Ozzies09tc wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:10 pm https://www.scoopswithdannymac.com/bern ... ed-roster/

With all due respect…. Fuck Bernie and the elephant he rode on.

Turk Sanderson wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 3:37 pm

Ozzies09tc wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:10 pm https://www.scoopswithdannymac.com/bern ... ed-roster/

With all due respect…. Fuck Bernie and the elephant he rode on.

While I wouldn't go THAT far (I'd at least spare the elephant, unless she were REALLY cute and open to a long-term relationship), I don't place much stock in Bernie's takes on the Blues, or hockey in general.

– Yes, the under-performing team right now was put together by Armstrong (and his team).

– The exact same team that was solidly in a wild-card spot a couple of weeks ago was put together by Armstrong.

– The prospect pipeline that has at least three players that turned heads at the recent World Juniors was put together by Armstrong.

– Moves like Blais, Kapanen, Vrana, and Hayes were low-risk moves. They may not have paid off, but still solid moves for the costs incurred.

– The dreaded NTCs that have us so 'handcuffed' start to fall away soon, about the time we expect our prospects to begin taking the step up to the NHL level.

– The highest cap-hit contracts on our roster rank 57-58th league wide.

I know Bernie has to write for what he sees as the 'typical' St. Louis sports fan, but he's perfectly capable of pointing out that, while, yes, the current team's weak roster can be largely pinned on Armstrong, we also have to consider the entire franchise, prospect pool, and positioning for the future too.

IMHO, the 'typical' St. Louis sports fan can handle that.

I think this team has buckled under the pressure.

We 'could' make the playoffs this year, but I have no faith in this team, even after the 5-1 trouncing on boston.

Ozzies09tc wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:23 pm I think this team has buckled under the pressure.

We 'could' make the playoffs this year, but I have no faith in this team, even after the 5-1 trouncing on boston.

Well if they want to, winning their next game vs LA will be a must. It's on TNT so everyone will be able to watch

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 7:11 pm

Ozzies09tc wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:23 pm I think this team has buckled under the pressure.

We 'could' make the playoffs this year, but I have no faith in this team, even after the 5-1 trouncing on boston.

Well if they want to, winning their next game vs LA will be a must. It's on TNT so everyone will be able to watch

On nat'l tv? We'll prob shit the bed then.

Good news Wednesday

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 1:10 pm Good news Wednesday

Replaces Scandella, maybe takes some minutes from someone else, improves our defense, saves almost $2.5 mil.

Good move all-around.

RAFritchey wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 2:29 pm

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 1:10 pm Good news Wednesday

Replaces Scandella, maybe takes some minutes from someone else, improves our defense, saves almost $2.5 mil.

Good move all-around.

That's great. Now they need to get Perunovich re-signed. I've got faith in both of these guys.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 1:10 pm Good news Wednesday

His name is a combo of Auston Matthews and Phil Kessel. If only he was that good!

Biggest game of the season today

He's giving me, and I'm sorry if this name gives you PTSD, but Tomas Holmstrom vibes. Not the biggest guy on the ice but will to just get right into that dirty area, piss you off, and clean up every rebound.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:54 am He's giving me, and I'm sorry if this name gives you PTSD, but Tomas Holmstrom vibes. Not the biggest guy on the ice but will to just get right into that dirty area, piss you off, and clean up every rebound.

Some good company to be in there!

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:54 am He's giving me, and I'm sorry if this name gives you PTSD, but Tomas Holmstrom vibes. Not the biggest guy on the ice but will to just get right into that dirty area, piss you off, and clean up every rebound.

They've talked about that comparison ok the radio broadcasts.

Brady Tkachuk, 2018, #4 overall
Quinton Byfield, 2020, #2 overall
Alexis Lafrenière, 2020, #1 overall
Jake Neighbors, 2020, #26 overall

The kind of pick we need to make when we're drafting in the second half of each round!

13 games, 26 points left. I think the goal should be 20 points out of those 26. In whatever form or fashion they come. Next three are at Ottawa, at Minnesota, then 2 days later home versus Vegas. Binner has to start at least the Minnesota and Vegas game. You win those two in regulation and we are very much alive.

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:10 am

Great! Now lets get Dvorsky and Stenberg locked down!

