GDT: note & perds

[medkit]

Haven't read the thread yet, but I gotta say Hitch sucked tonight. How do you play the SOB line ALL NIGHT when we just played last night? Steen with 23+ minutes? No surprise that they slug out at the end of periods.

Tarasenko makes a boatload of great setups but Hitch has Berglund on his line for zero reason which kills the flow for the STL line. Why is he on their line when he was supposed to be on the 4th or at best the 3rd? It was obvious that it wasn't working but Hitch never adjusted - instead he played Lehtera/Tarasenko, his best offensive threats, for only 15 minutes. Way to punish the wrong guys. You have to be able to make adjustments during a game.

I thought the surge at the end was inspired but not because of anything Hitch did. He just kept playing the SOB line even though they were getting dominated and Steen kept making critical mistakes. I also really wanted to see Lehtera out there in the 6-man at the end.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I see the point he's trying to make. It makes sense. We need to keep up the great forecheck / neutral zone play we have seen in past years while injecting skill. In the past we've been all grind no skill. Now we should be some grind, some skill, but there hasn't been much grind to speak of

I get what you're saying, but my point still stands. We're making the transition from a grinding team to a skill team. It's a tough transition and it takes time. We haven't seen this team come close to playing it's best hockey, but I'm pretty confident they will turn it on at some point.

 

[Mike Liut]

One that's proven multiple times that it wasn't talented enough to win. Back then everybody complained that we were all toughness and not enough skill. Now everybody is complaining about us not being tough enough. It's hard to have both.

But those teams out worked everybody. I miss those teams.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

This team misses Polak and Sobotka badly.

Sobotka we could use but we definitely don't miss
Polak.

 

[Meatwagon]

Wow, I didn't watch the game after the 1st, but it sounds like we were outplayed.

But man alive the overreaction is heavy in this GDT.

Last night, this team is great can't wait for the playoffs...

Tonight, everyone is a bum, trade the whole roster....

These are the ebbs and flows of a season people, we are not going to win every game. NO ONE DOES!

Do we look bad lately? Yes. But I don't think it's time to blow up this team. This is the slog of the middle of the season, there are going to be off nights. We have been getting poor goaltending for a while. Having Ells back should help. We are still a top team even though only 1 line is steadily producing and what was supposed to be a dominant defense has been average at best. If Army can figure out the 3rd line winger issue without making a huge move, this team could be great.

Up to this point the Blues have looked flat out dominant at times and hot garbage at times. They are still trying to figure who they are as a team. That's what the regular season is for, we have a bunch of new toys and have neglected some of our more tried and true ones for the flashy matchbox corvette. As this team learns to adjust to having new skill, to go along with the puck possession grind it out style of the past, there are some clear growing pains.

Maybe I'm naive, but after having to live through Ron Caron dismantle a true cup contender to satisfy his need for making moves, just to make moves, I would like to preach a little patience with this group. Ask LA fans what their regular seasons have been like over their last few cup runs? Dominance followed by sloppy play that's maddening. That's exactly what the Blues are doing this year. This year will be judged by their playoff performance, a game at the end of Decemeber doesn't change that.

Could Army make some roster improvements? Sure, but this team has yet to play to it's potential. Is gutting half the roster or removing an elite coach really the answer? I don't think it is, I just hope Army doesn't get antsy and make a move just to make a move, that would be the absolute wrong thing to do. If they are still this inconsistent around the trade deadline, then maybe look for a tweek. Roster overhauls are for the offseason, this is our date to the dance, either make the best of it or go home for a one man hand shake?

 

[Dbrownss]

Hey all the negative guys are back. We missed you guys last game.

Lol.....the board is unbearable when the Blues lose.


NASHVILLE brought their A game, Stl was half asleep and still barely lost. The shot totals we are misleading, not too many dangerous chances.


I'm not trying to paint a rosie picture...cuz the Blues sucked tonight, but the endless fantasy dreams of landing top 10 players for a couple middling players gets old, or trading your #1 dman for uber prospects or 1 dimensional players.....it's a recipe for disaster......

 

[Vladys Gumption]

But those teams out worked everybody. I miss those teams.

They also weren't talented enough to beat any of the top teams. Make no mistake about it, this team has enough talent to win a Cup.

 

[Thallis]

Berglund is so bad. I don't like saying that, but...
Petro is having a disaster of a year.
Not a good game by Steen.
I want Hall. Do whatever it takes, minus Tarasenko.

Pietro was our best skater tonight...

 

[Dbrownss]

Sobotka we could use but we definitely don't miss
Polak.

