Quote to Note

[cprice12]

From JR's article:

"We're as close to a finished product as we've been in a number of years. The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but what we found out last year is you have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup unless you play in the Stanley Cup tournament. We're going in with the mindset that we're going to make the playoffs."
- Blues GM Doug Armstrong


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... z1XCIqj8xS

I hadn't really thought about it...but coming into the season, this is the best team we've had since the lockout ended.
Expectations should be higher than they have been in a while.

If they stay relatively healthy and Halak plays well, I think everything else will take care of itself and we'll easily be a playoff team.

[philco_3]

From JR's article:
The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but what we found out last year is you have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup unless you play in the Stanley Cup tournament. We're going in with the mindset that we're going to make the playoffs."
- Blues GM Doug Armstrong

That's some real John Madden thinking there.

[joosforjihad]

From JR's article:
The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but what we found out last year is you have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup unless you play in the Stanley Cup tournament. We're going in with the mindset that we're going to make the playoffs."
- Blues GM Doug Armstrong

That's some real John Madden thinking there.

His logic is unassailable.

[cardsfan04]

From JR's article:
The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but what we found out last year is you have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup unless you play in the Stanley Cup tournament. We're going in with the mindset that we're going to make the playoffs."
- Blues GM Doug Armstrong

That's some real John Madden thinking there.

Yeah, I literally laughed out loud when I read the quote. It's almost as good as "You see, the team that scores the most points will win the game."

[Ruutu15]

From JR's article:
The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but what we found out last year is you have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup unless you play in the Stanley Cup tournament. We're going in with the mindset that we're going to make the playoffs."
- Blues GM Doug Armstrong

That's some real John Madden thinking there.

His logic is unassailable.

John Madden had a career .763 win percentage as a coach. I think it would be a good idea to listen to such logic.

[philco_3]

KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid

[WaukeeBlues]

Oh ok so THIS is the year of leaps and bounds? Got it... I got confused with '08, '09 and '10... my bad.

[philco_3]

Oh ok so THIS is the year of leaps and bounds? Got it... I got confused with '08, '09 and '10... my bad.

The missing piece of the puzzle...so apparently they threw away the old puzzle and found one all the pieces.

[DaDitka]

From JR's article:

"We're as close to a finished product as we've been in a number of years. The ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but what we found out last year is you have no chance of winning the Stanley Cup unless you play in the Stanley Cup tournament. We're going in with the mindset that we're going to make the playoffs."
- Blues GM Doug Armstrong


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... z1XCIqj8xS

I hadn't really thought about it...but coming into the season, this is the best team we've had since the lockout ended.
Expectations should be higher than they have been in a while.

If they stay relatively healthy and Halak plays well, I think everything else will take care of itself and we'll easily be a playoff team.

That is going to be the key here. He played OK last year, but great teams have goalies that steel them 10 or so games in a season. He showed a little of that early last year, but very little of it the rest of the year. It's not a matter of your goaltender not being a weakness, it's a matter of your goaltender being a difference maker.

[cprice12]

Oh ok so THIS is the year of leaps and bounds? Got it... I got confused with '08, '09 and '10... my bad.

Would you disagree with the opinion that this team should be the best team we've had since coming out of the lockout?

[thedoc]

Don't stop believin

[WaukeeBlues]

Oh ok so THIS is the year of leaps and bounds? Got it... I got confused with '08, '09 and '10... my bad.

Would you disagree with the opinion that this team should be the best team we've had since coming out of the lockout?

No but I've thought that every season since the lockout. That was my point.

[cprice12]

Oh ok so THIS is the year of leaps and bounds? Got it... I got confused with '08, '09 and '10... my bad.

Would you disagree with the opinion that this team should be the best team we've had since coming out of the lockout?

No but I've thought that every season since the lockout. That was my point.

So did I. But looking back on those teams and comparing them to this one, it's easy to see that this one has the most potential.

And they would have faired better last year, and maybe made the playoffs had it not been for the massive amount of injuries to key players.

A healthier team, plus the addition of Stewart, Shattenkirk, Arnott, Langenbrunner, Nichol and Huskins...plus the breakthrough years of Berglund & Petro... this year's team should be quite a bit better...if they stay fairly healthy. Hopefully Oshie can net 20+...and I think he can if he stays healthy.

And it would be absolutely huge to get Perron back sometime this season. If he could contribute some, then that's just icing.

This team should be pretty good... a lot hinges on how well Halak will play. If he is solid, I like this team a lot.

[Portland Blues]

Don't stop believin

[Ruutu15]

Oh ok so THIS is the year of leaps and bounds? Got it... I got confused with '08, '09 and '10... my bad.

Would you disagree with the opinion that this team should be the best team we've had since coming out of the lockout?

No but I've thought that every season since the lockout. That was my point.

So did I. But looking back on those teams and comparing them to this one, it's easy to see that this one has the most potential.

And they would have faired better last year, and maybe made the playoffs had it not been for the massive amount of injuries to key players.

A healthier team, plus the addition of Stewart, Shattenkirk, Arnott, Langenbrunner, Nichol and Huskins...plus the breakthrough years of Berglund & Petro... this year's team should be quite a bit better...if they stay fairly healthy. Hopefully Oshie can net 20+...and I think he can if he stays healthy.

And it would be absolutely huge to get Perron back sometime this season. If he could contribute some, then that's just icing.

This team should be pretty good... a lot hinges on how well Halak will play. If he is solid, I like this team a lot.

I seriously don't see any scenario that places the Blues above 4th in the division. The Blackhawks and Detroit are interchangeable at 1st, followed by Nashville. You're talking about 80 year old Arnott? Nichol? The same Scott Nichol who could barely keep his job on the Blackhawks' 4th line when they were losing 60 games a year? Another Blackhawks reject in Kent Huskins? That's reason for optimism?!

I admire the optimism. I'm not even trying to be sarcastic here. But you're talking about a mix of unproven guys like Shattenkirk, a handful of 4th liners, and guys who are one season away from hanging 'em up. You don't know if Perron is coming back at all this season, and Oshie is wasting his career away tits up to the bar. Say what you want about Patrick Kane...he's a drunk, but at least he makes up for it by showing up to practice on time and scoring constantly.

I told you that if the Blues finished ahead of the Hawks this year, I'd donate to either the site or the Wickenheiser charity. When you start naming off guys like Kent Huskins, Scott Nichol, and the 2011 version of Jason Arnott, I'm feeling pretty damned confident that I won't be reaching for my wallet in April.

Flame away. You know I'm right.

[Leedog]

It seems as if everyone has anointed Petro as our #1 defenseman. Let's hope there isn't a "sophomore slump" that is so common, or a lot of these expectations are out the window.
Also, Alex, between now and the 16th....walk the Goddamn golf course!

[STLADOGG]

Also, Alex, between now and the 16th....walk the Goddamn golf course!

[goon attack]

I have zero expectations. Can you blame me?

[DaDitka]

I'll put it this way. If this team does not make the playoffs, they should be looking for a new coach and a new starting goalie next year.

If they squeak into the playoffs as the 8 seed and get swept in the first round, they should still take a very long look at the HC.

These are not unfair expectations what so ever for this club.

[philco_3]

I have zero expectations. Can you blame me?

Nope. I expect them to finish 30th. Anything above that will be awesome.