Only point is to pay Biz 500k or whatever the league min a year is and get out from under Reaves multiyear deal at over a 1mm per year. Him over Porter makes no sense to me.
- stljam

Only way I can see that happening is if you sign Schwartz to a 4-5 year deal around 4m and need the cap relief. Reeves goes on waivers and is picked up/or is traded then sign Biz to replace him. If that sort of deal doesnt happen, no point to do either.

It would have been the 2014 1st rounder if we would have made the WCF or re-signed Miller. Since neither of those things happened, it became the 2015 1st rounder.

Oh well, have fun with the 30th pick Buffalo!
- carcus

Then you can give us back Stastny bc he has his cup ring

Only way I can see that happening is if you sign Schwartz to a 4-5 year deal around 4m and need the cap relief. Reeves goes on waivers and is picked up/or is traded then sign Biz to replace him. If that sort of deal doesnt happen, no point to do either.
- DDM-Coga

Agree completely but its the only plausible way I see him on the roster barring a LTIR for Reaves.

It would have been the 2014 1st rounder if we would have made the WCF or re-signed Miller. Since neither of those things happened, it became the 2015 1st rounder.

Oh well, have fun with the 30th pick Buffalo!
- carcus

Would have been the 2014 first as well if we resigned, not instead. The 2015 first was theirs no matter what.

Then you can give us back Stastny bc he has his cup ring
- DDM-Coga

I honestly expect Statsny to play out his contract with us, chasing a cup, then sign a very friendly deal with Avs in 4 years right when they are in their prime.

Agree completely but its the only plausible way I see him on the roster barring a LTIR for Reaves.
- stljam

I think a LTIR is the reason they are looking at him. They really don't have an enforcer ready to step in if Reaves goes down. Biz is just in camp to see if he is worth a 2 way deal to be in Chicago and available in case Reaves breaks his hand on someones face again.

Paajarvi deserves a shot to develop with a team that doesn't screw him up. The fans calling for Hitch's job are ridiculous. Doesn't anyone remember this team before him? He led the Blues to their statistically best season in franchise history.

I honestly expect Statsny to play out his contract with us, chasing a cup, then sign a very friendly deal with Avs in 4 years right when they are in their prime.
- Antilles

Foote, Yelle, Forsberg, and now perhaps Tanguay...they all come back to finish their careers. I see Stastny coming back too as the Savy Vet

More serious question.

WTF is with the blues trying to move all season ticket holders to electronic tickets. So now if I want to give some away or whatever I have to manually print them or transfer them. Or let them use my season ticket card with a barcode. The Blues are kind enough to print them out for 25 bucks a seat.

Way to tell your most dedicated fans "look were trying to save a few pennies on your behalf". I'm sure the lower bowl corporate season ticket holders are cool with just electronically using tickets.

More serious question.

WTF is with the blues trying to move all season ticket holders to electronic tickets. So now if I want to give some away or whatever I have to manually print them or transfer them. Or let them use my season ticket card with a barcode. The Blues are kind enough to print them out for 25 bucks a seat.

Way to tell your most dedicated fans "look were trying to save a few pennies on your behalf". I'm sure the lower bowl corporate season ticket holders are cool with just electronically using tickets.
- Gerk

Its pretty common with the Canadian Teams (Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton are the ones I have had to buy personally through this system)

Not sure how it stops this, but it was done to stop counterfeit season tickets from being produced...it was a big issue with Winnipeg coming back that fake paper season tickets were flooding the market. The Electronic pass was to stop this and puts the ownership of the sold single game ticket to the season ticket holder, so if duplicates were being made, they can track it back to a single source.

Its pretty common with the Canadian Teams (Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton are the ones I have had to buy personally through this system)

Not sure how it stops this, but it was done to stop counterfeit season tickets from being produced...it was a big issue with Winnipeg coming back that fake paper season tickets were flooding the market. The Electronic pass was to stop this and puts the ownership of the sold single game ticket to the season ticket holder, so if duplicates were being made, they can track it back to a single source.
- DDM-Coga

How am I going to get my free big macs and 5 bucks off at dirt cheap, give them my card to swipe. These are serious items that need consideration before making such a drastic change willy nilly.

How am I going to get my free big macs and 5 bucks off at dirt cheap, give them my card to swipe. These are serious items that need consideration before making such a drastic change willy nilly.
- Gerk

you can still print out that games ticket at home, the print outs (from the times I have done that) have all the coupons and ads associated with that ticket on the print out.

Its no different than Stub Hub type tickets that you get, and in some arenas (Ill take Winnipeg as example since I am from there and their new football stadium) has an arena app that contains all that, loads up your account, and you just scan everything from your phone.

