2023-2024 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread

[Majorityof1]

I get your premise and not trying to act like the Grinch, but "can you really be a die-hard fan and wish your team would lose? Win, which I'll always root for, or lose, I'm still a fan. I understand why you would feel that way, but I just can't root for my team to lose. JMHO

That's you. But you don't get to question someone else' fandom. Especially Celtic's whose bona fides on this forum as a Blues fan are unquestionable with the amount of time and knowledge he brings. I watch every game, spend extra time rewinding the game to watch plays over again, spend hours on this forum talking about the Blues and spend a lot of money on merchandise and traveling to occasional Blues games but want them to lose so they will win more in the future. I think losing this season will bring more total wins to the team than winning today. Am I less of a fan than someone who catches the occasional game, spends no money, doesn't really spend much time talking about them, but wants them to win?

 

[wiscrev]

That's you. But you don't get to question someone else' fandom. Especially Celtic's whose bona fides on this forum as a Blues fan are unquestionable with the amount of time and knowledge he brings. I watch every game, spend extra time rewinding the game to watch plays over again, spend hours on this forum talking about the Blues and spend a lot of money on merchandise and traveling to occasional Blues games but want them to lose so they will win more in the future. I think losing this season will bring more total wins to the team than winning today. Am I less of a fan than someone who catches the occasional game, spends no money, doesn't really spend much time talking about them, but wants them to win?

My apologies as I wasn't against his opinion, it's his and he has that privilege. I was more or less throwing the question out there for a discussion point. I've been a Blues fan since 81 and I have never rooted for them to lose. That's all I was really saying. My bad if it went the wrong way.

 

[Xerloris]

My apologies as I wasn't against his opinion, it's his and he has that privilege. I was more or less throwing the question out there for a discussion point. I've been a Blues fan since 81 and I have never rooted for them to lose. That's all I was really saying. My bad if it went the wrong way.

If you root for your own team to lose then what's the difference between being a Blues fan or hoping the Blackhawks lose?

 

[Reality Czech]

I get your premise and not trying to act like the Grinch, but "can you really be a die-hard fan and wish your team would lose? Win, which I'll always root for, or lose, I'm still a fan. I understand why you would feel that way, but I just can't root for my team to lose. JMHO

I can't imagine rooting for the Blues to lose either. Or if I did, I can't imagine announcing publicly that I hope the Blues lose. But some people around here clearly think differently than you or I do.

 

[Xerloris]

I can't imagine rooting for the Blues to lose either. Or if I did, I can't imagine announcing publicly that I hope the Blues lose. But some people around here clearly think differently than you or I do.

If it's clear we're missing the playoffs I don't mind hoping for a better draft pick but while we're still in the hunt for a playoff spot I can't make myself do it.

 

[Renard]

I view Torts as a bit of a different version of Hitchcock. I have a ton of respect for the job Hitch did here, I think he was one of the primary factors in setting this franchise on the course to winning a Stanley Cup as anyone. I'm not sure I'd want Torts running a team that has a more veteran, ready-to-win-a-cup core, but for young players that need to learn how to play in this league the right way (aka a winning way), I don't think you can do much better then Torts.

I'm with you on Hitchkock's contributions. He and Armstrong combined to return the Blues to relevancy.

 

[ScratchCatFever]

I can't imagine rooting for the Blues to lose either. Or if I did, I can't imagine announcing publicly that I hope the Blues lose. But some people around here clearly think differently than you or I do.

It seems the general feeling amongst the board is more an aloof indifference to middling success with the hopes of a more sustained long term competitive outlook by accepting mediocrity and perhaps a bit worse in the present.
I don't think most of us are watching the game waving towels and sounding goal horn effects through our phone when we're losing.

At the end of the day I'm not going to be disappointed if we sneak into the playoffs and hold a grudge against management and the players for doing their jobs. We're simply in sports fan purgatory at the moment.

I'd wager remaining competitive and maintaining that competitive spirit within the organization from top to bottom is a healthier approach to success than intentionally bottoming out for consecutive seasons and hoping the magic beans we've accumulated and planted are in fact magic.

It's worth noting the two occasions that we spent 7-10 years toiling in obscurity that we came close to losing losing them..

 

[Celtic Note]

If you root for your own team to lose then what's the difference between being a Blues fan or hoping the Blackhawks lose?

I could imagine quite a few possibilities. One being that we hope the Blues lose for the sake of being better in the future and not going down the path to perpetual mediocrity. I could also hope the Hawks to win just enough that their tank fails around Bedard, as we know there is no way they are winning a Cup with their current or near future roster. Now those are performance based reasons.

