Shades of 2019 from the Blues?

[GlitchMarner]

They've won eight in a row and look to have a good shot at being a playoff team. A month ago, I wouldn't have considered them a serious playoff contender.

What's behind the turn around and can they surprise in the playoffs?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

The 2018-19 Blues made their big push beginning January 23rd with an 11 game win streak through February 19th. They settled into a solid if not particularly notable 13-6-4 end to the season (30/46 possible points) and then won in the Playoffs.

 

[Super Hans]

Could see them throwing a wrench onto Hellebuyck's legacy.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Could see them throwing a wrench onto Hellebuyck's legacy.

By being the first team to lose to him in the postseason?

 

[Mike Liut]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

The 2018-19 Blues made their big push beginning January 23rd with an 11 game win streak through February 19th. They settled into a solid if not particularly notable 13-6-4 end to the season (30/46 possible points) and then won in the Playoffs.

They weren’t a fluke, they just didn’t play well until the coaching change. Their roster was stacked. Big and physical and physically manhandled everybody. The next year, they were the #1 seed before Covid hit, so they were far from a fluke.

 

[Tryblot]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

The 2018-19 Blues made their big push beginning January 23rd with an 11 game win streak through February 19th. They settled into a solid if not particularly notable 13-6-4 end to the season (30/46 possible points) and then won in the Playoffs.

They're one of the best teams in the 2010s as a whole. Not sure how that's a fluke.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

They weren’t a fluke, the just didn’t play well until the coaching change. Their roster was stacked. Big and physical and physically manhandled everybody. The next year, they were the #1 seed before Covid hit, so they were far from a fluke.

Ya no elite superstar, but a lot of great players, depth on D&F, size and got elite goaltending. I feel the Capitals of this year are kind of built similar, but maybe not as much depth.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[Mike Liut]

Ya no elite superstar, but a lot of great players, depth on D&F, size and got elite goaltending. I feel the Capitals of this year are kind of built similar, but maybe not as much depth.

ROR and Pietrangelo were pretty close to superstars. Tarasenko, Parayko, Schwartz, Schenn, Barbashev were damn good too. They were loaded

 

[fcpremix88]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

I disagree.

The Blues were considered a cup contender in the summer of 2018 after the trade for O’Reilly. The bad start was disappointing and pundits wanted to distance themselves from having predicted the Blues to do anything. Then the “going from last place to winning the cup” became too enticing a narrative and it’s primarily what people remember.

The 2025 Blues do not have the same caliber of depth or talent that the 2019 Blues had. I’d love to see them play spoiler to Vegas or Winnipeg, but I don’t expect them to make it past 6 games.

 

[TheDizee]

the team is not going to win a cup this year nor do we expect them to. but this is important for the next few years to get the new core ready for deep playoff runs and a winning culture.

If they get into the Pacific playoff bracket, they could do lots of damage.

 

[Stelmacki]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

The 2018-19 Blues made their big push beginning January 23rd with an 11 game win streak through February 19th. They settled into a solid if not particularly notable 13-6-4 end to the season (30/46 possible points) and then won in the Playoffs.

Just have to laugh at idiots who say that.

 

[mab894]

By being the first team to lose to him in the postseason?

you seem to be in all the Blues threads talking smack. Enjoying yourself?

 

[a mangy Meowth]

you seem to be in all the Blues threads talking smack. Enjoying yourself?

Actually this one was meant to be talking smack at Hellebuyck

 

[WarriorofTime]

They're one of the best teams in the 2010s as a whole. Not sure how that's a fluke.

Amongst Cup winners they are one of the weakest records, one of the weakest analytics, never won or got that close another cup in the years before or after, less notable names. They’re the usually seen as the consensus weakest cup winner in some reasonable time period. They’re the hot team that usually Loses the final that happened to win it.

 

[AvroArrow]

Ya no elite superstar, but a lot of great players, depth on D&F, size and got elite goaltending. I feel the Capitals of this year are kind of built similar, but maybe not as much depth.

ROR was Bergeron lite, Pietro was a legit star 1D, Tarasenko was one of the best wingers/goal scorers in the league. They were pretty damn close to being superstars.

 

[Xerloris]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

The 2018-19 Blues made their big push beginning January 23rd with an 11 game win streak through February 19th. They settled into a solid if not particularly notable 13-6-4 end to the season (30/46 possible points) and then won in the Playoffs.

Biggest fluke? is that why they were regarded as a serious contender before the season started?

 

[Xerloris]

Amongst Cup winners they are one of the weakest records, one of the weakest analytics, never won or got that close another cup in the years before or after, less notable names. They’re the usually seen as the consensus weakest cup winner in some reasonable time period. They’re the hot team that usually Loses the final that happened to win it.

16-10 record isn't one of the weakest records, every team that wins their first cup didn't win one prior but we did go to the 3rd round in 2016, also, we were rolling hot as hell the year after the cup but got derailed because of Covid.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

16-10 record isn't one of the weakest records, every team that wins their first cup didn't win one prior but we did go to the 3rd round in 2016, also, we were rolling hot as hell the year after the cup but got derailed because of Covid.

Yes, I remember Flyers were rolling too.

 

[oPlaiD]

They're one of the best teams in the 2010s as a whole. Not sure how that's a fluke.

In the 2010s, the teams with the most wins in the NHL were the Penguins (466), Capitals (462), and Blues (443). The only team in the top 6 in NHL wins over that period who didn't win the Cup during the 2010s are the San Jose Sharks (the Bruins and Hawks being the other two in the top six). Sure, regular season wins may not mean much in the playoffs, but the teams who consistently win games... usually win games in the playoffs too. And they have more chances to go for the Cup so they can get that year like 2019 when the dice roll in your favor and you get more of your best performances from your best players at the right moment.

Yes, it's a pretty weird arbitrary line to sample, but it's hard to call it a fluke when most teams who are competitive at that level for that period of time do seem to end up winning it all. You add the 7th and 8th teams on the list, and you get the Lightning, who obviously won the next two Cups, and the Getzlaf/Perry Ducks... who ended up another dud like the Sharks.

 

[Iggys Dome]

Even if they won their last 8 game (after having already won their previous 8 games), they'd finish with a max of 101 points, they had 99 in the 2018-19 season. They're also generally regarded as the biggest "fluke" Stanley Cup winner in at least the last 20 years. I suppose it's possible but it's not likely.

The 2018-19 Blues made their big push beginning January 23rd with an 11 game win streak through February 19th. They settled into a solid if not particularly notable 13-6-4 end to the season (30/46 possible points) and then won in the Playoffs.

06 canes were a bigger fluke.

 

[My3Sons]

The West has a bunch of stacked teams this season. Going to be a real slog to make the finals. Blues have talent and playing well right now but it’s going to be an uphill climb as it is for all the teams out west .

 

[WarriorofTime]

06 canes were a bigger fluke.

They had 112 points though. Great powerplay in the year of the powerplay.

 

[Memento]

As a Blues fan, I went into the season not expecting much. Knowing that they're so close to the playoffs, after a masterclass offseason by Armstrong, a great coaching change from Bannister to Montgomery, a key trade in the start of the season by sending pretty much nothing for Fowler, and a philosophy in letting the kids play, make their mistakes and encourage them...it's a good feeling.

Whatever happens for the rest of the year, I'm satisfied. We're playing with the house's money, and anything beyond that is gravy.

But shades of 2019? No. We simply don't have the talent that that team had, especially in the bottom six and on defense.

 

[Hangman001]

Man, you people loooooove talking about flukes.

(This is largely true, by the way).