Its pretty common with the Canadian Teams (Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton are the ones I have had to buy personally through this system)

Not sure how it stops this, but it was done to stop counterfeit season tickets from being produced...it was a big issue with Winnipeg coming back that fake paper season tickets were flooding the market. The Electronic pass was to stop this and puts the ownership of the sold single game ticket to the season ticket holder, so if duplicates were being made, they can track it back to a single source.
- DDM-Coga

You can just go online to you "My Account" and pass the tickets to whoever is using them that night via email (granted they have a valid email address). It's not too difficult as I split 5 seats amongst 7 people.

Signed,
A lower bowl coporate season ticket holder

you can still print out that games ticket at home, the print outs (from the times I have done that) have all the coupons and ads associated with that ticket on the print out.

Its no different than Stub Hub type tickets that you get, and in some arenas (Ill take Winnipeg as example since I am from there and their new football stadium) has an arena app that contains all that, loads up your account, and you just scan everything from your phone.
- DDM-Coga

From the people I know in the Blues organization, the app you describe is the future. Show your smart phone and get in. I'm not a fan of this though as long as I can manage it for "free" by emailing pdf tickets or printing them I don't really care.

You can just go online to you "My Account" and pass the tickets to whoever is using them that night via email (granted they have a valid email address). It's not too difficult as I split 5 seats amongst 7 people.

Signed,
A lower bowl coporate season ticket holder
- bluenoter

It has been free in the past, but the wording this year makes it seem as there are limits, and once you go over they charge you each time.

Honestly, I think it is a good idea going to the cards. But they should still offer printed tickets to those that request them as it becomes a hassle to print out any ticket you are going to give/sell to someone else.

From the people I know in the Blues organization, the app you describe is the future. Show your smart phone and get in. I'm not a fan of this though as long as I can manage it for "free" by emailing pdf tickets or printing them I don't really care.
- stljam

Right, but it is going to be free? I know it has been that way the last couple of years but reading the faq makes it seem like there will be fees after using the online printing/forwarding So many times.

More serious question.

WTF is with the blues trying to move all season ticket holders to electronic tickets. So now if I want to give some away or whatever I have to manually print them or transfer them. Or let them use my season ticket card with a barcode. The Blues are kind enough to print them out for 25 bucks a seat.

Way to tell your most dedicated fans "look were trying to save a few pennies on your behalf". I'm sure the lower bowl corporate season ticket holders are cool with just electronically using tickets.
- Gerk

This is the reality of season tickets. You may wish it different but all sports teams are going to this and further (see the app mentioned). Also, from the people I have talked to, you are in the minority (as am I as outlined below). More people want the free email/print from home distribution option. Many of the attend all games fans like having a "pretty", durable, ticket card that they can put in their lanyard style holder.

Me personally, I wish they would go back to the kid art contest for tickets.

Unlike most, I would actually pay $25 a ticket to bring that back. What a great experience for a kid, parent, etc. Along those lines, I'd consider paying the $25 a ticket if the tickets were actually printed and designed well. I'm so sick of the generic ticketmaster machine printouts, No way would I pay $25 for those printouts.

To me, the season tickets are an opportunity. Contests to design (fans, kids, advertising firms, varying by year), barter with the printing company, barter with a graphics design company, etc. You can't sell the idea of Company ABC getting to put their logo and a little line (ad) on the season tickets in exchange for the work? Unfortunately the Blues only look at it as a cost. They also see it as a revenue opportunity. I would be you a lot money that when the team makes the SCF, playoff strip holders have an opportunity to purchase 1) a commemorative ticket, 2)printed glossy tickets to be used at each game, and 3) some other ticket options.

Right, but it is going to be free? I know it has been that way the last couple of years but reading the faq makes it seem like there will be fees after using the online printing/forwarding So many times.
- carcus

Reading that can be taken a lot of ways....If they charged you for the second or more times of printing/forwarding the same game, would you object? I wouldn't. Is it based on how many games you forward or print?

Remember, when they first rolled this out, they did charge you to forward the tickets and print them. You got some ridiculously low number free (three maybe). Season ticket holders balked loudly and they adjusted.

Part of this is just the real time capitalistic system. It's also a potential gradual progression...

Give it to you free, get you used to it, get you dependent on it, then see if you can charge for it, then see if you can charge more for it.

It has been free in the past, but the wording this year makes it seem as there are limits, and once you go over they charge you each time.

