GDT: Game 22/82 Blues @ Islanders 6:30PM CST FDSNMW

[BlueMed]

Gotta wonder when Sylvegard will get called up. He's got 5 goals in his last 6 games if I counted that carefully.

 

[TheOrganist]

Shaping up to the miss the playoffs 3 years in a row for the second time in franchise history. So we’ve got that going for us…which is nice.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Gotta wonder when Sylvegard will get called up. He's got 5 goals in his last 6 games if I counted that carefully.

I flunked kindergarten.....twice.....but I think you go it.

 

[Robb_K]

That last 2 minutes was really poorly played. They had a few chances to get a good shot off, but crumbled from the Isles' pressure.

And why didn't The Blues have our only decent faceoff man, Thomas take the all important faceoff after the timeout, as Schenn has been losing a most of his recent faceoffs? Once they win the faceoff they can skate into the player positioning they want. IF they lose it, they can lose the game on an empty-netter, or, at the very least lose 15 -20 valuable seconds.

The Blues also dumped the puck into The O-Zone wayyyy too many times, giving up valuable possessions. They have too few forwards that can keep the puck on their sticks while being pressured skating through the Neutral Zone, and while crossing The Blue line. They need to get younger, stronger, more skilled, and tougher. A long way to go to make this team a solid contender.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

If your coach isn't going to play Bolduc then send him down so he can get big minutes in the AHL. Allowing Bannister to rotate either having Bolduc sit in the press box doing nothing or sitting on the bench basically doing nothing because you won't allow him to have more than 10 minutes of ice time is not acceptable. Talk big game about not failing Dvorsky while you are actively turning a blind eye and failing Bolduc.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

I hope this team figures something out over the next month. I’m moving back to IL, and I don’t wanna waste money on performances like tonight.

 

[SirPaste]

Gotta wonder when Sylvegard will get called up. He's got 5 goals in his last 6 games if I counted that carefully.

Was wondering the same thing, I’m sure Bannister is salivating of the thought of him sitting in the press box next to Bolduc

 

[Robb_K]

Why is Schenn taking that FO instead of Thomas?

Ridiculous! It makes little sense as Schenn's been losing ALMOST EVERY faceoff he's taken lately, and Thomas is the only Blue over 50%. But, I think it was because Bannister's drawn up play wanted Thomas on the point. But, if they lose the draw, it is moot. Gaining possession, they could easily move to the positioning they want. I'd like to see Bannister demoted and Montgomery signed straightaway.

 

[BlueMed]

Was wondering the same thing, I’m sure Bannister is salivating of the thought of him sitting in the press box next to Bolduc

The pressbox boys taking notes on how to pass up premium scoring opportunities. Thanks Bannister.

 

[Spektre]

When can the “retool” officially be listed as a failure?

The Blues have played 22 games and have 19 points.

Columbus has 20 points in 20 games.

Anaheim has 19 points in 19 games

San f***ing Jose has 17 points in 22 games.

Army didn’t have to go scorched earth rebuild. He just had to embrace selling every non core asset that doesn’t fit the rebuild (Buchnevich). I love Binnington as a Blue, but I have a hard time believing he’s their goalie when it’s time to compete again. If he was traded, and they lost more games, big deal. Better position in the draft.

Army has made some absolutely fantastic moves, but I don’t agree with his vision, and didn’t from the outset.

It’s not just this one game. It’s the body of work. It’s just blah hockey with no end in sight.

 

[BlueMed]

When can the “retool” officially be listed as a failure?

The Blues have played 22 games and have 19 points.

Columbus has 20 points in 20 games.

Anaheim has 19 points in 19 games

San f***ing Jose has 17 points in 22 games.

Army didn’t have to go scorched earth rebuild. He just had to embrace selling every non core asset that doesn’t fit the rebuild (Buchnevich). I love Binnington as a Blue, but I have a hard time believing he’s their goalie when it’s time to compete again. If he was traded, and they lost more games, big deal. Better position in the draft.

