2020-2021 St. Louis Blues: Generic Thread Titles Be Damned (Part II)

[Ranksu]

Panger said in last game Mikkola has been healthy scratched.

Not taking anything away from Boom Boom Gunnar, but we really live in reality Chief viewed Gunnar was better option for Blues vs Mikkola?

I could see now Blues acquiring some vet dmen if they aren't happy what Mikkola does.

 

[Brian39]

He's obviously not a number in the rafters guy, but Gunnar has played here for 7 seasons and 325 games (plus 61 playoff games). He was a genuine contributor to our franchise's first Cup and his SCF game 2 OT winner is without question one of the most important goals in franchise history. Ignore the urinal story with Berube and it is no less important. We don't win that series if we come back to STL down 2-0. The story after the fact is just icing on the cake.

This is probably the end of the NHL line for Gunnar, which is a huge bummer. He turns 35 in November, has built a reputation as injury-prone and will be coming off a major knee injury. He's only played 48 games in the last 2 seasons (plus 6 playoff games) and the underlying numbers don't look good. I can't see him earning more than a PTO considering all that. If I were him, I'd be looking at my finances and thinking about calling it a career. He's earned $20M+ in his career and he doesn't strike me as a guy with no financial sense. If he's not thinking about calling it a career, then it probably makes sense to play in Europe. Fewer games, less physical, closer to home and he could probably earn a high enough salary that it would at least be in the ballpark of an NHL-minimum once you factor in next season's escrow withholdings.

Pro sports are ruthless and brutal. It sucks if this is it for his NHL career. If it is the end, at least he got to lift the Cup and score a massive contributing goal to that championship. This was my computer background for about a year and is one of my favorite pictures from the Cup run:

Hell of a moment Boom Boom.

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

He's obviously not a number in the rafters guy, but Gunnar has played here for 7 seasons and 325 games (plus 61 playoff games). He was a genuine contributor to our franchise's first Cup and his SCF game 2 OT winner is without question one of the most important goals in franchise history. Ignore the urinal story with Berube and it is no less important. We don't win that series if we come back to STL down 2-0. The story after the fact is just icing on the cake.

This is probably the end of the NHL line for Gunnar, which is a huge bummer. He turns 35 in November, has built a reputation as injury-prone and will be coming off a major knee injury. He's only played 48 games in the last 2 seasons (plus 6 playoff games) and the underlying numbers don't look good. I can't see him earning more than a PTO considering all that. If I were him, I'd be looking at my finances and thinking about calling it a career. He's earned $20M+ in his career and he doesn't strike me as a guy with no financial sense. If he's not thinking about calling it a career, then it probably makes sense to play in Europe. Fewer games, less physical, closer to home and he could probably earn a high enough salary that it would at least be in the ballpark of an NHL-minimum once you factor in next season's escrow withholdings.

Pro sports are ruthless and brutal. It sucks if this is it for his NHL career. If it is the end, at least he got to lift the Cup and score a massive contributing goal to that championship. This was my computer background for about a year and is one of my favorite pictures from the Cup run:

Hell of a moment Boom Boom.

7 years already? Damn!

If it truly is the end...god speed Gunny

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

SEVEN years?!?! Good lord. Without a doubt a Blues’ legend.

 

[Celtic Note]

Gunnerson had been a very useful player for the Blues throughout his time here. He wasn’t good last year and looks even worse this year, but that doesn’t make me forget the five good years he had with us.

 

[Thallis]

Brilliant analysis from JR here

 

[Brian39]

Brilliant analysis from JR here

A drop to the D would be understandable 15-25 seconds into a shift. A drop to Faulk could create a quick outlet to the forward at the blue line who would receive the Faulk pass around the red line with a chance for a breakaway. It would not be the best play to make since the odds are pretty low of it turning in to a legit scoring chance, but it would at least be understandable.

It isn't even remotely understandable deep in a shift when everyone is tired and that forward doesn't have the gas to split the D with enough separation for a break. It is even less understandable from a player who made a careless puck decision leading to a goal in the prior game. There is absolutely no excuse to not just chip the puck along the boards. Maybe it goes into their bench. Great. Maybe it hits the linesman and creates chaos just outside the blue line. Great. Maybe the D somehow holds the line. Great, you now how 4 guys right at the blue line fighting for a puck and 2 Blues back to cover the remaining in-zone guys. Maybe it dribbles out of the zone. Great, the offside regroup buys time to clog the line and force a dump with a fairly easy breakout.

There is no bad outcome from going north and no upside for going back to Faulk. Just a baffling bad play.

 

[simon IC]

A drop to the D would be understandable 15-25 seconds into a shift. A drop to Faulk could create a quick outlet to the forward at the blue line who would receive the Faulk pass around the red line with a chance for a breakaway. It would not be the best play to make since the odds are pretty low of it turning in to a legit scoring chance, but it would at least be understandable.

It isn't even remotely understandable deep in a shift when everyone is tired and that forward doesn't have the gas to split the D with enough separation for a break. It is even less understandable from a player who made a careless puck decision leading to a goal in the prior game. There is absolutely no excuse to not just chip the puck along the boards. Maybe it goes into their bench. Great. Maybe it hits the linesman and creates chaos just outside the blue line. Great. Maybe the D somehow holds the line. Great, you now how 4 guys right at the blue line fighting for a puck and 2 Blues back to cover the remaining in-zone guys. Maybe it dribbles out of the zone. Great, the offside regroup buys time to clog the line and force a dump with a fairly easy breakout.

