2022-2023 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread

[ChicagoBlues]

I enjoyed last night’s game, the win and the shutout…but I still want them to lose most of their games from here on out.

I don’t want them to quit like they did for a few games after the ROR trade; I want them to try but just suck to the level that the opposing team is simply better. Is that too much to ask??

Play well and lose. Yes, please.

I always watch wanting a win, intellectually I understand that losing could be better long term depending what happens with other teams and some random balls, but during the games I want them to win

Support the troops, but not the war??

 

[Xerloris]

You guys saying you want the tank to be over are out of your f***ing minds. There's like 12 games left and NOW you think we should try to win? So we can what? Finish with no chance of winning the lottery and no chance at a franchise changing player? There is nothing good that can happen by winning now but there is something good that can happen by losing.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I really f***ing hope we don't go on a massive winning Streak at the end of the season. I want us to play well but I don't want us to go on a run for no reason. We're lucky that Arizona and Vancouver are continuing pace with us so we can still have them pass us up. If we wanted to make the playoffs we shouldn't have given up when RoR got traded.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I see both sides. The upside of losing is a better pick, but the downside is players that we have long-term, that we'll have after we are done rebuilding, continue to suck ass. If we play better, it'll be because those players are performing to the level that we expect them to perform at.

I want Hofer to be great in net, I want Buchnevich to excel at center, I want Vrana to score like crazy, I want Scandella to be decent enough to take some of the burden off the Parayko pair.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

The great thing is, it doesn't matter what we hope or dream will happen the remainder of the season. The games will play out without any effect from us. So if you wanna route for the tank, do so, if you wanna route for the call ups and new roster players, do so. My expectatios are this team will remain slightly under .500 the remainder of the season, and thats in-line with how this season has gone.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

They really need to stop winning. Armstrong maybe needs to have a talk with them? This isn't the direction right now. It could be MASSIVELY important to finish lower in the standings. When you're talking 22nd vs 25th who cares really. But 6th compared to 10th? It's huge.

Stop this.

 

[BlueDream]

I mean overall it’s just f***ing annoying to see the complaining about the whole thing. You think the players are gonna pull up this forum and be like “oh the fans want us to stop winning? Oh alright, say no more!”

Nobody from the org is reading your posts nor gives a shit what any of you want in these games. Constantly posting about how they need to stop winning is a huge waste of time. Have a nice day.

 

[Xerloris]

They really need to stop winning. Armstrong maybe needs to have a talk with them? This isn't the direction right now. It could be MASSIVELY important to finish lower in the standings. When you're talking 22nd vs 25th who cares really. But 6th compared to 10th? It's huge.

Stop this.

God this is so true. Suck it up and suck for another 10-12 games and get a real legitimate shot at a GOOD player in the draft or push yourselves back to a mid teens draft pick that is a normally not going to be a game changer.

I mean overall it’s just f***ing annoying to see the complaining about the whole thing. You think the players are gonna pull up this forum and be like “oh the fans want us to stop winning? Oh alright, say no more!”

Nobody from the org is reading your posts nor gives a shit what any of you want in these games. Constantly posting about how they need to stop winning is a huge waste of time. Have a nice day.

What if they do?

 

[HighNote]

I mean overall it’s just f***ing annoying to see the complaining about the whole thing. You think the players are gonna pull up this forum and be like “oh the fans want us to stop winning? Oh alright, say no more!”

Nobody from the org is reading your posts nor gives a shit what any of you want in these games. Constantly posting about how they need to stop winning is a huge waste of time. Have a nice day.

Posting anything here is a huge waste of time by this logic.

Anyways, back to the discussion on this discussion board.

---

Currently, the teams to watch are PHI, ARI, VAN, DET, OTT, BUF, and WSH.

MTL has been cut from this list as they have gone 1-7-2 in their last 10 and are now 7 points back, we have a game in hand, and we hold the tie-breaker. They also have a very tough schedule remaining, so dropping below them I think is currently a pipe dream.

PHI is now the team we're realistically hoping to drop below. They're 5 points back and would likely hold the tiebreaker if they manage to catch us. But they're making it rather difficult going 2-6-2 in their last 10. But they are still within striking distance of us, and we also play them in a couple of weeks, so there is definitely a chance. Let's hope they stay on the list of teams to watch and don't end up in MTL land.

ARI and VAN have been making us really happy lately. They combine for 14-4-2 in their last 10 games. I'm pretty optimistic about both of these teams passing us. For one, VAN has been playing great lately. And it hasn't just been other crappy teams they've beaten. They've recently beat DAL twice, TOR, and LA, all teams in the top 10 in the league. If they keep up their current pace, it might not matter if we beat them next week, they could just pass us anyways. They're currently tied with us in points but we hold the tiebreaker.

ARI is 2 points back, we have a game in hand, and we hold the tie-breaker. But they're on a roll lately, winning 4 straight and earning points in their last 8 games. They have a tough road trip this week, but if they can scape together a few points in the next 3 road games, they then have 7 home games and 2 away games left, and they've been significantly better at home than on the road this year. Interestingly enough, VAN and ARI play their last game of the season against each other. That could end up being a huge game for us, but hopefully by then VAN is comfortably ahead of us.