Army has made some absolutely fantastic moves, but I don’t agree with his vision, and didn’t from the outset.

It’s not just this one game. It’s the body of work. It’s just blah hockey with no end in sight.

The end will be when Dvorsky and Snuggerud can join Thomas, Kyrou, and Buch up front. At this point, I can consider Neighbours and Holloway as very good secondary pieces ideally on the 3rd line but can play on the second line if needed.

 

[Spektre]

Shaping up to the miss the playoffs 3 years in a row for the second time in franchise history. So we’ve got that going for us…which is nice.

 

[Spektre]

The end will be when Dvorsky and Snuggerud can join Thomas, Kyrou, and Buch up front. At this point, I can consider Neighbours and Holloway as very good secondary pieces ideally on the 3rd line but can play on the second line if needed.

Robert Thomas hit his stride in his 4th NHL season. Why does it seem like most here expect the prospects to come into the NHL and instantly become impact players, even top liners??

 

[Linkens Mastery]

When can the “retool” officially be listed as a failure?

The Blues have played 22 games and have 19 points.

Columbus has 20 points in 20 games.

Anaheim has 19 points in 19 games

San f***ing Jose has 17 points in 22 games.

Army didn’t have to go scorched earth rebuild. He just had to embrace selling every non core asset that doesn’t fit the rebuild (Buchnevich). I love Binnington as a Blue, but I have a hard time believing he’s their goalie when it’s time to compete again. If he was traded, and they lost more games, big deal. Better position in the draft.

Army has made some absolutely fantastic moves, but I don’t agree with his vision, and didn’t from the outset.

It’s not just this one game. It’s the body of work. It’s just blah hockey with no end in sight.

I didn't expect us to be contenders this year. But I expected us to be better than this. The Retool was never going to be a 1 years thing. We were going to be waiting for at least Dvorsky to be NHL ready. What I didn't expect was Buch to fall off this hard this fast and our entire left defense to collapse in under a month into the season with injuries where we have to play Suter as a #1 d-man night in and night out.

 

[Spektre]

I didn't expect us to be contenders this year. But I expected us to be better than this. The Retool was never going to be a 1 years thing. We were going to be waiting for at least Dvorsky to be NHL ready. What I didn't expect was Buch to fall off this hard this fast and our entire left defense to collapse in under a month into the season with injuries where we have to play Suter as a #1 d-man night in and night out.

Injuries aside, what’s the excuse for the team not playing harder to start games, and why not try to be more of a defensive first team? They’re not going to dazzle the other teams and score 4-5 goals a night. So why not play more like an Islanders team? I hate that kind of hockey but if a Hitchcock type system gives them the best chances of getting points, then you have to ask why not?

 

[BlueMed]

Robert Thomas hit his stride in his 4th NHL season. Why does it seem like most here expect the prospects to come into the NHL and instantly become impact players, even top liners??

That's a good point. The truth is, we really don't know when they will be impact players. Snuggerud's best comparison seems to be Brock Boeser, who entered the NHL at the end of his D2 season and was able to start contributing right away, so that's the hope there. As far as Dvorsky, his best comp seems to be Wyatt Johnston, who skipped the AHL all together and entered the league after his D1 season and produced 0.5 ppg in his first season. The reality is, we just don't know, and if Dvorsky isn't quite ready next training camp, I'm wondering what Army is going to do.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Injuries aside, what’s the excuse for the team not playing harder to start games, and why not try to be more of a defensive first team? They’re not going to dazzle the other teams and score 4-5 goals a night. So why not play more like an Islanders team? I hate that kind of hockey but if a Hitchcock type system gives them the best chances of getting points, then you have to ask why not?

Honestly? I'm completely fine with us shitting the bed this year and getting another top 10 pick. If we aren't looking good I'd rather not get meaningless points, push through the year, get a decent prospect, Fire Bannister after this season, hire someone better, and go again next year.

