Post Presser Thoughts

[Smith2Herr]

We also learned that Kyrou was NOT playing injured in Game 7. Any of you have any thoughts as to what that might mean for his future with the team?

[a smell of green grass]

Nope. Nothing positive, folks!!!!! Not one thing at all

STFUyou clown

I totally recommend that everyone listen to it for themselves.

My take:
- We got the bums rush when talking about our prospects. Why? Because they are seeing nothing special. Army likes Kazkamaki cuz he is a little Steen.
- Army won't take questions like... Do you feel that we have a 2C now in the organization? Nope. His ONLY ACCOUNTABILITY is that we are 5% better IN THE REGULAR SEASON than we were last year. That's all it takes, folks, for extreme happiness to come to BluesTown.
- Schenn is out
- The players are supremely accountable. Army is accountable for only 5% better.
- The interviewers work for Army.

[Walter Sobchak00]

We also learned that Kyrou was NOT playing injured in Game 7. Any of you have any thoughts as to what that might mean for his future with the team?

That's not at all what he said.. what we learned is whatever injuries the 18 that skated game 7 had they were able to play through them... 81 and 75 were the only two players who were injured severely enough to not be able to go.

[a smell of green grass]

We also learned that Kyrou was NOT playing injured in Game 7. Any of you have any thoughts as to what that might mean for his future with the team?

What I heard from the players, coach and GM.

If a player is IN THE GAME, THERE WILL BE NO EXCUSES FOR INJURY.

So anyone expecting sob stories to rationalize the poor point production, they are not coming.

This seems a little sever to me, but I guess this is part of the "CULTURE IMPROVEMENT".

[Bluesfan1978]

I took from it that Army will likely try to improve the team via whatever means he can. Key word being the re whatever is over. It's also his last year as GM and he has a boat load of wingers and left D in the prospect group to trade from.
I don't think you'll see him do anything too high profile but maybe improve the 3C or upgrade Faulk.
I didn't see this posted yet but Thomas sounds like he's ready to start preparing for next year as soon as possible. Can he hit 100 points?
I personally liked Fowler's comments about the team. I'll be shocked if he doesn't land a 2 year extension.
I think Faska gets a one year extension or two but not at his current salary.
I would love to hear Kyrou say that he just can't wait to put in the work this offseason so he doesn't get pushed around next playoffs but I know he's too shy to say that.

[sdaltons]

I thought it was a good presser.

-Said Holloway had surgery but didn’t say exactly what it was but that he’d be ready for camp.

-Said Tucker’s injury was non-surgical in nature but that he would’ve been out for the entire playoffs.

-Both Army and Monty kept talking about the team getting 5% better. How we went from a 92 pt team last year to a 96 pt team this year and next year they need to do another 5%. Sounds like the internal goal is to be about a 100 pt team next season.

-Army talked of having already having a discussion with Faksa. Said a good team needs to retain good players. But also talked about having a number of guys coming up. Sounds like he’d like to re-sign Faksa but we’ll see.

-Fowler loves it here and found the system Monty uses fits his game to a T. Loves how Monty has the D play. Would absolutely be open to an extension.

-Said he doesn’t expect Krug to ever play again. Then gave the curtesy response that both he and Krug hope he’s wrong but that’s the expectation as of today.

-Said he was happy with Bolduc. Bolduc worked through some typical rookie mistakes but he was given a leash. That leash will get shorter next season and he won’t be afforded as many of those types of mistakes. Said that Snuggerud would have the sort of leash next season that Bolduc had this season.

-Said they’re looking to improve their 200 ft offensive game. Not sure if that means internally improve or bring someone else in. Probably both but obviously he doesn’t even know what all outside players will be available via trade or last to UFA status.

-Kerber asked him about Stenberg, Kaskimaki and Peterson. He praised all 3. Said Stenberg came in and did excellent for a 19 yr old in a man’s league. Said the pro schedule was eye opening for him as the travel just isn’t that intense in Sweden (which makes sense as a lot of the teams over there aren’t too far apart from each other). He really praised Kaskimaki. Basically said he’s one of his favorites. Compared him to Steen without the top offensive ability. Really likes Kaskimaki’s ability to understand the game. Said he could absolutely get games with the Blues next season if he does what he needs to (I took this to mean working on his game and doing his offseason training as he’s been instructed). He praised Peterson as well. Said Chris Thorburn has been in his corner from the beginning. Compared him to Torpo which I agree with. Said he’s a guy they could likely throw into the lineup and he likely wouldn’t look out of place. Kerbs then asked about Buchinger. Army tried to be polite and say it’s tough for a rookie d-man. Said the jury is still out on Buchinger. My take: Buchinger had a rough rookie season to the level that I now question if he has much of an NHL future. This summer and next season will be huge for him if he wants to make it.

Thanks for the rundown, free of bias, unlike the poster who actually doesn't post here anymore

[TheJackBurton]

I thought it was a good presser.

