Carolina perfected the art, seemingly as close as humanly possible. But they don't lead with dump and chase, they execute it as entry option 2 or 3 with excellent situational awareness. I STILL have visions of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake digging pucks with ferocious tenacity and teamwork. D&C is a fundamental tactical approach that good teams must master or at least embrace as a necessary part of winning hockey.

They surely did DD. It was stunning, and Vegas was lost when it ran smoothly.

We have the personnel to work it MUCH better this year.

Vegas weakness is depth on D. Eventually Carolina wore them down.

That's how the Blues can get back to winning. Depth on D and forechecking.

[Cahokanut]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

Please name a team that, at several times during a game, does NOT play dump and chase. It is a standard tactic used by every team, in every game, that I have watched since 1967.

No team plays dump and chase with their offensive player who like Kurou plays a, 'to the net game. None, zippo, Nada.
Our team put our best players on a line with a third line winger whose loyalty lead to him playing center, and on the best of days gave Kyrou Neighbours and Buch to play dump and change or dump and stay defensively positioned. We chase with one guy while the other two stay back, so they can back up to play defense when if the opposing team got control of the puck. Way different then Carolina.
Carolina played less dump and chase and more to the net, follow up and attack. They used their offensive players to play offense and let their defensive players play defense, while counting on their goaltender to stop the puck.

[a smell of green grass]

Glad to see that you all can hear the news from others—-not just me.

Ill summarize.

Kyrou is better than McTavish and McMichael because 1 dead-end is better than 2.

Carry on. Blues. Bring on the unproven discard pile.

[93]

Everyone has focus on Kyrou - which I get...

I think the most important acquisition was Carlo who solidifies the defensive six. and should through strong defensive play help Hofer and Binner have good seasons too.

[UMR-alum-05]

Everyone has focus on Kyrou - which I get...

I think the most important acquisition was Carlo who solidifies the defensive six. and should through strong defensive play help Hofer and Binner have good seasons too.

People are underestimating how good the Blues will be on defense.

Pretty much every team in the league would like to say they run Mailloux, Parayko and Carlo down the right side on defense.

[Harry York 37]

I would definitely not rather have Jordan Kyrou than both Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. That's a crazy take.

Before the Blues purposely handicapped Kyrou. He was our best offensive player and a all-star. He will likely put up 20 to 40 more points then any blue this year. And probably more then Mason and Mcmikey together.

Management fault is same thing one would need to look at when judging Mason. How much was his decline or non growth, was/is by managements hand. Which I think may be more then not.
I hope/think this season is better for him.
But how long that last might very well depend on how much management likes him. Because although the GM has changed names. Playing guys for their loyalty rather then their skill, is all the same.
This is the problem with loyalty over truth. You only see what your bias lets you see. By the agenda the boss sets.

Correct. He will be surrounded by better players and not be forced to play dump and chase.

Please name a team that, at several times during a game, does NOT play dump and chase. It is a standard tactic used by every team, in every game, that I have watched since 1967.

No team plays dump and chase with their offensive player who like Kurou plays a, 'to the net game. None, zippo, Nada.
Our team put our best players on a line with a third line winger whose loyalty lead to him playing center, and on the best of days gave Kyrou Neighbours and Buch to play dump and change or dump and stay defensively positioned. We chase with one guy while the other two stay back, so they can back up to play defense when if the opposing team got control of the puck. Way different then Carolina.
Carolina played less dump and chase and more to the net, follow up and attack. They used their offensive players to play offense and let their defensive players play defense, while counting on their goaltender to stop the puck.

It was more than that.
On a standard breakout, if Kyrou took a pass anywhere near a blueline or an opponent who looked "frightening" to Grandpa Simpson... he threw it away.
You could not trust Kyrou to handle the puck near danger.
The best example was that OT breakaway where JK was the only man back, and he looked like a Matador stepping aside and waving his stick at the player, who breezed by to score the GWG.
No seasoned fan here demanded Kyrou hit anyone hard.
They merely wanted him to battle when the situation got dodgy.

That will make your mainsail sag.