Army's fatal flaw over the past 5 years

[Rollin' on the River]

I don’t like that Stillman never drew the line in the sand.

Team Canada or St Louis Blues.

I’m wondering if hesitated to make trades, or didn’t want to bring in/aquire certain guys because of their Olympic status on Team Canada.

He’s certainly been devoting a lot of time to building THAT team, I wonder if he’s neglected the team who signs his checks.

[Walter Sobchak00]

I don’t like that Stillman never drew the line in the sand.

Team Canada or St Louis Blues.

I’m wondering if hesitated to make trades, or didn’t want to bring in/aquire certain guys because of their Olympic status on Team Canada.

He’s certainly been devoting a lot of time to building THAT team, I wonder if he’s neglected the team who signs his checks.

Flip side is he's definitely making friends with star players that may pay off in the future.

Also having so many conversations with other GMs while building the team can't hurt in getting things moving.

[STL fan in MN]

I don’t like that Stillman never drew the line in the sand.

Team Canada or St Louis Blues.

I’m wondering if hesitated to make trades, or didn’t want to bring in/aquire certain guys because of their Olympic status on Team Canada.

He’s certainly been devoting a lot of time to building THAT team, I wonder if he’s neglected the team who signs his checks.

Stillman has said multiple times he sees Army being involved with Team Canada as a good thing, not a detriment. So no, he would never draw a line on the sand as he sees it way way differently than you. He sees Army becoming more familiar with the league’s players and other GMs and what they think of players and how that can only help in future negotiations.

[a smell of green grass]

Never forget the grand bargain...

St Louis gets the grand distractions such as Winter Classic, 4 Nations, and Olympics. Those events showcase our St Louis "Superstar" (Doug Armstrong) at the front table eating lobster. That is our excitement. That is what we get for our ticket purchases.

Other NHL cities get meaningful picks in the NHL draft, the excitement that lasts all offseason. That is what they get for their ticket purchases.

[aslord]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

[a smell of green grass]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

The 2019 team had a TOP5 pick on the roster, bringing the impact of a TOP5 pick.

Pietrangelo was selected at Round 1 #4 more than 20 years ago, and St Louis has not had a high pick since then.

The best teams in 2026 have more than 1 TOP5 pick. Colorado, Dallas, Edmonton, Florida each have 2.

Anyone who thinks that St Louis can "skip that step" is delusional.

Doug Armstrong does not want a TOP5 pick. He will do anything and everything to spoil their draft position by winning meaningless games in March. This team goes nowhere as long as Army takes that approach.

Fans should demand a change immediately.

[DawgDad]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

Actually, after they were ravaged by Covid for a couple of seasons that 2019 core posted a 109 point season losing to the eventual Cup Champions in Round 2 only after Kadri took out Binnington. How fast some people forget.

Most of the agenda driven narratives on this forum are based on false or flawed premises, often crazy assumptions and wild speculation. The Blues are a team in a 32 team league attempting to transition methodically into a new core as age catches up to holdover veterans. It's a bumpy road. That's all it is, not all this fictional subterfuge, divided loyalties, Army Derangement Syndrome, whatever. Just a team struggling in the moment.

[Aesa]

DawgDad, don't you realize common sense is not allowed around here?

[dugoutrex]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

Actually, after they were ravaged by Covid for a couple of seasons that 2019 core posted a 109 point season losing to the eventual Cup Champions in Round 2 only after Kadri took out Binnington. How fast some people forget.

Most of the agenda driven narratives on this forum are based on false or flawed premises, often crazy assumptions and wild speculation. The Blues are a team in a 32 team league attempting to transition methodically into a new core as age catches up to holdover veterans. It's a bumpy road. That's all it is, not all this fictional subterfuge, divided loyalties, Army Derangement Syndrome, whatever. Just a team struggling in the moment.

ravaged ?

[Ziggy3]

Without trying to start yet another debate about the specific could haves and should haves about it, the big failure was that we lost Jaybo and Petro, and the remedial plan was just abysmally inadequate.

A lot of things had to align for that Cup team, but IMO the foundation was that we had a D that was big, very hard to forecheck and got the puck going the other way efficiently. Teams have consistently put the Blues in a blender with their forecheck since then. You don't replace those two with Faulk and Krug; their builds and skillsets are so different that they almost might as well play different positions.

[Bacchk29]

Without trying to start yet another debate about the specific could haves and should haves about it, the big failure was that we lost Jaybo and Petro, and the remedial plan was just abysmally inadequate.

A lot of things had to align for that Cup team, but IMO the foundation was that we had a D that was big, very hard to forecheck and got the puck going the other way efficiently. Teams have consistently put the Blues in a blender with their forecheck since then. You don't replace those two with Faulk and Krug; their builds and skillsets are so different that they almost might as well play different positions.

Petro’s didn’t age well, he’s on LTIR and may not play again. He was a passenger the Vegas Cup team. The mistake was Krug. He bid against himself and lost the club millions on that deal.

[DawgDad]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

Actually, after they were ravaged by Covid for a couple of seasons that 2019 core posted a 109 point season losing to the eventual Cup Champions in Round 2 only after Kadri took out Binnington. How fast some people forget.

