DawgDad wrote: ↑22 May 2025 14:14 pm
Dunn. Walman, Mikkola are all gone, yet the Blues current top-4 has no room [arguably] for more than one of them at most.
Why is Walman bouncing around the league? He's in his prime, could he not have anchored a top-4 spot in Detroit or San Jose for years, or is he suspect? As we've seen with Fowler it's hard to play to full potential on a dysfunctional team. Walman drew third pair minutes last night.
All understood, but....
Why did we keep Perunovich for longer than Mikkola, and Walman? Perunovich has no value to any team.
The bottom line is that for every player that they give up too early, there are an equal number that they kept too long.
Blues scouting is making errors all over the place, and it is past time for accountability.
Umm, Mikkola was a pending UFA, Perunovich was under team control.
I don't remember the specifics of Walman's contract status at the time but it wouldn't surprise me if it was expiring or pending RFA.
a smell of green grass wrote: ↑21 May 2025 06:58 am
Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola were traded Thursday by the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Sammy Blais, defensive prospect Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.
Just another fine day of work by the Chief Bumbler in Charge.
Unbelievable how the Blues can get so fleeced in a deal. This is how you go from a Cup in 2019 to nowhere, fast.
Put on your best dress, Army Moms. This is going to need some explaining.
Tell us troll, what would be an acceptable return for two UFA players neither of which was likely to re-sign here?
It was a perfect sell high moment on 91 considering he’s on his 4th team already since leaving here.
How do you see that Mikkola is not likely to re-sign here? Is that because Army was overpaying too many old veterans on long-term contracts with no-trade clauses?
Tarasenko being on his 4th team is more of an indication that he does have value, than not.
Barbashev, Mikkola.... Mental note, folks. Anytime Army "trades away a young player", look for him to be very visible in the playoffs down the road.
Both players were traded to the Rangers. The Rangers had a chance to resign both and chose to pass on both.
That says more about both players at that stage in their careers than your meaningless opinion which is just full of Army hate.
Face it, Army broke you. It’s obvious.
a smell of green grass wrote: ↑21 May 2025 06:58 am
Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola were traded Thursday by the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Sammy Blais, defensive prospect Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.
Just another fine day of work by the Chief Bumbler in Charge.
Unbelievable how the Blues can get so fleeced in a deal. This is how you go from a Cup in 2019 to nowhere, fast.
Put on your best dress, Army Moms. This is going to need some explaining.
Tell us troll, what would be an acceptable return for two UFA players neither of which was likely to re-sign here?
It was a perfect sell high moment on 91 considering he’s on his 4th team already since leaving here.
How do you see that Mikkola is not likely to re-sign here? Is that because Army was overpaying too many old veterans on long-term contracts with no-trade clauses?
Tarasenko being on his 4th team is more of an indication that he does have value, than not.
Barbashev, Mikkola.... Mental note, folks. Anytime Army "trades away a young player", look for him to be very visible in the playoffs down the road.
Both players were traded to the Rangers. The Rangers had a chance to resign both and chose to pass on both.
That says more about both players at that stage in their careers than your meaningless opinion which is just full of Army hate.
Face it, Army broke you. It’s obvious.
When the Rangers let Mikala walk, most fans were thrilled to see him go. Maybe having two teams in one year tell him to go away, maybe his third coach knew the magic words, maybe he just matured. Whatever, he’s turned into a decent player so good for him.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑22 May 2025 20:28 pm
Mikkola getting praise and Marchand saying he hated playing against him. I’ve been trying to tell you guys since last year that he’s legit
Don't need any convincing. I didn’t want to see him traded.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑22 May 2025 20:28 pm
Mikkola getting praise and Marchand saying he hated playing against him. I’ve been trying to tell you guys since last year that he’s legit
Don't need any convincing. I didn’t want to see him traded.
Can’t teach size and he was always a plus skater. But his hockey iq and physicality has come a long way
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?
While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.
Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?
While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.
Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.
No reason to re visit history.
You can go to HF and read what many thought. But that only matters in the context that Those of us who wanted to see more of Mikkola was right. Those who thought Mikkola wasn't good, was wrong.
