I would rather have him out there in the last min than any Blues forward
- JVR_42_PK81

I would take Vladimir Tarasenko over Matt Moulson

I would take Vladimir Tarasenko over Matt Moulson
- sycsam

Maybe in a trade but currently now Moulson is the better player.

Maybe in a trade but currently now Moulson is the better player.
- JVR_42_PK81

Have you watched the Blues?

Maybe in a trade but currently now Moulson is the better player.
- JVR_42_PK81

I've been watching both series and Tarasenko has been better facing much stronger D.

Tarasenko > Moulson right now and he is younger.

The Moulson of 2-3 years back would be a tough decision.

I would take Vladimir Tarasenko over Matt Moulson
- sycsam

Tarasenko > Moulson, and is getting better every day.

I've been watching both series and Tarasenko has been better facing much stronger D.

Tarasenko > Moulson right now and he is younger.

The Moulson of 2-3 years back would be a tough decision.
- tredbrta

Look at the systems that the blues play and its amazing they had such good goal scoring numbers in the regular Season.

Tarasenko > Moulson, and is getting better every day.
- MartiniMan

He is the guy we need just wish we had five or six more of him.

They might be coming. At least two more of him. Rattie and Jaskin.

We shall see.

He is the guy we need just wish we had five or six more of him.

They might be coming. At least two more of him. Rattie and Jaskin.

We shall see.
- sycsam

I expect this Tarasenko > Jaskin > Rattie

I expect this Tarasenko > Jaskin > Rattie
- cuethenoise

I do too but those three together will be better than anything we might have right now offesnively.

Get Backes and Steen on to that second line.

We are close just need that next set of offensive guys.

I expect this Tarasenko > Jaskin > Rattie
- cuethenoise

I would actually put Rattie above Jaskin.

Maybe it is just me, but Jaskin seems a lot like Berglund. I like Berglund, but don't see him ever being a big piece going forward. Maybe that is unfair to Jaskin, but he just seems like a complimentary player, not a top line type of player. I can see Rattie getting to becoming a top line player.

Do you guys really think Rattie is ready next year? I'm not convinced he isn't two years away, especially if Hitch is at the helm next year.

Do you guys really think Rattie is ready next year? I'm not convinced he isn't two years away, especially if Hitch is at the helm next year.
- stljam

Not trying to troll (at least in this post...), but I have to disagree with you here. As someone who watches the Wolves play about a dozen times a season (I'm a season ticket holder in Rockford), I'd have to say that Jaskin is ahead of Rattie at this point, and he's exactly what your team needed in the playoffs - another guy besides Taresenko who can (possibly) snipe.

Princess Rattie does have some upside, but there are some holes in his game he still needs to work out. Another season in the "A" for him would really help him. As for Jaskin, the Blues might be able to get away with promoting him next season.

I would actually put Rattie above Jaskin.

Maybe it is just me, but Jaskin seems a lot like Berglund. I like Berglund, but don't see him ever being a big piece going forward. Maybe that is unfair to Jaskin, but he just seems like a complimentary player, not a top line type of player. I can see Rattie getting to becoming a top line player.
- carcus

Honestly, I don't see either Rattie or Jaskin as being elite. Complimentary is a good description, and maybe they might be a bit better than that.

I would actually put Rattie above Jaskin.

Maybe it is just me, but Jaskin seems a lot like Berglund. I like Berglund, but don't see him ever being a big piece going forward. Maybe that is unfair to Jaskin, but he just seems like a complimentary player, not a top line type of player. I can see Rattie getting to becoming a top line player.
- carcus

Prayers for your family from mine.

Honestly, I don't see either Rattie or Jaskin as being elite. Complimentary is a good description, and maybe they might be a bit better than that.
- EKolb13

The problem they have is what is now left beyond Rattie? Armstrong stripped the cupboard bare the last few years.

They struck gold with Tarasenko. I think he was drafted in the mid teens of the first round but they have few of those for a few years now. Armstrong may be forced to trade a Shattenkirk or even a Backes to recoup picks. Otherwise, it may look like what Gillis did to the Canucks.

With the salary cap you cannot spend enough on player development and drafting. Armstrong got Stilman to spend to the cap this year without result. This is a budget team - cannot be anything but a budget team in that market. Stilman is not Paul Allen or Ted Leonsis.

Did Armstrong agree to short the minors and draft to do so? Good for them they have Tarasenko and Scwhartz at 21-22 but betting on 3 prospects to provide you with a starting goalie and shoring up your offense is fantasy land.

