Half-Assed GDT: Blues @ Devils another afternoon delight

[Robb_K]

Well, at least The Blues can get a break playing Ottawa at home. I wonder if Berube will play Husso, wanting the best chance at the badly-needed win? - Or if he'll start Binnington because it will be an easier opponent, saving Husso for the tougher Rangers?

 

[Robb_K]

It seems that we are in a state of identity limbo. We appear to be evolving to a skilled/speed and transition team but are neglecting fundamentals and abandoning or cheating the game by trying to take shortcuts to get there.
I believe it's possible to be both with the right personnel. A team that is responsible/productive in all 3 zones yet electric enough to generate offense at the flip of a switch.

I think of the '04 Flames. Now, obviously that was some time ago and we are a much better roster on paper as well as on the ice (most of the time) But that team was difficult to play against because of their ability to push the puck up the ice with clean crisp breakouts exiting their zone and completely bought in to an all around responsible team game. Kiprusoff was also Godlike in those days, so that shouldn't be understated.

I'm not going to offer specific names of who we should look at and where they fit in capwise. It's been talked about to exhaustion at this point. However, I'm starting to believe the best route to go as far as defensive upgrades it targeting multiple productive players rather than going after one big fish. A fourth line upgrade in the Clutterbuck or Barclay Goodrow mold would also be a welcome addition, imo.

The Blues are getting exploited by faster teams' speed. Wouldn't getting a 34 and a half-year-old 4th liner in Clutterbuck just be exacerbating that particular problem? The Blues have several young 4th line players from which to choose. I understand that few of them have the high-quality 2-way skills that Clutterbuck has, but, I'd still cringe at their adding older players at the expense of adding young, energetic, fast-skating players. I'd rather see the Blues use one or two of their young players in that role, such as Toropchenko, who skates fast, plays with tonnes of energy, plays a physical game, and has good offensive instincts and upside. All he needs is for his coaches to work with him intensely on his defensive techniques, so he can be a highly-effective 2-way player.

 

[ScratchCatFever]

The Blues are getting exploited by faster teams' speed. Wouldn't getting a 34 and a half-year-old 4th liner in Clutterbuck just be exacerbating that particular problem? The Blues have several young 4th line players from which to choose. I understand that few of them have the high-quality 2-way skills that Clutterbuck has, but, I'd still cringe at their adding older players at the expense of adding young, energetic, fast-skating players.

To me it seems like we just haven't been moving our feet for whatever reason the last few games. Again, this team is more than just one difference making player away from going on a run, imo.
Retooling and addressing/upgrading in the off-season seems like a smarter move. What is our "window" after this season? Maybe 2 more years of high end production from O'Reilly and Schenn? Depending on how they age. Tarasenko is likely traded, Perron may come off the books, Bozak is off the books. This is all a matter of opinion, and not necessarily my own..

If one thinks we have a team to win a cup this year then that opinion will be different. 3 weeks ago I would've been willing to go all in on Lindholm, but we don't look to be the same team as 3 weeks ago.
Our nuts are basically in a vice grip. We have a goalie who we hope is finding his game and another one who was supposed to be our long term guy that we may not be able to keep and still don't really know what he is. How many games has Husso played in his career? 50?
I don't have solutions, this is pure conjecture. I know better than to engage most of the people on this board anymore. An offered solution is viewed as an opinion to raise an attack on that person and call them idiots. People can't differentiate the two anymore.

 

[Robb_K]

To me it seems like we just haven't been moving our feet for whatever reason the last few games. Again, this team is more than just one difference making player away from going on a run, imo.
Retooling and addressing/upgrading in the off-season seems like a smarter move. What is our "window" after this season? Maybe 2 more years of high end production from O'Reilly and Schenn? Depending on how they age. Tarasenko is likely traded, Perron may come off the books, Bozak is off the books. This is all a matter of opinion, and not necessarily my own..

