Do you view this team as real Stanley Cup Contender?
- Thread starter Ranksu
- Start date
I went on record as saying Tank wouldn't be traded back when the news first broke. My outlook at the time was that we were post season competitive, and that was without Tank having been a factor for the last two years. If he's back and healthy, we are absolutely a cup contender.
finnishflash13
Registered User
- Oct 28, 2020
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I think you guys have understood question wrong.
It's not do we win a Cup or no. Ofc it's possible. Even Buffalo has chance to win a Cup, but it's not most realistic outcome. They are team which is re-building.
It's about are we real Stanley Cup Contenders? Teams who will most likely win a Cup.
I view us a wild card/bubble team. Who can go playoffs, but not pass 1st round.
It's not do we win a Cup or no. Ofc it's possible. Even Buffalo has chance to win a Cup, but it's not most realistic outcome. They are team which is re-building.
It's about are we real Stanley Cup Contenders? Teams who will most likely win a Cup.
I view us a wild card/bubble team. Who can go playoffs, but not pass 1st round.
TheBluePenguin
Registered User
Voted no, its one of those teams where EVERYTHING will have to go right and no serious injuries ....
The forward group is just as good as the cup squad with multiple upgrades from that team. 1-4, we're one of the deepest teams in the league, and we get to keep our star sniper.
The goaltending is also the same. Don't forget that Husso got our only shutout last year, and I think he'll be a capable backup who plays solid minutes without the gaffes of Jake Allen. Binnington is still the man, let the haters hate.
This brings us to our defense....I think we're going to surprise people with how good our defense will perform. Krug gets a whole year to get comfortable, Faulk improves, Parayko takes the next step forward, Bortuzzo and Scandella need only play solidly, and I think we'll get major contributions from the likes of Mikkola, Walman and (maybe) Perunovich.
All this to say, yes. I think we're a legitimate cup contender.
The goaltending is also the same. Don't forget that Husso got our only shutout last year, and I think he'll be a capable backup who plays solid minutes without the gaffes of Jake Allen. Binnington is still the man, let the haters hate.
This brings us to our defense....I think we're going to surprise people with how good our defense will perform. Krug gets a whole year to get comfortable, Faulk improves, Parayko takes the next step forward, Bortuzzo and Scandella need only play solidly, and I think we'll get major contributions from the likes of Mikkola, Walman and (maybe) Perunovich.
All this to say, yes. I think we're a legitimate cup contender.
- Feb 12, 2008
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The forward group is just as good as the cup squad with multiple upgrades from that team. 1-4, we're one of the deepest teams in the league, and we get to keep our star sniper.
The goaltending is also the same. Don't forget that Husso got our only shutout last year, and I think he'll be a capable backup who plays solid minutes without the gaffes of Jake Allen. Binnington is still the man, let the haters hate.
This brings us to our defense....I think we're going to surprise people with how good our defense will perform. Krug gets a whole year to get comfortable, Faulk improves, Parayko takes the next step forward, Bortuzzo and Scandella need only play solidly, and I think we'll get major contributions from the likes of Mikkola, Walman and (maybe) Perunovich.
All this to say, yes. I think we're a legitimate cup contender.
Agree. Also, I think Kyrou, Thomas and Kostin are going to play huge roles this year. And Buchnevich is going to instantly be a force and a fan favorite. And Saad will add in the secondary scoring that’s so vital. Just need to get Sunny back healthy and being Sunny. This is a deep and talented team.
BlueMed
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- Jul 18, 2019
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Hard to say though with Parayko's injury last year. Could it be better? Certainly, but people need to stop acting like its a below average D core...it's clearly not. Look around the league. There's only maybe 5 D cores in the NHL that make me envious. And you don't necessarily need a perfect team to gel at the right time and win a cup.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again....
We're a loooong way from the Backes and Oshie days. I remember we used to dream of lineups like the ones that we're capable of putting out now.
No reason this team can't content for another cup as long as everyone steps up and stays healthy, but what else is new, right?
You do realize that he is only here bc nobody wanted him? If he starts off hot he will be gone.
- Feb 12, 2008
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Man I don’t know. Army will not just give him away. If somebody makes an offer and it improves the team, then maybe. If Tarasenko is healthy, playing hard, not being a distraction and scoring goals, why even trade him? 35g scores don’t grow on trees.
BlueOil
"well-informed"
- Apr 28, 2010
- 7,251
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below average and not a stanley cup contender aren't the same thing at all. i haven't indicated i believe them to be subpar as you framed, but if i'm being asked if i think this defense can compete for a cup by winning multiple playoff rounds, i don't think so. happy to be wrong. actually would be very happy to be wrong. i expect it to be better than last year's results, but that's not saying all that much.
i'd rank the defense as decent overall. likely a playoff team, but likely bounced in an early round from my perspective. so not a stanley cup contender. i do acknowledge any team that makes the playoffs can win, but a contender is someone expected to win.
BlueMed
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How does Boston get to game 7 of the cup finals with washed-up Chara, McAvoy, Krug, Carlo, Moore and Clifton?
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Krug was 2nd on that D in total TOI/G in the playoffs for them (not far behind McAvoy) that year and 1st among their D in points and just about every advanced stat category you can imagine. He was sheltered in OZ starts big time, but you still have to put up the results and he did.
Thallis
No half measures
This team is a bubble team. The roster is basically a wash from last year's team that barely made the playoffs in the worst division in the league. This is a better division with teams that improved much more than we did. We'll likely end up in the 4-6 range battling with Minnesota and Chicago. We're dreaming if we think this team is competing for the cup unless Armstrong pulls another rabbit from his hat the like Buch trade.
BlueOil
"well-informed"
- Apr 28, 2010
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tampa gets unexpectedly knocked out by columbus
i'll say it again, since you're soapboxing off my post and being rather dramatic about it, happy to be wrong, but if the question is: are the blues one of the teams in the league expected to win a cup? it's a no from me dawg. that's what a stanley cup contender is and the exact question posed. even says "real" cup contender to further delineate the most expected teams to win. now, is it possible this team could end up winning the cup (which seems to be everyone's preferred interpretation of the question)? anything's possible and i think they at least get a small chance to dance. i am not saying this defense can't win a cup, just that i don't expect it. i'm ranking them a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 and somehow you've devolved that into being upset about some subpar perception you've clearly been chewing on elsewhere.
BlueMed
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So he could do it then and he can't do it now? He's not even considered our 2nd best defensemen...
This is about where I stand, except I believe the defense will be fine. The PK alone should be enough.
I'll get straight to the point.
Without a #1 defensemen we are not true contenders. If Army paid that one player what he was worth I would be signing a different tune right now.
With that said I expect the Blues to be better by not getting swept.
Without a #1 defensemen we are not true contenders. If Army paid that one player what he was worth I would be signing a different tune right now.
With that said I expect the Blues to be better by not getting swept.
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