In other news... guess coaching wasn't the only problem in St.L? Feel really bad for you Gary/Kev... things don't look promising for the team, and a fight in practice
Yep. Bortuzzo (who has plenty of fights under his belt) fights the young kid Sanford. WTF? Picking on a kid who's half your size? It's an utter mess and dumpster fire in StL right now.
There is a massive problem with our 'core' guys who've now been through three coaches. Steen, Petrangelo, Schwartz, Allen and Tarasenko. It's unspoken but known that Steen was pi$$ed when Petro was anointed Captain by our GM instead of it being him. Ever since then there has been talk of 'team Steen' vs 'Team Petro' in the locker room. On top of that....apparently Backes was the only guy who could reign in Tarasenko as far as getting max effort in practices and games and stop him from whining when he wasn't scoring.
Tarasenko's no-trade clause doesn't kick in until next season. I'd see what I could get for him and ship him. He's a talent yes....but he's the easiest to move right now. Petro's contract ends next year and he's gonna want top tier D money. I wouldn't give it to him. He's upper tier potential and has flashes of it but I don't think he ever gets there. He has a full no trade though....but I'd be shopping him.
no one is going to take Steen and his $5 Million a year hit for the next 4 years. He's only good for Penalty Kills and third line efforts these days with an occasional goal when we really don't need it. Full no trade clause.
Schwartz is hurt as much as he plays. He can be the straw that stirs your teams drink when he's healthy and going but for the most part he's another one I'd turn the page on. Full no trade clause though.
And then there's Jake Allen. He's super gifted and talented....has proven he can steal a playoff series yet he head cases out at least once a year. You can't blame this season on him though. Early on when the team was scoring a ton our defense was non existent and he was getting peppered left and right. Then, as we tighten our D up we can't score meaning he gives up a goal an loses. Hard to trade him though with a full no trad and $4.35 Million dollar salary.
I'm talking blow it up. Those guys aren't 'bad' players and would be a gift to most other teams but I'm F'n done with them. Send them packing and let them win a cup with whichever team they end up on in Traditional former Blues player style.
Funny thing is....they are SO freaking bad this year I don't/can't even get mad
I have absolutely zero expectations. I just feel horrible for the owner Stillman who has done EVERYTHING he possibly can as an owner for these players/coaches/GM....including spending to the cap this season. and they reward him with zero drive or heart. It's pathetic.