Top 5 Moves of the Army GM Era

[callitwhatyouwant]

Now that the Army GM Era has come to a close, and we have 1 month before the camp excitement starts, what are your Top 5 Moves under Army that delivered the Blues one of the best records in the West under his leadership, the first ever Stanley Cup in Blues history, as well as the best GM title in Blues history.

1. ROR trade - I think this was the catalyst to the cup. He was the best player on the team, He started the year acting like a C and ended the year acting like a C. Also, kind of came from nowhere after the Bozak move.
2. Offer Sheet Boys - might be a little high to put these guys as number 2. But they could be the biggest homerun move and he changed the landscape of the NHL by doing it.
3. Trading Oshie - TJ was one of my favorite players. But this trade no doubt sparked the eventual cup team into seriousness. Without this trade, I doubt we see the Blues make a deep playoff run, and I doubt we see them beat the Hawks. That trade led to the destruction of the Hawks Franchise.
4. Dougs First Draft - Tarasenko and Schwartz. Use the Schwartz was my favorite Blues player when we had him. Great pick, and even better pick and riskier was the Tarasenko pick. No certainty he was going to come over. First real STARPOWER scorer that the Blues had in a long while.
5. Elevating Chief - This could be seen two fold. He shouldn't have given the keys to Yeo, but he amended it with Chief. Good play.

What are your guys Top5 Army moves?

[BluesDom]

I like your list!!


Dont agree on Oshie. We could have won with Oshie. Dumb trade.
This was also a biggie!!


Jay Bouwmeester Trade to the St. Louis Blues
Jay Bouwmeester was traded from the Calgary Flames to the St. Louis Blues on April 1, 2013 ESPN. The move came shortly after Calgary sent captain Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh, as the Flames began a rebuilding phase.

Trade Details
To St. Louis Blues: Jay Bouwmeester (defenseman) ESPN

From Calgary Flames:

2013 conditional first-round draft pick (deferred to 2014 if St. Louis missed the playoffs) ESPN
The two later 1st round picks Calgary drafted in 13 didnt amount to much.

Defenceman Mark Cundari (undrafted, 5'10", signed by Blues) CBS Sports
I think he played in 8 total games.

Goaltender Reto Berra (Swiss native, 27, playing in Switzerland at the time) CBS Sports
(-17 with Flames--one yr.



Sidenote--I think this Logan Mailloux trade may end up being a huge win. I'm optimistic. I was really impressed with LM's second half. He looks like a real stud!! I cant remember the name of the guy we traded for him. Is he still in the league?

[noted]

Faulk for 2026 1st round pick #15 overall, 2026 3rd round pick (SJS), Dmitri Buchelnikov, and Justin Holl.

[The Average Gatsby]

Now that the Army GM Era has come to a close, and we have 1 month before the camp excitement starts, what are your Top 5 Moves under Army that delivered the Blues one of the best records in the West under his leadership, the first ever Stanley Cup in Blues history, as well as the best GM title in Blues history.

1. ROR trade - I think this was the catalyst to the cup. He was the best player on the team, He started the year acting like a C and ended the year acting like a C. Also, kind of came from nowhere after the Bozak move.
2. Offer Sheet Boys - might be a little high to put these guys as number 2. But they could be the biggest homerun move and he changed the landscape of the NHL by doing it.
3. Trading Oshie - TJ was one of my favorite players. But this trade no doubt sparked the eventual cup team into seriousness. Without this trade, I doubt we see the Blues make a deep playoff run, and I doubt we see them beat the Hawks. That trade led to the destruction of the Hawks Franchise.
4. Dougs First Draft - Tarasenko and Schwartz. Use the Schwartz was my favorite Blues player when we had him. Great pick, and even better pick and riskier was the Tarasenko pick. No certainty he was going to come over. First real STARPOWER scorer that the Blues had in a long while.
5. Elevating Chief - This could be seen two fold. He shouldn't have given the keys to Yeo, but he amended it with Chief. Good play.

What are your guys Top5 Army moves?

Agree with all except #3 as I still view the Oshie trade as a bad deal. I’d probably replace that with acquiring Bouwmeester.

[a smell of green grass]

Giving the start to Binnington in 2019.

I would call this the best move in Blues History. I would also call it the luckiest.

[dhsux]

Now that the Army GM Era has come to a close, and we have 1 month before the camp excitement starts, what are your Top 5 Moves under Army that delivered the Blues one of the best records in the West under his leadership, the first ever Stanley Cup in Blues history, as well as the best GM title in Blues history.

1. ROR trade - I think this was the catalyst to the cup. He was the best player on the team, He started the year acting like a C and ended the year acting like a C. Also, kind of came from nowhere after the Bozak move.
2. Offer Sheet Boys - might be a little high to put these guys as number 2. But they could be the biggest homerun move and he changed the landscape of the NHL by doing it.
3. Trading Oshie - TJ was one of my favorite players. But this trade no doubt sparked the eventual cup team into seriousness. Without this trade, I doubt we see the Blues make a deep playoff run, and I doubt we see them beat the Hawks. That trade led to the destruction of the Hawks Franchise.
4. Dougs First Draft - Tarasenko and Schwartz. Use the Schwartz was my favorite Blues player when we had him. Great pick, and even better pick and riskier was the Tarasenko pick. No certainty he was going to come over. First real STARPOWER scorer that the Blues had in a long while.
5. Elevating Chief - This could be seen two fold. He shouldn't have given the keys to Yeo, but he amended it with Chief. Good play.

