The Blues do NOT have the better offensive/defenseman.

Crawford 1.98 GAA, .935 SV%, Crawford also saw 30 more shots
Miller 2.70 GAA, .897 SV%

Yes. Crawford was significantly better than Miller. Please do not use an excuse of whiffing on open nets - the Hawks did as well. The shots on goal disparity is really a direct result of some downright brutal officiating in this series. When you have one team throughout an 82 game schedule who was the 2nd least penalized team in hockey and the other is the 2nd most, the penalties should have a rather wide disparity the other way.. that didn't happen.

Thank you for the note. I will say this: I think the Hawks just beat their prime competition in the West.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Sure the Hawks missed open nets, but they plain and simple had better finishers. Swap goalies and I think this series would have been Hawks in 4 or 5. That being said I still think Crawford was good, just not $6.5 mill good. He is a 4-5mill guy same with Miller. Miller was way overpaid in Buffalo.

Sure the Hawks missed open nets, but they plain and simple had better finishers. Swap goalies and I think this series would have been Hawks in 4 or 5. That being said I still think Crawford was good, just not $6.5 mill good. He is a 4-5mill guy same with Miller. Miller was way overpaid in Buffalo.
- cuethenoise

That's fine. I'll pass on arguing logic and facts.

Good luck

I'd be shocked if you ever saw a hockey game at any level before Gretzky got traded to L.A.
- wiz1901

When Gretzky came to LA I was three years old. What's your point? Your hockey opinion is more relevant because you're old?

The Blues do NOT have the better offensive/defenseman.

- CaptainBlackhawk

Correct. They do not. Everyone talks of Keith and Seabrook who are both studs but not enough credit is given to the rest of that corps. Particularly Hjalmarsson.

I can't remember the last time Jay Bouwmeester contributed much of anything offensively for the Blues. His scoring completely dried up.

Yet another tough exit for the blues.

What to do?

Hitch and Army should be safe but the players are in trouble.

Gone should be this list

Berglund
Roy
Ott
Miller
Morrow
Lapierre
Leopold
Jackman

Bring in Statsny and move Backes to Line 2 Center.

What will Army do?

Bring every single piece of crap back and suffer yet another first round exit next season.

Yet another tough exit for the blues.

What to do?

Hitch and Army should be safe but the players are in trouble.

Gone should be this list

Berglund
Roy
Ott
Miller
Morrow
Lapierre
Leopold
Jackman

Bring in Statsny and move Backes to Line 2 Center.

What will Army do?

Bring every single piece of crap back and suffer yet another first round exit next season.
- sycsam

I know Statsny has been talked about for two years, but this isn't going to happen.

One, I don't know that I'd want to pay big bucks for him. He seems awful brittle. And second, I can't see where Colorado is going to want to let him walk.

I think he resigns there.

Lines next year should be the following

tarasenko Statsny Oshie
Steen Backes Schwarz
Rattie Sobo Jaskin
Porter Cracknell Reaves

That looks so much better than

Steen Backes Oshie
Schwartz Sobo Tarasenko
Morrow Berg Ott
Roy Lappy Reaves

Lines next year should be the following

tarasenko Statsny Oshie
Steen Backes Schwarz
Rattie Sobo Jaskin
Porter Cracknell Reaves

That looks so much better than

Steen Backes Oshie
Schwartz Sobo Tarasenko
Morrow Berg Ott
Roy Lappy Reaves
- sycsam

I still think Lappy comes back. He had an amazing series.

Lets put this in to persepcitve a bit.

yes the blues lost but at least the blues iwll come and play next year.

This was the high point of my weekend. Watching the blues get skated out of the playoffs.

Uncle diagnosed with ALS
and friend who is like a brother, his grandmother diagnosed with terminal cancer.

It's just a game. Just a game.

Lets put this in to persepcitve a bit.

yes the blues lost but at least the blues iwll come and play next year.

This was the high point of my weekend. Watching the blues get skated out of the playoffs.

Uncle diagnosed with ALS
and friend who is like a brother, his grandmother diagnosed with terminal cancer.

It's just a game. Just a game.
- sycsam

That really sucks man. Indeed it is just a game. Honestly I feel pretty good compared to last year. We did see progress and if we can get Miller signed for cheap, Allen and him will give me a lot to be excited about for next year. Hopefully Jaskin and Rattie, and Cole all make the team, we get rid of Roy and Morrow, sign or trade for a 1C, and we are in good shape.

That really sucks man. Indeed it is just a game. Honestly I feel pretty good compared to last year. We did see progress and if we can get Miller signed for cheap, Allen and him will give me a lot to be excited about for next year. Hopefully Jaskin and Rattie, and Cole all make the team, we get rid of Roy and Morrow, sign or trade for a 1C, and we are in good shape.
- cuethenoise

Thanks man

Really need that 1C bad.

Yet another tough exit for the blues.

What to do?

Hitch and Army should be safe but the players are in trouble.

Gone should be this list

Berglund
Roy
Ott
Miller
Morrow
Lapierre
Leopold
Jackman

Bring in Statsny and move Backes to Line 2 Center.

What will Army do?

Bring every single piece of crap back and suffer yet another first round exit next season.
- sycsam

Jackman and Lappy need to stay. I thought Jackman played a pretty good series. I would keep Ott too for the fourth line.


Steen 1C Tarasenko
Schwartz Backes Oshie
Rattie Sobotka Jaskin
Ott Lappy Reaves

looks pretty good to me

Jackman and Lappy need to stay. I thought Jackman played a pretty good series. I would keep Ott too for the fourth line.