If one thinks we have a team to win a cup this year then that opinion will be different. 3 weeks ago I would've been willing to go all in on Lindholm, but we don't look to be the same team as 3 weeks ago.
Our nuts are basically in a vice grip. We have a goalie who we hope is finding his game and another one who was supposed to be our long term guy that we may not be able to keep and still don't really know what he is. How many games has Husso played in his career? 50?
I don't have solutions, this is pure conjecture. I know better than to engage most of the people on this board anymore. An offered solution is viewed as an opinion to raise an attack on that person and call them idiots. People can't differentiate the two anymore.

I agree that The Blues are more than one quality defenceman away from making a deep run (e.g. getting past Colorado). I definitely wouldn't want to have a net loss in future draft capital, or net loss of young talent trying to bolster the defence with a quality veteran LD, just to assure winning our 2nd playoff series, only to still get blitzed by Colorado in The Western Finals, anyway. The Blues need to work towards a retooling that makes the team significantly younger, faster, more energetic, and more skilled, too. That will require amassing more higher-level draft choices, rather than giving up more, and also netting back more skilled youth in trades while "dumping off" much more older aged players in those trades on a net basis. trading off some of our best prospects as well as high draft choices to go for a long-shot at The Cup, is probably not in our best interest. We've got a few more bigger weaknesses than we had in 2019, when our winning was a mild surprise. Winning this year, or even making The Finals, after obtaining Lindholm (or even Chykrun), would be a rather big surprise.

 

[ScratchCatFever]

In agree that The Blues are more than on quality defenceman away from making a deep run (e.g. getting past Colorado). I definitely wouldn't want to have a net loss in future draft capital, or net loss of young talent trying to bolster the defence with a quality veteran LD, just to assure winning our 2nd playoff series, only to still get blitzed by Colorado in The Western Finals, anyway. The Blues need to work towards a retooling that makes the team significantly younger, faster, more energetic, and more skilled, too. That will require amassing more higher-level draft choices, rather than giving up more, and also netting back more skilled youth in trades while "dumping off" much more older aged players in those trades on a net basis. trading off some of our best prospects as well as high draft choices to go for a long-shot at The Cup, is probably not in our best interest. We've got a few more bigger weaknesses than we had in 2019, when our winning was a mild surprise. Winning this year, or even making The Finals, after obtaining Lindholm (or even Chykrun), would be a rather big surprise.

If there's a GM that I'd want to take on the task, it's Army. He's proven he can retool on the fly while also keeping us competitive from one year to the next with thrifty fleecings and has the chops to pull the trigger on a bold move or two if he sees us being a piece or two away from the ultimate prize.

To me our biggest potential inhibitor is if Binner becomes a jar of monkeys from one year to the next and has months of solid play followed by months of shaky play or vice versa. I still believe he is an above average NHL netminder capable of elevating his game to another level.

Accumulating high end draft picks is possible without having to be in the doldrums for consecutive years on end if you manage and maximize your roster and assets the right way. We may not be drafting year one contributors every year, but if we can make deals from a position of strength on the roster or within the pipeline to recoup assets and turn one mid to late round first pick into two of them then that's just gravy on the bird.

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

To me it seems like we just haven't been moving our feet for whatever reason the last few games. Again, this team is more than just one difference making player away from going on a run, imo.
Retooling and addressing/upgrading in the off-season seems like a smarter move. What is our "window" after this season? Maybe 2 more years of high end production from O'Reilly and Schenn? Depending on how they age. Tarasenko is likely traded, Perron may come off the books, Bozak is off the books. This is all a matter of opinion, and not necessarily my own..

If one thinks we have a team to win a cup this year then that opinion will be different. 3 weeks ago I would've been willing to go all in on Lindholm, but we don't look to be the same team as 3 weeks ago.
Our nuts are basically in a vice grip. We have a goalie who we hope is finding his game and another one who was supposed to be our long term guy that we may not be able to keep and still don't really know what he is. How many games has Husso played in his career? 50?
I don't have solutions, this is pure conjecture. I know better than to engage most of the people on this board anymore. An offered solution is viewed as an opinion to raise an attack on that person and call them idiots. People can't differentiate the two anymore.

