Top 5 Moves of the Army GM Era

[blues2112]

Love the Schenn trade, but it was more than just Lehtera. The two first-rounders the Blues traded to Flyers became Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.

Doubt this is top 5, but Bozak signing was huge, and perhaps (depending on whose speculation you like), influenced Sabres to trade ROR.

To me, trading Rundbland for pick that became Tarasenko is top5 material.

[tfriede2]

Right now, it’s all of the major decisions that led to the 2019 Cup:

1) ROR trade;
2) Bouwmeester trade;
3) Schenn trade;
4) Trading Rundblad for pick #16 (Tarasenko)
5) Chief hiring

The offer sheets are in its own category, but right now I have to put all of those major decisions in the top 5 because, in all likelihood, not making just one of those means no Cup.

[MandatoryDenial]

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?

Not even close, o'k I guess a little bit close...

1.) ROR trade. Yes it was exactly what we needed when we needed it.
2.) Jay Bouwmiester: Many people I think forget just how instrumental he was to our defense. Defense is funny, there are many types. He wasn't offensive, he was a disrupting transitional force.
3.) Offer Sheet Boys: No its not too high, this was a masterclass of a move. It is something that will accelerate our transition from building to built.
4.) Had the courage to get draft picks, and to get out of the way of his scouting department. I always liked that about him, he delegated in a way most leaders don't.
5.) Brayden Schenn trade. This was every bit as influential as any other move not involving Ryan O'Reilly or Jay Bouwmiester. Brayden was a big part of your cup win.

[zuck698]

I know technically the Stempniak for Steen and Carlo was under Pleau's watch, but I still think Army had a big hand in that trade in 2008. To me, it was the kind of trade that normally Larry would have not pursued, in my opinion. If you are willing to entertain my thought process, then I would add that to the list as at least an honorable mention. Steen had a huge impact on the team then as a player and still will have, now and into the future, as G.M.

[UMR-alum-05]

The Blues basically stole Schenn from the Flyers so that belongs on the list.

ROR trade.

JBO trade.

Offer sheets.

Buchnevich trade.

Dark horse trade with just not enough time yet... Mailloux for Bolduc. I believe history will show that to be a massive steal by the Blues.

Bonus Round. Worst Blues Moves under Army.

Ryan Miller Trade.

TJ Oshie trade (totally disagree with the OP on this)

Not re-signing Pietrangelo. Dumb move.

Buchnevich extension.

Torey Krug signing. Too much years and term. Army outsmarted himself with the entire scenario around Pietrangelo and Faulk and Krug. To his credit. He got some good years out of Faulk and Krug. But the Blues should have just kept Petro

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Hindsight is 20-20. But post cup. The best general set of moves would have been to keep Petro. Keep Edmondson. Keep Maroon.

[blues2112]

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Maroon leaving cost the Blues another Cup? Pat Maroon?

In fairness, he probably was worth the 1 million he got elsewhere, but maybe he had no interest in returning?

[UMR-alum-05]

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Maroon leaving cost the Blues another Cup? Pat Maroon?

In fairness, he probably was worth the 1 million he got elsewhere, but maybe he had no interest in returning?

Kadri never runs Binnington or Faulk if Maroon is on the roster.

Maroon would womp the ish out of Kadri and Kadri knows it.

[BalotelliMassive]

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Maroon leaving cost the Blues another Cup? Pat Maroon?

In fairness, he probably was worth the 1 million he got elsewhere, but maybe he had no interest in returning?

Kadri never runs Binnington or Faulk if Maroon is on the roster.

Maroon would womp the ish out of Kadri and Kadri knows it.

Agreed 100%

[blues2112]

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Maroon leaving cost the Blues another Cup? Pat Maroon?

In fairness, he probably was worth the 1 million he got elsewhere, but maybe he had no interest in returning?

Kadri never runs Binnington or Faulk if Maroon is on the roster.

Maroon would womp the ish out of Kadri and Kadri knows it.

Agreed 100%

Explain why Oilers never won cup with Maroon.

Further, Avs (hate the Avs) swept Blues 4-0 in 2020-21; won 4-2 in 2021-22 while going 16-4 in playoffs. That team was unstoppable.

If you want to project/fantasize/speculate different outcomes, good for you.

I'll rationally project/fantasize/speculate that Maroon changes neither of those outcomes.

[BalotelliMassive]

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Maroon leaving cost the Blues another Cup? Pat Maroon?

In fairness, he probably was worth the 1 million he got elsewhere, but maybe he had no interest in returning?

Kadri never runs Binnington or Faulk if Maroon is on the roster.

Maroon would womp the ish out of Kadri and Kadri knows it.

Agreed 100%

Explain why Oilers never won cup with Maroon.

Further, Avs (hate the Avs) swept Blues 4-0 in 2020-21; won 4-2 in 2021-22 while going 16-4 in playoffs. That team was unstoppable.