But who cares. Those are just moving goalpost.
Why do we act like Army doesn't prefer Veterans over youth. He does.
The guy who claimed he had no use of picks or prospects, isn't the guy we should claim doesn't make mistakes with youth, He sucks at evaluating our own talent. And that's what many are pointing at, while telling you their opinion of Mikkola at the time. Army missed. Simple
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?
While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.
Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.
No reason to re visit history.
You can go to HF and read what many thought. But that only matters in the context that Those of us who wanted to see more of Mikkola was right. Those who thought Mikkola wasn't good, was wrong.
But who cares. Those are just moving goalpost.
Why do we act like Army doesn't prefer Veterans over youth. He does.
The guy who claimed he had no use of picks or prospects, isn't the guy we should claim doesn't make mistakes with youth, He sucks at evaluating our own talent. And that's what many are pointing at, while telling you their opinion of Mikkola at the time. Army missed. Simple
What part of "pending UFA" do you fail to comprehend?
It doesn't matter what Army thought of him he was going to walk out as a free agent, and he did, just not from the Blues.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?
While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.
Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.
Trading for Scandella was a panic move after JBo’s incident. He played well when we first got him, the mistake was re-signing him. However, even that didn’t break the bank.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?
While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.
Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.
Barbashev, and now Mikkola. I get a real charge out of seeing our draft assets making key contributions on Cup teams. I'm just happy that we at least got peanuts in return for both of them. That Army sure drafts well.
This year. Instead of guessing what prospects we will add to the prospect pipleline, let's all guess which prospect will be let go by Army, and make it to the Cup Finals on some other team.
MiamiLaw wrote: ↑20 May 2025 23:17 pm
Big miss by Army throwing him into the Tarasenko trade. Blues developed him and another team is now benefiting.
Big miss is right. We had Mikkola and he was playing well but Army went out and got Leddy instead of trusting the kid.
Army does have a bad habit of locking up cap space on so called "economically priced veteran players" but man sometimes you got to put trust in the kids. And right here was a perfect example. Mikkola should be a Blue.
Come on now. That’s a bit of revisionist history there IMO. The Blues re-signed Leddy after the 2021-22 season. A season in which they went 49-22-11. Leddy was signed to be in our top-4. Mikkola was the #6-7 guy that year. Are you really saying the Blues should’ve inserted Mikkola into the top-4 and just seen what happens? Assume he’d be able to handle that role even though he’d shown no ability to do so to date?
While I’ll agree with the overarching sentiment about signing vets like Leddy and Scandella, that didn’t make guys like Mikkola the right choice at the time. My argument was they they should’ve gotten someone better than Scandy or Leddy…but it wasn’t Mikkola. At least not in 2020 when they signed Scandy or in 2022 when they signed Leddy.
Mikkola didn’t take a step until he signed with Florida. It would sure be nice to still have him but you can’t keep everyone. He was a pending UFA and hadn’t shown much by that point. He bloomed later. It happens sometimes. But out of all of Army’s moves, him moving Mikkola as a pending UFA isn’t one I shake my head at.
Barbashev, and now Mikkola. I get a real charge out of seeing our draft assets making key contributions on Cup teams. I'm just happy that we at least got peanuts in return for both of them. That Army sure drafts well.
This year. Instead of guessing what prospects we will add to the prospect pipleline, let's all guess which prospect will be let go by Army, and make it to the Cup Finals on some other team.
You mean like how Colorado and Buffalo gave up on ROR for him to win a Cup as soon as he played for the Blues?
Or how LA and Philly gave up on Schenn?
Or how Toronto developed Bozak for 9 years just to see him join the Blues and win a Cup the first year he wasn’t in Toronto?
Or is it Steener Leafs fans are still mad they just gave to us?
I’m sure Pittsburgh is still lamenting not keeping Sunny.
Players change teams, bud. And you can’t keep them all. Especially when they reach UFA status (like both Barbashev and Mikkola did). Every team can play the “wish we had kept them” game.
