Really surprised he signed for 8 years.

Pleasantly surprised.

How do you guys expect to be better next year? Not trying to rag but I'm a bit confused with the status quo approach
- Just5

Reg season will be worse but no one cares so long we make the playoffs and dont immediatly wet our pants when there.

Reg season will be worse but no one cares so long we make the playoffs and dont immediatly wet our pants when there.
- Gerk

I think moving Backes to wing is key to the success of the blues

I really trully feel he had too much on his plate

This is his show me year or he is a UFA next summer

No bridge deal here, eh?

Good to have him locked up and know what those costs are going to be going forward into the future. Helps planning the future that much easier.

Now if they can tuck Schwartz in slightly under that number but for a similar time, all the better.

How do you guys expect to be better next year? Not trying to rag but I'm a bit confused with the status quo approach
- Just5

Radical changes are not necessary as this group has more wins over the last three or four years than anyone in the regular season.

The issue is cracking the playoff ceiling and part of that is to add a player or two that's been there - enter Troy Brouwer.

Not to just make changes for change's sake.

Radical changes are not necessary as this group has more wins over the last three or four years than anyone in the regular season.

The issue is cracking the playoff ceiling and part of that is to add a player or two that's been there - enter Troy Brouwer.

Not to just make changes for change's sake.
- bcallaway

Is this a rhetorical statement or do you buy what you're selling?

I think I do, just from the perspective that the difference makers are the players that are just coming of age (Tarasenko, Allen, Schwartz, Petro, Shatty, etc).

Radical changes are not necessary as this group has more wins over the last three or four years than anyone in the regular season.

The issue is cracking the playoff ceiling and part of that is to add a player or two that's been there - enter Troy Brouwer.

Not to just make changes for change's sake.
- bcallaway

Yea I don't know. I mean there's just not much you can do. This team lacks elite strength at the C position. You just hope you can pop through one of these times I guess

Is this a rhetorical statement or do you buy what you're selling?

I think I do, just from the perspective that the difference makers are the players that are just coming of age (Tarasenko, Allen, Schwartz, Petro, Shatty, etc).
- eggsegan

Just giving him the company line. Personally, I'm not buying anything the Blues are selling.

I've given them time to prove themselves in the playoffs, particularly this season, withholding judging anything until the real season concluded.

What they've proven to be is a colossal failure requiring a leadership enema. And so far, not really doing anything about that.

Just giving him the company line. Personally, I'm not buying anything the Blues are selling.

I've given them time to prove themselves in the playoffs, particularly this season, withholding judging anything until the real season concluded.

What they've proven to be is a colossal failure requiring a leadership enema. And so far, not really doing anything about that.
- bcallaway

They have gotten rid of half of their leadership.

I think they need to do something about Backes personally....

Yea I don't know. I mean there's just not much you can do. This team lacks elite strength at the C position. You just hope you can pop through one of these times I guess
- Just5

I think that Lehtera has the ability to be the best center on this team. Is he going to be Giroux or Toews? Probably not. His size and his vision are both excellent, from a possession perspective.

They have gotten rid of half of their leadership.

I think they need to do something about Backes personally....
- carcus

How do you define half when the entire coaching staff is back? Not one change there.

How do you define half when the entire coaching staff is back? Not one change there.
- bcallaway

Ok, understood.

I was talking about the players on the ice. Most likely just because I don't personally think it is a coaching problem, but a player problem.

Ok, understood.

I was talking about the players on the ice. Most likely just because I don't personally think it is a coaching problem, but a player problem.
- carcus

could it be a too many captains problem?

Backes Oshie Steen Pietro and Jax

NOw its just

Backes Steen and Pietro

Less voices means more leadership?

Justa thought

Ok, understood.

I was talking about the players on the ice. Most likely just because I don't personally think it is a coaching problem, but a player problem.
- carcus

I've not laid this completely on the players because I think the coaching also has to be called into question. And I've never laid it completely on coaching because I think the players have to execute.

I think it has been a complete and utter failure from both sizes and both sides should be held accountable.

Hitch's coaching record in the playoffs over the last seven or eight years spanning three teams is abysmal.

He's not above reproach in my book.

I've not laid this completely on the players because I think the coaching also has to be called into question. And I've never laid it completely on coaching because I think the players have to execute.