What you don't miss pucks being deflected in your own net once every 3 games?

 

[Mike Liut]

I get what you're saying, but my point will stands. We're making the transition from a grinding team to a skill team. It's a tough transition and it takes time. We haven't seen this team come close to playing it's best hockey, but I'm pretty confident they will turn it on at some point.

I hope you're right and transitioning over takes time and will start to click eventually. But so far, there has been many very poor games, which we aren't use to seeing over the Hitch tenure.

 

[Robb_K]

I said this earlier in the year and I'll say it again...

I think with the addition of Stastny and the emergence of Tarasenko, the Blues mind set has become they are a skill team now instead of a heavy forecheck and backcheck and defensive team. They have gotten away from who their true identity is.

Exactly this! Stastny, Tarasenko, Schwartz, Jaškin, Lehterä, Backes, Steen, Oshie, Berglund, Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester, Cole, Shattenkirk, Reaves, Ott, Butler, and Lapierre certainly can be defensively responsible. Lindström is the only weak link in that regard. And even he can do a passable job, IF his coach is hard on him. I wondered why they stopped playing good defensive hockey just because they thought they had enough skill to win. The Predators, Kings, Blackhawks and many other good teams still play defence, and don't sacrifice much offence to do that. The Blues don't score enough to play they lacadasical way they've been playing lately.

 

[Fred Murtz]

Shea Weber wrist shot SHG 3-2

 

[Meatball]

I will say that we're in a weird spot here. Do we add more skill (Fabbri, Rattie, etc.) or more grinding (trade acquisition or Sobotka)?

 

[Spektre]

I will say that we're in a weird spot here. Do we add more skill (Fabbri, Rattie, etc.) or more grinding (trade acquisition or Sobotka)?

Bring up Fabbri for the maximum # of games that won't allow his 1st year of eligibility, what is it 10?

Whatever it is,, bring him up and stick him with Lehtera & Tarasenko. Sit Berglund for those 10 games.

 

[medkit]

I will say that we're in a weird spot here. Do we add more skill (Fabbri, Rattie, etc.) or more grinding (trade acquisition or Sobotka)?

add more coaching, all of these players are proven.

Fabbri can't come up this season.

 

[Celtic Note]

What has that identity gotten them the last three years? You can't win the cup by being a mucking and grinding team. You have to have a lot of skill.

Conversely, you cannot win the Cup without the ability to muck and grind. There is a delicate balance between having both. Teams like LA and Chicago have that balance.

When DET was a powerhouse they won because of elite generational talent and an exceptional and unique system integrated throughout their entire franchise and affiliates.

The Blues don't seem to follow any of the above. They seemed headed in the right direction this offseason, but then the tried changing their system to respond to aquired personnel rather than determining the adjustments to their system that needed improvement.

It's easier to tweak than to reinvent.

I especially wonder why our system that (when executed) brought us withing striking distance of two Cup champions was such a problem. If anything our roster just needed an infusion of scoring, which looked to be addressed to some degree by our FA acquisitions.

As for the system changes:

I still do not understand our defensive approach. It has gotten so reliant on transitioning the puck that it looks like we are lost when the puck isn't at our beck and call. I know it is nice to believe we can steal the puck and quickly move it up ice at any point an opposing team enters our zone, but news flash that would be a statistical odditity. At some point you will get hemmed into your zone and when you do, it's best to have a reliable game plan that allows you to weather the storm. Based on our passive pressure on the boards and all too frequent open middle if the ice, I fail to see that necessary structure.

I also do not comprehend why we give up the blue line so much. At what point does allowing the opposition to enter your zone freely seem like a strong defensive tactic?

 

[Meatball]

Maybe different line combos. Move Backes down between Berglund and Reaves or Lindstrom.

Move Stastny up with Jaskin and Tarasenko.

Then try Lehtera with Steen and Oshie.

Couldn't hurt.

 

[uncommonsense52]

 

[LGB51]

This reminds me of when people were calling for Quenneville's head.

Easton I know you're the voice of reason, but come on. Even you got to admit something has got to change. Whether it be a shakeup, coaching change or whatever, facts are facts. We just flat out cannot beat good teams, and were halfway through the season. How much longer do people need to wait before it's okay to call for changes, or voice concerns about another early exit?

 

[Meatball]

I'm going to go through and watch the whole series.

 

[cardinalnation]

It's pretty frustrating watching this team get their ***** handed to them by the likes of Nashville.

There are players on this team that I don't understand how they get as much support as they do from fans.

Berglund sucks. I don't really give a cat's fart that he back checks some and plays somewhat good defense. He is so inept on the offense side of the puck it's beyond redicule.