Most of the agenda driven narratives on this forum are based on false or flawed premises, often crazy assumptions and wild speculation. The Blues are a team in a 32 team league attempting to transition methodically into a new core as age catches up to holdover veterans. It's a bumpy road. That's all it is, not all this fictional subterfuge, divided loyalties, Army Derangement Syndrome, whatever. Just a team struggling in the moment.

ravaged ?

Suggest an alternative term. It was a major factor.

[Bacchk29]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

Actually, after they were ravaged by Covid for a couple of seasons that 2019 core posted a 109 point season losing to the eventual Cup Champions in Round 2 only after Kadri took out Binnington. How fast some people forget.

Most of the agenda driven narratives on this forum are based on false or flawed premises, often crazy assumptions and wild speculation. The Blues are a team in a 32 team league attempting to transition methodically into a new core as age catches up to holdover veterans. It's a bumpy road. That's all it is, not all this fictional subterfuge, divided loyalties, Army Derangement Syndrome, whatever. Just a team struggling in the moment.

ravaged ?

Suggest an alternative term. It was a major factor.

Maybe the playoff of 2020 when they lost to Vancouver in the bubble but when else was COVID a factor?

[blackinkbiz]

I think you can pin this year's disaster (thus far) on one transaction above all others: Bolduc/Mailloux. Well, that, and the obvious injuries which have decimated the offense.

But when Snuggy came along and started producing, the Blues suddenly had 4 lines that could all put a puck in the net if the opponent took a nap for even one shift. And sure enough, most opponents did, because most didn't have 4 lines to match the Blues' depth.

Then, by no means were Leddy and Suter some sort of offensive juggernaut on the blue line, but they were incredibly solid defensively, knew what they were doing, and helped the play in all zones. And compared to Mailloux's production, they now look like an offensive juggernaut.

We gave up the piece that changed the offensive lineup from good to exceptional, dumped the 2 most solid and unappreciated defensive stalwarts on the blue line, and what did the Blues replace it with?

1 goal, 1 assist, and a rookie project defenseman who makes more errors and boneheaded plays than any young defenseman I've ever seen.

I disliked the deal when it happened and have basically lost all hope for this season after watching how horribly it's played out the first half of the season. It was just f'n STUPID. There's an old, old, OOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDDD saying that is something everyone should learn before they become an adult: if it's not broken, don't f'n fix it.

Army had done an exceptional job imo with the retool on the fly. But this one move has caused more damage than any other. My gawd it was just so f'n stupid. Ugh....

[Tabasco Flowers]

Doug thought he was Jerry Krause.

Doug wanted to win and then win again with his fingerprints all over it instead of it being certain players era, it would be the Doug era.

Management wins championships, not players is the specific mentality.

Doug destroyed what should have been when he pushed Petro out. Which he did do. He 100% pushed him out.

From that point many mistakes were made.

I agree on the Petro situation — at this point, it doesn’t even matter who was right or wrong. Losing Petro was the rock slide that started it all. After that it was Perron, Tarasenko, Maroon, Mikkola, Dunn, and then Schwartz — one after another.

If we’d signed Petro, where would this team be right now? Who knows. But realistically, Armstrong is the expert and his decision so maybe he made a gamble who knows.

Losing Petro was not where the rock slide started.
The cap was a problem and you were going to lose players regardless.
IMO, losing Jbow unexpectedly is what started it all…. We spent 4+ yerars trying to patch that hole of who was going to play with Parayko and be your #1 defensive pair.

Agree. The loss of J-Bow goes waaaay under the radar, but that's where it started.

[dugoutrex]

anyone who thought the 2019 Cup team was going to turn into a dynasty was fooling themselves. That team was built on buy in. They weren't the biggest, fastest or best team. They capitalized on heart and made the most of it. Since then the normal issues any team goes through have occured. Lost a star to UFA. Lost a key player to injury/retirement. Lost multiple players to the fact that they were running on adrenaline and weren't actually as good as they looked that fateful postseason. GM attempted to shore up the positions that were vacated, but wasn't able to make it gel again because it wasn't about talent. I'm content with the direction this team is taking. Another season or 2 in this direction and the arrival of more youth in Jiricek, Carnbonneau and others and this team will be back in the [shirt]. In the meantime, I'll tune out most of the bad performances and enjoy the small victories. Others would do well to do the same.

Actually, after they were ravaged by Covid for a couple of seasons that 2019 core posted a 109 point season losing to the eventual Cup Champions in Round 2 only after Kadri took out Binnington. How fast some people forget.

Most of the agenda driven narratives on this forum are based on false or flawed premises, often crazy assumptions and wild speculation. The Blues are a team in a 32 team league attempting to transition methodically into a new core as age catches up to holdover veterans. It's a bumpy road. That's all it is, not all this fictional subterfuge, divided loyalties, Army Derangement Syndrome, whatever. Just a team struggling in the moment.

ravaged ?

Suggest an alternative term. It was a major factor.

not sure but ravaged makes it sound like 8 players died of Covid or something