Confirmed with Link: Tarasenko 50% & Mikkola to NYR for 1st RP, 4th RP, F S. Blais, and D H. Skinner

[stl76]

That reaction from Kane is glorious. Nothing warms the heart quite like Patrick Kane tears…almost as good as his reaction in 2016 when the Blues scored the GWG in game 3 with Kane in the penalty box!

 

[542365]

I think the Blues won the trade and Armstrong did well, but I do wish he had moved Tarasenko 5 years ago - he could have gotten a king's ransom.

Glad they got a 1st rounder at least.

We don’t win a Cup but probably have a better team today if he did that. No thanks. I’ll take the Cup.

 

[Blueston]

We don’t win a Cup but probably have a better team today if he did that. No thanks. I’ll take the Cup.

Flags fly forever!

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Tarasenko lined up next to Schwartz on the NYR-SEA opening draw. I wish I could hear that conversation.

Tarasenko scores! Less than 3 minutes in!

Edit: And Mikkola almost puts one in his own net.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Do you even watch hockey? You're telling me that last year if it had not been for Kadri you think we had no chance for a deep run? We would have easily walked into the cup finals last year if we had beat the Avs.

Because every underlying possession metric, they were getting dominated by the Avs for the majority of the series (that includes Game 5 in which they won in OT I believe). Kuemper was also dealing with a vision problem from the Nashville series and played like shit as well.

Binnington played at an insane level. They likely take the series to 7 but nothing beyond that.

Now, if they had avoided Colorado altogether, that’s a different discussion.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Tarasenko lined up next to Schwartz on the NYR-SEA opening draw. I wish I could hear that conversation.

Tarasenko scores! Less than 3 minutes in!

Edit: And Mikkola almost puts one in his own net.

And commits a penalty.

 

[Blueston]

And commits a penalty.

that's our miko!

 

[Pizza!Pizza!]

If we’re using hindsight, the time to trade him was last summer, not the summer before our eventual cup run.

its not hindsight, ive been saying it since his 40 goal season because I felt he was one dimensional and overrated and a feeling that season would be his peak.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

its not hindsight, ive been saying it since his 40 goal season because I felt he was one dimensional and overrated and a feeling that season would be his peak.

I really understand the overall sentiment in your post, but I cannot disagree more. Although, I understand that you're bringing up feelings and thoughts you had way back then.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

its not hindsight, ive been saying it since his 40 goal season because I felt he was one dimensional and overrated and a feeling that season would be his peak.

If you told me you wanted to change the tape guys used on their sticks prior to 2019, I’d object. Nothing that could disrupt the magical Cup run. Any changes to decisions since then, sure , Fire away. But I could not countenance going back in time and trading Tarasenko prior to those playoffs, no can do.

 

[Blueston]

If you told me you wanted to change the tape guys used on their sticks prior to 2019, I’d object. Nothing that could disrupt the magical Cup run. Any changes to decisions since then, sure , Fire away. But I could not countenance going back in time and trading Tarasenko prior to those playoffs, no can do.

exactly. this is why i don't begrudge any of the bad deals or bad luck prior to that point. everything that ever happened led us to that Cup.

 

[Ranksu]

So there was no deals offered to Vlady.





After game. Vlady seems to be happy camper now.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Well, yeah, why would there be an extension offered to him when he openly has wanted to be traded for the past year and a half?

 

[GoldenSeal]

Well, yeah, why would there be an extension offered to him when he openly has wanted to be traded for the past year and a half?

^

 

[BlueDream]

Interesting interview with Blais on the Blues’ official site. He openly acknowledged that he took it really hard when he got traded to the Rangers. Sounds like he didn’t want to leave and was never comfortable there.

I originally was indifferent about acquiring him back but if he truly wants to be here, then I’ll take it. He’s a free agent this Summer so he may not want to risk going to a different organization again and ruining his career more if it doesn’t go well. My bet is he will accept a cheap ‘prove-it’ deal with the Blues to re-gain his confidence and try to rekindle some of the success he had.

At the very least, he’s a solid 4th liner and depth piece who will play hard.

 

[Xerloris]

Because every underlying possession metric, they were getting dominated by the Avs for the majority of the series (that includes Game 5 in which they won in OT I believe). Kuemper was also dealing with a vision problem from the Nashville series and played like shit as well.

