John Gove: Good with the Goalie Tandem?

Goalie isnt our problem. There will be zero changes unless Seattle takes Husso.

Montreal has been building from the net out for years. God are they bad at it.

Goaltending Is a team sport, Any and all NHL netminders are only as good as the 5 guys In front of them regardless of who they are.

Goaltending isn’t the problem. Binner played good enough to win and steal games in the playoffs. Follow me. Blues weakness was their all around team defensive play. On the way to the Cup, every single player worked as a unit and defended as such. That lacked all season. Team chemistry was the problem. Rotating players in and out of the lineup hurts. Covvid hurt. Injuries hurt.


Husso MAY be good. We should be able to find out next season. I would stay with Binnington and Husso all day long. Losing Petro to free agency (which after the Faulk trade/resign deal I expected) loosing Bow, and Gunnar, what Could we expect? Seriously. Mikkola looks good and I like his tenacity. Parayko played injured most of the season. Walman made some improvements.

Blues forwards could not score. Sanford is a liability. I’d keep Clifford over him. Kid has talent but has yet to develop the mentality to consistently play at the level demanded.

Barby, I want more from. Blais, I want more from.

Losing Sunny was a huge set back

Krug, leaves us wanting more defense but he is an offensive d man and this was a growing season as he is new to the western conference. Just like Faulk was last year. Asked too much of early on

Resign Bozer for 2-2.5 for veteran depth. Hurts me to say it but if Schwartz wants more money, find it elsewhere. I’d offer him substantially less

Also resign BACKES. That way he can retire as a Blue!

Ok let's play armchair gm.
Goaltending:binnington and Husso,doesnt strike fear in the hearts of your opponents,but still could be a steady tandem that wins more than they lose and the contract dollars spent on the 2 isnt terrible either.

Defence:imo this is the biggest problem for the blues,I know injuries were bad this season but the team defence as a whole took a step backwards after losing petro.if parayko is healthy for a full season I think krug is better.bring in a hamonic type defender and watch faulks number improve as well.and then the third pairing by default gets better because then the blues have 4 players fighting for 2 spots.bortuzzo,gunnarsson,dunn,scandella. This scenario keeps the kids back I know,but also allows the team more veteran defenders while the window is still open.dunn could also be shipped out to help make room for the kids to battle into the lineup.

Forwards:
Perron o'Reilly tarasenko
Blais schenn kyrou
Kostin sundqvist thomas
Clifford bozak maceachern
Extras
Barbashev,sanford
Schwartz and Hoffman let walk,use money to sign more defence.either in free agency or keeping cap space available to make a move.
Solid forward group,but also could use a bit more speed and maybe a bit more scoring.anthony duclair?could get fairly cheap.
I think the window to compete is still open for the blues but could close quick if defence isnt improved imho.

Ok let's play armchair gm.
Goaltending:binnington and Husso,doesnt strike fear in the hearts of your opponents,but still could be a steady tandem that wins more than they lose and the contract dollars spent on the 2 isnt terrible either.

Defence:imo this is the biggest problem for the blues,I know injuries were bad this season but the team defence as a whole took a step backwards after losing petro.if parayko is healthy for a full season I think krug is better.bring in a hamonic type defender and watch faulks number improve as well.and then the third pairing by default gets better because then the blues have 4 players fighting for 2 spots.bortuzzo,gunnarsson,dunn,scandella. This scenario keeps the kids back I know,but also allows the team more veteran defenders while the window is still open.dunn could also be shipped out to help make room for the kids to battle into the lineup.

Forwards:
Perron o'Reilly tarasenko
Blais schenn kyrou
Kostin sundqvist thomas
Clifford bozak maceachern
Extras
Barbashev,sanford
Schwartz and Hoffman let walk,use money to sign more defence.either in free agency or keeping cap space available to make a move.
Solid forward group,but also could use a bit more speed and maybe a bit more scoring.anthony duclair?could get fairly cheap.
I think the window to compete is still open for the blues but could close quick if defence isnt improved imho.
- Dewey8

I like the offensive lines. Those might work.

Improve defense as that should be the main focus. Team defense is a better statement.

Faulk Krug Parayko Bortz Mikkola Walman, we need a depth defensemen via free agency that tough. Gunnar was a healthy scratch a lot. Thank you for your time here Gunnar. Sorry it was done by injury but that’s the game sometimes

I like the offensive lines. Those might work.

Improve defense as that should be the main focus. Team defense is a better statement.

Faulk Krug Parayko Bortz Mikkola Walman, we need a depth defensemen via free agency that tough. Gunnar was a healthy scratch a lot. Thank you for your time here Gunnar. Sorry it was done by injury but that’s the game sometimes
- BluesDroogie

My brother is a blues fan,and I'm a kings fan so we've watch alot of hockey against each others teams and we talk alot of hockey and what we think our teams,and the other team should do to improve.so I can appreciate what talent the blues have,and from an outsider looking in and also just knowing and understanding hockey.defense wins!!its not a glaring weakness imo,its a need to be addressed if they wanna compete for a championship again imo.

