2022-2023 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread

[ChicagoBlues]

?????

 

[Xerloris]

I read a challenge made to the Blues community here yesterday on the key substantive Blues topic of whether Thomas was truly a good enough #1 center for a contender*. The challenge essentially was "I dare anyone to make an argument that Thomas isn't as good as Brayden Point."

Now, personally I saw this argument and thought oh boy, if Blues fans tell themselves this, they are setting themselves up for a real letdown, so I thought well, I'll explain why I don't think telling yourself you're better than you are is a good plan. For example, you can argue that Keith Tkachuk was amazing because of his regular season numbers when in reality he defined the role of "Guy who, when it matters, superior players push aside en route to winning." But all you would be doing is lying to yourself. Which the same person from yesterday did and does do about Keith Tkachuk btw so when Bleedblue brought up Tkachuk in reference to this debate I did a spit-take.

Anyway, predictably, upon my response I was met with insidious accusations of bad faith, hilariously awful math, and there was a homophobic slur in there (not to me but to the people who would have an opinion on this ... anyone who disagreed with this person was a nonobjective "fanboy" who was "(slur)." We just aren't going to be doing this same thing for Thomas as we did once for Tkachuk, some of the same slurs won't be used this time.

It actually reminded me of when I came back here a year and a half ago and said Krug was at best a 4-5 defenseman on a contender. I got the full Brian ridicule on that, and we went at it hammer and tongs, and look where we are today. One of the people who went at me as personally as possible is now one of the strongest voices for my position; I congratulate him. So I do not operate in bad faith. If I say something about the team you don't like, what I say might be totally wrong, but it is not in bad faith, a truly poison accusation. I believe that you cannot become great unless you are honest with yourself. It's the same principle in poker, the best players are the ones who are truly honest with themselves about their own play. It's so pitiful to be so bad at argument that all you can do is attack the person. That is so incompetent.

Anyway here's a rude wake up call for the people here who huff hopium on the Thomas-Point comparison. Wake up.



*Some people might only aspire to compete for the President's Trophy, but I want the Blues to compete for the Stanley Cup, The team has won one of each and I know which one was better. The Stanley Cup competition occurs in the playoffs. It's true, you can look this up.

Did you take into account quality of team around Point for this comparison? I'm not meaning to hate on the Blues but The Lightning are sort of stacked.

 

[PocketNines]

IMO #1C on a contender is in a relatively small group of elite players who don't need help. They are simply difficult to suppress. I don't think that Thomas has shown he's on that level. The key for him is going to be whether he can put the goal scoring and low shot volume issues behind him. If he can become a scoring threat himself like Point is then so much more will open up for him and the opponent playoff game plans will get a greater challenge.

I hope the Blues can draft a center this draft who can emerge as that player.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Still laughing at “the full Brian ridicule”.

We’ve seen his posts. We all know what is meant there, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Brian ridicule anyone.

P9, just for conversation’s sake, who are in the group of 1Cs for a contender in your view? I guess to me Point seems like not the first guy I would think of. I missed how he became the index case.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Still laughing at “the full Brian ridicule”.

We’ve seen his posts. We all know what is meant there, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Brian ridicule anyone.

Eh, I remember the 2 of us being pretty obnoxious with each other when discussing either Husso or Barbashev extensions last year, out of character for the both of us though.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Eh, I remember the 2 of us being pretty obnoxious with each other when discussing either Husso or Barbashev extensions last year, out of character for the both of us though.

No, it's not.

 

[bleedblue1223]

No, it's not.

I'm talking about Brian. I think that was the only time the 2 of us have ever been obnoxious with each other.

Or are you referring to me?

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I'm talking about Brian. I think that was the only time the 2 of us have ever been obnoxious with each other.

Or are you referring to me?

nevermind

i misunderstood

 

[PocketNines]

I'm talking about Brian. I think that was the only time the 2 of us have ever been obnoxious with each other.

Or are you referring to me?