Honestly, I think it is a good idea going to the cards. But they should still offer printed tickets to those that request them as it becomes a hassle to print out any ticket you are going to give/sell to someone else.
- carcus

So the real problem with this imho....If your season ticket base is 14,000; printing 14,000 sets is one price per ticket. If only 4,000 people want printouts, the price will be a lot higher per ticket (more to manage, less to spread setup costs, etc).

Ok, so wild idea.

If capital one can allow you to upload a photo and create your own credit card, why won't a sports team allow you to create your own season tickets? Fee based for sure to cover printing and some time to review each submission but would season ticket holders want to do this?

Depending on the cost, I think so. Companies could put their own logos, etc on the tickets. Parents could do fun things with their kids. Special years (100 yr, year after SCF, etc) could have special tickets.

Would people really use this? How cheap would it have to be?

So the real problem with this imho....If your season ticket base is 14,000; printing 14,000 sets is one price per ticket. If only 4,000 people want printouts, the price will be a lot higher per ticket (more to manage, less to spread setup costs, etc).
- stljam

They can print them right there at the STC. I think they already have those setup costs taken care of.

Maybe it is just me, but your customers who buy every game shouldn't be nickeled and dimed. I am perfectly fine with the cards if that is what they want to do. But they shouldn't charge you extra if you forward/print tickets on your own printer, regardless of how many times you do it.

It just seems completely wrong. We are going to charge you extra money if you print your ticket from your own printer. Or if you email it to a friend and they print it. Just seems like a money grab, from loyal customers. Bad idea IMO.

Ok, so wild idea.

If capital one can allow you to upload a photo and create your own credit card, why won't a sports team allow you to create your own season tickets? Fee based for sure to cover printing and some time to review each submission but would season ticket holders want to do this?

Depending on the cost, I think so. Companies could put their own logos, etc on the tickets. Parents could do fun things with their kids. Special years (100 yr, year after SCF, etc) could have special tickets.

Would people really use this? How cheap would it have to be?
- stljam

This is a good idea. I am not sure that I would use it, but I think that a lot of people would be very interested. Companies putting their logos on them for their corporate tickets is a great idea.

This is the reality of season tickets. You may wish it different but all sports teams are going to this and further (see the app mentioned). Also, from the people I have talked to, you are in the minority (as am I as outlined below). More people want the free email/print from home distribution option. Many of the attend all games fans like having a "pretty", durable, ticket card that they can put in their lanyard style holder.

Me personally, I wish they would go back to the kid art contest for tickets.

Unlike most, I would actually pay $25 a ticket to bring that back. What a great experience for a kid, parent, etc. Along those lines, I'd consider paying the $25 a ticket if the tickets were actually printed and designed well. I'm so sick of the generic ticketmaster machine printouts, No way would I pay $25 for those printouts.

To me, the season tickets are an opportunity. Contests to design (fans, kids, advertising firms, varying by year), barter with the printing company, barter with a graphics design company, etc. You can't sell the idea of Company ABC getting to put their logo and a little line (ad) on the season tickets in exchange for the work? Unfortunately the Blues only look at it as a cost. They also see it as a revenue opportunity. I would be you a lot money that when the team makes the SCF, playoff strip holders have an opportunity to purchase 1) a commemorative ticket, 2)printed glossy tickets to be used at each game, and 3) some other ticket options.
- stljam

I remember those.

You are right, there is an opportunity and they seem to not put any effort into it.

Hopefully that changes.

They can print them right there at the STC. I think they already have those setup costs taken care of.

Maybe it is just me, but your customers who buy every game shouldn't be nickeled and dimed. I am perfectly fine with the cards if that is what they want to do. But they shouldn't charge you extra if you forward/print tickets on your own printer, regardless of how many times you do it.

It just seems completely wrong. We are going to charge you extra money if you print your ticket from your own printer. Or if you email it to a friend and they print it. Just seems like a money grab, from loyal customers. Bad idea IMO.
- carcus

They still have to manage it, mail it, paper cost, etc. If they use the generic ticketmaster blah tickets, yes their shouldn't be any print setup costs.

I also agree with you on the nickel and dime aspect. Give me a full fee price and let me decide what I want to do. Don't get me to agree and then keep charging add ons.

FYI, the money grab is likely by Ticketmaster for the processing of changing the bar code every time you do this. The Blues just may not keep covering that cost.

Anyone watch the traverse city games? We are going to go next year but couldn't make it this year.

Stats lines of some of our prospects seem concerning....

Hakanpaa, Jani - No points, -5, only 3 shots and 2 pims.

Binnington, Jordan - 6.33 gaa and 81.9% save percentage in 2 games. Lundstrom had 10% higher save percentage and less than half his GAA in 2 games. Defensemen and opponent could impact this a lot but the stats lines definitely surprised me.