End of Season Thought on the Future

[Stlcardsblues]

This one doesn’t sting as much as other playoff losses have, I see a bright future for this team and this is a step in the process.

For those who this loss means you only have the Cardinals now, I feel for you. I still have at least four more playoff games for my NBA team to delay that.

It will be interesting how ownership and the front office treat this moving forward. Losing the second round revenue hurts as they show they will reinvest in the Blues. We need to build a deeper roster.

Faulk on the ice and his contract are killing this team as is Krug’s contract. We need to move on from both when opportunity allows. Please do not attach draft picks to move them.

Kyrou and Buchnevich need to show more come playoff time.

We desperately need help on defense, not seeing many in the minors close. Parayko taking a massive step forward and Suter played huge dividends, but showed his age come playoff time. Leddy is serviceable, but we need better. A full season of Fowler will help. We need a top four D from outside the organization.

Broberg looked like a star early in the season, then after the injury never looked the same. Never was convinced he was fully recovered. We desperately need him to be the pre-injury Broberg.

Need Snuggerud, Holloway and Bolduc to continue to get better. Need more from Neighbors. I felt he took a step backwards.

It’s time to move on from Schenn.

[swatski]

1. Another big man on D
2. Better entries on power plays
3. BETTER EMPTY NET PLAY!!!!

Those are my wishes. Oh forgot one.
4. Pre Order the statue for Binny

[skilles]

I think you just look for more youngish d, we'll be good next year but the blueline is on burrowed time.

Some decisions will also need to be made on the bottom 6 as well be we need to make sure we are building our future blue line as these guys age out.

[Phil McCrakin]

1. Another big man on D
2. Better entries on power plays
3. BETTER EMPTY NET PLAY!!!!

Those are my wishes. Oh forgot one.
4. Pre Order the statue for Binny

Schenn and Faulk haven't been the same players for last two years. The 2 positions those guys have are also the 2 positions about half the league is looking for (2C and top 4 RD) We might have to put up with Schenn as our 2C for another year and find a solid 3C that can alternate with Schenn when needed and let Dvorsky start at wing (like Thomas did his rookie year) until he can show he's ready. A big defensive minded RD is needed to pair with Broberg and its not Faulk. Army has work to do but I trust him. At least were young, and we know we're a playoff caliber team on the upswing. I'm (bleep) we lost but very optimistic about the future. LGB!!

[Bluesfan1978]

I have no issue with Schenn as the 2C for one more year if Holloway is on his line.

[britishblue]

The loss stings for sure, with 2 mins to go i thought we had it done.

Sigh.

However having seen this team over the last couple of months there is a lot to be excited about next year.

A full season of Snuggy and Dvorsky perhaps, growth of Bolduc, Holloway, Neighbourd and Broberg.

I think the offseason need has to be a RHD. Either to replace Faulk on the 2nd pairing or to help balance out the d in certain situations.

Upfront tbh we could do nothing, maybe re-sign Faksa, but I think we see them play Dvorsky, perhaps they try to move joseph/texier.

We are in a good spot.

[Vinegar Ben]

BIG CHOKE!!! HAD IT IN YOUR HANDS

[Bluesfan1978]

I love how the team played the last few months. Parayko was a beast last night. Looking forward to Parayko's next season. He has played at another level this year. Broberg will have a full offseason to train vs last year playing well into June. Fowler for a full year as well. Agree with others on Jake, Holloway, Bolduc and Snuggy stills with lots of room to improve. Thomas is entering star category, love that he added some physicality to his game in the playoffs. I'd still like to see a bit more. Buch had a few rough plays but overall i like the intensity he played with. I'm glad the center project is over for him. Dvorksy I hope has a really strong offseason and challenges for even 3C would give the 3rd line wingers much more skill to play with.
I hope Faska is brought back to have another year on the WTF LINE. I really like how Torpo played down the stretch. Joseph and Texier might be replaced. No issue if Joseph is brought back though. Kyrou needs to have his best offseason of training yet to take his game to another level. It seems he had a strong offseason last year.
Armstrong will be looking to upgrade a few positions over the next two years. I would think Faulks is one of them. Sunny as well and I won't be shocked if Kyrou is part of some sort of package.

[Tony Palazzolo]

That one hurt. I also agree that with how the season started and how the last 3 months played out I'm hopeful for the next few years.

This offseason is going to be interesting.

I thought what we missed in this series was another forward. You need all four lines contributing. The top six and the bottom six are missing a forward. Yes, Holloway is the piece on the top six, but you need a little more depth. Snuggie fills one of those roles. You still need another for depth. That we have coming the next couple of years. It is an organizational strength.

My guess is that Army makes a trade for a youngish "D" with the forward assets. You have to give him props with how he's constructed the team. I trust he'll do what needs to be done.

It's also hard to blame this one any one player. If Buch passes the puck off the boards with Thomas streaking he probably gets the empty netter game over. If Thomas keeps the puck jammed in the corner with 20 something seconds remaining we win. Several other little plays could've been the difference. I'm sure every player is thinking about these things and will for the summer.

The number that will bother me for along time will be 1.6.

[Lone_Ranger]

A juggernaut in the West in the making. I see a Cup coming soon for this team. We got a young ascending team, we got the coach, we got the goalie, it's happening.

[Bob39]

I'm not sure the Blues have ever had this collection of young talent in the almost 60 year history on the franchise. You never know what will happen, but we may be looking at the beginning of the best decade in Blues history.

[Frank Underwood]

If the sting if last night stays with those younger players and they learn from it and use it as motivation, then maybe it’s worth it. Totally sucks right now, though. I’m consoling myself with the thought that we probably would have gotten crushed by Dallas, especially if they get Robertson and Heiskenen back. That series against Winnipeg was one of the most physical playoff series I have ever seen. That probably would have caught up with us against Dallas. We’ll see how it affects Winnipeg.

[Banner29]

Loss stung. Will sting for a while. But Excited about the future. They exceeded expectations. Great coach. Great goalie. Great young core in Thomas, Holloway, Bolduc, Snuggs, Broburg, Dvorsky, Neighbors. Great vets in Parayko, Schenn, Buch, Fowler. The window is opining wide and I think those team will be feared in just a few short years.

[TBone]

I hope Faska is brought back to have another year on the WTF LINE. I really like how Torpo played down the stretch.

I don't know what their cap situation is, but there's no way I let Faksa get away. He's physical, wins critical face-offs, and kills penalties with the best.

Hell, with the game on the line in OT I never once felt we were going to lose it with the WTF line on the ice. In fact, I was semi-expecting a greasy goal out of them to get us off the hook. You don't break them up when even Montgomery acknowledged they drive the tone of the team.

[82birds]

That one hurt. I also agree that with how the season started and how the last 3 months played out I'm hopeful for the next few years.

This offseason is going to be interesting.

The number that will bother me for along time will be 1.6.

THIS^^^^^^^^^

[Zizzle1297]

To me if we had Hollaway we more than likely win this series.

I think we will finally part ways with Krug
I think Leddy is serviceable but yet also tradeable as I believe he only has 1 year left I believe how I think we keep him. RD is the biggest need. There would be several i would like to target as RFAs but I doubt that works. So if we trade Kryou I would want a top RD back