The teams ahead of us right now (DET, OTT, BUF, and WSH) are all playing like crap and we're starting to catch them. They combine for an abysmal 12-23-5 in their last 10. So that's a little worrying. We play DET for the next 2 games, so those are essential to lose. It would be pretty disappointing if we ended up stringing together wins here, because we really could end up climbing as many as 4 spots in the standings pretty quickly.

TL;DR: We're rooting for PHI, ARI, VAN, DET, OTT, BUF, and WSH. The games against DET (2), VAN, and then PHI are the most important remaining games for us at the moment. Realistically, we can land anywhere from 6th to 13th worst in the league, those spots currently held by PHI and OTT, respectively.

 

[Majorityof1]

'I mean overall it’s just f***ing annoying to see the complaining about the whole thing. You think the players are gonna pull up this forum and be like “oh the fans want us to stop winning? Oh alright, say no more!”

Nobody from the org is reading your posts nor gives a shit what any of you want in these games. Constantly posting about how they need to stop winning is a huge waste of time. Have a nice day.

You can say that about anything anybody posts on here. IS Army going to read the trade thread and say "Hey, I really should try to trade our 3 firsts for the #1OA" or is Binnington going to read the GDT and say "I really should try to make more saves". Or Parayko will decide to be meaner. Or whatever. It's all pointless. The most pointless thing of all is trying to regulate what other people post.

 

[BlueDream]

You can say that about anything anybody posts on here. IS Army going to read the trade thread and say "Hey, I really should try to trade our 3 firsts for the #1OA" or is Binnington going to read the GDT and say "I really should try to make more saves". Or Parayko will decide to be meaner. Or whatever. It's all pointless. The most pointless thing of all is trying to regulate what other people post.

You completely missed the point. Of course anyone can post anything they want but at some point, certain topics become nothing more than beating a dead horse.

It’s the same reason people get tired of talking about Pietrangelo, as we all realize by now that the team misses him. It doesn’t really need to be discussed anymore. Does anybody even talk about wanting Parayko to be meaner anymore? No because it isn’t going to happen, we’ve moved past that.

Same as this. We know you all want a higher draft pick. We f***ing get it already. It doesn’t need to trickle into every thread where people start arguing with somebody if they are happy the Blues won.

 

[Ranksu]

I mean overall it’s just f***ing annoying to see the complaining about the whole thing. You think the players are gonna pull up this forum and be like “oh the fans want us to stop winning? Oh alright, say no more!”

Nobody from the org is reading your posts nor gives a shit what any of you want in these games. Constantly posting about how they need to stop winning is a huge waste of time. Have a nice day.

 

[Xanadude]

I see both ways. On one hand, a culture of losing and tanking is supremely difficult to rebound from. Ask Arizona, Edmonton, buffalo...but of course the better shot at Bedard is worth a ten game losing streak.

On the other hand, we're far more likely to be drafting DPA between 7 and 12 and hopefully integrating them into our team within the next few years even if we lose every game from now to season's end...and I'd rather not have our pick this year need to be a savior but rather a good complementary piece to a contending team. We aren't one yet, but Hofer's strong start, the success of Vrana, Kapanen and Blais + our picks bode well.

 

[Xerloris]

I see both ways. On one hand, a culture of losing and tanking is supremely difficult to rebound from. Ask Arizona, Edmonton, buffalo...but of course the better shot at Bedard is worth a ten game losing streak.

On the other hand, we're far more likely to be drafting DPA between 7 and 12 and hopefully integrating them into our team within the next few years even if we lose every game from now to season's end...and I'd rather not have our pick this year need to be a savior but rather a good complementary piece to a contending team. We aren't one yet, but Hofer's strong start, the success of Vrana, Kapanen and Blais + our picks bode well.

So you would rather not draft a generational talent? Say that again but this time out loud. It really does sound that stupid.

 

[Xanadude]

So you would rather not draft a generational talent? Say that again but this time out loud. It really does sound that stupid.

Well...no. Not what I said. Strawman. The optimal option here is to have a competetive team that lucks into a lottery pick. of course.

But as others have laboriously detailed, even if we have everything go our way, lose every game, everyone we're 'chasing' wins every game...we're still looking at what, a 13% chance of a lottery pick at best? Maybe? and that situation is insanely unlikely. At this point, they play well or don't, regardless it looks like the most likely scenario is a pick between #7 and #12. Take BPA. Integrate them into a retooled roster next year or the year after.

And trust me, if we luck into Bedard, Fantelli or Carlsson I'll be the first to celebrate!

 

[kimzey59]

Well...no. Not what I said. Strawman. The optimal option here is to have a competetive team that lucks into a lottery pick. of course.

But as others have laboriously detailed, even if we have everything go our way, lose every game, everyone we're 'chasing' wins every game...we're still looking at what, a 13% chance of a lottery pick at best? Maybe? and that situation is insanely unlikely. At this point, they play well or don't, regardless it looks like the most likely scenario is a pick between #7 and #12. Take BPA. Integrate them into a retooled roster next year or the year after.

