The guys are back with plenty of news to get into, including Robert Thomas’ name attached to the trade board. Does that mean it could be a reality? Also, Steve Ott accepting the role of Head Coach in Springfield, the PP struggles, and are people seriously upset with Colton Parayko?
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27 Comments
Holy hot pepper batman, a quarter cup of crushed red pepper flakes. That is hilarious!
My honest opinion is that it's not only the guys aren't scoring I'm seeing that they're hesitant to even try to score smartly not just get the puck and shoot it in that direction. I think that the overall strength of the defense is the problem The trust in the wingers and centers defensive abilities puts the defense on their heels which doesn't correlate to a good mindset to score goals. Meaning they're more hesitant to jump in on the play. The other problem is better is having issues with seeing the puck because they don't box out as well and the second and third chances in front of benner are more often because no one is clearing the puck. I don't know if it's the approach mindset of the players in the moment or what's going on but it seems like the defensive side of the plays are the worst and because of the fact they give up so many more chances and goals this season they're not as willing or trusting in themselves to get in the hard areas to score the smart goals. That's my opinion as a fan though. Honestly as well I agree guys you can't get rid of your number one center especially when that number one center has been known to be a shutdown center against the leagues top players when he's on the ice. Robert Thomas has been the gem of the Blues for his whole career. Getting rid of him, you better get another center that's better at shutting down or scoring in return, or a few top prospects and 1st round pick.
Argued this for a min, but moving thomas barring obviously a ridiculous trade offer is dumb. You look to move kyrou, buch, faulk, suter, bjugstad, binner, etc etc etc. And then reevaluate next year as well, thomas is a stud 1 center who just turned 26, his value will be the EXACT same next year as well. And even year after that for most part, so you don't need to move him yet at all. Guys of his quality even on expiring deals, get big returns still..
Trading Thomas is waving the white flag for the decade. Thomas just needs to stop being unselfish and just red pepper shots at the keeper to try to score goals.
Then you will have the new players going towards the end of a long season. How do you keep them from rookie burn out with so many injuries having them play all the time?
Now this is what I'm talking about Donnie and the boys Blues hockey
I appreciate the discussion and thought it was laid out well by everyone, but I think we’re starting from a faulty premise. We keep saying — or at least implying — that Thomas “hasn’t figured it out” or hasn’t produced. He’s the franchise’s first multi-year point-per-game player since Demitra, and he’s been comfortably top-10 to top-15 in production among all centers in the league over that stretch. Now cut that list in half to account for centers who also play legitimate, two-way hockey. What more are we actually expecting from this player? Of course Thomas would flourish even more if he went to a team with a true 1W. That’s almost self-evident. The more important question is: what exactly precludes this team from acquiring that player? Why is the default conversation about moving the engine instead of fixing what’s been bolted onto it? His age and contract? Thomas is 9months older than Tyler Tucker, makes less than 2.5% of the cap more than Schenn and Parayko, and has the same term as Broberg who you just signed.
Parayko doesn't have any offensive creativity. He always seems like he's a bit lost when he has the puck near the goal in the offensive zone.
Of course your best players get the best return. Doesn't mean you should trade them.
I think we over evaluate every player on this team by 1 full line . I view Thomas as a 2nd line center Kyrou as a 2nd line winger, we have no one who is a proven 1st line star . No one for the other team to realistically have to circle on the white board as THE GUY.. We have some very good players. We dont have a great player right now.
I hate to think of Thomas getting a 21st overall as the centerpiece of a return. If a redraft happened right now he would be a top 5-6 pick and that draft was loaded. We should be getting an equivalent return. Hage hasn’t proven anything playing well in college. Look at our lineup. The biggest problem is our entire team is middle six caliber players and prospects. Thomas is the sole 1st line talent. Thats why we can’t keep up. That’s why we can’t compete. I would legitimately stop being a fan if Army screws up so bad as to trade Thomas for a shit return and keeps cry baby Kyrou and Buchnevichs horrible contract. We’d be absolutely horrible for years with 0 chance of breaking out of it. This core would be old by the time we compete. Maybe we get Ivar Stenberg or McKenna and we have a decent winger but we’d have to hope for another top 5 pick and take a center to be able to contend. The fact that these guys talk about this as a legitimate possibility makes me worried. Just trade Faulk Schenn Suter etc and hold steady until Buch and kyrou can be moved for a reasonable return.