I hope my question didn't come off as confrontational. def NOT my intention

to the clutterbuck vs a youngster (torpo in this example) you get a chicken/egg conundrum. the vet/experience vs lack of experience (but can't get it unless you're played..etc). I agree with you tho, this team isn't a player away from flipping the switch. its really getting back to what worked so well earlier in the year.
and agree with Robb as well (I don't know how to do multiple quotes...sorry) about STL having trouble vs teams with speed, regardless of their skill level. they seem hesitant and fast teams gets on them too quickly to counter it

 

[ScratchCatFever]

I hope my question didn't come off as confrontational. def NOT my intention

to the clutterbuck vs a youngster (torpo in this example) you get a chicken/egg conundrum. the vet/experience vs lack of experience (but can't get it unless you're played..etc). I agree with you tho, this team isn't a player away from flipping the switch. its really getting back to what worked so well earlier in the year.
and agree with Robb as well (I don't know how to do multiple quotes...sorry) about STL having trouble vs teams with speed, regardless of their skill level. they seem hesitant and fast teams gets on them too quickly to counter it

No, not whatsoever. It's a good question I think we're all constantly asking ourselves. We could definitely stand to get a step or two quicker, and I think that's coming. Does Army see that as an issue to be addressed? Who knows. But I also think we are capable of playing faster and that comes with executing at a higher level which both NY teams and NJ have done vastly better than us on this road swing.

 

[Robb_K]

No, not whatsoever. It's a good question I think we're all constantly asking ourselves. We could definitely stand to get a step or two quicker, and I think that's coming. Does Army see that as an issue to be addressed? Who knows. But I also think we are capable of playing faster and that comes with executing at a higher level which both NY teams and NJ have done vastly better than us on this road swing.

I agree with Bernie F., here, that this is the doldrums period of the season for The Blues. There are few, IF ANY NHL teams that can play full bore for the entire season (e.g. not spend periodic game clusters on cruise control to save body wear and energy for the playoffs). This just happens to be one of those periods. I'm still hoping that Army can come up with a trade for a quality defenceman who will be young enough to not hurt The Blues overall movement towards a younger team, and who also will NOT be a rental, but will stay with The Blues for, at least, 4+ years. I hope he will add 2-way skill, energy, hunger to win, feistiness, and toughness, and The Blues will also bring up a couple of young, energetic players soon. But, I trust Army to NOT give up the farm (too many high draft choices and prospects (netwise) for what they get back.

 

[Robb_K]

If there's a GM that I'd want to take on the task, it's Army. He's proven he can retool on the fly while also keeping us competitive from one year to the next with thrifty fleecings and has the chops to pull the trigger on a bold move or two if he sees us being a piece or two away from the ultimate prize.

To me our biggest potential inhibitor is if Binner becomes a jar of monkeys from one year to the next and has months of solid play followed by months of shaky play or vice versa. I still believe he is an above average NHL netminder capable of elevating his game to another level.

Accumulating high end draft picks is possible without having to be in the doldrums for consecutive years on end if you manage and maximize your roster and assets the right way. We may not be drafting year one contributors every year, but if we can make deals from a position of strength on the roster or within the pipeline to recoup assets and turn one mid to late round first pick into two of them then that's just gravy on the bird.

Personally, from the beginning I felt that Husso had the higher upside, and just got delayed in his development trajectory. Then, Binnington had lucky timing, and got hot right at the right time to end up leading The Blues to The Stanley Cup, partly based on having mastered the fundamental goaltending skills, partly having a cool and confident disposition, and partly because his unexpected run came at a time when opponents had very little NHL film on him to study. I figured he'd regress a little in his second season, just because opponents could study his 2019 film. I figured he was a little above average NHL starter, and that's where he looks to be, after he comes out of this slump he's in. I don't think Husso's play is a mirage. He seems to have the fundamentals down pretty well, and seems to have a good level of confidence now. But, he still makes poor decisions or plays periodically, and he also will suffer a bit of a dropoff, once opponents have enough film on him. So, I can see that it will take some tough decisions to decide which one of the two to go with going forward. I don't want The Blues to have to give up Husso, just to keep Binnington on a bad 6-year contract. Hofer is still far away from NHL-ready, and still an unknown quantity for the long term. Lindgren looks like he's ready to be a competent NHL backup. This offseason will be VERY interesting. But, right now, The Blues' play, and the trade deadline is a LOT more relevant.