If you want to project/fantasize/speculate different outcomes, good for you.

I'll rationally project/fantasize/speculate that Maroon changes neither of those outcomes.

Don’t care to debate it because it’s impossible to get a correct answer but I share the belief that those Blues teams were good enough to make serious runs at the cup before Faulk and Binnington were destroyed with cheap shots. He played for the Hawks in 25 and was one of the most respected members on a team that was going nowhere because people though twice about running the star players.

It’s just an opinion that can or cannot be true - no need to get mad over it.

[imyourhuckleberry]

Not finding the space to keep Pat Maroon cost the Blues another cup.

Maroon leaving cost the Blues another Cup? Pat Maroon?

In fairness, he probably was worth the 1 million he got elsewhere, but maybe he had no interest in returning?

Kadri never runs Binnington or Faulk if Maroon is on the roster.

Maroon would womp the ish out of Kadri and Kadri knows it.

Agreed 100%

Explain why Oilers never won cup with Maroon.

Further, Avs (hate the Avs) swept Blues 4-0 in 2020-21; won 4-2 in 2021-22 while going 16-4 in playoffs. That team was unstoppable.

If you want to project/fantasize/speculate different outcomes, good for you.

I'll rationally project/fantasize/speculate that Maroon changes neither of those outcomes.

Gotta disagree. Kadri is a knucklehead who would not have given a second thought to Maroon beating him up if runs Binnington.even if he did, he knows it's still a fair trade.

Nothing changes.

[callitwhatyouwant]

The Kadri stuff was proven track record. When their team was pushed, he was going to do something dirty. He did it in Toronto multiple times and he did it against the blues in back to back years. The Faulk hit was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen. Blues were pretty lifeless in that series until that moment. They had a bit of a swing happening and Faulk was definitely about to make something happen.

The Binner run is still one of the funnier things and last year the run on goalies only made me chuckle a bit reading Reddit. Any time an offensive player puts themselves in a position where going for the puck results in hitting the goalie, the offensive player needs to be held accountable. It’s the only way to protect the goalies. The idea that a player would have gotten away if the defender isn’t there is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever listened to. Kadri knew that going for that puck was going to result in bodies flying towards the net. The offensive player should be responsible for that scenario. It needs to be a black and white ruling moving forward.

[blues2112]

The Kadri stuff was proven track record. When their team was pushed, he was going to do something dirty. He did it in Toronto multiple times and he did it against the blues in back to back years. The Faulk hit was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen. Blues were pretty lifeless in that series until that moment. They had a bit of a swing happening and Faulk was definitely about to make something happen.

The Binner run is still one of the funnier things and last year the run on goalies only made me chuckle a bit reading Reddit. Any time an offensive player puts themselves in a position where going for the puck results in hitting the goalie, the offensive player needs to be held accountable. It’s the only way to protect the goalies. The idea that a player would have gotten away if the defender isn’t there is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever listened to. Kadri knew that going for that puck was going to result in bodies flying towards the net. The offensive player should be responsible for that scenario. It needs to be a black and white ruling moving forward.

No doubt, Kadri deliberately piled on to Binnington. No doubt he blindsided Faulk.

(This is not your argument, as you make good points) IMO, no doubt that Kadri does both plays regardless if Maroon, Patton or Ghenghis Khan is on Blues roster. He did the same (bleep) with Leafs.

Again, not your argument, but to say Maroon leaving Blues cost another Cup is insanity.

[DawgDad]

The Kadri stuff was proven track record. When their team was pushed, he was going to do something dirty. He did it in Toronto multiple times and he did it against the blues in back to back years. The Faulk hit was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen. Blues were pretty lifeless in that series until that moment. They had a bit of a swing happening and Faulk was definitely about to make something happen.

The Binner run is still one of the funnier things and last year the run on goalies only made me chuckle a bit reading Reddit. Any time an offensive player puts themselves in a position where going for the puck results in hitting the goalie, the offensive player needs to be held accountable. It’s the only way to protect the goalies. The idea that a player would have gotten away if the defender isn’t there is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever listened to. Kadri knew that going for that puck was going to result in bodies flying towards the net. The offensive player should be responsible for that scenario. It needs to be a black and white ruling moving forward.

Faulk hit was worse, but yeah I agree and nominate you for the rules committee.

[DawgDad]

I was pondering the comparison of all the pre-Cup moves with the recent flurry of activity. The are patterns, similarities. Of course, a huge difference is this current Blues roster is too young and inexperienced to truly be a Cup contender, unless the waters part. But ponder this, what if ALL the recent moves pan out, and no sophomore slumps?

[Bluesfan1978]

Agree with most of the trades already discussed.
I also really liked the Halak trade and Miller trades at the time.
I also think Brian Elliot turned into Kyrou which would be near top 5 status.
I also think there’s still time to see how the 2023 trades and this years Schenn, Faulk and McTavish and Kyrou trades have potential to have a big impact on the team.