Spite and contempt added to hoping the Hawks don’t end up with a Celebrini or any good player in this coming draft being another, while establishing a losing culture due to their elongated time of suck age seems quite different. Hoping they are just bad enough to not fill the stands, not progress their rebuild and not reward a franchise that is both our rival and has covered up some heinous stuff seems completely different than hoping the Blue lose just so they can morph into a contender.

The reasons and desires alone are worlds different. The individual games can mean little in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Celtic Note]

It seems the general feeling amongst the board is more an aloof indifference to middling success with the hopes of a more sustained long term competitive outlook by accepting mediocrity and perhaps a bit worse in the present.
I don't think most of us are watching the game waving towels and sounding goal horn effects through our phone when we're losing.

At the end of the day I'm not going to be disappointed if we sneak into the playoffs and hold a grudge against management and the players for doing their jobs. We're simply in sports fan purgatory at the moment.

I'd wager remaining competitive and maintaining that competitive spirit within the organization from top to bottom is a healthier approach to success than intentionally bottoming out for consecutive seasons and hoping the magic beans we've accumulated and planted are in fact magic.

It's worth noting the two occasions that we spent 7-10 years toiling in obscurity that we came close to losing losing them..

I think you bring up a good point that there is a difference between hoping and rooting for loses.

Rooting is openly cheering for the opposition. There is a degree of joy taken by seeing someone else succeed. There is a negative stance towards our team. There are celebrations when the opposition scores or wins. There is moping when we score or win.

Hoping we lose and celebrating a loss are different.

Personally, I celebrate when we score goals and when we make great plays. I am happy when I see the growth of our players. Last night I was frustrated with our 5v5 play. I scoffed at our blown coverages. I didn’t celebrate them.

But I was hoping we would lose. When we did, I held no joy in seeing it, but I knew it was likely for the best.

 

[Mike Liut]

I can't imagine rooting for the Blues to lose either. Or if I did, I can't imagine announcing publicly that I hope the Blues lose. But some people around here clearly think differently than you or I do.

I look at rooting against the Blues like needing a surgery. It may hurt initially, but afterwards, you’ll come out healed and much better for the future.

 

[PJJJP]

Looks like Tucker sent down on a conditioning assignment

 

[Reality Czech]

If it's clear we're missing the playoffs I don't mind hoping for a better draft pick but while we're still in the hunt for a playoff spot I can't make myself do it.

I'm pretty much the same. There's a difference between being OK with losing and actively hoping for it to happen. But everyone can decide for themselves of course. I just like watching entertaining hockey and it's nice to see this current group playing better than anyone expected over the last month or so.

I get the draft pick argument but we got Thomas at 20 so you can still get damn good players later in the first round.

I look at rooting against the Blues like needing a surgery. It may hurt initially, but afterwards, you’ll come out healed and much better for the future.

Good comparison lol.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

In never gonna to cheer for the Blues to lose, contrary to the TankTown Express thing, but at the current timeframe, I'm not exactly getting heartbroken when they lose either.

I just want whatever is best for the longtime sustainability and health of the franchise, whether that means losing and getting another good draft pick, or trading assets to get something to fix it now and the long term.

 

[Majorityof1]

In never gonna to cheer for the Blues to lose, contrary to the TankTown Express thing, but at the current timeframe, I'm not exactly getting heartbroken when they lose either.

I just want whatever is best for the longtime sustainability and health of the franchise, whether that means losing and getting another good draft pick, or trading assets to get something to fix it now and the long term.

Aren't we getting in to semantics for performative reasons at this point. Not to call you out Linken. Others have been having this same conversation. But people are saying its ok to want the Blues to lose but not to root for it. You just said you don't cheer for the Blues to lose but you want whats best for them which is to lose. So you aren't cheering for what you want? Are you cheering for the opposite of what you want? Are you cheering for them to win even though you admit you want them to lose? That just makes no sense to me.

I want the Blues to lose, I am rooting for the Blues to lose, I am cheering for the Blues to lose. I have zero f***s to give about what anyone thinks about my fandom because of that.

