Backes is not a dirty player. He makes clean hits and has never ONCE been suspended. He doesn't go after players knees ( cough Bickell). He showed a lot of heart and leadership in this series. He was playing with sevear neck pain (thanks to your goon Seabrook) and a broken toe. He is not the problem. The lack of high end scoring is. That may change next year as Tarasenko will only get better. He is still only 21. Hopefully Rattie will help too.

Obviously, your hatred for him pretty much tells me he is doing his job.
- cuethenoise

Right there is where your post started spinning into the land of delusions.

Backes is not a dirty player. He makes clean hits and has never ONCE been suspended. He doesn't go after players knees ( cough Bickell). He showed a lot of heart and leadership in this series. He was playing with sevear neck pain (thanks to your goon Seabrook) and a broken toe. He is not the problem. The lack of high end scoring is. That may change next year as Tarasenko will only get better. He is still only 21. Hopefully Rattie will help too.

Obviously, your hatred for him pretty much tells me he is doing his job.
- cuethenoise

He is a dirty player. That's fact, and that's why the Blues will never win a cup with him as their leader. He is constantly hacking, wacking, punching, and cross checking behind the play and after the whistle. Why do you think he got run through the boards? That is not how the Hawks play most of the time, but the Blues seem to bring it out of them. You think that's coincidence? That was about three years worth of retribution being served up with one hit. Regrettably Backes moved just enough at the last minute that it ended up being an illegal hit. It would have been much sweeter had it not been a head shot. Seabs payed the price for his mis-calculation, but it was worth it.

I really hope you are wrong about Miller unless he just plummeted his stock and therefore salary. He just isn't worth the money he is supposedly asking for in a new contract. At that point, I'd rather roll with the odd man out in Anaheim, Elliott, Thomas or even Brodeur as a tutor.
- stljam

Trading for Miller was a bad move, imo. I think it messed with the confidence the Blues had built throughout the season.

I really hope you are wrong about Miller unless he just plummeted his stock and therefore salary. He just isn't worth the money he is supposedly asking for in a new contract. At that point, I'd rather roll with the odd man out in Anaheim, Elliott, Thomas or even Brodeur as a tutor.
- stljam

I think you'd be best served to cut bait and move on. Went all in, took a shot, came up short. Don't compound things by signing him just because you're afraid of "losing" that trade. That cap space is likely better spent on some more offense.

Trading for Miller was a bad move, imo. I think it messed with the confidence the Blues had built throughout the season.
- Elbows15

Management had no confidence in Halak and there was evidence of some issues between Hitch and Halak in last year's playoffs. They thought he had to go. I would have given him this year given that he was playing well two years ago until Jackman hurt him and then he missed last year's playoffs with an injury as well.

Even if he had to go, it's pretty clear we overpaid when you look at the other goalie deals.

There is an adage about not fixing what isn't broken. They did it a number of years ago with the Garth Butcher deal and it backfired big time then.

I think you'd be best served to cut bait and move on. Went all in, took a shot, came up short. Don't compound things by signing him just because you're afraid of "losing" that trade. That cap space is likely better spent on some more offense.
- Ogilthorpe2

Couldn't agree more plus I don't want that 3rd to turn into a 1st,

Management had no confidence in Halak and there was evidence of some issues between Hitch and Halak in last year's playoffs. They thought he had to go. I would have given him this year given that he was playing well two years ago until Jackman hurt him and then he missed last year's playoffs with an injury as well.

Even if he had to go, it's pretty clear we overpaid when you look at the other goalie deals.

There is an adage about not fixing what isn't broken. They did it a number of years ago with the Garth Butcher deal and it backfired big time then.
- stljam

Never have been a fan of Miller. I was actually glad the Blues traded for him. And as for Ott. He has to be the most over hyped 4th liner playing today.

anyone else see the Miller quote?

According to Lou Korac

https://twitter.com/lkorac10

Ryan Miller on what's ahead for him: ""I don't know. I guess I'm free to go to my sister-in-law's wedding. That's about it."

Really? That is your season ending quote? Don't let the screen door hit you on the way out...no wait, maybe someone should slam it on him.

Everyone cut the crap. Keep the name calling and slamming to yourselves or messages. We don't need that in here or I'll start having your posts removed.

As for Backes being dirty, please tell me how many times he has been suspended? He was given a match penalty and a game misconduct once, which was quickly recessed by the league because it was clearly a terrible call from the official. So please explain how dirty Backes is as a player?

Everyone cut the crap. Keep the name calling and slamming to yourselves or messages. We don't need that in here or I'll start having your posts removed.

As for Backes being dirty, please tell me how many times he has been suspended? He was given a match penalty and a game misconduct once, which was quickly recessed by the league because it was clearly a terrible call from the official. So please explain how dirty Backes is as a player?
- Randall_Ritchey

Yeah, because no one has ever done anything dirty and not been suspended for it

*cough* Shea Weber *cough, cough*

It's usually not any one overly egregious thing with him. It's death by a thousand cuts. Virtually every shift he crosses the line with someone. Whether it's a late finish to a check, a just subtle enough cross check to the back of Toews head (every chance he gets, and frankly too many times to count) or jumping Mackinnon for having the audacity to shrug off one of his checks, he's a filthy dirty player.

The Blues will NEVER win a cup with that tool leading the way.