The baseless assumption Thomas isn’t happy is just dumb.
Parayko… Good with the puck on his stick. Terrible defending without it. And no goals? He's moveable. Otter to Springfield isn't saving the Blues this year ( only a fool thinks it is) maybe be might be the spring board to take the job in St Lou. My prediction….Blues miss the post season Monty goes.
Parayko might not have numbers this year, but he also doesn't seem to push the offense forward into the offensive zone which might create more chances for others. He seemed a lot more aggressive last year IMO.
My biggest beef with 55 has always been his lack of physicality. Now I'm not saying he needs to go out there and be Zadorov or anything, but the dude is a mutant. It would just be nice to see him absolutely starch someone every once in a while
How many teams would go on a run like the Blues did last year and then change 3 of their 4 centerman? Losing Radek Faska back to Dallas has mixed up all the centerman line combinations from the end of last year, which you had: Thomas, Schenn, Bolduc, then Faska, and it has been devastating. When Kyrou plays with Thomas, he scores. Nobody else can play center with him. If Kyrou plays with a competent fast centerman, he scores 30, no problem.
T.J. Oshie said domething dimilar to what Dunn said about being traded to the Capitals.
The Blues haven't had weapons on the Power Play for multiple years because Army hasn't built his roster with long term success in mind. He takes flyers on other team's retreads every year at the deadline and does the same in the off season ekeing every possible win hoping to make the playoffs. Then we end up drafting 10, 15, & 16 for the last three years.
It looks to me like Justin Faulk looks to score more than the other defenseman.
I don't think he's going anywhere for several reasons.
We can argue whether he is a true number 1C or 2C. How often do those guys come available? LSA will you sign him for younger guys, we will not have a true one or two C for several years. Those guys aren't easy to find.
Also, I have quite the feeling that his return would be underwhelming. In the nhl, it seems like trades like this don't get as big of a return as in other sports.
His contract is still very good considering everything. Let's say we went to the open market and signed a 1C, it would cost so much more.
I really think the blues need to package a prospect with an aging veteran and maybe some draft Capital to get a quality person to play next to him.
I agree that I don't see him as the leader that they need but he doesn't have to be to still be very valuable to this team.
I would trade several other players before I would consider trading him.
Now, I'm not saying that if someone offers us a stupid deal that we shouldn't take it. I just don't see that offer coming. We'll probably get offered 2 Schenn type players and a draft pick. We don't need two guys like that.
And we still have several years where we could trade him and get a ton of value. I think the Thomas thing is just all talk because GM's want him. Armstrong will always listen to phone calls even on guys that he has no interest in trading.
Before trading Thomas I would like to see these players traded first..
Faulk- Not because he's bad but we can maximize return on him to a contender and will not be a must in future playoff runs.
Schenn- same as above
Buchnevich- oh jeezus….what happened to him? Moving him would be Armstrong's swan song. Whatever it takes.
Kyrou- He had too nice of a childhood and the compete level never peaked. He is not who we want as a mentor hustle wise.
Thomas- Same as above but I could see him being a contributing member of a future Blues cup team.
My favorite part of the podcast is when they talk about hockey
Didn't he just have his first kid? I think the team has been off all year and to me, you just scrap it and start again next year. Trading your top offensive player for pieces that you eventually hope would become a RT is just stupid.
My biggest issue with moving Thomas is that means we completely gave up. When we had tarasenko everyone thought what would unlock him is to get him a true 1 center. Then we went through lehtera, Schenn, and oreilly to get to a cup. Thomas is 26 and our “effort” in getting him his true goal scorer was paying kyrou and trading blais for buchnevich who obviously over performed leading into him playing.
If you don't think Thomas is very happy with who he has to play with now, how will he feel if he's kept for the rebuild and you trade away Kyrou, Buchnevich, Schenn and give him a bunch of 20 year old prospects to play with who are clueless?
Please come to minny!!
I’m starting to get sick of hearing we need prospects, picks. Do you understand what prospects and draft picks are… they are more question marks! We are chocked full of prospects and draft picks! We need to trade for proven scorers! Spend everything to get a few guys that are proven scorers, free agency and trades are what we need at this point!