I think its more about the players. Did any of you hear Hitch's presser after the first round and before this series?

He basically said that yes, without a doubt, there were a number of players that had to fight through the first round yips and now that they broke through against the Hawks and actually won that series, they were going to be different players.

He wouldn't name who they were, but there was no doubt a number of them had allowed the pressure of the playoff failures of the past to get in their heads.
- bcallaway

Steen Backes Schwartz Berglund Bouw Gunnar Shatty

I could go on

He's making it hard to not bring him back, the way he's playing.

There's also the Troy Brouwer factor. If you think they'll only sign one of them, what do you do?

I for one, don't want to see Brouwer go elsewhere, at least at this point.
- bcallaway

I don't want to lose either I think Backes is a very good player but he is not worth $7 million a year

Brouwer is not worth $3 million

If they can move Bouw at the draft I think they might be able to keep both

He has been garbage for the blues in the playoffs before this season

Not sure if its Hitch that has changed or if the players are actually stepping up
- sycsam

It's always been the players. Hitch is as good as any coach in this league.

I don't want to lose either I think Backes is a very good player but he is not worth $7 million a year

Brouwer is not worth $3 million

If they can move Bouw at the draft I think they might be able to keep both
- sycsam

No way Backes would get $7 million from any team unless they were stupid. I think Backes will take a home town discount if we go far this year. Let's see if he can keep it up. I see him signing for 3-4 years at $5.5-6

$3 million for Brouwer any day of the week. The guy is clutch, but I think he'll get and want more.

It's always been the players. Hitch is as good as any coach in this league.
- cuethenoise

I agree for the most part but his in game adjustments are kind of lacking at times

I know its not just him but sometimes he makes you wonder what the heck he is thinking on the bench

It is mostly execution for sure t hough

No way Backes would get $7 million from any team unless they were stupid. I think Backes will take a home town discount if we go far this year. Let's see if he can keep it up. I see him signing for 3-4 years at $5.5-6

$3 million for Brouwer any day of the week. The guy is clutch.
- cuethenoise

I can see Backes asking for Kesler money

that is where I got the figure

Brouwer hopefully would take a discount as well

I would like them to sign the following deals and I would be happy

Backes 4 years AAV 4 Million
Brouwer 4 years AAV 2.5 Million

Probably wont happen but I can dream cant I

Got some young guys coming too Barbashev and some others

He's making it hard to not bring him back, the way he's playing.

There's also the Troy Brouwer factor. If you think they'll only sign one of them, what do you do?

I for one, don't want to see Brouwer go elsewhere, at least at this point.
- bcallaway

I think if they make it to the cup final, win or lose, you have to find a way to bring both back; whether that includes getting dead weight off the books or getting Backes to sign for 3rd line money.

I agree for the most part but his in game adjustments are kind of lacking at times

I know its not just him but sometimes he makes you wonder what the heck he is thinking on the bench

It is mostly execution for sure t hough
- sycsam

My only real gripe with him is some of the lines he throws together at the end of games when we are trying to hold a lead. Like Petro and Shatty on the same pair WTF? I think he feels your best players have to step up when its on the line. Hence why Shatty is slowly being replaced by Parayko as Shatty hasn't really stepped up in those situations. Also I think we should have went with Elliott when Allen had issues last year against Minnesota, but I the same time I get why he wants to show the goalies he has confidence in them.

Bottom line if Hitch doesn't come back next year there will be 10+ teams in line to sign him if he wants to keep coaching. He has proven to be a winner and evolve his game plan with the times.

My only real gripe with him is some of the lines he throws together at the end of games when we are trying to hold a lead. Like Petro and Shatty on the same pair WTF? I think he feels your best players have to step up when its on the line. Hence why Shatty is slowly being replaced by Parayko as Shatty hasn't really stepped up in those situations. Also I think we should have went with Elliott when Allen had issues last year against Minnesota, but I the same time I get why he wants to show the goalies he has confidence in them.

Bottom line if Hitch doesn't come back next year there will be 10+ teams in line to sign him if he wants to keep coaching. He has proven to be a winner and evolve his game plan with the times.
- cuethenoise

I firmly believe STL will be his last job

be it this year or in the future

I can see Backes asking for Kesler money

that is where I got the figure

Brouwer hopefully would take a discount as well

I would like them to sign the following deals and I would be happy

Backes 4 years AAV 4 Million
Brouwer 4 years AAV 2.5 Million

Probably wont happen but I can dream cant I

Got some young guys coming too Barbashev and some others
- sycsam

I like your thinking and I wish we could pull that off, but no way you get Backes that low. I think 5.5 is as low as he'll sign for. You really think Brouwer is worth less than Steve Ott or Berglund? He is a $4 million guy min.

I firmly believe STL will be his last job

be it this year or in the future
- sycsam

I agree, but the man does love coaching.

