2013-2014 Blues (Hockey) Season

[JCShutout]

I had to step back and think about this trade for awhile.

Concerning the players involved, I'm fine with it. I think we had planned to move on from Halak, and while Miller is older, I do think he is still better than Halak. (You can't compare stats since Buf is so horrrible) I, like many, dislike Stewart's inconsistency, but he does have a higher scoring ceiling than Ott, be far. Ott though, should allow us to move Bergy to wing, and is decent at faceoffs, and will play responsibly on both ends off the ice.

I was worried about the 1st round pick. (2nd year in a row traded away, though I love the bouwmeester trade and have from the start) I was extra worried about the additional 1st, but now that we know that if we make the conf. finals and/or resign Miller, we lose our first but gain a 2nd (probably only 7 or 8 picks behind our late 1st) and an early 3rd, I think I'm comfortable with this. We are in a win now mode.

So overall I'm very happy. Nervous, because we truly are all in, and if we don't make it, and don't resign Miller... then oh no! ... but this is as good a shot as the Blues have probably ever had, and while Miller is past his prime, he is probably a top 5 goaltender right now.

Go Blues!

[StL Dan]

I had to step back and think about this trade for awhile.

Concerning the players involved, I'm fine with it. I think we had planned to move on from Halak, and while Miller is older, I do think he is still better than Halak. (You can't compare stats since Buf is so horrrible) I, like many, dislike Stewart's inconsistency, but he does have a higher scoring ceiling than Ott, be far. Ott though, should allow us to move Bergy to wing, and is decent at faceoffs, and will play responsibly on both ends off the ice.

I was worried about the 1st round pick. (2nd year in a row traded away, though I love the bouwmeester trade and have from the start) I was extra worried about the additional 1st, but now that we know that if we make the conf. finals and/or resign Miller, we lose our first but gain a 2nd (probably only 7 or 8 picks behind our late 1st) and an early 3rd, I think I'm comfortable with this. We are in a win now mode.

So overall I'm very happy. Nervous, because we truly are all in, and if we don't make it, and don't resign Miller... then oh no! ... but this is as good a shot as the Blues have probably ever had, and while Miller is past his prime, he is probably a top 5 goaltender right now.

Go Blues!

+1

[MrCrowesGarden]

Not that it surprises anyone, but Bob McKenzie says the rumor that won't go away now is Halak to Minnesota. I'm guessing he'll get moved for something like a 2nd or a 3rd. I don't know if it's legal in the NHL, but I wonder if the Blues could've put a condition on the pick that if Halak is traded back to the Central, we recoup a mid-to-late pick. I remember when the Packers traded Brett Favre to the Jets, they had a stipulation that said if the Jets traded Favre to the Vikings, they would owe Green Bay their next three 1st rounders (Minnesota eventually signed him as a free agent).

On another note, it sounds like Sabres fans saw the same Chris Stewart we did.

[cardinalkarp]

Not that it surprises anyone, but Bob McKenzie says the rumor that won't go away now is Halak to Minnesota. I'm guessing he'll get moved for something like a 2nd or a 3rd. I don't know if it's legal in the NHL, but I wonder if the Blues could've put a condition on the pick that if Halak is traded back to the Central, we recoup a mid-to-late pick. I remember when the Packers traded Brett Favre to the Jets, they had a stipulation that said if the Jets traded Favre to the Vikings, they would owe Green Bay their next three 1st rounders (Minnesota eventually signed him as a free agent).

On another note, it sounds like Sabres fans saw the same Chris Stewart we did.

It would make a lot of sense for the Wild, with Backstrom hurt & Harding is trying to get acclimated to the new MS meds he's taking they need a solid # 1 goalie. Having him, and Harding as a backup would be a solid one, two combo (if it happens).