Steen 1C Tarasenko
Schwartz Backes Oshie
Rattie Sobotka Jaskin
Ott Lappy Reaves

looks pretty good to me
- cuethenoise

I think Hitch will get another year. Ott gave you the game he is paid to play. Miller, not so much...

I think Hitch will get another year. Ott gave you the game he is paid to play. Miller, not so much...
- Captain33Graham

Miller will get another year as well.

Jackman and Lappy need to stay. I thought Jackman played a pretty good series. I would keep Ott too for the fourth line.


Steen 1C Tarasenko
Schwartz Backes Oshie
Rattie Sobotka Jaskin
Ott Lappy Reaves

looks pretty good to me
- cuethenoise

Jackman's not going anywhere, neither is Lapierre although I'd dump him. I can't stand him. Faceoffs nor not. He's a punk.

Ott didn't show me anything. He's another punk, let him walk.

(to channel my inner Guru): Have we learned nothing about the fourth liners? Why do the Blues keep looking to replace Cracknell and Porter?

Put the CPL line together and make them the permanent fourth line and let 'em go.

Miller will get another year as well.
- cuethenoise

He's not going to sign a one-year contract.

He's looking to get paid long-term. And I hope he does.....somewhere else.

He's not going to sign a one-year contract.

He's looking to get paid long-term. And I hope he does.....somewhere else.
- bcallaway

If he takes a 3 year 15 Million dollar contract with the contract paying something like 6/4.5/3.5 I would take it.

Allen is the future. I dont see Miller taking a team friendly deal.

If he takes a 3 year 15 Million dollar contract with the contract paying something like 6/4.5/3.5 I would take it.

Allen is the future. I dont see Miller taking a team friendly deal.
- sycsam

Math doesnt work but you get my point

Yet another tough exit for the blues.

What to do?

Hitch and Army should be safe but the players are in trouble.

Gone should be this list

Berglund
Roy
Ott
Miller
Morrow
Lapierre
Leopold
Jackman

Bring in Statsny and move Backes to Line 2 Center.

What will Army do?

Bring every single piece of crap back and suffer yet another first round exit next season.
- sycsam

So true

So true
- Trust In Jarmo

Whats the definition of insanity?

Do the same things over and over and expect different results?

The St. Louis Blues corporate Policy for next season

We Are crazy not to think it will work one of these years.

This is weird for me, but I am already over the loss. Probably because I have more important things to worry about right now.

Was a great series, and the Blues really did play the defending champs very well for 5 & 2/3 games. Disappointing way to end it. Hate the fact that we have gone out in 6 two years in a row in the first round after taking a 2-0 lead, but we did that against two excellent teams. (Two defending SC champion teams)

That last 6 regular season game stretch really cost this team a lot.

So true
- Trust In Jarmo

I am sure you are really loving this, trolling around here. Live it up!

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

Randall, how many times had Seabrook been suspended?

Yet you called for him to be suspended how many games?

The fact is Backes is a borderline dirty player known for hitting and fighting players smaller than he is. Unlike an Iginla or Bickell, he refuses to drop the gloves with tougher players. Very little sympathy for him on Seabs hit and Seabs, without question, is the cleaner player with a better reputation on the ice.

I do disagree that the Blues cannot win a cup with him as captain. They cannot win with Backes as 1C. He would be an incredible 2nd line center.

Again, the problem is the Hitch system. The man needs to leave the 80s. If he could open his mind as he obviously can his mouth..... Is he capable of watching his team playing a more open game and letting go of some of his pets like Lapierre and Reaves?

Miller, I think, will be in Anaheim or Pittsburgh next year. You will be betting on Jake Allen. Good luck with that. Almost guarantees another playoff exit as Allen is not Hextall or Fuhr. Rookie goalies need to learn NHL playoff intensity.

If you stick with Lapierre and resign Ott and Morrow in the OS we will know Hitch and Armstrong cannot evolve.

This is weird for me, but I am already over the loss. Probably because I have more important things to worry about right now.

Was a great series, and the Blues really did play the defending champs very well for 5 & 2/3 games. Disappointing way to end it. Hate the fact that we have gone out in 6 two years in a row in the first round after taking a 2-0 lead, but we did that against two excellent teams. (Two defending SC champion teams)

That last 6 regular season game stretch really cost this team a lot.
- carcus

It was devastating.



Thought for Blues fans to ponder - now that summer has suddenly arrived:

Can a player who has spent the entire season on a bottom-feeding team, losing night in and night out, simply move to a top level team that has Stanley Cup aspirations and have the mental preparation necessary to ramp up his personal game and bring it to what's expected?

I found both Miller and Ott's games really disappointing once they were acquired even though the deal seemed to be the exact right deal to make.

I just wonder if its near impossible to move from a cellar dweller to a white hot furnace and be ready to go mentally.

And why deadline deals rarely pay off.

No.

Backes comes in high and late (as is his M.O.) and he gets put on his ass. If he gets hit in the head, it's as he's tumbling to the ice. Then because his ego is bruised from being shown up by a rookie (how dare he, doesn't he know I'm the great David Backes?) he jumps him. It's a loser play, from a loser captain.
- Ogilthorpe2

If that had been McGinn or McCloud, maybe even Landeskog he (Backes) would have skated away. He picks his spots.

This is why he got talked up by Toews and Keith after the hit. Something I have never seen the Hawks do.

When he cross checked Toews in the head in his first or second game back after the concussion.... Did he fight him then as well? That defines Backes on the ice.

Maybe he will mellow out after this lesson served?