 

[Reality Czech]

I agree with Bernie F., here, that this is the doldrums period of the season for The Blues. There are few, IF ANY NHL teams that can play full bore for the entire season (e.g. not spend periodic game clusters on cruise control to save body wear and energy for the playoffs). This just happens to be one of those periods. I'm still hoping that Army can come up with a trade for a quality defenceman who will be young enough to not hurt The Blues overall movement towards a younger team, and who also will NOT be a rental, but will stay with The Blues for, at least, 4+ years. I hope he will add 2-way skill, energy, hunger to win, feistiness, and toughness, and The Blues will also bring up a couple of young, energetic players soon. But, I trust Army to NOT give up the farm (too many high draft choices and prospects (netwise) for what they get back.

Good points Robb, every team has their slumps. It can either be a worrying trend of things to come or a wake up call to fix bad habits. Both the Wild and Preds have cooled off as well, so the Blues certainly aren't alone in their struggles.

I don't have a strong opinion about Clutterbuck, though I will say it might not be the worst idea to bring in a physical veteran who brings it every night. His relentless style of play and workmanlike attitude might rub off on some of the young guys and give an identity to that 4th line.

I think Mikkola's recent struggles highlight our need for defensive depth. He's done pretty well overall but we may be relying on him just a bit too much. I don't expect a big move like Chychrun or Lindholm but I bet we'll add a veteran rental at least.

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

I agree with Bernie F., here, that this is the doldrums period of the season for The Blues. There are few, IF ANY NHL teams that can play full bore for the entire season (e.g. not spend periodic game clusters on cruise control to save body wear and energy for the playoffs). This just happens to be one of those periods. I'm still hoping that Army can come up with a trade for a quality defenceman who will be young enough to not hurt The Blues overall movement towards a younger team, and who also will NOT be a rental, but will stay with The Blues for, at least, 4+ years. I hope he will add 2-way skill, energy, hunger to win, feistiness, and toughness, and The Blues will also bring up a couple of young, energetic players soon. But, I trust Army to NOT give up the farm (too many high draft choices and prospects (netwise) for what they get back.

those types of dmen don't shake loose often, especially without an overpay.

regardless, I guess this is getting off topic, so don't wanna run afoul of the moderators

 

[BlueDream]

Well, at least The Blues can get a break playing Ottawa at home. I wonder if Berube will play Husso, wanting the best chance at the badly-needed win? - Or if he'll start Binnington because it will be an easier opponent, saving Husso for the tougher Rangers?

Lol get a break from what? Powerhouses like the Islanders and Devils?

Their schedule has been very easy. They’re not getting a break from anything, nor do they need one.

 

[Robb_K]

Lol get a break from what? Powerhouses like the Islanders and Devils?

Their schedule has been very easy. They’re not getting a break from anything, nor do they need one.

I meant they get the break by being at home, where they play better, and are facing a relatively weak team (just like The Islanders and Devils). So, they will have a better chance to win, and get out of their current mini-slump.

 

[stl76]

That was as bad as Mikkola has looked in a long time.

 

[Zachary Hines]

The referees miss several penalties against the devils that went uncalled.

I do agree we really have had trouble against the fast teams.

 

[joe galiba]

The referees miss several penalties against the devils that went uncalled.

I do agree we really have had trouble against the fast teams.

I think our biggest problem with speed is outside Parayko, Faulk, and Krug we don't have any d that think the game fast enough to play against a fast paced team

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Seems like it wasn’t that long ago Marchand looked like he had a breakaway and then Parayko simply erased him. Could he do that today?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Seems like it wasn’t that long ago Marchand looked like he had a breakaway and then Parayko simply erased him. Could he do that today?

He's been moving well lately. I still think his biggest problem is lack of confidence in his partner (and rightfully so).

 

[i aint Dunn yet]

how about those jersey's ?