[MrCrowesGarden]

Not that it surprises anyone, but Bob McKenzie says the rumor that won't go away now is Halak to Minnesota. I'm guessing he'll get moved for something like a 2nd or a 3rd. I don't know if it's legal in the NHL, but I wonder if the Blues could've put a condition on the pick that if Halak is traded back to the Central, we recoup a mid-to-late pick. I remember when the Packers traded Brett Favre to the Jets, they had a stipulation that said if the Jets traded Favre to the Vikings, they would owe Green Bay their next three 1st rounders (Minnesota eventually signed him as a free agent).

On another note, it sounds like Sabres fans saw the same Chris Stewart we did.

It would make a lot of sense for the Wild, with Backstrom hurt & Harding is trying to get acclimated to the new MS meds he's taking they need a solid # 1 goalie. Having him, and Harding as a backup would be a solid one, two combo (if it happens).

And as soon as I see this, they trade for Brodeur. Have no idea about the market for Jaro now.

[StL Dan]

Not that it surprises anyone, but Bob McKenzie says the rumor that won't go away now is Halak to Minnesota. I'm guessing he'll get moved for something like a 2nd or a 3rd. I don't know if it's legal in the NHL, but I wonder if the Blues could've put a condition on the pick that if Halak is traded back to the Central, we recoup a mid-to-late pick. I remember when the Packers traded Brett Favre to the Jets, they had a stipulation that said if the Jets traded Favre to the Vikings, they would owe Green Bay their next three 1st rounders (Minnesota eventually signed him as a free agent).

On another note, it sounds like Sabres fans saw the same Chris Stewart we did.

It would make a lot of sense for the Wild, with Backstrom hurt & Harding is trying to get acclimated to the new MS meds he's taking they need a solid # 1 goalie. Having him, and Harding as a backup would be a solid one, two combo (if it happens).

And as soon as I see this, they trade for Brodeur. Have no idea about the market for Jaro now.

The Wild acquired goalie Ilya Bryzagalov from the Oilers for a 4th rd pick in the 2014 draft.

Ducks trade Dustin Penner to Caps for 4th rd pick in 2014 draft.

Vancouver traded Roberto Luongo traded to Panthers.

[MrCrowesGarden]

I don't know if I love this "spot the opponent 2 goals, then score 4 unanswered" strategy, but I guess it's working. Fantastic goal by Oshie. Miller was out of position on the 2nd goal, but it didn't seem to discourage him. Ott's been very good so far. I know it's early, but I really think both will be back next year.

[StL Dan]

It's unbelievable how badly the Blues have looked when they get down to an opponent early. To their credit, there is no apparent panic. The 2 down 4 up strategy will only last so long, though. They will have to find a way to get off to better starts sooner than later.

[JackofDiamonds]

I don't know if I love this "spot the opponent 2 goals, then score 4 unanswered" strategy, but I guess it's working. Fantastic goal by Oshie. Miller was out of position on the 2nd goal, but it didn't seem to discourage him. Ott's been very good so far. I know it's early, but I really think both will be back next year.

Miller is traditionally a stay-at-home, top of the crease, aggressive angles guy, but he's been going Tim Thomas on us since we acquired him. Hopefully he stops overcommitting and leaving the net, I think he's just playing anxiously. 2 goals on 6 shots is not how you want to start your career in StL, we already had guys who could do that.

[StL Dan]

I don't know if I love this "spot the opponent 2 goals, then score 4 unanswered" strategy, but I guess it's working. Fantastic goal by Oshie. Miller was out of position on the 2nd goal, but it didn't seem to discourage him. Ott's been very good so far. I know it's early, but I really think both will be back next year.

Miller is traditionally a stay-at-home, top of the crease, aggressive angles guy, but he's been going Tim Thomas on us since we acquired him. Hopefully he stops overcommitting and leaving the net, I think he's just playing anxiously. 2 goals on 6 shots is not how you want to start your career in StL, we already had guys who could do that.

To be fair, the Blues have really sucked in front of him when those goals are being scored.

Miller actually kept them in the game at Phoenix and last night against TB until the defense began to play more confidently which in turned sparked the offense.