You know what he is trying to do ... and he knows too ....

 

[Xerloris]

Still laughing at “the full Brian ridicule”.

We’ve seen his posts. We all know what is meant there, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Brian ridicule anyone.

P9, just for conversation’s sake, who are in the group of 1Cs for a contender in your view? I guess to me Point seems like not the first guy I would think of. I missed how he became the index case.

I'm going to name my list because I can.

ROR
Thomas

Look at that, we have 2.

 

[PocketNines]

J-Snug's development is significant to the evolving thinking about the team as these trades go down. He's really taken a big leap forward this year and Armstrong knows in the near term he will be reloaded up front. I think he feels pretty stable in goal no matter what 50's detractors say.

It increases the possibility that Armstrong sneaks the Chychrun market after trading Barbashev using the returns he's just gotten as a significant part of the value. Still not sure how I feel about Chychrun's health or paying that price, but we had always had that reported interest meaning Armstrong sees his own need and this player filling it.

 

[Mike Liut]

I think Neighbors can do anything Barbs does. I doubt we’ll get more than a 2nd and a 3rd for Barbs, but I’d still do it. I’d take a 3rd for Acciari too.

 

[Majorityof1]

I think Neighbors can do anything Barbs does. I doubt we’ll get more than a 2nd and a 3rd for Barbs, but I’d still do it. I’d take a 3rd for Acciari too.

Can he hold down a full-time NHL role? Barbie did that. I haven't seen Neighbours do so. Maybe he should start with that before we say he can replace anyone at anything.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I think Neighbors can do anything Barbs does. I doubt we’ll get more than a 2nd and a 3rd for Barbs, but I’d still do it. I’d take a 3rd for Acciari too.

If at deadline those are best offers I take them, but I wouldn’t today.

 

[PocketNines]

Pretty exciting day in terms of clarifying which way we're going. After three wins in a row if anyone was listening to the radio call of the NJ game and the postgame chatter, Kerber was declaring himself hugely excited for today's game and how they were just about to go on a run and catch Colorado and Minnesota and get in the playoffs ... and while strategically I thought it better to commit to being deadline sellers was the right (if tough) call, you have to listen to the sounds coming out of the people around the team on a daily basis to infer their mindset and it was starting to become more muddled with the mini win streak.

I've definitely cast heavy doubt on 18/25 ability to be first line core players on a contender – I think they could definitely be complementary core pieces but I am not sure about primary – so now they get to really and truly feel it. Just as importantly it will give us an opportunity to see what else we need up front as we head into a rich draft.

I don't think there's any chance they extend Barbashev so that's the next focus along with rejuvenating our Bedard chase.

Let's pause for a moment and dream that we land Bedard ... man oh man that would affect all of our strategizing.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Alexandrov, Highmore recalled from Springfield | St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the team has recalled forwards Nikita Alexandrov and Matthew Highmore from its AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.Both players will meet the team tomorrow in Ottawa.

www.nhl.com

 

[PocketNines]

I recall getting high more

 

[bleedblue1223]

Glad Highmore got a call up, he's earned a chance to have a little run at the NHL to try an earn a spot somewhere next season.

 

[oPlaiD]

Pretty exciting day in terms of clarifying which way we're going. After three wins in a row if anyone was listening to the radio call of the NJ game and the postgame chatter, Kerber was declaring himself hugely excited for today's game and how they were just about to go on a run and catch Colorado and Minnesota and get in the playoffs ... and while strategically I thought it better to commit to being deadline sellers was the right (if tough) call, you have to listen to the sounds coming out of the people around the team on a daily basis to infer their mindset and it was starting to become more muddled with the mini win streak.

I've definitely cast heavy doubt on 18/25 ability to be first line core players on a contender – I think they could definitely be complementary core pieces but I am not sure about primary – so now they get to really and truly feel it. Just as importantly it will give us an opportunity to see what else we need up front as we head into a rich draft.