As for Backes being dirty, please tell me how many times he has been suspended? He was given a match penalty and a game misconduct once, which was quickly recessed by the league because it was clearly a terrible call from the official. So please explain how dirty Backes is as a player?
- Randall_Ritchey

If I was an opposing fan, I can understand them thinking he plays over the line. I would compare to him a cleaner version of Dustin Brown. He's like the opposing player you love to hate but deep down you know you would take him on your team.

Everyone cut the crap. Keep the name calling and slamming to yourselves or messages. We don't need that in here or I'll start having your posts removed.

As for Backes being dirty, please tell me how many times he has been suspended? He was given a match penalty and a game misconduct once, which was quickly recessed by the league because it was clearly a terrible call from the official. So please explain how dirty Backes is as a player?
- Randall_Ritchey

A suspension is not indicative of being a dirty player. Whether he is dirty or not really doesn't matter. What does is he is not a big game player. Jumping a rookie from behind because he was hit hard isn't exactly playing clean.

*cough* Shea Weber *cough, cough*
- Ogilthorpe2

Is it WWE or NHL?

Is it WWE or NHL?



- stljam

No suspension. Must not have been dirty

Jumping a rookie from behind because he was hit hard isn't exactly playing clean.
- Elbows15

If the rookie high sticked me in the face like Mackinnon did, I'd probably have tried to start a fight with him too.

Yeah, because no one has ever done anything dirty and not been suspended for it

*cough* Shea Weber *cough, cough*

It's usually not any one overly egregious thing with him. It's death by a thousand cuts. Virtually every shift he crosses the line with someone. Whether it's a late finish to a check, a just subtle enough cross check to the back of Toews head (every chance he gets, and frankly too many times to count) or jumping Mackinnon for having the audacity to shrug off one of his checks, he's a filthy dirty player.

The Blues will NEVER win a cup with that tool leading the way.
- Ogilthorpe2

Blues fans think he's clean, but Hawks fans think he's the dirtiest player ever? I'm shocked.

I agree though that he shouldn't be captain. One of my closest friends is from StL, so I've seen a fair amount of Blues games the past couple of years, and I will say that although I'm not a huge fan, he is a fairly clean, albeit rough, player. What I've noticed though is against certain teams, Hawks and Kings especially, he has a tendency to lose discipline and make some questionable plays. Losing focus against the big teams is definitely not a trait I would want in a captain.

With that said, before anyone says anything about Brown, I also don't like him as the Kings captain.

I agree though that he shouldn't be captain. One of my closest friends is from StL, so I've seen a fair amount of Blues games the past couple of years, and I will say that although I'm not a huge fan, he is a fairly clean, albeit rough, player. What I've noticed though is against certain teams, Hawks and Kings especially, he has a tendency to lose discipline and make some questionable plays. Losing focus against the big teams is definitely not a trait I would want in a captain.

With that said, before anyone says anything about Brown, I also don't like him as the Kings captain.
- PancakesPenner

Pretty much nailed my assessment. I'd take either on my team but I wouldn't want either as a captain necessarily. It seems to me both have discipline issues.

Pretty much nailed my assessment. I'd take either on my team but I wouldn't want either as a captain necessarily. It seems to me both have discipline issues.
- stljam

Well, I don't know if Brown has discipline issues, or that he dives that much for that matter. I just think he can be an idiot a lot of the time and one of the worst skaters in the league all of the time. If I had a nickel for every time I saw him fall with no one within five feet of him, I'd have some pretty nice season tickets. He is the captain of the only cup winning Kings team though, so he'll always be OUR idiot.

If the rookie high sticked me in the face like Mackinnon did, I'd probably have tried to start a fight with him too.
- stljam

When did this happen? Not on the same play that's for sure.

Well, I don't know if Brown has discipline issues, or that he dives that much for that matter. I just think he can be an idiot a lot of the time and one of the worst skaters in the league all of the time. If I had a nickel for every time I saw him fall with no one within five feet of him, I'd have some pretty nice season tickets. He is the captain of the only cup winning Kings team though, so he'll always be OUR idiot.
- PancakesPenner

Hope Backes reaches that status some day

Meant some of Brown's questionable hits more than him losing his cool and focus against a particular team. Different type of discipline issue but to me still a discipline issue, lol.

Hope Backes reaches that status some day

Meant some of Brown's questionable hits more than him losing his cool and focus against a particular team. Different type of discipline issue but to me still a discipline issue, lol.
- stljam

Fair enough.

When did this happen? Not on the same play that's for sure.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yep. He follows through very high with his hands and stick.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ailpage&v=cJPWSWttVGI#t=2

I stopped and embedded the video where you can see Mackinnon' stick on Backes head. He then follows through with the stick hitting Backes on the helmet. I only noticed as I was there and that part of the play came right towards us. It looked like he got the butt end in the face with the stick then coming down on his helmet. I'm not saying Mackinnon was trying to do it just that it happened in the course of the play and that I would likely have reacted similar.

EDIT - hmm that embedding at time wasn't all that helpful..oh well it's only like 2 seconds in. lol

Hope Backes reaches that status some day

Meant some of Brown's questionable hits more than him losing his cool and focus against a particular team. Different type of discipline issue but to me still a discipline issue, lol.
- stljam

Brown is notorious for that knee on knee crap.

Brown is notorious for that knee on knee crap.
- Elbows15

I still can't believe there was talk of trading him at the deadline the year they won the cup.

I still can't believe there was talk of trading him at the deadline the year they won the cup.
- stljam

He is so incredibly streaky. Watch a full season of him playing and I don't think it will be that unbelievable.