I'm sure the Blues will have some changes. Not a whole lot but for sure a few. Maybe Hitchcock being fired? A trade to shake things up? They do need a game breaker but I'm not sure one is in free agency. Maybe Moulson? Vanek?

Can't believe you guys lost the series just like that..

Ummm..... Guess I agree with that "assessment" for the most part.

Your biggest problem is Hitch. He is coaching 80s hockey in 2014.

Glad to see the Blues played it clean to finish up this game when it was clearly over the 2nd half of the 3rd. The Canucks would have been trying to injure every player on the ice.

When the league warned both teams and it went back to being hockey and not Hitch's desired "chaos" - the Blues could not execute offensively with the Hawks.

This Hawks roster amazes and surprises constantly. Their passing and execution was simply awesome today. Even with the shot difference in period one they just dominated at even strength. They proved again they can match the goon style many teams want to beat them with. Guess I never learn.

The St Louis blogger interviewed by the Committed Indian said Backes was never concussed - that rumor is he has a broken toe. That Hitch wanted a little more recovery time for him but also was playing it up looking for a long suspension for Seabrook.

Win it on the ice PLAYING hockey boys or take it home. Why he played 2 1/2 line hockey and kept dressing Reaves really is paleolithic.

Blues need to buy into the new game. Maybe break up a few of the older core to replace those picks that were burnt away the last few years. Simply 86 the lowlifes like Ott and Lapierre - whose line was anything BUT dominant in this series. Tarasenko, Steen and Schwarz could really blossom in a more open style. Not saying go Wings/Blackhawks but even a step up the evolutionary ladder to the Bruins style would be more effective.

Rattie, Jaskin and Allen will not save the franchise. Neither will Stastny - who would simply be treated like Roy by Hitch.

A lot of Blues trolls from last week apparently now on hiatus today... like their team.

This thread will be dead again in a few days.

I'm sure the Blues will have some changes. Not a whole lot but for sure a few. Maybe Hitchcock being fired? A trade to shake things up? They do need a game breaker but I'm not sure one is in free agency. Maybe Moulson? Vanek?
- JVR_42_PK81

Why would an offensive player want to move into Hitch's system after the way he has treated Roy - who came in on a 1 year deal? Playing Reaves over Roy or even Pajaarvi with this offense?

Money talks I guess.... Other question. Are the Blues a "budget" team or will they spend to the cap consistently? Ownership says they will spend. This OS will test that.

I'm sure the Blues will have some changes. Not a whole lot but for sure a few. Maybe Hitchcock being fired? A trade to shake things up? They do need a game breaker but I'm not sure one is in free agency. Maybe Moulson? Vanek?
- JVR_42_PK81

LMAO...I have been around hockey a few years...and DO NOT get me wrong I like Matt Moulson, but on what planet is he a "game breaker?"

His ordinary skating alone has probably cost him 2-3 golden chances in the Avs series.

Obviously signing Miller didn't work out for this year, but saying it was a bad move is hindsight. Most teams took serious notice when they got him as they should have.
- HajdukChicago

The Trade Deadline Winner usually don't make much noise in the post season. If you're making a move that big, that late...you're probably not as good as you're hoping to be.

Congrats to the Blues on being the Trade Deadline Champs. Good on you.

PS, some of us didn't need hindsight to see this was a bad trade.

Agree that Hitch has to go, he's always had a short shelf life. I'm not sure Trotz, who's kinda similar will work. Most pro sports team go back and fourth between offensive, easy-going coaches and hardass, defensive coaches just to shake things up.

The Trade Deadline Winner usually don't make much noise in the post season. If you're making a move that big, that late...you're probably not as good as you're hoping to be.

Congrats to the Blues on being the Trade Deadline Champs. Good on you.

PS, some of us didn't need hindsight to see this was a bad trade.
- Ogilthorpe2

Banner raising ceremony time for being trade deadline winner is TBD...I trust you'll be there.

Time for Hitch to go
- Goblues86

I don't see what this solves. How many times are you going to changes coaches?

As I said in the previous post, I put this on the players. At some point they have to make it happen.

This team has a.d.d. They continually take their foot off the gas and try to coast. It's maddening.

For those who hate Hitch's supposed defense first system: when they are playing that system the way it's designed they are nearly unstoppable.

They fall apart when they get cute and try to pass and deke everyone to death.

As far as Ryan Miller...I don't care if the Blues resign him or not. I'd be just fine with Jake Allen and Brian Elliot.

I don't see what this solves. How many times are you going to changes coaches?

As I said in the previous post, I put this on the players. At some point they have to make it happen.

This team has a.d.d. They continually take their foot off the gas and try to coast. It's maddening.

For those who hate Hitch's supposed defense first system: when they are playing that system the way it's designed they are nearly unstoppable.

They fall apart when they get cute and try to pass and deke everyone to death.

As far as Ryan Miller...I don't care if the Blues resign him or not. I'd be just fine with Jake Allen and Brian Elliot.
- bcallaway

What idiots like David Backes and others fail to realize is they got beat by a superior hockey club. SIMPLE. AS. THAT. The Blues are very good, and played the Hawks tough as nails, but lacked the high-end offensive firepower of the Hawks. It's not rocket science...kids who can score goals, score em...I hope the Blues follow the Canucks model that "everything is OK...the other team got lucky and the refs hosed us"...then you'll be watching a hell of a lot more 2nd round playoff matchups from your lofts.

The Blues got too big for their britches...much like Vancouver...they read their press clippings when they hadn't accomplished jack. And when the fiddler came to call in on their debts they had nothing to hold but their crotches...the Blues were almost as pathetic as the Canucks were...time to rid the franchise of that stench and man up...