Binnington played at an insane level. They likely take the series to 7 but nothing beyond that.

Now, if they had avoided Colorado altogether, that’s a different discussion.

Please, no stats matter once Binnington got hurt. It also was not how good Binny was playing but how his style and puckhandling negated the Avalanche puck possession and speed. Can't dump it in and forecheck with speed when the goalie stops it and passes it out. He completely changed how the Blues were playing against the Avalanche and was the key factor.

Interesting interview with Blais on the Blues’ official site. He openly acknowledged that he took it really hard when he got traded to the Rangers. Sounds like he didn’t want to leave and was never comfortable there.

I originally was indifferent about acquiring him back but if he truly wants to be here, then I’ll take it. He’s a free agent this Summer so he may not want to risk going to a different organization again and ruining his career more if it doesn’t go well. My bet is he will accept a cheap ‘prove-it’ deal with the Blues to re-gain his confidence and try to rekindle some of the success he had.

At the very least, he’s a solid 4th liner and depth piece who will play hard.

Kind of weird how that's 2 French Canadians that love the French city of St.Louis

 

[LogosBlue]

that's our miko!

Not anymore! lol

 

[Linkens Mastery]

So there was no deals offered to Vlady.





After game. Vlady seems to be happy camper now.

He requested a trade. He didn't want to be here, why would they be offering a contract to a player who publicly requested a trade.

 

[tfriede2]

He requested a trade. He didn't want to be here, why would they be offering a contract to a player who publicly requested a trade.

Yep, and it’s also a sly way of Tarasenko avoiding saying that he wouldn’t be returning regardless; he can just say instead “well, no contract was offered.” He was no doubt coached to say that.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Yep, and it’s also a sly way of Tarasenko avoiding saying that he wouldn’t be returning regardless; he can just say instead “well, no contract was offered.” He was no doubt coached to say that.

It's like me complaining that I wasnt offered the open manager spot at work after saying I didn't want to be a Manger

 

[tfriede2]

It's like me complaining that I wasnt offered the open manager spot at work after saying I didn't want to be a Manger

I don’t blame Tarasenko for using this language - I’m sure he doesn’t want to outright say “I didn’t what to be in St. Louis and wouldn’t have signed there.” He’s being more professional this way, as he’s usually been; but, it is a bit transparent what he’s doing.

 

[Xerloris]

Yep, and it’s also a sly way of Tarasenko avoiding saying that he wouldn’t be returning regardless; he can just say instead “well, no contract was offered.” He was no doubt coached to say that.

It's like me complaining that I wasnt offered the open manager spot at work after saying I didn't want to be a Manger

It's almost like a player teling fans that "No really, I want to be in St.Louis" is a bullshit lie. Like, imgine not negotiating in good faith and secretly having another teams private jet ready to whisk you away the very second free agency starts but you do that while telling fans you really want to be in St.Louis.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Please, no stats matter once Binnington got hurt. It also was not how good Binny was playing but how his style and puckhandling negated the Avalanche puck possession and speed. Can't dump it in and forecheck with speed when the goalie stops it and passes it out. He completely changed how the Blues were playing against the Avalanche and was the key factor.

If that’s the case, they wouldn’t have lost Game 1 which was arguably Binnington’s best game in OT.

The Blues were good last year, but relied on an unusually high shooting percentage overall as a team as well as the defense playing at its absolute ceiling after Leddy was acquired and being bailed out by Husso through January in addition to Binnington having a .949 save % in 4 games in the postseason.

I don’t think the team is as bad as they’ve played this season but everything that could go wrong has.

 

[Cotton McKnight]

It's almost like a player teling fans that "No really, I want to be in St.Louis" is a bullshit lie. Like, imgine not negotiating in good faith and secretly having another teams private jet ready to whisk you away the very second free agency starts but you do that while telling fans you really want to be in St.Louis.

Oh the freaking memories...

 

[fcpremix88]

It's almost like a player teling fans that "No really, I want to be in St.Louis" is a bullshit lie. Like, imgine not negotiating in good faith and secretly having another teams private jet ready to whisk you away the very second free agency starts but you do that while telling fans you really want to be in St.Louis.

You’re one of the more vocal complainers whenever the former captain is brought up in threads that don’t have anything to do with him.


Anyway, I’m glad for Tarasenko. I haven’t seen him look that happy in years.