Captain Creampuff
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Blues Discussion Thread 2018-2019
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Majorityof1
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Captain Creampuff
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I didn't say that we couldn't have used Staz down the stretch? It's just nice that we at least have a #1 center finally.
Majorityof1
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I agree. I guess my point is that 70 points in todays NHL is not spectacular. It's not even top 31. Having a 70 point center didn't fix our problems because we still can't score. Gaining Schenn and losing Stastny (even if they overlapped a few months) puts us back in the same position of having no scoring center depth albeit with a admittedly better player. As a result, we still can't score. As much as we bitched and moaned about our centers (myself included), we were much better off with Backes, Stastny, and Lehtera stapled to Tarasenko than we are now (barring an off-season move). We had to put all our eggs in one basket to get Schenn to 70, and consequently had no other line to do much of anything. So while it is nice having a 70-point C, we are still offensively weak up the middle.
carter333167
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PiggySmalls
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I’m hoping for JR to be more aggressive in his questions. Especially on the PP, there needs to be some accountability there for sure.
carter333167
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All our young guys competing for only 1-2 spots--per Armstrong. That's not encouraging. EVERYONE should need to earn their spot at this point.
carter333167
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wannabebluesplayer
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Armstrong sounds slightly delusional when it comes to this roster, but he's sounding like he's saying what he needs to say and not what he wants to say.
PiggySmalls
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Well allen had 4 seasons as the main man in the AHL before he joined the Blues. With the AHL sorted out, I’m not against Husso being the main guy next season in SA as opposed to being the backup in STL.
carter333167
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Going to see same thing next year...Vets guaranteed their spots b/c they are vets...no accountability and no need to earn it. It's a Yeo hallmark and Armstrong is buying in whole hog.
Note Worthy
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Reading between the lines I think Armstrong feels there's a possible leadership issue. I'm not saying with Peitro but the group as a whole.
That's my inference on what he said.
That's my inference on what he said.
carter333167
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Lots of covering for Jake. He was the worst starter in the league and didn't face inordinately tough shots by any measurement.
wannabebluesplayer
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That's what I inferred and I really hope that isn't the case. If it is, the Blues are going to be in the same spot next year.
Ya the covering for vets and making the statement that the kids Army mentioned would be competing for 1 or 2 spots isn't encouraging. It doesn't seem he thought that out before saying what he said. Is he saying Barbashev is on the roster next year? I doubt he even thought of him.
carter333167
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Stating in advance that there are only 1-2 spots for which the young guys are competing is moronic. If they earn the spot, they earn the spot. If they are better, they are better...period.
It's a big problem with this team....there is not an equal measuring stick to judge all players and we are potentially blocking good talent with nothing but a mindset. To be clear, if they don't earn it, they don't earn it but don't go in with the mindset that tenure will block them. Young players can excel if given the chance...but not if they are never given the chance.
carter333167
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Here's the thing...putting a young, talented guy on a line with less skilled players in the AHL is not going to tell you more, or probably as much, as sampling him on a line with players of equal skill ceilings in the NHL. Putting Kyrou on a line with Fabbri for example will tell you every bit as much, and probably will be a better leaning experience for Kyrou, than trying to draw conclusions from an AHL stint with subpar linemates. I'll say it again...it makes me wonder whether a guy like Debrincat would even get a fair shot within the Blues hierarchy.
The tenure argument really is a bunch of BS anyway. Stastny, prior to being traded, essentially said in an interview that a few of our "vets" weren't showing up every night and that, in today's NHL, if several guys don't show up, the team as a whole will find it hard to win. These vets failed big time this year and they largely are getting a pass.
We see other teams giving good hard looks at even 20 years olds, at the forward position, at the goalie position, etc, and enjoying some rewards for doing so. The Blues are excessively close minded on this front....and, again, it was a huge knock against Yeo while he was in Minny...refusal to trust anyone young.
The tenure argument really is a bunch of BS anyway. Stastny, prior to being traded, essentially said in an interview that a few of our "vets" weren't showing up every night and that, in today's NHL, if several guys don't show up, the team as a whole will find it hard to win. These vets failed big time this year and they largely are getting a pass.
We see other teams giving good hard looks at even 20 years olds, at the forward position, at the goalie position, etc, and enjoying some rewards for doing so. The Blues are excessively close minded on this front....and, again, it was a huge knock against Yeo while he was in Minny...refusal to trust anyone young.
I didn't catch the press conference, but based on the quotes, it sounds horrible...I'm hoping a lot of it is just lip service, because you can't go into next season without any major moves. I don't want to hear "next year is a big year for us" - we've been hearing that for the past 5 offseasons.
Why are you guys confused or concerned about the comments about the young players needing to earn spots? Guys like Steen, Berglund, Tarasenko, etc need to "earn" their spots? No. Even if they have a bad camp, it's not like they'll be cut. They're making the team.
It's always the young guys that need to earn it. That's nothing new. It's not "discouraging".
To me, it actually means Armstrong is looking to add NHL talent to the roster. I bet Thomas makes the team, and maybe Thompson too. But Armstrong isn't just going to add all the "big 4" prospects to the team and roll with that, and rightfully so. He's going to go out and add a couple proven players to this roster, and that's exactly what we need.
It's always the young guys that need to earn it. That's nothing new. It's not "discouraging".
To me, it actually means Armstrong is looking to add NHL talent to the roster. I bet Thomas makes the team, and maybe Thompson too. But Armstrong isn't just going to add all the "big 4" prospects to the team and roll with that, and rightfully so. He's going to go out and add a couple proven players to this roster, and that's exactly what we need.