The problem they have is what is now left beyond Rattie? Armstrong stripped the cupboard bare the last few years.
- tredbrta

I don't know about the cupboard being stripped bare. Then again, I'm no expert on what the Blues have in Juniors, College and overseas.

However, the talent was pretty thin at the AHL level this season. Beyond Jaskin, Rattie and Allen, and a couple of marginal prospects on the back end (Hankanpaa and Endmundson), there is just a bunch of has-been's and never-will-be's wearing Rosemont Mutts sweaters.

Everyone cut the crap. Keep the name calling and slamming to yourselves or messages. We don't need that in here or I'll start having your posts removed.

As for Backes being dirty, please tell me how many times he has been suspended? He was given a match penalty and a game misconduct once, which was quickly recessed by the league because it was clearly a terrible call from the official. So please explain how dirty Backes is as a player?
- Randall_Ritchey

Awww. The blogger and mods very tender in this blog! The only team site that people get banned for heckling the home town team! Cry babies galour!

Awww. The blogger and mods very tender in this blog! The only team site that people get banned for heckling the home town team! Cry babies galour!
- MnGump

Nobody cares.

The problem they have is what is now left beyond Rattie? Armstrong stripped the cupboard bare the last few years.

They struck gold with Tarasenko. I think he was drafted in the mid teens of the first round but they have few of those for a few years now. Armstrong may be forced to trade a Shattenkirk or even a Backes to recoup picks. Otherwise, it may look like what Gillis did to the Canucks.

With the salary cap you cannot spend enough on player development and drafting. Armstrong got Stilman to spend to the cap this year without result. This is a budget team - cannot be anything but a budget team in that market. Stilman is not Paul Allen or Ted Leonsis.

Did Armstrong agree to short the minors and draft to do so? Good for them they have Tarasenko and Scwhartz at 21-22 but betting on 3 prospects to provide you with a starting goalie and shoring up your offense is fantasy land.
- tredbrta

Nobody cares.
- carcus

I do! Just wondering where all the cockey Blues fans are that were so arrogant and pompous a couple of months ago?! Antilles? The king of smug! Told him I'd relish the moment the Blues were knocked out of the playoffs once again in the first round! Guess he doesn't have much to say for some reason! Odd....

Antilles? The king of smug!
- MnGump

This.

This.
- EKolb13

Amen brother!

I didn't see it, but if so that is stupid.

Toewd just had an amazing series, and it looked like he did it with one arm. Nobody, including Blues fans, should question Toews greatness. He is awesome, just don't like the fact that he plays for Chicago.
- carcus

Carcus, you are a good guy! I'm sure all the Backcus talk does upset you, but you have to really look at what he has done over his years in the NHL. He is a good player, but he needs to learn to not push the limit all the time. He really does. Just look at his first game back after the Seabs hit. What does he do, he cross checks Hossa into the net after the goal was scored. Why do you think everyone can't stand him? Just for something like that. It takes away from whatever skill he does have. I thought maybe that hit he took and he did know why he took it, would make him think twice about his play. It didn't! Until Backus learns how to really play the game correctly he will never help the Blues win anything. He will just hurt the Blues. Enjoy the offseason. I hope the Blues figure it out next year. Hawks and Blues are a great rivalry and don't want it to go the way of the Nukers.

Not trying to troll (at least in this post...), but I have to disagree with you here. As someone who watches the Wolves play about a dozen times a season (I'm a season ticket holder in Rockford), I'd have to say that Jaskin is ahead of Rattie at this point, and he's exactly what your team needed in the playoffs - another guy besides Taresenko who can (possibly) snipe.

Princess Rattie does have some upside, but there are some holes in his game he still needs to work out. Another season in the "A" for him would really help him. As for Jaskin, the Blues might be able to get away with promoting him next season.
- EKolb13

Did you hit the sauce before posting this in reply to me? I said Rattie was two years away.

Carcus, you are a good guy! I'm sure all the Backcus talk does upset you, but you have to really look at what he has done over his years in the NHL. He is a good player, but he needs to learn to not push the limit all the time. He really does. Just look at his first game back after the Seabs hit. What does he do, he cross checks Hossa into the net after the goal was scored. Why do you think everyone can't stand him? Just for something like that. It takes away from whatever skill he does have. I thought maybe that hit he took and he did know why he took it, would make him think twice about his play. It didn't! Until Backus learns how to really play the game correctly he will never help the Blues win anything. He will just hurt the Blues. Enjoy the offseason. I hope the Blues figure it out next year. Hawks and Blues are a great rivalry and don't want it to go the way of the Nukers.

- PaulNewman