2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.



Here's a fun interview with Jake Neighbours starting around 11:00. One thing that really jumped out at me was how involved some of the veterans were outside of the rink. Many people throw around the idea of trading Faulk now, but that will inevitably have effects on the lockerroom if another veteran isn't proactive about filling that leadership void. Just some food for thought.

I like Faulk, I just want him to be a bit better
 
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Blues will have an opportunity this month to let everybody know if they’ll be in the playoff race or not. When January ends we’ll know or we’ll know that time is running out.

Lots of scrubby teams on the schedule, a back to back with both the flames and golden knights, and a single game with each of the other teams right above us; lots of 4 point games. Real good time to do some good hockeying.
 
I hope they make the playoffs, but in my heart I think they'll come up short. However, games like yesterday are very satisfying to watch. This year's team plays with more heart and is a lot easier to engage with as a fan, even if they're not really a contender yet. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season, even if they fade out of the race.
 
I hope they make the playoffs, but in my heart I think they'll come up short. However, games like yesterday are very satisfying to watch. This year's team plays with more heart and is a lot easier to engage with as a fan, even if they're not really a contender yet. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season, even if they fade out of the race.
Helps that we’ve got some bright spots. Broberg has been a breath of fresh air on the back end. And Holloway is just plain fun to watch. He’s got a non-stop motor and plays hard on both sides of the puck.

And frankly I’m just excited to see how we continue to develop our prospects and what we can do with Monty at the helm.
 
Blues will have an opportunity this month to let everybody know if they’ll be in the playoff race or not. When January ends we’ll know or we’ll know that time is running out.

Lots of scrubby teams on the schedule, a back to back with both the flames and golden knights, and a single game with each of the other teams right above us; lots of 4 point games. Real good time to do some good hockeying.
Ya, I was looking at the schedule and that mid-month back to back home games against CGY could be two of the more meaningful regular season games in a while. Vancouver is dealing with injuries now on top of inner turmoil and might be ripe to be caught.
 
If the injury to Hughes is significant Blues can squeak in by passing Utah, Calgary, Vancouver.

We have 5 games (Ottawa Minnesota Anaheim and both CBJ games) then a 9 game stretch where we play the teams we're chasing teams 5 times. The other 4 are against conference contenders above them. After that 9 game stretch they host both Cup finalists and then Chicago.

That 9 game stretch within the 17 we have before the break will determine the season. They can't just break even they have to climb.

They need 22-23 points out of these 17 games. 10-4-3, 10-5-2 or 11-5-1 type results and then we can think they're still in it
 
There are people who will claim the team needs 98-99 points to get into the playoffs and to that I would say it's happened twice ever that 96 wasn't enough and historically 93, 94 points has a really reasonable chance of getting in. Season over season over season over season. It's wrong to look at how many points the 8th place team had and conclude there ARE going to be 8 teams like that even if you're the 9th. No. That's not what actually happens. You just have to be ahead of the 9th place team so you look at the best performing 9th place teams that have missed. I think Montreal missed with 96 the year we won the Cup but 96 is pretty assured of getting in
 
I wish someone would tell us what is going on with Leddy. He was close to playing then had a setback, then we went and traded for Fowler, and we haven't heard a word sense.
 
I wish someone would tell us what is going on with Leddy. He was close to playing then had a setback, then we went and traded for Fowler, and we haven't heard a word sense.

“I know he’s skating,” Armstrong said. “I don’t really have a lot on it. I’m not trying to be evasive. It’s one of those ones where I’ve just sort of moved to the area where when he can play, let me know. Not that I don’t care, it’s just something that we’ve got to focus on the guys that are here. But I think he’s moving ahead now, and I hope we don’t go backwards.”
 
“I know he’s skating,” Armstrong said. “I don’t really have a lot on it. I’m not trying to be evasive. It’s one of those ones where I’ve just sort of moved to the area where when he can play, let me know. Not that I don’t care, it’s just something that we’ve got to focus on the guys that are here. But I think he’s moving ahead now, and I hope we don’t go backwards.”
When did Army say this?
 
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The Fowler move seemed like the nail in the coffin for Leddy's season, it is odd how hush hush they have been about the injury though.
FWIW, I think we've been linked to Fowler since the summer and maybe even back to the last TDL. Friedman mentioned that we'd been circling Fowler for awhile and there was mutual interest on a podcast prior to the season.

He made it sound like Army has had Fowler circled for awhile - going back a year or two.

Regardless, I agree - it's very odd how little we've heard. I know the games he did play were disastrous, but I'd love to see a healthy Leddy added to this group.
 
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FWIW, I think we've been linked to Fowler since the summer and maybe even back to the last TDL. Friedman mentioned that we'd been circling Fowler for awhile and there was mutual interest on a podcast prior to the season.

He made it sound like Army has had Fowler circled for awhile - going back a year or two.

Regardless, I agree - it's very odd how little we've heard. I know the games he did play were disastrous, but I'd love to see a healthy Leddy added to this group.
Yea I agree about the ending there, Leddy had a very solid season last year and I know he was playing hurt early this season so while he looked bad I kind of look at it with a grain of salt.
 
My gut (and the optics of the Ducks retaining on Fowler to get him right at $4M AAV) tells me that we have mentally moved on from Leddy due to the injuries. That doesn't mean that we know he's done for good, but it at least tells me that we believe it is a real possibility.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if we believe/know that he will return and eventually plan to push Suter into the press box. Suter has already hit $1.125M of his bonuses. We've more than lived up to our end of the bargain to give him a chance to hit bonuses and if he wanted to pout about becoming a healthy scratch down the line we could deal him as a rental or tell him that he is free to walk away and terminate the remaining contract. You don't want to get a reputation for screwing over guys you sign, but I don't think anyone would reasonably feel that we screwed him in a scenario where Leddy returns and pushes Suter out of the lineup.

I'm not planning for Leddy to return. The set back and lack of clarity certainly align with the notion that he's facing something that is career-derailing. He didn't look remotely like his 2023/24 self at the start of the year. All the info we have supports the notion/speculation that he probably needs a surgery, was hoping it could be avoided, but that eventually the surgery will come. I'll be happy if I'm wrong, but that is my assumption.
 
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It's notable that Faulk has also been dealing with lingering issues the past two years. 3 separate ankle injuries last year and a shoulder injury. It's a good bet that this year's shoulder injury is directly related, and likely that the ankles are nearing or have stepped into the 'chronic' territory.

Obviously, he's a gamer. And a good enough skater that he's been able to mask some of the limitations. But, our RD crisis looks to be nearing an additional layer of complexity and urgency.

I hope it's just a stacking of minor issues, but, the peaks and valleys of the last 2 years relative to how we know Faulk can play make me think otherwise. He's been a good Blue on and off the ice.
 
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