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Old 03-10-2021, 12:44 PM   #1
CaptainCrunch
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Default An honest look at the St Louis Blues

St Louis Times Picayuuune (AP)


A lot has changed in the last few days as its clear that the Blue's have accepted their fate around not making the playoffs. Its clear that this was a disappointing year for the Blue's and a serious underachievement given the core at the start of the season. On opening night the teams lineup looked like this.


Landeskog - Eichel - Mark Stone
Pearson - Bonino - Radulov
Tanev - Haula - Garland
Aberg - Brandon Sutter - Corey Perry
Appleton

Vince Dunn - McDonagh
Mayfield - Ryan Graves
Claesson - Gilmour
Erricsson

Raanta
Demko



but as the season rolled along this core underachieved seriously they couldn't get consistant goaltending or scoring. Special Teams was in the bottom of the league. CaptainCrunch began to tinker. Clearly the biggest aquisition this year was bringing in MAF which gave them MVP level goaltending, but now even he's gone as the Captain continued to tinker with his lineup. At one point he seemed to hit the magic formula and the team went on a long run as one of the hottest teams in the league, but that fell apart through a combination of injuries and slumps.



So what's happening now, with the Captain throwing in the towel, where does this team stand for the rest of the year and next year. Well to be honest it doesn't look pretty in the short term.


Right now the Forward group looks roughly like this


Sam Reinhart centering for Pearson and Duclair

Bret Howdow will probably center a line of Foligno Radulov

Chandler Stephenson will pivot between Ennis Appleton

Ryan McCleod brings up the fourth line with Heponiemi and Ryan


John Tavares is out for the rest of the season, but will be a welcome addition next year.


On defense the blueline still has some strong elements and a good first pair


Graves and McAvoy lead the way

DeHaan and Krug
Maatta and Stanley


In goal its a duo of Bernier and Desmith who frighten nobody.


So there's clearly a lot of work that can happen between now and the rest of the year as Crunch will likely try to improve his LW and RW positions.



The futures not bare though. Crunch has accumulated some nice draft picks. 2 firsts (1 that's owed by the Islanders) Anaheims 3rd and 4th and two fifth round picks. As well Crunch has done a good job of rebuilding his prospect base with Jesse Puljujarvi on the way as well as Connor Mckay. The future is nowhere near grim, the short term is, anyone with expectations of the Blue's going on a last minute streak into the playoff will be disappointed, it might be more fun to see how else Crunch can wreck this team, its a long ways from the lineup at the start of the year that simply didn't jell.
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Old 03-10-2021, 12:46 PM   #2
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You did well Crunch! Its obvious that like me and a number of others, the game has sucked you into its vortex and you have become one with the Simulator. Now you just have to find its G Spot.
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Old 03-10-2021, 01:35 PM   #3
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Nice read Captain
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Old 03-10-2021, 02:17 PM   #4
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Great to see GMs who want to make the playoffs and be upset when they dont. I am sure you will learn from this and be back in a playoff spot next year.

Love the write ups and league involvement. Glad you are here.
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Old 03-10-2021, 03:57 PM   #5
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Add on


If I was looking at next year. What I have right now, or what I would be comfortable with


Tavares ??????? Duclair

Reinhart Pearson Poolparty

Howden Foligno Appleton

???????? ??????? ????????


MacAvoy Graves
De Haan Krug
Maatta ??????


???????
???????
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Old 03-11-2021, 12:48 PM   #6
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When one of your defensive prospects scores a hat trick from the Blueline in an NHL game is a reason to celebrate. Dylan Coghan you're a beat
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Last edited by CaptainCrunch; 03-11-2021 at 01:42 PM.
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Old 03-14-2021, 02:11 PM   #7
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Hope you find a link for Tavaras to play the wing because right now he’s only C
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Old 03-14-2021, 02:14 PM   #8
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I think he is listing his centres first, then the wings.
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Old 03-14-2021, 04:12 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SportsJunky View Post
I think he is listing his centres first, then the wings.
Sounds like communism, to me.
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