Blues Off-season and 2024-25 Season

[cardsfantx]

cup contenders? I don't know if the blues have ever been considered a cup contender even when we were putting up 100+ points regularly...def were not the year we actually won the cup. if we're waiting to be cup contenders then we may as well just blow it up as I can't ever remember ever being that.

blues just spend to the cap and try and grab a playoff spot and then see what happens (and I do not mean that in the sense that the cards operate...the cards just do BARELY enough to try and be better than other teams in the NL central...that is not the blues. they spend to the cap and yes they sure do make mistakes/had out bad contract/etc)

[cardsfantx]

I would not...basically because we "SHOULD" be contenders next year (according to DA it was supposed be this year lol)

with snuggy and dvorsky on the team next year most likely, and a TON of salary cap space? We can sign the top FA if we wanted to (Rantanen?)...but of course it would be awesome to get a 2C, but I just don't see any. Sam Bennett is a FA but that doesn't move the needle for me, esp with what his contract will prob be...but if we can somehow find a legit 2C and let Dvorsky start down as a 3C? That is a contender next year with the growth of Holloway, Bolduc, etc

plus there's just something about hofer that I do not trust...I just don't see him as a legitimate #1 goalie in the NHL...too many early goals and softies for me (of course Binny has been giving up soft ones, but is clutch and unflappable when it really counts)...I know ellis is having a nice year in Springfield...but 2 young guys? I dunno

"SHOULD" be is the operative part of your opening sentence. The rest of your posts are a lot of IFs. What's the honest likelihood that we can address all the shortcomings and be able to reassert ourselves at the top of the conference in 2-3 years. IDK. I hope it's that fast, but I'm not convinced it will be.

we only have 1 shortcoming IMO...a legit 2C. if we had that, this season would be completely different. If we had a legit 2C, that drops Schenn to a 3C and changes the whole outlook

love our wingers, love our goalies (hofer is great as a backup), and love our defense (outside of Faulk; but he is not a huge issue)...another high end C is all I need

maybe I'm just waaaay too optimistic, but I just don't see many shortcomings

[GeddyWrox]

we only have 1 shortcoming IMO...a legit 2C. if we had that, this season would be completely different. If we had a legit 2C, that drops Schenn to a 3C and changes the whole outlook

love our wingers, love our goalies (hofer is great as a backup), and love our defense (outside of Faulk; but he is not a huge issue)...another high end C is all I need

maybe I'm just waaaay too optimistic, but I just don't see many shortcomings

I think we also lack a true scoring winger. Kyrou may very well end up being a 40+ goals but he hasn't made good on that promise yet. Snuggerud may wind up being that guy too, but probably not for 4-5 years.

If we had a true #2C and Kyrou could become what we had hoped, then yeah, I agree. We're a much, much better team.

[Popeye_Card]

I think you are more optimistic than I am. In my mind, a team needs a majority of the following elements to truly contend for a Stanley Cup (i.e. I cannot remember a cup winner recently who didn't have most of these):

- Clear #1C and a top-tier scoring winger (or #2C)
- Stud defenseman and/or top-tier shutdown #1 D pairing
- Standout goalie
- Depth / secondary scoring
- Above-average defensive forward units

During the Blues' cup contention years (I'd argue '14-'15 through '21-'22), they had the majority of these elements. Though I think they truly crossed the threshold when they upgraded from Paul Stastny to RoR as that #1C, and got standout performance at G from Binnington vs. Elliot/Allen.

However today, I'm a bit iffy on Thomas/Kyrou filling the bill as the top forwards. I don't think we have the top tier defensemen. I question if Binnington is still that goalie, though he of course still proved his mettle during the 4 Nations championship. I don't think we have the defensive forward units either.

Maybe I'm being too pessimistic.

[cardsfantx]

I dunno, kyrou is pretty damn good at scoring goals. So far this year, kyrou has more goals than…

McDavid
Matthews
Both Tkachuk brothers
McKinnon
Huberdeau
Forsberg
Hertl

Yes he is a winger not a C, but I don’t think Kyrou’s an issue esp as the cap rises…and Thomas was out for a bit with a broken bone. How many games would we have won if he never got hurt? Take any teams #1 C and there’s gonna be issues

[Popeye_Card]

I know their stats are close and I'm probably being too pessimistic on Kyrou, but he just doesn't feel as dangerous as Tarasenko by comparison. Thomas vs. O'Reilly is probably very close. Thomas is an elite passer, O'Reilly had a better scoring touch and a defensive edge.

I stand by not being remotely close on defensemen. We have no one near Petro's level in those days - a perennial top-10 Norris type.

[cardsfantx]

See and I think our D corps are better lol

Every single person wanted to just waive Jaybo forever…and then we win a cup and he’s a legend lol

Petro is a push with Colton IMO…never was a high fan of petro TBO

And the rest of the d that year were just blah outside of Dunn…gunner and bortuzzo are trash, and Edmundson was JAG

[Fat_Bulldog]

The beat down of Seattle was fun last night. Do the Blues have a chance to sneak into the playoffs?

[GeddyWrox]

The beat down of Seattle was fun last night. Do the Blues have a chance to sneak into the playoffs?

I literally just IM'd this to a coworker!

Think the Blues have it in em to actually squeak into the playoffs???

If I hadn't met you years ago, I'd wonder if you were him!! HAHAHAHA

[Popeye_Card]

I don’t want to say it is impossible, but the math is not on their side. They are currently 4 points out, but 2 of the teams in front of them have 2 games in hand. Plus two other teams (Utah, Anaheim) right on pace with them.

I would punt, and trade off assets. Even if this team could get into the playoffs, it is not a cup contender.