Oshie sucks. He's better than Berglund on the offensive side of the puck, but who isn't? He falls down more than any NHL player I've ever seen and that's not exaggerating. I'm convinced his goal is to turn the puck over at least 3 times in our D zone every game. Oshie doesn't check any more, he gets checked. He's lost his edge.

Steen sucks. He tries harder than Berglund or Oshie. He's in competition with Oshie every game to see who can make the most F ups with the puck. I'd keep Steen over Oshie and Berglund but he's like a more talented version of Ott. Just dumb mistakes every flipping game.

Ott sucks. How the F was this turd burgler ever a captain on any NHL team is mind numbing. He has less skill than Reaves. He's good for at least 1 mind altering dumbass penalty every flipping game.

The whole D is so soft it's got to be the coaching.

When we were on the PP vs Nash in this game they were standing our guys up at the red line!!!

I swear there was 1 rush where it was 1 Nashville guy vs 4 Blues and not only do they all let him skate in the zone and take a shot but he was never touched. That is mind numbing. This D must be told to keep a barrier of 6-8 feet between you and the forward at all times. Try to screen our goalie as much as possible and whatever you do.. DO NOT STAND FORWARDS UP AT THE RED OR BLUE LINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This team "should" have enough talent to beat Nashville 9/10 games. The only thing that would give Nashville a 2nd win in 10 games should be Rinne.


They have to do one of two things. Shake this team up or fire Hitch. I don't see Army firing Hitch but I've been wrong before. If they do shake it up there better be an elite player coming back our way.

We used to always be the less skilled team that tried to outwork the Detroit's of the world and we eventually would lose out in the playoffs. Now we're the more skilled team losing out to the grinder teams in the regular season and playoffs.

Exactly what i said a few nights ago and got flamed for it. I am glad to see at least a few of you get it. Their defensive play is just atrocious which is so unusual for this organization. They have been stellar the last few years.I see effort from most of the forwards on most nights but the defensive play is just not acceptable. I think you are a little hard on Steen, Bergie and Oshie though. Oshe is going through a lot of personal stuff right now so it is hard for me to slam him. Plus i don't know the last time i saw a single player take so many sticks to the face and posts to the head in one year. He has been really unlucky. All three of those guys are plus players in the neutral zone and would do better if we played more trap IMO. I agree that Oshie falls down an amazing amount of times and Bergland has hands made out of concrete. I truly think a trade is coming soon b/c management has to know this team is nowhere good enough to compete for the cup. Sometimes you get better on paper but worse on the ice, changing skill sets from one year to the next is always a crap shoot. There is still plenty of time to fix it but we HAVE to get better play from our first pairing or it is not going to matter.

 

[Celtic Note]

The next three Blues coaches after Quenneville were Kitchen, Murray, and Payne.

Quenneville has gone on to win two Cups with Chicago.

We don't need something to happen. We need the right thing to happen.

Coaches are treated like disposable assets, but tossing a good one aside is rarely the answer to a team's problems. Usually it just leads to more misery. Is there anyone available to bring in who we are confident will do a better job? Is trying to change everything up systematically in the middle of the season even practical? Doubt it on both counts.

If the team is wrong, then tweak it until it is right. Firing Hitchcock right now would be like shooting a runner in both kneecaps in the middle of a race.

I never really understood the quenneville firing. The team had too many regular season players and not enough playoff moxie.

I still think the team could use some tweaks but our coach strategy has me purplexed. Well, aside for the power play. Mueller seems to have made strides and continued to adapt.

What gets me is our overall strategy the last few years worked. It just needed tweaking. But this year everything looks disjointed. As I just mentioned, our defensive system is so wierd to me. Why emphasize turnover and transition, but employ a passive defensive system? That seems so counter intuitive to me, especially given our defensive personell and tenacious forwards.

 

[Celtic Note]

Lets forget that he is one of the best players in the league shall we That Kane guy is also soft but we don't need a soft player like him

It seems like you want a pure offensive team but don't really consider the ramifications of neglecting the other aspects of the game.

 

[RR10*]

I'll say it again. Trade Pietrangelo while he still has high value around the league. He's not even close to being worth 7 mill/year. In a year or two other organisations will realize that he isn't all that good and his value will drop. This season he has played like a 3,5 mill defender.

 

[Oberyn]

Lehtera has gotten considerably worse since his first 20 games. Not much chemistry with Tarasenko either lately. Stastny should be getting more minutes at this point. I know people want to sign Lehtera after his contract for 6M+ but I think that is a really bad idea.