Let's Go Blues

kodos wrote:What's the hobby? Homoerotic man crushes on men who get paid to smack a rubber disc around some ice?

No, that's a gay crush. A mancrush is when you want to like hang out with the guy and be friends with him.

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in hanging out with any hockey players really. All I'd have to say to them, is gee, you play hockeyz good. Please sign my hat....nah...I only want signatures on my gamers.

The hobby would be collecting game worn jerseys. Presently I have gamers from the: NAHL, UHL, ECHL, AHL, and NHL. In the past I had IHL (the real one, not the fake bit), the QSPHL (now LNAH), and OHL.

I'm not a hardcore collector by any stretch...there are some who never wash them...and leave them in the exact condition they were worn...which has always seemed very strange to me...there are some collectors who will ONLY have their jerseys signed on the fight strap...also seems silly to me.

Learning about all the things collectors look for...pilling, puck marks, rips, burns, tears, repairs. My Brewer 07-08 Set 1 Away has some very nice burns, tears, and a 6 inch long stitch up. My Ryan Johnson River Otters 04-05 Green Alt has nothing...he was too fast for the guys in the UHL.

My NAHL Bandits jersey has all kinds of wear because they only have one set of jerseys.

My Sanford 06-07 Blues Set 1 White gamer has a very nice puck mark on the left shoulder about the size of a baseball, that I used to photomatch it.

All kinds of stuff like that. You can actually learn quite a bit at www.meigray.com

kodos wrote:Did you have a worry about Sanford?

Oh, now I know what you're talking about.

No. I didn't, except staying healthy.

Sanford's second season in the NHL was uncharted territory.

Battra wrote:I have a worry about Mason. Very few people seem to hold this view. That's fine. I had a worry about Toivonen, etc.

You know, it's pretty easy to "have a worry" about Blues goaltenders, since most/all of them tend to leave town having failed. I'm not sure you're blazing a new trail there. But, Mason played like a rockstar last year and has shown signs this year as well. You ride him as the number 1 unless he shows otherwise, or Conlkin posts crazy shutouts in all of his backup starts.

Not a difficult concept, really.

ohio BLUES wrote:

Battra wrote:I have a worry about Mason. Very few people seem to hold this view. That's fine. I had a worry about Toivonen, etc.

You know, it's pretty easy to "have a worry" about Blues goaltenders, since most/all of them tend to leave town having failed. I'm not sure you're blazing a new trail there. But, Mason played like a rockstar last year and has shown signs this year as well. You ride him as the number 1 unless he shows otherwise, or Conlkin posts crazy shutouts in all of his backup starts.

Not a difficult concept, really.

I didn't see Mason as playing like a rockstar. I saw the team coming together as one and playing some of the best and most entertaining hockey I've seen in St. Louis down the stretch. It was a magical time. Mason didn't wow me. He was very, VERY solid, but not spectacular.

As I stated in the first post, my concern about Mason is that he's been down this path before in Nashville. I think from the games I've seen, Mace could've played a bit better...just my opinion. I'd very much like to be wrong on this one, but I'm not sold on this guy.

ohio BLUES wrote:

Battra wrote:I have a worry about Mason. Very few people seem to hold this view. That's fine. I had a worry about Toivonen, etc.

You know, it's pretty easy to "have a worry" about Blues goaltenders, since most/all of them tend to leave town having failed. I'm not sure you're blazing a new trail there. But, Mason played like a rockstar last year and has shown signs this year as well. You ride him as the number 1 unless he shows otherwise, or Conlkin posts crazy shutouts in all of his backup starts.

Not a difficult concept, really.

Pretty much every single goaltender in the NHL leaves their respective towns as failures. It's part of the job.

How many guys in the last 20 years have been considered big successes for their teams for more then 2 or 3 years? It's less then 10. And in that same amount of time, you've had hundreds of "failures" and flashes in the pans. It's just how it works.

Predicting a goalie isn't going to work out isn't rocket science. It's almost like predicting that McDonalds will still be selling fries tomorrow.

Battra wrote:

ohio BLUES wrote:

Battra wrote:I have a worry about Mason. Very few people seem to hold this view. That's fine. I had a worry about Toivonen, etc.

You know, it's pretty easy to "have a worry" about Blues goaltenders, since most/all of them tend to leave town having failed. I'm not sure you're blazing a new trail there. But, Mason played like a rockstar last year and has shown signs this year as well. You ride him as the number 1 unless he shows otherwise, or Conlkin posts crazy shutouts in all of his backup starts.

Not a difficult concept, really.

I didn't see Mason as playing like a rockstar. I saw the team coming together as one and playing some of the best and most entertaining hockey I've seen in St. Louis down the stretch. It was a magical time. Mason didn't wow me. He was very, VERY solid, but not spectacular.

As I stated in the first post, my concern about Mason is that he's been down this path before in Nashville. I think from the games I've seen, Mace could've played a bit better...just my opinion. I'd very much like to be wrong on this one, but I'm not sold on this guy.

Did you watch any of the games? Mason played better in the second half then any blues goaltender I've ever seen.

kodos wrote:

ohio BLUES wrote:

Battra wrote:I have a worry about Mason. Very few people seem to hold this view. That's fine. I had a worry about Toivonen, etc.

