It wasn't supposed to end like this.
St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong met with media on Tuesday to give his post mortem on his team’s third straight first round ouster from the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Armstrong was understandably upset. He augmented his already impressive nucleus of young players such as Backes, Oshie, Steen, Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester to include seasoned vets like Brenden Morrow, Steve, Ott, and Ryan Miller so that the Blues could make a run at The Cup this season. Its as if the Blues went all-in on winning the Cup this season. After the lift of their euphoric 100+ point regular season now comes the depression and anger that is the residue of another heartbreak in the first round. Armstrong said emphatically that he’s done talking about playing in May and June. He noted that his team can’t get out of April and the organization must accomplish that important objective before it considers itself a legitimate Cup contender.
In was particularly interested to hear Armstrong’s takes on his goaltending situation for 2014-15 and beyond. He has a young stud playing in the minors who frankly too good to be playing in “The A… this season. He has to meet with pending UFA starting goalie Ryan Miller. He has veteran Brian Elliott (31 games played, 18-6-2, 4 shutouts, 1.96 GAA and .922 save %).
Armstrong knows what he has in Allen and Elliott. His great unknown is Miller.
On Tuesday, Armstrong defended Miller’s poor performances in round one versus Chicago by stating that the Blues were dreadful on their PP against the Blackhawks. In Game 6, the Blues were 0-6 on the PP in a relatively close hockey game. Overall, the Blues were 2-for-29 with the man advantage in the Chicago series. That, according to Armstrong, was unacceptable.
…As a management group, what you want to do at the trade deadline is assess your team and you don't want to spend fool's gold. At that time, you say, 'OK, you're either buyers, sellers or you're neutral.' We believed that neutral was going to be fine unless we could make one trade and to get the goalie. I think that Ryan and our team ... We win as a team and we lose as a team. I thought that Ryan wasn't the reason that this series ended in six (games). The series turned on a couple of things. Obviously the last one was our inability to score power play goals. That's haunted us now for two playoffs. That’s nothing to do with Ryan Miller. He's a long way from Crawford in the second period. Some of the goals that went in, deflections, things like that, breakaways ... as a team, we didn't get the job done and he's certainly part of that, but he's not a scapegoat for this. It would be disingenuous to even go down that path. He gave us an opportunity….
Complete teams lose series. Not just the goalie, according to Armstrong.
So, what about Miller?
Who will be playing goalie for the St. Louis Blues next season? Will it be Miller? Armstrong says that he has to have a heart to heart with the former Buffalo Sabres netminder in the next few weeks. He recognizes that Miller will have options as a pending UFA. At this point, its way to soon to tell, however, Miller could very well end up in San Jose or Anaheim for all we know. In the meantime, Armstrong is very high on his prospect Jake Allen who continues to stymie opponents in the American League.
…It's like going to the dentist. The freezing's coming out and now it hurts. This is really painful. Today's a lot harder than it was yesterday. We got to figure out a way to get better. With the goaltending, Jake Allen is going to be here next here. He's earned the right. He’s the top American League goalie. He's got that team in the playoffs. Now we're going to see how far he can take it. He will be one of two. Who his partner will be will be discussed at the appropriate time and that will be over the next few weeks. It's a two way street with Ryan at this time. He has opportunities. I want to sit and talk to him. I want to get his feelings about our organization, how he felt about coming in, where he thinks we’re at, see if he even has any interest in being a St. Louis Blue….
Uncharacteristically, Armstrong let the cat out of the bag regarding Allen and his plans to play the kid in St. Louis next season, rather than leave him in AHL Chicago for another season.
“Dmitrij Jaskin and Jake Allen are going to have jobs. It's for them to lose, not for them to gain. I don't know if I've told the coach that, but you guys can tell him when I leave. They have jobs now on this roster and it's for them to take that and expand it…
…I view Jake Allen coming in here next year competing for starts…
So what about Miller? …Jake Allen's partner is going to have to hold Jake Allen out. Jake Allen is going to have to compete with his partner for ice time….
Three goalies. One net.
Fun.
Watch Armstrong’s full presser here, courtesy Blues.nhl.com