The 2014 NHL Season - Two Accounts, No Cups - Page 110

On March 02 2014 08:26 Flaccid wrote:
On the topic of St.Louis leveraging the future to make a run, I'd love to see them take a stab at Hemsky (depending on what they have left for picks).

My love for Ales Hemsky knows no bounds. But he's a big-game player who has been kept out of the playoffs for the majority of his 20s. He has never been properly appreciated in Edmonton and if they are stupid enough to trade him, then I'd love to see the Blues as the club that benefits.

But holy hell the Oilers would be dumb to move him. Especially if the return is a later round draft pick or two. Nothing like trading a good NHL player who makes a team better for a couple valueless picks when you're already like 7 years into a rebuild. He would net nothing that becomes valuable in that scenario for another 4 or 5 years (we know the value of later round picks and how long they take to become NHLers - if they even do).

I'm really happy that I got to watch Hemsky kill it at the Olympics this year. He was sensational. But at this point I'm more a fan of the player than I am of the team and he deserves better. So I'm willing to watch the Oilers be garbage for another 5 years if it gets Hemsky a chance at a cup.

On March 02 2014 08:45 Thallis wrote:


Hemsky would be as bad as Stewart on the Blues. There's not a deal to be made there.

On March 02 2014 10:10 Flaccid wrote:


Yeah, I agree he wouldn't work on that team but I just want him to have a chance on a contender =(

On March 02 2014 10:17 Flaccid wrote:
Isn't Boston pretty much the only team in the East that hasn't been slaughtered by the west this year? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Twelve of the 16 teams in the East were .500 or worse against the Western teams heading into Tuesday. None of the eight teams in the Metropolitan Division had winning records against the West. The Tampa Bay Lightning (6-0-0), Boston Bruins (2-1-1), Toronto Maple Leafs (6-3-0) and Detroit Red Wings (4-3-2) were the only Eastern teams with winning records against the West.

On March 01 2014 22:39 Thallis wrote:


He's a top prospect within the organization, which is what really matters.St. Louis is a team with money problems and cannot afford to trade away a chance at a young impact player, that was how this team is built and is likely the only way to sustain this success. The Blues could have easily won with Halak or Elliott in net, the same way Chicago won with Crawford, Philadelphia got to the finals with Leighton/ Boucher, Detroit winning with Osgood, Pittsburgh winning with MAF. Incidentally, the Blues had a wieghted 20% chance at winning the cup with Halak and Elliott, and this trade doesn't address the real issues the team has. They still need a #1 center they can lean on for scoring in the playoffs, and just traded away most of their ammunition that could be used to get that.



10-20 is clearly where Burke thought those picks were going to be. He thought his defense was strong, and adding a scorer like Kessel would push them into playoff contention. Before that season began, most people agreed. That is why he used draft picks only. Burke was wrong and paid for a risk he took. The condition is on the 3rd to become the 2014 first if the Blues reach the WCF or Miller re-signs. Making the WCF was something that was more than reasonable before Miller, and the real thing that worries most around the Blues is if they're going to be able to score in the playoffs. This trade hurts the Blues towards achieving that. This move could also be an indication that the ownership needs a Stanley Cup this season, and as a budget team that has had trouble filling up the seats despite having some of the lowest ticket prices in the league with one of their best teams ever, if they don't get it, they could be in a lot of financial trouble. The owners have said that they're not worried about the money, but resigning Miller could have huge implications on their ability to keep Shattenkirk, Schwartz, or Tarasenko, who are all far more important than Miller moving forward. The Blues have never been set up this well for a let down as they are now, and there are now big consequences if they follow through in true Blues fashion.



He's a horrible fit, but he obviously has value. He was pretty good last season during the lockout. Teams around the league are still interested in him. He could have been used (or added to with one or more of those picks) to add a young player who actually helps the Blues like a Mika Zibanejad or a pick. Instead they got another gritty depth forward in Ott, when they already have Reaves, Lappiere, Sobotka, Morrow, Backes and Oshie. That is simply extremely poor asset management.

On March 02 2014 10:17 Flaccid wrote:
Isn't Boston pretty much the only team in the East that hasn't been slaughtered by the west this year? Correct me if I'm wrong.