Well here it is. Are we all in agreement that a first round exit means a new coach and basically nuking the team aside from the young core? I'd want to see huge changes. At least we'll get it over with if it does turn bad.
Yep. No reason for Backes to be brought back. Shop off Shattenkirk and maybe even Steen at the deadline. I doubt JBo will be traded but I wouldn't be upset if he was gone. Don't re-sign Brouwer and look for different guys through FA to fill out the roster.
this is why schwartz/steen/stastny/backes have to produce as a whole. we cannot have a oshie like showing from these 4.
Yep. No reason for Backes to be brought back. Shop off Shattenkirk and maybe even Steen at the deadline. I doubt JBo will be traded but I wouldn't be upset if he was gone. Don't re-sign Brouwer and look for different guys through FA to fill out the roster.
I'd say our 6 most important forwards are (in no particular order) Tarasenko, Schwartz, Steen, Backes, Stastny, and Fabbri. I'd be looking to retain those guys unless I had a very specific on-ice reason not to.
The top 9 forwards that I think are basically dead weight (or that should be first on the chopping block) are Lehtera, Brouwer, and Berglund. I'd explore moving on from all 3 before I entertain thoughts of moving on from one of the previous 6 names.
It's pretty clear who our best four defenders are on defense. The guy I would most like to get rid of is Bouwmeester. He's adequate enough, but he's not a true any situation guy and he just never seems to be making an impact play with the puck. That wouldn't be that bad if his defense wasn't slipping, but it is. It's a shame he has a NTC and the other three are RHD.
This is supposed to a thread about the playoffs, not what to do with players in the offseason.
The Blues should be able to use their bigger players to advantage. My only concern in that regard is the officiating. If the referees give the Hawk players protection, we will pay a price in power play goals allowed. That is where Chicago is really tough. Will Reaves be a marked man by the referees, or can he play a physical game?
The Blues will have to play disciplined hockey. Make the big hit when it is a available, but no headhunting, no leaving the feet, jumping into the hit.
I am concerned with another aspect of the series. In two recent series, we have seen key Blues players hit and injured by our opponents. Both guys (Backes and Pietrangelo) missed time, and returned with limitations. Will we retaliate? Hitch seems unwilling to do it. If Hitch is willing to do so, Ott seems useful in the role. Too bad he is ill.
If Elliott falters, will Hitch be willing to use Allen? Allen has shown the ability to
steal a game on the road. He has also shown the ability to founder on the road.
The key Blues player, for me, will be Alexander Steen. Chicago will be covering Tarasenko and Fabbri. Steen could be the guy to come through. He had some big chances in the Minnesota series last year, and couldn't score on them. I think he is a terrific player, but you can't say he has been money in the playoffs. Maybe this year, we will be able to say that.
If the Blues make it to the 2nd round we need to have a HFBlues meetup/watch party