What are your guys Top5 Army moves?

Good list dude.

I'd swap the TJ ranking with an accomplishment I have always admired and that is the drafting of Colton Parayko.

What a great call he made.

[BalotelliMassive]

That trade led to the destruction of the Hawks Franchise.

Yeah bro...the Blues blocked them from winning their 4th cup in seven seasons - that is the darkest day in the history of the 100 year franchise said not one Hawk fan ever.

[TBone]

Now that the Army GM Era has come to a close, and we have 1 month before the camp excitement starts, what are your Top 5 Moves under Army that delivered the Blues one of the best records in the West under his leadership, the first ever Stanley Cup in Blues history, as well as the best GM title in Blues history.

1. ROR trade - I think this was the catalyst to the cup. He was the best player on the team, He started the year acting like a C and ended the year acting like a C. Also, kind of came from nowhere after the Bozak move.
2. Offer Sheet Boys - might be a little high to put these guys as number 2. But they could be the biggest homerun move and he changed the landscape of the NHL by doing it.
3. Trading Oshie - TJ was one of my favorite players. But this trade no doubt sparked the eventual cup team into seriousness. Without this trade, I doubt we see the Blues make a deep playoff run, and I doubt we see them beat the Hawks. That trade led to the destruction of the Hawks Franchise.
4. Dougs First Draft - Tarasenko and Schwartz. Use the Schwartz was my favorite Blues player when we had him. Great pick, and even better pick and riskier was the Tarasenko pick. No certainty he was going to come over. First real STARPOWER scorer that the Blues had in a long while.
5. Elevating Chief - This could be seen two fold. He shouldn't have given the keys to Yeo, but he amended it with Chief. Good play.

What are your guys Top5 Army moves?

Great list.

I agree with you 1000% on the ROR choice. Schenn was a key acquisition too. And I'm not sure it was by design or accident, but not signing Tarasenko and Backes to long-term deals was wise. Both contracts would have aged horribly and would have been a drag on the franchise.

It'll be interesting see how these lists change in 5 years when Mailoux and players in the pipeline mature.

[Pierre McGuire]

The Bouwmeester trade has to be on the list because it was a very important move and not to mention an absolute fleecing. There was so much hate when the smoke was stirring…so many people here didn’t want that trade….all based on what other people said about Jay, not because they ever watched him play. I remember Army breaking the trade while he was in the booth on the broadcast, I literally jumped out of my chair, I was so happy they finally landed Jay. Great player and now a Blues legend.

[Sprtsfntc11]

I would have to think the Schenn Trade should be top 5 for Lehtera; total fleecing of philadelphia on that....

[BluesDom]

Schenn for Lehtera--nice trade

[Backesdraft]

David Backes is my all time favorite Blue, and I still remember exactly where I was when he signed with Boston and how upset it made me. That said, it’s likely the Blues don’t win the cup if they resign 42. As painful as it was then, letting the Captain walk has to be top 5. Gutsy move by Army.

The Schenn trade, in my mind, is equally as important as the ROR trade.

[DawgDad]

I would have to think the Schenn Trade should be top 5 for Lehtera; total fleecing of philadelphia on that....

Yes, it's not a Cup team without him. His stellar play with Schwartz (before he got hurt) and Tarasenko the season before likely convinced Army to "go all in", take a shot.

I don't think we should overlook calling up Binner. Regardless of whether that was anything more than throwing his hands up in the air in desperation WHAT IF he trades for some journeyman instead? I suspect someone told him Binner was at least worth a look first, under the circumstances.

All moves leading to the Cup are noteworthy. Signing Bozak, Perron, Maroon, keeping Thomas, and all the moves building and transitioning the team, because starting with Berglund and Stastny that was a MASSIVE transition.

[BleedingBleu]

Schenn for Jori Lehterä was a bigger move than Oshie

[John Cocktoastin]

Late to the game, but a top move for me: Tony Feltrin.

Draft/scouting guru. Our team isn't on the path it is today without him. And Army brought him on board (and promoted him).

Lucky to have him.

[callitwhatyouwant]

Schenn for Jori Lehterä was a bigger move than Oshie

I really don't disagree. Schenn trade was huge and way more of a win for Army particularly. But that 2016 Blues needed a change in mentality to start making playoff moves, and Brouwer did just that, 13 points in 20 games. Was a huge contributor when it mattered. Use oshie for example the previous years.
2 in 6
2 in 5
2 in 6
3 in 9
0 in 4.

thats 9 in 30 or take out that first year and 9 in 26 which is a .34 ppg. meanwhile when he went to the caps he was almost a ppg guy in the playoffs. So whatever the Blues cough hitchcock cough were doing to him, it wasn't going to work here.

So yes the schenn trade is better from an Army standpoint, but for Blues hockey the Brouwer move was huge.