I don't think there's any chance they extend Barbashev so that's the next focus along with rejuvenating our Bedard chase.

Let's pause for a moment and dream that we land Bedard ... man oh man that would affect all of our strategizing.

I think a lot of people here are more down on our current roster than they should be and this season is kind of the "everything goes wrong" version of a season compared to last year's "everything goes right" in terms of under and overperforming what we're putting on the ice.

It's hard to see winning the Cup with the defense as currently constructed, but even without Tarasenko and O'Reilly playoffs next year isn't that out of the realm of possibility. As we are seeing this season, the West isn't very good and there's a lot of parity in the NHL.

And if we did land Bedard... I mean, imagine us drafting Bedard and trading two other 1sts for Chycrun. That instantly transforms the outlook of the entire franchise, and while it's a slim possibility, it's definitely a possibility.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Pretty exciting day in terms of clarifying which way we're going. After three wins in a row if anyone was listening to the radio call of the NJ game and the postgame chatter, Kerber was declaring himself hugely excited for today's game and how they were just about to go on a run and catch Colorado and Minnesota and get in the playoffs ... and while strategically I thought it better to commit to being deadline sellers was the right (if tough) call, you have to listen to the sounds coming out of the people around the team on a daily basis to infer their mindset and it was starting to become more muddled with the mini win streak.

I've definitely cast heavy doubt on 18/25 ability to be first line core players on a contender – I think they could definitely be complementary core pieces but I am not sure about primary – so now they get to really and truly feel it. Just as importantly it will give us an opportunity to see what else we need up front as we head into a rich draft.

I don't think there's any chance they extend Barbashev so that's the next focus along with rejuvenating our Bedard chase.

Let's pause for a moment and dream that we land Bedard ... man oh man that would affect all of our strategizing.

Armstrong making the moves he has as early as this has multiple strategic ramifications. It’s shrewd. But it also leads me to wonder whether he could do a move like acquiring Chycrun. Buying AND selling to position a retool.

He has the Barbashev deal to make, but there is time and capital to pull off something creative. He’s not predictable, which makes it fun as a fan during an otherwise disappointing season.

 

[oPlaiD]

Armstrong making the moves he has as early as this has multiple strategic ramifications. It’s shrewd. But it also leads me to wonder whether he could do a move like acquiring Chycrun. Buying AND selling to position a retool.

He has the Barbashev deal to make, but there is time and capital to pull off something creative. He’s not predictable, which makes it fun as a fan during an otherwise disappointing season.

Hey the timeline matches. Chycrun held out of games right when we moved Tarasenko. Armstrong waiting for Armstrong to finish all the requisite deals needed to make it work, acquiring assets and moving out a different D to open space.

I doubt this is actually the case, but it's certainly possible.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I think a lot of people here are more down on our current roster than they should be and this season is kind of the "everything goes wrong" version of a season compared to last year's "everything goes right" in terms of under and overperforming what we're putting on the ice.

It's hard to see winning the Cup with the defense as currently constructed, but even without Tarasenko and O'Reilly playoffs next year isn't that out of the realm of possibility. As we are seeing this season, the West isn't very good and there's a lot of parity in the NHL.

And if we did land Bedard... I mean, imagine us drafting Bedard and trading two other 1sts for Chycrun. That instantly transforms the outlook of the entire franchise, and while it's a slim possibility, it's definitely a possibility.

I refuse to believe that the Blues winning the lottery for Bedard would ever happen. It goes against every thing I know about luck as a Blues fan and I will not let myself even entertain such thoughts.

 

[oPlaiD]

I refuse to believe that the Blues winning the lottery for Bedard would ever happen. It goes against every thing I know about luck as a Blues fan and I will not let myself even entertain such thoughts.

Maybe we can borrow some of that devil magic, works great for the other guys in town.

 

[Mike Liut]

The new era of suckage has just begun. Let’s hope it doesn’t last long.

 

[Mike Liut]

Let’s end the year on a 28 game losing streak