 

[joe galiba]

23-34-12
26-40-12
35-31-14
29-37-14
32-39-9
20-47-13
18-50-12
34-34-12
45-18-17
32-40-8
25-40-15
32-41-7
37-31-12
37-34-9
32-33-15
34-38-8
33-35-12
37-34-9

this is the Blues record from when I can sort of remember watching them in grade school until right after I got out of college

THIS is Blues hockey (in James Earl Jones voice) to me

 

[ScratchCatFever]

23-34-12
26-40-12
35-31-14
29-37-14
32-39-9
20-47-13
18-50-12
34-34-12
45-18-17
32-40-8
25-40-15
32-41-7
37-31-12
37-34-9
32-33-15
34-38-8
33-35-12
37-34-9

this is the Blues record from when I can sort of remember watching them in grade school until right after I got out of college

THIS is Blues hockey (in James Earl Jones voice) to me

You made it through the most demoralizing and uncertain period of this teams existence with the flash in the pan of Wayne Babych and the Liut heroics of 80-81 as the only bright spots. I'd wager you're roughly the same age as my uncle, who has and loves to share memories of that anxiety induced era that he describes as the "Dawning of the Diehards"

 

[wiscrev]

You made it through the most demoralizing and uncertain period of this teams existence with the flash in the pan of Wayne Babych and the Liut heroics of 80-81 as the only bright spots. I'd wager you're roughly the same age as my uncle, who has and loves to share memories of that anxiety induced era that he describes as the "Dawning of the Diehards"

Sounds like Cubbie fans, lol

 

[joe galiba]

Sounds like Cubbie fans, lol

Wash those words right out your mouth

 

[Brian39]

Rough (long) weekend for the Blues. The teams in the hunt for the Wild Card spots all earned more points than the Blues from Friday through Monday. Minny got 3 of 6 possible points, Seattle got 2 of 4, Nashville got 4 of 6, Calgary got 2 of 2, Arizona got 2 of 2, and Edmonton got 2 of 2. We snagged just 1 out of 4 possible points, which means we now have to leapfrog 4 teams to get back into playoff position.

With that said, we outperformed most expectations people had for the start of 2024. All 6 of the games we played in the last 2 weeks came against teams that are top 10 in the NHL and a lot of people were predicting a 1-5 or 2-4 record. We instead went 3-2-1, which isn't at all bad given the strength of schedule.

Once again, this team is doing just enough to continue looking at the upcoming schedule and honestly saying 'big stretch of games coming up.' I'm pretty happy about it. We are still only 3 points up on the 6th worst team in hockey, but we are still playing meaningful games.

I'd rather be where we currently are than where Columbus is. Their 37 points puts them 12 points back of the playoff cut line and the entire roster knows that their season is over. But they are currently 6+ points up on the 4 teams below them in the standings, so it will be fairly difficult to move up from the 5th pick without winning the lotto. Maybe Ottawa starts picking up points during their absurd number of games in hand, but Columbus still has a noticeably better points percentage already. They are 11 and 14 points up on 32nd and 31st, so a top 2 pick is basically fully out of the question without a lottery win.

Right now, I'm cheering for the Blues to keep playing well enough that the 'next 2 weeks are big' while all of Montreal, Buffalo, and Minnesota keep snagging points to keep us right in the mix for 6th worst. There are thousands of 'potential' outcomes, but it isn't crazy to think that this team could play another 4-6 weeks of 'meaningful games' before selling a couple pieces at the deadline and then ultimately finishing with a top 7 pick. Given the makeup of this year's draft class, I think that you can get a very, very appealing D prospect with a pick around there.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

What in the world has happened to Schenn's puckhandling ability this season? I mean, he was never the best stickhandler in the league, but if you told me he spent his off-season dipping his hands in cement or doing that underground boxing shit where you dunk your hands into glue and then glass/nails I'd believe you. I mean he's literally not even ECHL level with the puck right now. It's absurd.

 

[joe galiba]

What in the world has happened to Schenn's puckhandling ability this season? I mean, he was never the best stickhandler in the league, but if you told me he spent his off-season dipping his hands in cement or doing that underground boxing shit where you dunk your hands into glue and then glass/nails I'd believe you. I mean he's literally not even ECHL level with the puck right now. It's absurd.

Last night he and Toro looked the same handling the puck, not a comp you would want if you were Schenn

 

[shpongle falls]

I’d like to see the offense spread out a bit and have Buch play center and Schenn go to wing. Jakey compliments Thom and Rouzy and it gives Saad and Schenn a high end playmaker to work with. And when Alexandrov gets back here why not try him on the 3rd line?

Neighbors-Thomas-Kyrou
Sadd-Buch-Schenn
Alexandrov-Hayes-Kappy
Walker-Sunny-Toro

 

[jura]

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Amazon agreement saves bankrupt RSN provider

Amazon will partner with Diamond Sports as part of a restructuring agreement as the largest owner of regional sports networks looks to emerge from bankruptcy.

www.espn.com

Blues games on Amazon seems very likely

 

[Majorityof1]

I get Amazon Prime for the free shipping. So that works for me. Curious to see if it is still regional on Prime. Most likely will be and I'll have to stick with ESPN plus. I'm also fine with that