-Said Holloway had surgery but didn’t say exactly what it was but that he’d be ready for camp.

I am actually a little surprised by that. It's not very common a player has a surgery and no one but the team knows about it.

Someone mentioned it in another thread and to that person I apologize you actually got some really good info.

[Rollie Fingers]

Unless you are a phenom, a hockey player doesn´t usually come into his own for 5' to 6 years. Panicking that a draftee isn´t a complete player in his 2nd or 3rd year is a fool's game. This is even for the top 5 picks.
I can usually read a comment and then pick the writer by the content. We have some budding GMs on here. I´m just glad they are not GMs of the home team.

[blackinkbiz]

Hey big surprise, the troll(s) true colors have once again come to shine. NEVER judge a GM based on his team's results vs expectations. ALWAYS ridicule him based on what he says in an interview 2 days after the season ended. lmao, what an idiot.

When he's being funny and entertaining he's tolerable. But this, bleh...

Good news is they're aware of their putrid 6 on 5 play and will address it. Also, to put things in perspective, seems people have forgotten Jets were up 2-0 in the 3rd period of the first round in 2019. And we stuck a dagger in their heart and went on to win the series the next game.

Payback is a mofo...

[Smith2Herr]

[*]

We also learned that Kyrou was NOT playing injured in Game 7. Any of you have any thoughts as to what that might mean for his future with the team?

That's not at all what he said.. what we learned is whatever injuries the 18 that skated game 7 had they were able to play through them... 81 and 75 were the only two players who were injured severely enough to not be able to go.

Fair enough, but his “playing through” whatever might have ailed him left a lot to be desired.

[DawgDad]

I came away thinking Blues fans should be very thankful DA is the GM.

"The re-whatever is over". Yes, yes it is. If he can find a deal or a free agent that makes the team better he'll do it. If a prospect wants to play they will have to earn the ice time. He believes some will play next season, he even said it was possible Kaskimaki could make the team out of camp.

The other big takeaway is what I view as a more focused set of expectations for offseason work leading into a good start to next season. He expects this team to do the work necessary to improve the "5%" and go wire to wire in a playoff spot.

He did not diss on any of the veterans or Dvorsky (mentioning he is 19). Not that he would.

[STL fan in MN]

I thought it was a good presser.

-Said Holloway had surgery but didn’t say exactly what it was but that he’d be ready for camp.

I am actually a little surprised by that. It's not very common a player has a surgery and no one but the team knows about it.

Someone mentioned it in another thread and to that person I apologize you actually got some really good info.

That is a little surprising.

But Strick broke it this morning on the radio that Holloway had surgery.

[Bluesfan1978]

I also wanted to add that I loved hearing Monty say that Army tells him to play whoever gives the team the best chance to win whether it’s a veteran or younger player.

[callitwhatyouwant]

Hey big surprise, the troll(s) true colors have once again come to shine. NEVER judge a GM based on his team's results vs expectations. ALWAYS ridicule him based on what he says in an interview 2 days after the season ended. lmao, what an idiot.

When he's being funny and entertaining he's tolerable. But this, bleh...

Good news is they're aware of their putrid 6 on 5 play and will address it. Also, to put things in perspective, seems people have forgotten Jets were up 2-0 in the 3rd period of the first round in 2019. And we stuck a dagger in their heart and went on to win the series the next game.

Payback is a mofo...

yea smelly goo goblin needs to get his ears checked, or since he is saying he's interpreting, needs to develop a few more chromosomes. I'm not sure the genetics of trolls, but he's missing something between the ears. He talked pretty highly and direct of the 3 prospects. made a comp to steener, torpedo and then gave his scouts some props. the people that are going to be playing next year all now know that we need that extra little bit by player. And he said it's not necessarily on the vets. The younger players should be able to expect to grow where the older players will be tasked with mini growths or maintaining. Definitely not an unreasonable ask when you had so many young players take prominent roles this year they didn't have before.

[bud white]

In retrospect, you couldn't have asked for a better series - and better ending - to indoctrinate young players guys with a few years under their belts who haven't been in the playoffs. That was, for all intents and purposes, a graduate class in Stanley Cup playoffs. I think it also made for a great evaluation tool.

[blackinkbiz]

[*]

We also learned that Kyrou was NOT playing injured in Game 7. Any of you have any thoughts as to what that might mean for his future with the team?

That's not at all what he said.. what we learned is whatever injuries the 18 that skated game 7 had they were able to play through them... 81 and 75 were the only two players who were injured severely enough to not be able to go.

Fair enough, but his “playing through” whatever might have ailed him left a lot to be desired.

Clearly that hit rattled him mentally, possibly even physically. It wasn't dirty but hopefully he'll know not to put himself in such a vulberable position moving forward, especially in the playoffs. Of course, you don't want to become aprehensive for fear of being smoked and thus less offensive-minded, so, it's always a balance. He's come a long way. Plus he wasn't terrible after hit. Just not the himself he's grown to be.