No way you get Backes that low. I think 5.5 is as low as he'll sign for. You really think Brouwer is worth less than Steve Ott or Berglund? He is a $4 million guy min.
- cuethenoise

I said I was dreaming

I would hope they would take major discounts to stay with the team

I think they can both get a lot more money elsewhere

I agree, but the man does love coaching.
- cuethenoise

Just make him our 150th Assistant to the GM

It's always been the players. Hitch is as good as any coach in this league.
- cuethenoise

Mehhhh, I'm ambivalent on him, he has some very good qualities but to me he also suffers from "I'm the smarted guy in the room" disease by making the game seem more complicated than it really is.

He had a very good run, with a very talented and veteran team in Dallas. But he's been less than mediocre since (in playoff performances).

This season may add a gold star to his future HOF resume........

https://youtu.be/H0_IE0Z6yR8

I firmly believe STL will be his last job

be it this year or in the future
- sycsam

I disagree. I think he'll keep coaching, be it here or elsewhere.

He's a good Canadian boy, always a part of their international competitions. If his time in St. Louis ends at some point, I can easily see him in Calgary or Vancouver or Ottawa......

I think you guys forget what a good coach does. Remember when Hitch took over this team was barely above .500? We have finished near the top of the standings every year since. Yes, the talent has improved a bit, but I don't want mediocre coaching again. I just hope when he moves on we find somebody half as good as Hitch.

Sometimes you have something great and you take it for granted.

I think you guys forget what a good coach does. Remember when Hitch took over this team was barely above .500? We have finished near the top of the standings every year since. Yes, the talent has improved a bit, but I don't mediocre coaching again. I just hope when he moves on we find somebody half as good as Hitch.
- cuethenoise

This team has had Turkeys for HC since Q

They now have a Pig in charge and things have been different

I think you guys forget what a good coach does. Remember when Hitch took over this team was barely above .500? We have finished near the top of the standings every year since. Yes, the talent has improved a bit, but I don't want mediocre coaching again. I just hope when he moves on we find somebody half as good as Hitch.

Sometimes you have something great and you take it for granted.
- cuethenoise

Agree

Just make him our 150th Assistant to the GM
- sycsam

Hey Armstrong has a hard job, he needs all of the help he can get

happy daze here at blues blog....but man you need some hawk fans...this place is dead...

was expecting a goalie crap fest in this series...stars are on their way but that was not all on the goalies....they played a terrible game last night...

forcing the play...poor zone clears...give aways...poor passing

i for one was happy to see a team with 3-1 and 4-1 lead keep on the throttle and put it away....way to many blown 2 and 3 goal leads in this league...
- bogiedoc

We are used to switching to baseball during the 2nd round.

I was very happy to see the Blues didnt start coasting at 3-1, and really grind it home. Slept like a baby last night.

Yes but it is an award and McDavid imo did not qualify. I think you should weight games based on the team. That is why it is clearly Panarin's award. He smoked it. He elevated Kane's play.
- BluemanGuruu

A lot of people seem to be missing this and actually have that script flipped. AA and AP were what took Kane's production to a whole new level imho.

happy daze here at blues blog....but man you need some hawk fans...this place is dead...

was expecting a goalie crap fest in this series...stars are on their way but that was not all on the goalies....they played a terrible game last night...

forcing the play...poor zone clears...give aways...poor passing

i for one was happy to see a team with 3-1 and 4-1 lead keep on the throttle and put it away....way to many blown 2 and 3 goal leads in this league...
- bogiedoc

The Blues forecheck dominated that game imho. Putting that kind of pressure on the Dallas D and their merry-go-rounding goaltending creates a very good scenario for the Blues.

I ain't going to kick you while your down. But do you think a guy who would be playing hurt and has not played recently is going to excell in a physical game?

With the amount of talent on your team would you risk future years of being a Cup favorite by chancing one of the bestnyung players to an even more serious injury?

If you have a serious injury and you compensate for the pain chances increase of another injury.

Eaves is a bit more scary.

A big crushing win but as I have said before yu still have to win four for any of it to really matter.
- BluemanGuruu

I think Seguin's injury is a new one, related to compensating for the cut. Definite question as to how effective he would be, would be nice to get a little more speed. The sky hasn't fallen yet, but it's going to be an uphill battle no matter.

I'm always the optimist, so if we can steal one tomorrow I'll still like us in 7.

I think Seguin's injury is a new one, related to compensating for the cut. Definite question as to how effective he would be, would be nice to get a little more speed. The sky hasn't fallen yet, but it's going to be an uphill battle no matter.

I'm always the optimist, so if we can steal one tomorrow I'll still like us in 7.
- tootooisapunk

I agree that I think the injury was something at least aggravated if not caused by having to adjust for the cut. Now having both puts his re-injury risk and the amount of time needed to get back up to game speed in question, imho.