StL Blues Season Thread 2023-24

[cardsfantx]

it's only been 3 games, but Vrana has stood out to me as the best player we have from an offensive and defensive perspective

it'd be nice to sign him to an extension, but I see him either pricing himself out of our range, or if we fall out of the race, he'd be an obv trade candidate

[GeddyWrox]

Yep. Spot on.

[sighyoung]

it's only been 3 games, but Vrana has stood out to me as the best player we have from an offensive and defensive perspective

it'd be nice to sign him to an extension, but I see him either pricing himself out of our range, or if we fall out of the race, he'd be an obv trade candidate

With this anemic offense and terrible power play, I think he's gone by the trade deadline.

[cardsfantx]

it's only been 3 games, but Vrana has stood out to me as the best player we have from an offensive and defensive perspective

it'd be nice to sign him to an extension, but I see him either pricing himself out of our range, or if we fall out of the race, he'd be an obv trade candidate

With this anemic offense and terrible power play, I think he's gone by the trade deadline.

And I wasn’t even worried about our offense/just hoping the defense could be better with a new coach/system

Thought hayes could replace ROR, vrana replace tarasenko, and kapernan replace barbs

[GeddyWrox]

It seems like so far this year, and last night especially, they aren't at all comfortable in the new system. Thinking too much. Not just anticipating and reacting. Hard to go on the attack when you're worrying about if you're in the right spot for the new defensive approach. Hopefully it gets better as they adjust -- and soon. If not, this could be an even more painful season than last. At least last year we could score in bunches. It's just that a lot of times 3-4 goals wasn't enough. LOL.

[JCShutout]

A nice win against pit. Can’t be unhappy with 2-1-1 out of 4. I was just talking with a family member this afternoon who said “the blues have started horribly!” I replied “their last game was bad but the previous two were fine.”

I think it’s going to be a good while before we have any idea what this team is. New (and old) faces. New system. Quarter of the season perhaps before we know what we have?

But I’m going to enjoy 2-1-1 like stretches as much as I can get them.

[sighyoung]

A nice win against pit. Can’t be unhappy with 2-1-1 out of 4. I was just talking with a family member this afternoon who said “the blues have started horribly!” I replied “their last game was bad but the previous two were fine.”

I think it’s going to be a good while before we have any idea what this team is. New (and old) faces. New system. Quarter of the season perhaps before we know what we have?

But I’m going to enjoy 2-1-1 like stretches as much as I can get them.

If they can avoid the eight-game death spirals like last season, that would be nice.

Except for the third game, the defense has been better, and Binnington has been terrific. The power play looks bad right now, and they'll need special teams to improve. But it was nice to see four goals last night, that's for sure.

[albertmvpujols]

A nice win against pit. Can’t be unhappy with 2-1-1 out of 4. I was just talking with a family member this afternoon who said “the blues have started horribly!” I replied “their last game was bad but the previous two were fine.”

I think it’s going to be a good while before we have any idea what this team is. New (and old) faces. New system. Quarter of the season perhaps before we know what we have?

But I’m going to enjoy 2-1-1 like stretches as much as I can get them.

I hadn't looked at the advanced stats much this season, but they pretty much match with what my eyes have told me: The skaters have been outplayed by quite a bit and they've been bailed out by Binnington.

They currently are dead last at even strength in Corsi/Fenwick, 2nd to last in Shots forced%, 4th from last on expected goals forced%, and 5th worse in high danger chance forced %. Those numbers don't even include their terrible power play. Some of this may shake out as they get more used to the system, but it is completely rational imo to say they've played terribly so far. They are extremely lucky to have 5 points out of the 4 games they've played so far.

[JCShutout]

I haven’t looked at the advanced stats either, so a fair point. With a good defensive system, binner can be quite quite good though. He has shown it before in both 18-19 and 19-20.

I’m not really sure what people are expecting though. The blues have an outside shot at being a bubble playoff team if things go their way. It’s going to be a soft rebuild/reload over the next 3 years…

So I’ll take 2-1-1 when I can, enjoy the good bits of the next 3 years, enjoy watching the kids slowly get a shot, and then see what happens when the next window is ready.

[Leroy]

I haven't seen much, but I am happy I have not yet had to endure watching Colton stand behind the net for 45 seconds before making a pass directly to the other team.