What I'm not cool with is them f***ing around Bolduc's growth by playing him less than 12 minutes a night 2/3 of the time and the other 1/3 is him sitting in the press box.

 

[TheDizee]

When can the “retool” officially be listed as a failure?

The Blues have played 22 games and have 19 points.

Columbus has 20 points in 20 games.

Anaheim has 19 points in 19 games

San f***ing Jose has 17 points in 22 games.

Army didn’t have to go scorched earth rebuild. He just had to embrace selling every non core asset that doesn’t fit the rebuild (Buchnevich). I love Binnington as a Blue, but I have a hard time believing he’s their goalie when it’s time to compete again. If he was traded, and they lost more games, big deal. Better position in the draft.

Army has made some absolutely fantastic moves, but I don’t agree with his vision, and didn’t from the outset.

It’s not just this one game. It’s the body of work. It’s just blah hockey with no end in sight.

Army deserves blame for overpaying for bums and people who did not deserve the contracts they got. Look at our roster and then compare it to who is playing up to their contract. Then compare how many flops there are compared to how many bargains/steals there are.

But Army does not deserve all the blame. This team is paying 8.125 million dollars to 2 people who are not performing at the levels they need to. Thomas was hurt, OK sure he gets a pass. Where is Mr 40 goal scorer Kyrou then? He's on pace for like 20-25 goals. It is a total joke. Not to mention all the losses he's given the team with stupid ass turnovers late in 3rd periods.

Buch is another one. I would have dealt him for futures and picks, this team is nowhere close to contending. Instead we resign him and now he coasts every game. He sure does not look like a 8 million dollar player to me, which is what our brilliant GM just locked him up for.

Saad is what he is, hes not a key cog so whatever. I think he's been fine for 4.5.

Schenn SUCKS and is a waste of 6.5 million. Worse than Steen was down the stretch and by a mile.

That is just the forwards. I haven't even looked at the D. When you have that much cap going to underperforming, overrated and straight out bad players, you are in for one shitty hell of a ride which we are now in year 3 of.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

I have loved watching Blues games for as long as I can remember. I am usually completely focused on the action, I try and watch for every little detail. The last three weeks I've basically fallen asleep watching games multiple times, something that if you had told me even a year ago I would have scoffed and said no way.

This team is f***ing awful to watch. It's completely boring, uninspired, and with nothing positive to watch for the future. The only players I find interesting from a projection standpoint are Bolduc (Sitting 1/2 the time even though I think he's acquitted himself very well, as well as getting put in a lineblender), Broberg (Hurt), and Holloway (Lineblender 2.0).

I have, for the first time in my entire existence as a Blues fan, started to hope we lose. It's f***ing depressing. However, after watching Blais, Vrana, and Kapanen turn into fool's gold and cost us a higher draft pick, only to blow chunks the following year, then watching Binner/Hofer put up a combined Vezina season and cost us a high draft pick, especially in a D-heavy draft, I just can't anymore.

We seem nowhere near close to contention, even if Snuggy and Dvo start next year in the NHL, we can't realistically expect them to become impact players as rookies, or even sophmores. Not to mention we still have a D-core that consists of Parayko, Faulk, and Leddy, with no blue chip prospect coming over the horizon there at all (I have some hope for Jiriciek and Lindstein, but they both project more as top 4 guys vs. bona-fide #1/2s). Tis a tough time to be a Blues fan, but at least I get to go to the Winter Classic this year, amirite?

 

[BlueDream]

I have loved watching Blues games for as long as I can remember. I am usually completely focused on the action, I try and watch for every little detail. The last three weeks I've basically fallen asleep watching games multiple times, something that if you had told me even a year ago I would have scoffed and said no way.

This team is f***ing awful to watch. It's completely boring, uninspired, and with nothing positive to watch for the future. The only players I find interesting from a projection standpoint are Bolduc (Sitting 1/2 the time even though I think he's acquitted himself very well, as well as getting put in a lineblender), Broberg (Hurt), and Holloway (Lineblender 2.0).