There is no bad outcome from going north and no upside for going back to Faulk. Just a baffling bad play.

Excellent analysis. Well done.

 

[joe galiba]

Gunnarsson is 61st in all times Blues games played at 325
other players around number of games played:
Chase 345
Paul Cavallini 337
Eastwood 336
Brewer 332
Paslawski 330
Jeff Brown 329
Sobatka 329
Bergevin 328
Boyes 327
Turgeon 327
Geoff Courtnall 326
Mike Crombeen 325
Blake Dunlop 324
Marks Reeds 320
Dave Lowry 311

 

[ChicagoBlues]

That is not insignificant company.

 

[Xanadude]

Gunny is going to be one of those players whose name will rarely come up, but a decade from now he'll get brought up and the nostalgia will hit hard.

Harder than most, really...being at the game 2 watch party and watching 15,000 Blues fans lose their minds was an experience I'll never forget.

 

[The Note]

I simply cannot believe Gunnarsson was with the team that long. Quite a career for him if it is indeed the end!

 

[Blueston]

This team is mentally and physically fried right now. I’m reminded of scene in Bull Durham where they are in tough spot and Kevin Costner says “I can get us a rainout “ and they get drunk and flood field. Seeing Sharks cancel practice bc of COVID has me optimistic we could get our rainout.

 

[Ranksu]

This team is mentally and physically fried right now. I’m reminded of scene in Bull Durham where they are in tough spot and Kevin Costner says “I can get us a rainout “ and they get drunk and flood field. Seeing Sharks cancel practice bc of COVID has me optimistic we could get our rainout.

This team lack of identity.

Coach define his vision on defense first. Then you have in your top6 3 dmen who are PP specialist. 2 of 3 play biggest mi utes and are forced to play Chief game, hardest opponent, PK icetime and toughest d-zone starts. They haven't in their career play that kind of role. It's not on Chief, it's on Army who brings players what Chief can work with. I'm not saying this lies on those players, but

You cant give to them expectations where their skill level just isnt there. This team is just shallow in d-core part. Blues won Cup with best defensive d-core and best shutdown pair and best shutdown 4th line + ROR + Perron + Binny.

We played couple decent game when team was healthy in this season.

We should look this more realistic way.

Our forward group is good defensively. We were just blessed we had Pietro and Jbo type of players and now we miss those on ice and off ice (lockerroom).

Have to be quite naive if missing Cup run captain doesnt have negative affect on locker room. Clearly there is some bad things if team play that effortlessly.

Ofc our game will get better when we get our forwards back and Parayko 100%.

But when we face Avs or Vegas this team will get buried at 1st round if we even get in the playoffs.

Be realistic and current form shows how bad our team is defensively. Not identity what was build for success. We are just there somewhere.

 

[mike1320]

We played couple decent game when team was healthy in this season.

We were solidly in 1st place in the division before this rash of injuries, but go ahead and run your narrative out there for the 100th time about how bad we miss Pietro.

 

[Ranksu]

We were solidly in 1st place in the division before this rash of injuries, but go ahead and run your narrative out there for the 100th time about how bad we miss Pietro.

Solid 1st place

We are 1-1 vs Avs and won one game against Vegas.

St. Louis Blues Ohjelma

 

[Frenzy31]

Solid 1st place

We are 1-1 vs Avs and won one game against Vegas.

St. Louis Blues Ohjelma

So you are saying we were 2-1 against the top two teams in the division....... And that somehow is lousy?

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I feel like I'm one of the only few people not too upset about the season.

I mean they're playing with 1/2 a NHL team right now, Kyrou is killing it. Perron and Schenn are looking good and they are playing a shortened, super condensed season where one bad injury is 1/2 the season (Thomas and Barbie).

Just don't sell of the 1st this year and try to stay healthy.

 

[Ranksu]

So you are saying we were 2-1 against the top two teams in the division....... And that somehow is lousy?

Decent. Not spectacular or terrible, decent. How those win came and how we lost. You need recap from those games?

 

[Xerloris]

Decent. Not spectacular or terrible, decent. How those win came and how we lost. You need recap from those games?

Where would the Avs be right now if they actually played those 2-3 weeks without Mckinnon instead of taking a covidcation?

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Tarasenko is returning soon.

 

[Reality Czech]

Tarasenko is returning soon.

Some good news finally! I'm just happier when Vladi is around.

Noticed that Hertl is out tomorrow. If we can't beat the Sharks without one of their few good players then we don't deserve to make the playoffs!

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Can anyone answer - is Bozak eligible for retro-active LTIR? If so, is there some disadvantage to using it when he has already enough games? I was thinking there are (sadly) multiple guys who may wind up on LTIR, and he’s (I think) already eligible.

 

[Blueston]

Can anyone answer - is Bozak eligible for retro-active LTIR? If so, is there some disadvantage to using it when he has already enough games? I was thinking there are (sadly) multiple guys who may wind up on LTIR, and he’s (I think) already eligible.

Yes. We won’t actually have cap issue until he and Schwartz and Parayko are healthy.

 

[Celtic Note]

Can anyone answer - is Bozak eligible for retro-active LTIR? If so, is there some disadvantage to using it when he has already enough games? I was thinking there are (sadly) multiple guys who may wind up on LTIR, and he’s (I think) already eligible.

I cannot see a reason why we couldn’t put him on IR depending upon the specific requirements.