My brother is a blues fan,and I'm a kings fan so we've watch alot of hockey against each others teams and we talk alot of hockey and what we think our teams,and the other team should do to improve.so I can appreciate what talent the blues have,and from an outsider looking in and also just knowing and understanding hockey.defense wins!!its not a glaring weakness imo,its a need to be addressed if they wanna compete for a championship again imo.
- Dewey8

As much as I HATE the Kings, base the team off of Kopitar, he is great. They have some kids that are decent. Even Brown, who I despise, made a resurgence last year, is decent. Quick isn’t the goalie you had before but still manages to play very well. Put him in a backup role and he should do fine. I’m still upset after the loss to the kings in the playoffs years ago ha ha

My brother is a blues fan,and I'm a kings fan so we've watch alot of hockey against each others teams and we talk alot of hockey and what we think our teams,and the other team should do to improve.so I can appreciate what talent the blues have,and from an outsider looking in and also just knowing and understanding hockey.defense wins!!its not a glaring weakness imo,its a need to be addressed if they wanna compete for a championship again imo.
- Dewey8

How did the Kings win 2 Cups in 3 years? DEFENSE.

How did the Kings win 2 Cups in 3 years? DEFENSE.
- BluesDroogie

Agreed we had real good depth at defense.doughty,muzzin,greene,voynov,martinez,regher,scuderi.also killer depth down the middle,kopitar,carter and richards and stoll,and some good old fashioned tough,physical playoff hockey.quick was at his athletic best then too,he played so far out to cut angles and could still get across to take away the other side.glory days bro thanks for the stroll down memory lane lol.

As much as I HATE the Kings, base the team off of Kopitar, he is great. They have some kids that are decent. Even Brown, who I despise, made a resurgence last year, is decent. Quick isn’t the goalie you had before but still manages to play very well. Put him in a backup role and he should do fine. I’m still upset after the loss to the kings in the playoffs years ago ha ha
- BluesDroogie

We are starting to rebuild a very solid foundation with byfield,turcotte,kupari,kaliyev,as well as some established in nhl already.kopi,brown,doughty and quick able to pass them the torch as the next gen kings.all were drafted and gonna be lifers I believe and that says alot.

How did the Kings win 2 Cups in 3 years? DEFENSE.
- BluesDroogie

My brother and I were in your barn for game 5 of 2012 playoff game between kings and blues.we drove 11 hrs from ontario Canada to be there.one of my best hockey memories ever.great barn!also went to cup final game 4 in l.a same yr.awesome memories from that yr.

My brother and I were in your barn for game 5 of 2012 playoff game between kings and blues.we drove 11 hrs from ontario Canada to be there.one of my best hockey memories ever.great barn!also went to cup final game 4 in l.a same yr.awesome memories from that yr.
- Dewey8

Only 11 hours. Hell I drove from north of Denver Colorado and it took me 13 hours. I thought I drove fast ha ha

We are starting to rebuild a very solid foundation with byfield,turcotte,kupari,kaliyev,as well as some established in nhl already.kopi,brown,doughty and quick able to pass them the torch as the next gen kings.all were drafted and gonna be lifers I believe and that says alot.
- Dewey8

Kings surprised me this year. Thought they would be worse than they are. I hate, absolutely hate doughty. He is a cheap shot artist that gets the refs to call penalties in his favor. But oh well I guess. Kings have some good players


Blues have some guys that could pass the torch. Bouwmeester and Steen. I still remember Steen stealing the puck from Quick in ot to wrap it around and win the game! Ha ha.

Goaltending isn’t the problem. Binner played good enough to win and steal games in the playoffs. Follow me. Blues weakness was their all around team defensive play. On the way to the Cup, every single player worked as a unit and defended as such. That lacked all season. Team chemistry was the problem. Rotating players in and out of the lineup hurts. Covvid hurt. Injuries hurt.


Husso MAY be good. We should be able to find out next season. I would stay with Binnington and Husso all day long. Losing Petro to free agency (which after the Faulk trade/resign deal I expected) loosing Bow, and Gunnar, what Could we expect? Seriously. Mikkola looks good and I like his tenacity. Parayko played injured most of the season. Walman made some improvements.

Blues forwards could not score. Sanford is a liability. I’d keep Clifford over him. Kid has talent but has yet to develop the mentality to consistently play at the level demanded.

Barby, I want more from. Blais, I want more from.

Losing Sunny was a huge set back

Krug, leaves us wanting more defense but he is an offensive d man and this was a growing season as he is new to the western conference. Just like Faulk was last year. Asked too much of early on

Resign Bozer for 2-2.5 for veteran depth. Hurts me to say it but if Schwartz wants more money, find it elsewhere. I’d offer him substantially less

Also resign BACKES. That way he can retire as a Blue!
- BluesDroogie

Outsiders take here, but the fact you even made the playoffs when you won the cup was unbelievable considering you were deadlast at Christmas. Your team is a tough group of grinders, with some high mileage on most players. You gave up a large price tag to acquire O'Rielly and Schenn, and it paid off. Now as a result of your success, you are now an older team with your 11 highest paid players averaging over 31 years old. This is a veteran heavy team that needs to start moving some older assets while they still have value. Otherwise you will preserve a legendary roster well beyond their prime. Happens to most winning clubs. Plus, have you seen what Col just did to Vegas? They are rolling through everyone.