Hockey Guy: Blues must improve from within Live
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong sounds ready to make some more changes in the wake of his team's first-round demise.
Some veterans most certainly are headed out the door. Derek Roy, in particular, failed to make a positive impact some spring time. Armstrong vows to explore free agency and the trade market for upgrades, especially to the offense.
But the Blues ability (or inability) to finally catch the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings will hinge on their development younger players.
Vladimir Tarasenko was their best forward in the playoffs. Jaden Schwartz showed immense promise too. They will be key to the fate of the 2014-15 team.
Goaltender Jake Allen will get his chance, too, teaming with a veteran TBA. Armstrong broached these topics and others during a media debriefing.
Here are some highlights of his remarks and the reaction they stirred among the hockey media:
Let's face it, Ryan Miller is likely gone. If he can command a long-term deal at this late stage of his career -- after a mediocre playoff showing -- then he should grab that money and run. And the Blues should turn the page, despite the high cost of renting him for a failed playoff run.
Yes, this team needs more scoring. But Armstrong subtracted two mid-level scorers, David Perron and Chris Stewart, without replacing that skill for the stretch. So some of the offensive failure is on management.
Going forward, I'd like to see more of sturdy winger Dmitrij Jaskin, who could fill at least a third-line role. Ty Rattie could play on a scoring line if he can make a quick Schwartz-like adaptation to the NHL. Rattie took a big step in the NHL this season.
Since the Blues need to pay Tarasenko, Schwartz and Vladimir Sobotka for the long haul, spending big on another scorer may not be feasible. This corner of cyberspace is fond of St. Louisan Paul Stastny, a pending free agent, but can the franchise really go there?
Stastny is not a game-breaker, but he can score goals and he is more of a natural offensive center than anybody the team has.
Armstrong noted that Patrik Berglund played with a bad shoulder in the playoffs. But he wasn't an impact scorer when healthy this season, so he is really no more than a third-line forward.
Does the team want to pay him big money on a new deal? That seems unlikely, given the desire to focus on scoring.
Some veterans most certainly are headed out the door. Derek Roy, in particular, failed to make a positive impact some spring time. Armstrong vows to explore free agency and the trade market for upgrades, especially to the offense.
But the Blues ability (or inability) to finally catch the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings will hinge on their development younger players.
Vladimir Tarasenko was their best forward in the playoffs. Jaden Schwartz showed immense promise too. They will be key to the fate of the 2014-15 team.
Goaltender Jake Allen will get his chance, too, teaming with a veteran TBA. Armstrong broached these topics and others during a media debriefing.
Here are some highlights of his remarks and the reaction they stirred among the hockey media:
VIDEO: Watch Doug Armstrong's meeting with the media to discuss the end of the season. >>> bit.ly/1fu7Rkg #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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Armstrong: "This year, there's a true sense, hurt, that we have squandered an opportunity & opportunities don’t come a lot in this league."
Apr. 29, 2014
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Armstrong: "We're in the winning business and we're not winning at the appropriate time of year and we have to fix that." #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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Armstrong: "We need that killer instinct. We need to be able to when you have a team down 2-0 ... (1/2)
Apr. 29, 2014
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... you need to take the knife and jam it through their eye into their brain and kill them. We don't do that." (2/2) #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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So when is Gary Bettman going to take a stand against St Louis GM Doug Armstrong talking up stabbing people in the head
Apr. 29, 2014
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Armstrong: "We're going to search the market, we're going to see how we can improve our team." #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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"When Barret Jackman and Chris Porter are tied for third in scoring, you need more from other people." #stlblues Doug Armstrong on playoffs
Apr. 29, 2014
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GM Doug Armstrong: "I'd like to send a thank you out to our loyal fans and our sponsors for this year..." #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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Armstrong: "I would like give them the assurances we're going to move forward & we're going to do the best job possible over the summer..."
Apr. 29, 2014
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Armstrong: "...and into next year to take what has been a very good regular season team & turn it into a very good playoff team." #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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In the past, Doug Armstrong has talked a lot about finding scoring from within. He spoke a bit differently today. #StlBlues
Apr. 29, 2014
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#stlblues GM Doug Armstrong (“Army" in LRT) also said Jaskin will have his spot to lose on next year’s Blues team. #ChicagoWolves
Apr. 29, 2014
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Doug Armstrong: "Jake Allen is going to be here next here. He’s earned the right. ... He will be one of two." #stlblues
Apr. 29, 2014
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Doug Armstrong on @34jallen : "Who his partner will be will be discussed at the appropriate time and that will be over the next few weeks."
Apr. 29, 2014
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"He's not a scapegoat for this and it'd be disingenuous to even go down that path." #stlblues GM Doug Armstrong on Ryan Miller
Apr. 29, 2014
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Let's face it, Ryan Miller is likely gone. If he can command a long-term deal at this late stage of his career -- after a mediocre playoff showing -- then he should grab that money and run. And the Blues should turn the page, despite the high cost of renting him for a failed playoff run.
Yes, this team needs more scoring. But Armstrong subtracted two mid-level scorers, David Perron and Chris Stewart, without replacing that skill for the stretch. So some of the offensive failure is on management.
Going forward, I'd like to see more of sturdy winger Dmitrij Jaskin, who could fill at least a third-line role. Ty Rattie could play on a scoring line if he can make a quick Schwartz-like adaptation to the NHL. Rattie took a big step in the NHL this season.
Since the Blues need to pay Tarasenko, Schwartz and Vladimir Sobotka for the long haul, spending big on another scorer may not be feasible. This corner of cyberspace is fond of St. Louisan Paul Stastny, a pending free agent, but can the franchise really go there?
Stastny is not a game-breaker, but he can score goals and he is more of a natural offensive center than anybody the team has.
Armstrong noted that Patrik Berglund played with a bad shoulder in the playoffs. But he wasn't an impact scorer when healthy this season, so he is really no more than a third-line forward.
Does the team want to pay him big money on a new deal? That seems unlikely, given the desire to focus on scoring.