I have, for the first time in my entire existence as a Blues fan, started to hope we lose. It's f***ing depressing. However, after watching Blais, Vrana, and Kapanen turn into fool's gold and cost us a higher draft pick, only to blow chunks the following year, then watching Binner/Hofer put up a combined Vezina season and cost us a high draft pick, especially in a D-heavy draft, I just can't anymore.

We seem nowhere near close to contention, even if Snuggy and Dvo start next year in the NHL, we can't realistically expect them to become impact players as rookies, or even sophmores. Not to mention we still have a D-core that consists of Parayko, Faulk, and Leddy, with no blue chip prospect coming over the horizon there at all (I have some hope for Jiriciek and Lindstein, but they both project more as top 4 guys vs. bona-fide #1/2s). Tis a tough time to be a Blues fan, but at least I get to go to the Winter Classic this year, amirite?

Bingo.

I said before the season “at least they’ll be more interesting to watch than last season.”

Welp that didn’t last long at all. I don’t even care about the team, aside from Thomas and Broberg it’s hard to care about anyone else. I don’t care if I miss any games because nothing interesting will happen.

Like another poster said, why don’t we just throw everything at the net and crash the net? At least things might happen that way, but for some reason the Blues are convinced they need to play this finesse passing game even though nobody on the team outside of Thomas has enough talent to even do that.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Man, the shine has really come off Suter lately.

He is being asked to do too much.

 

[stl76]

Buchy not mincing words here. Pretty stark contrast to Bannister's comments about focusing on defence first...

Nov. 23: Postgame interviews | St. Louis Blues

Faulk, Buchnevich and Bannister after loss to NY Islanders.

www.nhl.com

FWIW the Blues have the 3rd lowest GF per game in the league right now at 2.36 (hawks and bruins are lower with 2.33 and 2.32 respectively).

 

[Blanick]

Buchy not mincing words here. Pretty stark contrast to Bannister's comments about focusing on defence first...

Nov. 23: Postgame interviews | St. Louis Blues

Faulk, Buchnevich and Bannister after loss to NY Islanders.

www.nhl.com

FWIW the Blues have the 3rd lowest GF per game in the league right now at 2.36 (hawks and bruins are lower with 2.33 and 2.32 respectively).

Yeah I mean it kind of seemed like he was calling out the system a little bit too. I mean just body language, hand on hips, slightly swaying. He is pissed off and he should be.

I am convinced Bannister is the modern era's Davis Payne. Once he gets fired we will never hear about him again. Coaches like him or a dime a dozen, we need our next Hitchcock, someone who can come in a build structure and accountability. Again going back to body language, while Buch looked angry, Bannister looked defeated. He rarely looked up to make eye contact with the interviewers, eyes transfixed on the ground.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I agree and disagree with a buncha stuff in this thread.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

Buch was 100% calling out the system there. You can tell he thinks we're playing some mini-mite bush league garbage.

Why are we the worst first period team in the NHL? Because we go in with some dumbshit system that Bannister is trying to force us to play. Then we get to intermission and someone (Probably Julian) steps up and says, this shit isn't working, let's do X instead, and all of a sudden we come out and look so much better, but by then it generally doesn't matter b/c we're down 1-2 goals at that point.

I have watched 21 out of the 22 games so far this season (Thanks NHL for having NHL Network that no one has and putting games on it), including one in person, and I couldn't tell you wtf we're trying to do in the offensive zone at all. Our forechecking plan seems to be to dump the puck into the corner, send one man in who instantly loses to both defenders converging on the puck, and then allowing them an easy exit.

Edit - here's the Natural Stat Trick xGF/GA of that game. Islanders are on top:

Bannister talking about how we created chances but needed to bury them is garbage. We got 100% outplayed all game.