I don't see what this solves. How many times are you going to changes coaches?

As I said in the previous post, I put this on the players. At some point they have to make it happen.

This team has a.d.d. They continually take their foot off the gas and try to coast. It's maddening.

For those who hate Hitch's supposed defense first system: when they are playing that system the way it's designed they are nearly unstoppable.

They fall apart when they get cute and try to pass and deke everyone to death.

As far as Ryan Miller...I don't care if the Blues resign him or not. I'd be just fine with Jake Allen and Brian Elliot.
- bcallaway

I would agree. I wouldn't be so quick to dump Hitch. I think it's much more of a personnel issue than a coaching issue. I think this team lacks game breaking offensive players. To me tarasennko is the only guy and he's young. Oshie? Maybe, not really. Plus who knows if he was the same after the injury. There are other real good offensive players but I see them as more second and third liners than first line.

I don't see what this solves. How many times are you going to changes coaches?

As I said in the previous post, I put this on the players. At some point they have to make it happen.

This team has a.d.d. They continually take their foot off the gas and try to coast. It's maddening.

For those who hate Hitch's supposed defense first system: when they are playing that system the way it's designed they are nearly unstoppable.

They fall apart when they get cute and try to pass and deke everyone to death.

As far as Ryan Miller...I don't care if the Blues resign him or not. I'd be just fine with Jake Allen and Brian Elliot.
- bcallaway

I have to say, you're one of my favorite posters from the Blues. Good post.

I have to say, you're one of my favorite posters from the Blues. Good post.
- EKolb13

Thanks.

I cracked up when you guys traded Perron for Pajaarvi...

Then filled the roster with redundant low-ceiling guys like Ott, Reaves, Lapierre, Polak (though he's shown something in this series) - even Roy...

But I too thought you guys would be the favorites after trading for Miller...

Anyway, unless a healthy Bruins team gets to the Finals, Hawks just took care of their biggest competition.

I would agree. I wouldn't be so quick to dump Hitch. I think it's much more of a personnel issue than a coaching issue. I think this team lacks game breaking offensive players. To me tarasennko is the only guy and he's young. Oshie? Maybe, not really. Plus who knows if he was the same after the injury. There are other real good offensive players but I see them as more second and third liners than first line.
- golfbard

This is true. For the Blues to have success against a team like Chicago their top players really have to be extra-ordinary and they weren't. Too often at crunch time how often did guys miss wide open scoring opportunities?

One of the things I said after game one is the Blues were going to have a hard time beating the Hawks with two fourth lines.

Thanks.
- bcallaway

I especially appreciated your post a week ago about the Blues physical play would be their undoing. It helped in my argument against meathead posters in the Hawks thread.

I especially appreciated your post a week ago about the Blues physical play would be their undoing. It helped in my argument against meathead posters in the Hawks thread.



- EKolb13

Best of luck the rest of the way. They are the standard I would like the Blues to one day achieve.

This is true. For the Blues to have success against a team like Chicago their top players really have to be extra-ordinary and they weren't. Too often at crunch time how often did guys miss wide open scoring opportunities?

One of the things I said after game one is the Blues were going to have a hard time beating the Hawks with two fourth lines.
- bcallaway

Exactly. They are fine on D led by Pietrangelo who is a future Norris winner. But I think if they find another big scoring winger and legit top center and put those two with tarasennko then the rest falls into place nicely.

Great series Blues fans. Easy for me to say as a Blackhawks fan, but I was impressed with your team throughout this series. A couple of bounces going the other way and you might have been on the other side of this. I just wish the NHL playoff seeding would change cuz this should not have been a first round playoff matchup. I'm also very impressed with the way the Blues handled themselves after the Seabrook hit. I was expecting a retaliation. Maybe one was deserved, but it was nice to see the Blues act in a classy manner. Cudos to your team. Be proud, they had a nice season. I hope we miss you in next season playoffs. Go easy on my Cubs, we suck....bad.

Best of luck the rest of the way. They are the standard I would like the Blues to one day achieve.
- bcallaway

The Blues need a couple of more guys who can actually finish. 6 PP's and nothing to show for it in one game isn't going to get any team far in the playoffs.

Great series Blues fans. Easy for me to say as a Blackhawks fan, but I was impressed with your team throughout this series. A couple of bounces going the other way and you might have been on the other side of this. I just wish the NHL playoff seeding would change cuz this should not have been a first round playoff matchup. I'm also very impressed with the way the Blues handled themselves after the Seabrook hit. I was expecting a retaliation. Maybe one was deserved, but it was nice to see the Blues act in a classy manner. Cudos to your team. Be proud, they had a nice season. I hope we miss you in next season playoffs. Go easy on my Cubs, we suck....bad.
- Bugsy27

Hey, new poster...

Get your ass over to the Hawks thread and introduce yourself...

Wow ducks scored two in the final two minutes of the third to tie it

The Trade Deadline Winner usually don't make much noise in the post season. If you're making a move that big, that late...you're probably not as good as you're hoping to be.

Congrats to the Blues on being the Trade Deadline Champs. Good on you.

PS, some of us didn't need hindsight to see this was a bad trade.
- Ogilthorpe2

This is franking ignorant. Too bad you're not as classy as the organization you cheer for.

This is franking ignorant. Too bad you're not as classy as the organization you cheer for.
- fifty__missions

Curious to know how it's ignorant?

This is franking ignorant. Too bad you're not as classy as the organization you cheer for.
- fifty__missions

First, you know nothing about me, so piss off.

Second, how many teams can you name that made major deadline deals that went on to win the cup?