Barbashev, Thompson, Dunn, Blais, and Schmaltz all got extended looks this year. Thompson looked bad. Blais couldn’t stay healthy. Barbashev found a role eventually. But just in just the past 2 years you’ve also had: Jaskin, Fabbri, Parayko, Edmundson and to a lesser extent guys like Yakupov and Pajaarvi get in there. Fabbri earned a top 6 spot eventually as a rookie because he was terrific down the stretch. Parayko has been a pretty good player since the first time he stepped on NHL ice. Edmundson was brought along at a reasonable pace and is now the top pair LD. Dunn was a revelation with his skating and offense from the left side and eventually started playing more and more minutes. They will play talent.
Can we quit acting like the Blues flat out refuse to play young players? I don’t know what everyone was expecting, honestly. I’m sure Armstrong is acutely aware he’s gotta get at least one bonafide top 6 RW/C in here, preferably two. So if you add even one legit top 6 guy you’ve got:
Fabbri- Trade/FA-Tarasenko
Schwartz-Schenn-(open spot)
Steen-Berglund-(open spot)
Sosh-Brodziak/Barbashev-Jaskin/Thorburn
So yeah. Rookies might be fighting for two open spots. Slot Thomas in for Berglund (if he’s still around) and put Berglund on the right wing and there’s another possible spot a rookie could be fighting for.
Yeah, I largely agree with everything that Armstrong said.
The prospects are competing for one or two spots, and that is exactly how it should be. We're either looking to win or we're rebuilding. Fabbri is already an unknown in the top-9, the idea that we can add another 3+ prospects and expect to be better is delusional.
Is there a different measuring stick for prospects and vets in camp? Damn right there is. The veteran players have proven what they are, we know roughly what to expect over an extended period. The idea a kid can marginally outplay him for a few weeks and we should be waiving the vet is crazy. If a kid is lighting it up all through camp, he's making the roster.
Armstrong was a little touchy at those who want to say that Berglund is overpaid.
The rest of the stuff is toeing a line over what you can say and what you can't. Saying, "Jake Allen needs to be better, he knows that" is about as blatant a comment as you are going to get. We can't talk about Husso being on the roster next year a moment after saying Allen will be back and we're going to talk with Hutton's agent.
The repeated mentioning of Robert Thomas makes it clear that we view him as an NHL player next season. We have 0 other forward prospects that are getting viewed like that.
Again though, the issue with this team was quality at forward. Our attempts to add over the season showed they are aware of that. The repeated comments about lack of scoring show that. To be saying that the vets aren't being held accountable is wrong. We have Schwartz, Schenn, Tarasenko, Steen, Berglund and Sobotka. The return of Fabbri, the addition of at least 1 new player and adding 2 prospects means that at least one of Berglund or Sobotka is getting pushed out. That's with Stastny already having gone.
The prospects are competing for one or two spots, and that is exactly how it should be. We're either looking to win or we're rebuilding. Fabbri is already an unknown in the top-9, the idea that we can add another 3+ prospects and expect to be better is delusional.
Is there a different measuring stick for prospects and vets in camp? Damn right there is. The veteran players have proven what they are, we know roughly what to expect over an extended period. The idea a kid can marginally outplay him for a few weeks and we should be waiving the vet is crazy. If a kid is lighting it up all through camp, he's making the roster.
Armstrong was a little touchy at those who want to say that Berglund is overpaid.
The rest of the stuff is toeing a line over what you can say and what you can't. Saying, "Jake Allen needs to be better, he knows that" is about as blatant a comment as you are going to get. We can't talk about Husso being on the roster next year a moment after saying Allen will be back and we're going to talk with Hutton's agent.
The repeated mentioning of Robert Thomas makes it clear that we view him as an NHL player next season. We have 0 other forward prospects that are getting viewed like that.
Again though, the issue with this team was quality at forward. Our attempts to add over the season showed they are aware of that. The repeated comments about lack of scoring show that. To be saying that the vets aren't being held accountable is wrong. We have Schwartz, Schenn, Tarasenko, Steen, Berglund and Sobotka. The return of Fabbri, the addition of at least 1 new player and adding 2 prospects means that at least one of Berglund or Sobotka is getting pushed out. That's with Stastny already having gone.
Yeah a lot of people are being intentionally obtuse just so they can feel justified ragging on Armstrong.
Don’t know if anybody caught his comments on the “bloggers” being mad about certain contracts, but he doesn’t think much of them. Running a team to appease clueless mad guys on the internet and crappy papers (*cough* Gametime *cough*) would be a bad way to run a team, so I’m with Army on that one for sure
I don't see a benefit for Army saying what he did about the kids. It wasn't well thought out. It seems like he was only saying it to point out the roster won't consist of 10 forwards under 21. Ok, we already knew that.
How many times was scoring brought up? Maybe it's a news flash for the organization but the most skilled players score the most points. The Blues need more skill. They have 1 top 6 line. It's very possible that Kyrou and Thomas could help fix that. It's not like they have to play on a line together.
It would be silly to think Kyrou couldn't keep up with Schenn and Schwartz. They're all 3 Canadian. Let them talk abuuut hockey stuff ehh.
How many times was scoring brought up? Maybe it's a news flash for the organization but the most skilled players score the most points. The Blues need more skill. They have 1 top 6 line. It's very possible that Kyrou and Thomas could help fix that. It's not like they have to play on a line together.
It would be silly to think Kyrou couldn't keep up with Schenn and Schwartz. They're all 3 Canadian. Let them talk abuuut hockey stuff ehh.
carter333167
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Agreed.
To be clear, the Blues are going to be in a different position next year than they really have been in for a long time...in terms of the level of young talent that they can introduce to the NHL club. I guess we'll see how they handle it but I agree that skill scores goals and we had a massive deficit of skill on our second line this year. We essentially didn't have a skilled second line.
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