And trust me, if we luck into Bedard, Fantelli or Carlsson I'll be the first to celebrate!

2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds | Tankathon

Detailed 2025 NHL lottery odds. View the current odds for each lottery spot to get specific picks. See the chances that a pick is traded based on position.

www.tankathon.com

Currently: 5% for 1st overall, 5.4% for 2nd overall.
If we can drop down to #6: 7.5% for 1st overall; 7.9% for 2nd overall
If we can get to #5; 8.5% and 8.9%.

However, at this point the 1st or 2nd overall isn't even my goal. It just isn't realistic to drop that far. That said; #5 and #6 are still very much in play(conversely, if we do too much more winning we could be looking at pick 13 or 14; and I absolutely do not want to be drafting that low). IMO there is a talent gap between #6 and #7. Beyond the top 4, I think Benson and Smith have separated themselves from the next tier of players. Maybe not by a whole lot, but I think there's enough of a gap that it's noticeable. I would really like us to be in a position where we can grab one of them(largely indifferent as to which one). And that means at the lowest we need to be looking for the #7 pick( and hope that somebody(cough Montreal cough) is actually stupid enough to take Reinbacher in the top 6).

And if somebody else does win the lottery and leap past us; I want the choice of the liter of the next batch(Barlow, Moore, Dvorsky, Sale, Cristall, maybe Yager). What I don't want is to be sitting in the 9-12 range and end up with a team below us "stealing our guy" like happened in 2007(we wanted Voracek and once he got taken we made a trade down because we were indifferent to the other guys in that range; it cost us Logan Couture and/or Ryan McDonagh(according to the rumor mill; we traded down thinking McDonagh would still be there and he got taken one pick before us), I don't want a repeat of that fiasco).

 

[execwrite1]

Your 2023-24 Blues

Vrana Thomas Kyrou
Saad Schenn Buchnevich
Neighbours Bolduc Kapanen
Toropchenko Dean Blais

 

[STL fan in MN]

Your 2023-24 Blues

Vrana Thomas Kyrou
Saad Schenn Buchnevich
Neighbours Bolduc Kapanen
Toropchenko Dean Blais

No defense or goalies?

Also, if Bolduc can jump straight to the NHL as a C after 3 years pretty much exclusively at LW in Jrs, I’ll eat my hat.

Probably more likely Bolduc and Dean spend most of next season in the NHL and the Blues add a couple more depth forwards (ideally at least 1 is a C with proven above average faceoff ability) to go with Alexandrov and…I guess Walker.

 

[m1a2lt]

Just posted in the Vrana thread but thought it would be good to drop here too:

For Jakub Vrana, forward sees new lease on life on, off ice with Blues after recent experience with Red Wings

 

[Xanadude]

No defense or goalies?

Also, if Bolduc can jump straight to the NHL as a C after 3 years pretty much exclusively at LW in Jrs, I’ll eat my hat.

Probably more likely Bolduc and Dean spend most of next season in the NHL and the Blues add a couple more depth forwards (ideally at least 1 is a C with proven above average faceoff ability) to go with Alexandrov and…I guess Walker.

I think there will be a ton of competition in our forward group. Neighbors, Bolduc, Dean and our possible highest pick (depending) will be fighting for a place on the third line and Blais, Toro and Alexandrov will hold down the fourth.

I agree, I think the only FA hole we need to fill whatsoever is at 3/4c and even then there's no reason to go for a name-Dean or Bolduc might be a legit 3c option by the time camp is over.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I can zero confidence that Bolduc will ever be a Center in the NHL. And I definitely would not be projecting him at a NHL center next year.

 

[Reality Czech]

I think there will be a ton of competition in our forward group. Neighbors, Bolduc, Dean and our possible highest pick (depending) will be fighting for a place on the third line and Blais, Toro and Alexandrov will hold down the fourth.

I agree, I think the only FA hole we need to fill whatsoever is at 3/4c and even then there's no reason to go for a name-Dean or Bolduc might be a legit 3c option by the time camp is over.

I want Acciari back! He's the perfect bottom 6 center.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Yeah, let Dean and Bolduc perform at Springfield. If they light it up after a few months, then bring them up, but no need to rush them.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Yeah, let Dean and Bolduc perform at Springfield. If they light it up after a few months, then bring them up, but no need to rush them.

Agreed on this. I think they should give Bolduc the same path they gave Kyrou. Let him play the in the AHL until he gets to that PPG level and then let him come up full of confidence.

 

[execwrite1]

No defense or goalies?

Also, if Bolduc can jump straight to the NHL as a C after 3 years pretty much exclusively at LW in Jrs, I’ll eat my hat.

Probably more likely Bolduc and Dean spend most of next season in the NHL and the Blues add a couple more depth forwards (ideally at least 1 is a C with proven above average faceoff ability) to go with Alexandrov and…I guess Walker.

Guaranteed 100% accurate goal and defense prediction coming soon.