I think it has been a complete and utter failure from both sizes and both sides should be held accountable.

Hitch's coaching record in the playoffs over the last seven or eight years spanning three teams is abysmal.

He's not above reproach in my book.
- bcallaway

Thisi s why the one year deal makes zero sense and it just leads to more questions

Is hitch even going to put a full effort in to preparing the team? Or is he in semi retirement already?

Thisi s why the one year deal makes zero sense and it just leads to more questions

Is hitch even going to put a full effort in to preparing the team? Or is he in semi retirement already?
- sycsam

Preaching to the choir brother. I'm right there with you.

It literally means he opens training camp on the hot seat. If the Blues go in the tank early, he's out and now you're scrambling through your list of unemployed coaches just to get through the season.

Preaching to the choir brother. I'm right there with you.

It literally means he opens training camp on the hot seat. If the Blues go in the tank early, he's out and now you're scrambling through your list of unemployed coaches just to get through the season.
- bcallaway

They will stumble and Hitch will say he needs everyojne pulling on the rope that thye have too many passengers blah blah blah

Thisi s why the one year deal makes zero sense and it just leads to more questions

Is hitch even going to put a full effort in to preparing the team? Or is he in semi retirement already?
- sycsam

Is this really a question on your mind? I don't think there is any question that Hitch will put in a full effort. A lot of guys, like Oshie, though he was too prepared, over-did it, etc.

That is one thing I wouldn't even worry about, Hitch being in semi retirement. If he wasn't fully invested, he wouldn't have come back.

Preaching to the choir brother. I'm right there with you.

It literally means he opens training camp on the hot seat. If the Blues go in the tank early, he's out and now you're scrambling through your list of unemployed coaches just to get through the season.
- bcallaway

I don't think so. I have a hard time believing he gets let go in season. The Blues would have to be really bad, like Edmonton of the last decade bad and way out of the playoff picture before I see them thinking about canning Hitch.

And this team has too much talent to be out of the playoff picture. Even if they stumble, they are going to be fighting for a spot.

Leadership is important. I think what is more important come playoff time is our lack of timely goals and timely saves.

I don't think so. I have a hard time believing he gets let go in season. The Blues would have to be really bad, like Edmonton of the last decade bad and way out of the playoff picture before I see them thinking about canning Hitch.

And this team has too much talent to be out of the playoff picture. Even if they stumble, they are going to be fighting for a spot.
- carcus

Ever think that the reason Oshie was attached to Backes was because Hitch and crew hoped that Backes's work ethic and style of play would rub off on Oshie? Backes is nothing if not a north/south player who gives his all.

One wonders if Backes's production was inversely proportional to how much time he had to spend keeping Oshie focused.

Sorry, guys. I've been working on call center ratios by fifteen minute increments...

I am surprised that TIJ is not here railing on Armstrong. I bet Jarmo would have signed Tarasenko to an 8 yr, 6/per deal.

Typical Army being Army contract.

Do you think it's worse now than when Stevens took Kariya's head and put it on a pike?
- eggsegan

yes.

I am surprised that TIJ is not here railing on Armstrong. I bet Jarmo would have signed Tarasenko to an 8 yr, 6/per deal.

Typical Army being Army contract.
- carcus

Minus the trade protections Army has given away, his years and term are actually solid. but sometimes the cost has been trade protection which is bad.


This deal is awesome. I think Tarasenko is better than Kane and getting paid a lot less. A slight gamble, but considering how much ROR got this is a steal.

Shocked he did not seek a bit less money on a bridge deal putting him into free agency in his prime.

I've not laid this completely on the players because I think the coaching also has to be called into question. And I've never laid it completely on coaching because I think the players have to execute.

I think it has been a complete and utter failure from both sizes and both sides should be held accountable.

Hitch's coaching record in the playoffs over the last seven or eight years spanning three teams is abysmal.

He's not above reproach in my book.
- bcallaway

Some have thought for years Jax hanging around has hurt the core's ability to fully assume onwership of the team. Jax is more than willing than other players for accepting responsibility.

But hey the Blues basically sell the press bs anytime they talk to them with the pr responses. miss the days of hull telling it as he saw it. tarasenko can now afford to do so.