Food For Thought Regarding the Playoffs

[Droge100]

I know there's some hoping for a run by the Blues after the Olympic break, but they'll need to go 23-1-1 in their last 25 games to match last year's total of 96 points, which they made the playoffs on a tiebreaker.

[Bluesfan1978]

This team isn’t making the playoffs. They are 7 points behind where they were after the same amount of games last year. Army willing be selling off some players right after the break. 500 hockey the rest of the year would be an achievement for this team.

[smegma]

What if they go 25-0-0?

[bluecalgary]

ummm all the tankers heads would blow up!

[stlblue06]

We have played more games this season at this point than last with the condensed schedule. Sucks because the pacific is so bad and there are a lot of weak teams in a spot or hunt.

Despite everything that’s gone wrong the Blues were right there at the beginning of January after those 2 back to back home wins. Then it felt like they played some of their better/most consistent hockey in January too but lost most of their games by 1 goal (with the standard EN goal tacked on).

Goaltending, that 3rd pairing that lead to screwing with all of the pairings, and then injuries to forwards are what did them in. Still feels like the Blues have a real solid team, especially with Otto, Dvorsky, Hofer, and Broberg making big strides this season.

[callitwhatyouwant]

this team isn't making playoffs. I don't think anyone is even thinking it's possible. From even what monty has said, it appears to me the focus of the team has shifted as well. Which is a good thing. They are trying to get better as a group. stop chasing the W's and try and play better hockey regardless of outcome. I think that's why you have seen the scoring open up both ways. They are trying new htings because for however many games there like 32ish, they only got to 3 goals or more i think it was 8 times? maybe 9? You can't win hockey games unless you score 3 games in todays NHL. It's a statistical improbability everytime you win scoring 2 or fewer.

[AtillaTheBlue1]

ummm all the tankers heads would blow up!

And they would flounder if they made the playoffs, again, and be in a worst position, as they let soon to be free agents walk, or assets become worthless.


yeah, that would show the people who would like the team to get a super star, finally, for a chage, to build around

(bleep) those people, we should be happy with mediocre play and a floundering playoff run. thats such an own on the people wishing team would tank. so owned.

[AtillaTheBlue1]

And i do not root for any of my teams to lose, they can do that themselves, i dont need to wish it on them.

[dhsux]

A lot has to do with what management does with the trade deadline.

But I can tell you, these guys will come out and play to win, no matter their make up or what internet forums want.

I wouldn't bet on a top 5 pick one way or the other.

[dhsux]

And i do not root for any of my teams to lose, they can do that themselves, i dont need to wish it on them.

Your 2 posts there seem conflicted.

You want them to lose but you can't root for them to lose just so they lose?

[DawgDad]

I feel compelled to chime in again. I just find all these discussions about LOSING to be absurd. People who revel in losing for whatever reason are LOSERS. Losing happens, every game has a winner and a loser. Everyone's job, what they get paid for, is to win, to AVOID losing. When it happens, take what comes, but wallowing in the glory and rewards of losing can become a habit which ultimately gets people fired, deservedly.

[callitwhatyouwant]

I feel compelled to chime in again. I just find all these discussions about LOSING to be absurd. People who revel in losing for whatever reason are LOSERS. Losing happens, every game has a winner and a loser. Everyone's job, what they get paid for, is to win, to AVOID losing. When it happens, take what comes, but wallowing in the glory and rewards of losing can become a habit which ultimately gets people fired, deservedly.

wiser words have never been said. To add to that, you know it's a losers mentality. Along like trolling. When you root for the tank, or you cheer on losing as a fan, TYPICALLY that fan is also relishing in the wins. They are basically the guy at the casino that is betting both red and black and acting like they won money both times. But in reality there are double 0s and that person is eventually losing. I'm fine with people who can find the positive in a bad outcome. That's completely different. But hoping for losses is one of the more ridiculous things in sports, and should only be reserved for the last couple weeks of the season when the result is in no doubt.

This team has plenty to fight for They still have more than 1/4th left of the season to play. They aren't playing for playoffs, but they are playing for growth. If the Blues didn't make the playoffs last year, and the narrative didn't switch. Wouldn't we as fans be looking at the roster and go "yep, they were banged up this year, is what it is, but it's awesome all these young players are getting more time earlier than expected."

It's the trolls and bandwagon fans who I think came from Cards nation and being upset they didn't have anything to cheer for over there that have switched the narrative.

[LGB73]

If we're going to miss the playoffs, there's something to be said for missing it by a lot and not by a little. Players and coaches are going to play to win and they should. But fans hoping for a stud pick aren't rooting for them to lose as much as wanting to see the team getting a premium player that helps them not experience seasons like this very often.

As for the GM, he's the one in the position to make decisions that could make winning games harder this year while also improving the team's chances of success in the future. It's an important TDL for the GM to put the organization in a better place going forward instead of worrying about notching wins in this season.

[DawgDad]

I feel compelled to chime in again. I just find all these discussions about LOSING to be absurd. People who revel in losing for whatever reason are LOSERS. Losing happens, every game has a winner and a loser. Everyone's job, what they get paid for, is to win, to AVOID losing. When it happens, take what comes, but wallowing in the glory and rewards of losing can become a habit which ultimately gets people fired, deservedly.

wiser words have never been said. To add to that, you know it's a losers mentality. Along like trolling. When you root for the tank, or you cheer on losing as a fan, TYPICALLY that fan is also relishing in the wins. They are basically the guy at the casino that is betting both red and black and acting like they won money both times. But in reality there are double 0s and that person is eventually losing. I'm fine with people who can find the positive in a bad outcome. That's completely different. But hoping for losses is one of the more ridiculous things in sports, and should only be reserved for the last couple weeks of the season when the result is in no doubt.

This team has plenty to fight for They still have more than 1/4th left of the season to play. They aren't playing for playoffs, but they are playing for growth. If the Blues didn't make the playoffs last year, and the narrative didn't switch. Wouldn't we as fans be looking at the roster and go "yep, they were banged up this year, is what it is, but it's awesome all these young players are getting more time earlier than expected."

It's the trolls and bandwagon fans who I think came from Cards nation and being upset they didn't have anything to cheer for over there that have switched the narrative.

They've been growth-oriented since the beginning of the season, though up to a point recently they likely still held playoff aspirations.

The Olympic break is already doing much of what the 4Nations did, giving the participants a boost of adrenaline and fighting spirit and giving everyone other than Stenberg a break. The veterans coming back will be playing for internal or external opportunities, the kids to stick and grow. It can still be fun, not the loser quitting garbage I've seen from teams like the Rangers.

[BrummerStealsHome]

[gpe13579]

Players don't tank.

They have legacies to concern themselves with or they have new contracts to play for. No player ever goes out to tank.

BUT, organizations do. They won't say it but they do it by deploying what they have differently.