True Believers Roll Call

[Stupendous Yappi]

I'm reiterating, I think this Blues team will make the playoffs. And if they do, they'll be playing with house money probably against a team with pressure on it to be a real contender. Anything is possible. It would be extremely satisfying to see the Blues in a competitive series (maybe an upset) against Winnipeg or Calgary.

 

[Bluesguru]

And? How have the Stars been doing?

Well, they're tied with us in losses and have 4 more wins than us. And they shut out the Preds last night.

Matt Dumba is out for 3 months so that will hurt Minny. Vancouver probably isn't ready. It would help our chances if Vegas falls apart but that might not happen. So that leaves Dallas, Edmonton and Anaheim as the teams the Blues will have to overcome.

I do think Anaheim is strong enough to get a WC spot. Right now Edmonton has 3 starters on defense out with injuries, so that's really hurt what Hitch had going there. If Edmonton can weather the storm, once healthy on Defense, I think they will get on a roll. But who knows..............but I do like how Montgomery has Dallas playing, they play a feisty up tempo game. Nill needs to find a secondary scorer there, that's their big issue..................As far as the Blues go, I'd like to see Army swing a trade or 2 that acquires youth and improves the team at the same time. Staying status quo does us no good IMO.

 

[Saint Loser]

Count me in as a believer.

I embraced the tank for about a minute, but my personal fandom cannot allow half-steppin' BS to be the norm.

The way I see it, the Blues will probably (in all sense of the term) not make the playoffs and they will also lose their 1st round pick or pick somewhere in the middle as per usual.

This season has become about pride and momentum and to identify who is who and who needs to go.

The most crucial thing the Blues should focus on is squeaking into the playoffs to get the two home games of revenue for Stillman.

We know they are not going to set the world on fire, but we also know that they are not so bad that they will land a high lottery pick.

Two games of playoff revenue and shedding some salary is not a bad scenario. Hopefully they can trade back into the 1st round.

Buy out DA, hire a new staff and hit the reset button.

 

[BlueDream]

I’ll be a believer if the team wins tomorrow. It’s a tough game, and a big one. If they can do that, Dallas is easily catchable.

Lots of weak teams in the West this year.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

Hopefully they can trade back into the 1st round.

If we're getting into the playoffs, our 2nd round pick will be no better than 47. If we're trading back into the 1st round from there, you're probably having to throw in a prospect like Kostin with that 2nd to get there unless you're trading away a roster player that we probably don't want to part with. [No, Alex Steen isn't cutting it. Neither is anyone else on the current "let's get rid of them ASAP" list.]

 

[Saint Loser]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

I am really not trying to rain on the "we really think we can still make the playoffs" crowd, but anyone who wants to take the other side of a wager here at the Sportsbook, let me know and I'll put one [or a few] up on the Blues to not make the playoffs this season.

 

[larueskee]

Only if they find a goalie like Eddie LeBec from cheers and Army lets him play over Allen.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I am really not trying to rain on the "we really think we can still make the playoffs" crowd, but anyone who wants to take the other side of a wager here at the Sportsbook, let me know and I'll put one [or a few] up on the Blues to not make the playoffs this season.

What kind of crazy odds would you offer, since as awe all acknowledge it’s universally viewed as very improbable?

 

[EastonBlues22]

What kind of crazy odds would you offer, since as awe all acknowledge it’s universally viewed as very improbable?

Something in the 20/1 range might get a taker.

 

[Brockon]

Nylander was all lined up for a straight up trade with Petro. You'd get a 22 year old kid, the 8th pick in his draft, truly a modern day offensive talent. That trade should of happened early in the year.

As far as what's wrong with the team, IMO this team could use 2 or 3 bowling balls in the lineup, guys that can hit and score to help gel the team more. But at this point do you try and save the season now or do you think about the future? At this point, I'm inclined to think about the future, and acquire young talent and picks. Either way, the Nylander deal would be good for the Blues.

I can see a young Lucic in New Jersey's Miles Wood. I don't know what it would take to pry him free, but I think he's definitely one of those bowling balls you're talking about

 

[Eldon Reid]

While we haven't gotten the results lately, I am slowly falling more into believer category. I'm not sure if they can overcome the deficit they are in currently, but I think they push for a wild card.

Fix 2 things
#1 Just need to fix the special teams and we would be fine. 5 on 5 play we have much better.
#2 Goal scorers need to score. Once they start, I think we will be hard to stop.

 

[Majorityof1]

While we haven't gotten the results lately, I am slowly falling more into believer category. I'm not sure if they can overcome the deficit they are in currently, but I think they push for a wild card.

Fix 2 things
#1 Just need to fix the special teams and we would be fine. 5 on 5 play we have much better.
#2 Goal scorers need to score. Once they start, I think we will be hard to stop.

I don't know if this is appropriate in the true-believer's thread since it is negative, but I can't let misinformation go unchallenged. We are not good 5v5. We are 4th worst in GA/60 5v5. Only Chicago, Ottawa and Florida are worse. We are a little better at scoring 5v5, 19th in the league. However, that doesn't counteract our GA, as we are 3rd worst in GF60-GA/60, at Goals every 60 minutes of 5v5.

 

[WeWentBlues]

I still believe despite what this picture might say otherwise.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Between 4 and 10 points out, probably 7. There are really 2 deadlines:
1) making the playoffs
2) getting close enough that Armstrong chooses not to sell off by the trade deadline

If they don’t go on a won streak pretty quick here it’s moot.

 

[tomin]

Believer. Win tomorrow night vs the Caps and I think that'll be the turning point of the season...

 

[Thallis]

Just for the record, winning our games in hand puts us within 3 points of the wild card.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Something in the 20/1 range might get a taker.

I would put money down on that. I don’t gamble, but I’d make a friendly wager with someone on the forum for those odds, Blues make the playoffs this season I get paid, otherwise I pay.

 

[m1a2lt]

Was in but now I’m out...hope they prove me wrong.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

Just for the record, winning our games in hand puts us within 3 points of the wild card.

Where's my Batman/Robin "games in hand" meme that I created? It needs to go here.

 

[simon IC]

Still in but increasingly disheartened.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

We are done.

A game against the Islanders needs to be won if we are really IN.

This is an IDIOTIC team with talent. What a shame.

A blind man could see the Blues put it into cruise mode after they went up 2-o. Cruise mode is losers mode.

 

[HighNote]

We are done.

A game against the Islanders needs to be won if we are really IN.

This is an IDIOTIC team with talent. What a shame.

A blind man could see the Blues put it into cruise mode after they went up 2-o. Cruise mode is losers mode.

The Islanders are a pretty good team, and they're hot, they're 9-1 in their last 10. We could have really used a win there though.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Something in the 20/1 range might get a taker.

Might have to sweeten those odds a bit.

 

[cardinalnation]

Hanging by one brittle thread.
I really thought having a stretch against the East (who we have owned in the past) was their shot to put something together. If not just points but some lines and combinations. Then losses to the Rangers and Isle in games they played well enough to win. This team does just enough wrong for the game to go badly. It has become their personality. Trades are coming and I trust Army in that area. It is his FA signs that blow.


I think we are now past the "denial" period are entering the " I am proving my job" territory. Don't forget Army and Stillman put a lot of promise into it this year. This was a "Going for it" year. That is a factor.
They are in a tight spot with Allen and Steen contracts but it is time to move in a different direction. Use Schenn, Tank and Bozer to entice a team to take those contracts and add young depth.
We might have to take it on the chin and dump Allen for peanuts and give up some grade assets for Howard who is a FA in the off season. Either that or just pull the plug in 2018/19