The kids are coming. Dean debuts tomorrow, Bolduc has gotten a tasted, Snuggerud likely to late in the season as well. I'm sure they won't all be permanent fixtures next season, but the next wave is coming in like a tsunami.

RAFritchey wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:41 pm

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:10 am

Great! Now lets get Dvorsky and Stenberg locked down!

Dvorsky is already under contract. Stenberg and Snuggerud are not.

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:14 pm The kids are coming. Dean debuts tomorrow, Bolduc has gotten a tasted, Snuggerud likely to late in the season as well. I'm sure they won't all be permanent fixtures next season, but the next wave is coming in like a tsunami.

This is dependent on two things, I think. 1. How soon the Gophers playoff run ends. 2. Are the Blues still in the race when that happens.

I heard the voice of the Professor saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:33 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:14 pm The kids are coming. Dean debuts tomorrow, Bolduc has gotten a tasted, Snuggerud likely to late in the season as well. I'm sure they won't all be permanent fixtures next season, but the next wave is coming in like a tsunami.

This is dependent on two things, I think. 1. How soon the Gophers playoff run ends. 2. Are the Blues still in the race when that happens.

Count me among those that think 1. Gophers probably don't make Frozen Four (meaning done no later than 3/31) and 2. Probably doesn't matter if they're in the race or not they still want him signed and getting he feet wet.

If Minnesota makes the Championship game, maybe they hold off since the Blues only have 2 games after that, 1 of which is the next day, but even then I think Snuggerud is keen to sign ASAP to burn a year of his entry level deal, and the Blues probably don't want to piss off one of their key future pieces by playing contract timing games with him. I recall they got Schwartz in the lineup in a similar situation with a handful of games to go, and I think a few others as well.

Dave's a mess wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:16 am

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:33 pm

Dave's a mess wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:14 pm The kids are coming. Dean debuts tomorrow, Bolduc has gotten a tasted, Snuggerud likely to late in the season as well. I'm sure they won't all be permanent fixtures next season, but the next wave is coming in like a tsunami.

This is dependent on two things, I think. 1. How soon the Gophers playoff run ends. 2. Are the Blues still in the race when that happens.

Count me among those that think 1. Gophers probably don't make Frozen Four (meaning done no later than 3/31) and 2. Probably doesn't matter if they're in the race or not they still want him signed and getting he feet wet.

If Minnesota makes the Championship game, maybe they hold off since the Blues only have 2 games after that, 1 of which is the next day, but even then I think Snuggerud is keen to sign ASAP to burn a year of his entry level deal, and the Blues probably don't want to piss off one of their key future pieces by playing contract timing games with him. I recall they got Schwartz in the lineup in a similar situation with a handful of games to go, and I think a few others as well.

Maybe but why start the clock on his free agency a year early for meaningless games?

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:54 am

Dave's a mess wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:16 am

Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:33 pm

This is dependent on two things, I think. 1. How soon the Gophers playoff run ends. 2. Are the Blues still in the race when that happens.

Count me among those that think 1. Gophers probably don't make Frozen Four (meaning done no later than 3/31) and 2. Probably doesn't matter if they're in the race or not they still want him signed and getting he feet wet.

If Minnesota makes the Championship game, maybe they hold off since the Blues only have 2 games after that, 1 of which is the next day, but even then I think Snuggerud is keen to sign ASAP to burn a year of his entry level deal, and the Blues probably don't want to piss off one of their key future pieces by playing contract timing games with him. I recall they got Schwartz in the lineup in a similar situation with a handful of games to go, and I think a few others as well.

Maybe but why start the clock on his free agency a year early for meaningless games?

So he's not starting from scratch in the fall (not advocating for it, just guessing at the logic). The Blues have 8 April games. If Minnesota doesn't make the Frozen Four I'd be shocked if he doesn't play at least 6. Schwartz played 7 when he signed in the spring, Cole played 9 AHL games. Most of the other college guys either finished way earlier and played around 15 pro games (Parayko, Thompson), or made it all the way to the Final and didn't have any real chance to get in pro games (Perunovich). The pattern seems to be get them in ASAP, entry level deal year one be damned! There are potentially some benefits to getting to that second contract early anyway depending on how well the prospect plays.