You know, it's pretty easy to "have a worry" about Blues goaltenders, since most/all of them tend to leave town having failed. I'm not sure you're blazing a new trail there. But, Mason played like a rockstar last year and has shown signs this year as well. You ride him as the number 1 unless he shows otherwise, or Conlkin posts crazy shutouts in all of his backup starts.

Not a difficult concept, really.

Pretty much every single goaltender in the NHL leaves their respective towns as failures. It's part of the job.

How many guys in the last 20 years have been considered big successes for their teams for more then 2 or 3 years? It's less then 10. And in that same amount of time, you've had hundreds of "failures" and flashes in the pans. It's just how it works.

Predicting a goalie isn't going to work out isn't rocket science. It's almost like predicting that McDonalds will still be selling fries tomorrow.

Interesting point of view.

I don't necessarily agree, but I see your point.

Mason flopped in Nashville when he was in this position, and that's what worries me. He just fell flat on his face, which was how we came to acquire him. My hypothesis is that he's lacking a bit of self confidence and needs the fire under his arse daily.

Hmm...big success in the NHL for more than 2-3 years...well...I guess that depends on what we're calling a big success...going all the way back to 1989....

I'd say:

Luongo for FLA/VAN
Belfour for CHI
Roy for MTL/COL
Broduer for NJD
Richter for NYR
Fuhr for STL
Hasek for BUF/DET
Marc-Andre Fluery for PIT
Hextall for PHI
Kipprusoff for CAL
Lalime for OTT

There's 11. I'm basing these selections off of this criteria: either great playoff success or continued regular season success that lead to playoffs and a reasonable run in them at least once or twice, if not Stanley Cup Championship or Finals.

There's more to it than being a big success though...It's about how stable is our goaltending? We keep grinding the keepers out...

kodos wrote:

Battra wrote:

ohio BLUES wrote:

Battra wrote:I have a worry about Mason. Very few people seem to hold this view. That's fine. I had a worry about Toivonen, etc.

You know, it's pretty easy to "have a worry" about Blues goaltenders, since most/all of them tend to leave town having failed. I'm not sure you're blazing a new trail there. But, Mason played like a rockstar last year and has shown signs this year as well. You ride him as the number 1 unless he shows otherwise, or Conlkin posts crazy shutouts in all of his backup starts.

Not a difficult concept, really.

I didn't see Mason as playing like a rockstar. I saw the team coming together as one and playing some of the best and most entertaining hockey I've seen in St. Louis down the stretch. It was a magical time. Mason didn't wow me. He was very, VERY solid, but not spectacular.

As I stated in the first post, my concern about Mason is that he's been down this path before in Nashville. I think from the games I've seen, Mace could've played a bit better...just my opinion. I'd very much like to be wrong on this one, but I'm not sold on this guy.

Did you watch any of the games? Mason played better in the second half then any blues goaltender I've ever seen.

Yes. I watched and attended as many games as I could. From time to time he'd have a great save, and he played really, really well. I think he largely got that magical number of shots. Each goalie has a number of shots hardwired into his head that he wants to face per game....too many...or too few...get messed up. (CuJo's number was about 40...lol).

They played and won as a team. Was Mason the reason? Nope. It was symbiotic, he played better than Legace did, and the team got comfortable and went on a run. Once the chemistry worked out...they went to town, and it was glorious.

Another four pages? HOF! HOF! HOF!

Nyghtewynd wrote:Another four pages? HOF! HOF! HOF!

Battra wrote:

kodos wrote:What's the hobby? Homoerotic man crushes on men who get paid to smack a rubber disc around some ice?

No, that's a gay crush. A mancrush is when you want to like hang out with the guy and be friends with him.

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in hanging out with any hockey players really. All I'd have to say to them, is gee, you play hockeyz good. Please sign my hat....nah...I only want signatures on my gamers.

The hobby would be collecting game worn jerseys. Presently I have gamers from the: NAHL, UHL, ECHL, AHL, and NHL. In the past I had IHL (the real one, not the fake bit), the QSPHL (now LNAH), and OHL.

I'm not a hardcore collector by any stretch...there are some who never wash them...and leave them in the exact condition they were worn...which has always seemed very strange to me...there are some collectors who will ONLY have their jerseys signed on the fight strap...also seems silly to me.

Learning about all the things collectors look for...pilling, puck marks, rips, burns, tears, repairs. My Brewer 07-08 Set 1 Away has some very nice burns, tears, and a 6 inch long stitch up. My Ryan Johnson River Otters 04-05 Green Alt has nothing...he was too fast for the guys in the UHL.

My NAHL Bandits jersey has all kinds of wear because they only have one set of jerseys.

My Sanford 06-07 Blues Set 1 White gamer has a very nice puck mark on the left shoulder about the size of a baseball, that I used to photomatch it.

All kinds of stuff like that. You can actually learn quite a bit at http://www.meigray.com

All three are solid picks.

150 replies??? I just wanted thoughts on who would start THAT game...lol

VictorManthing wrote:

Nyghtewynd wrote:Another four pages? HOF! HOF! HOF!

I'll see your



and raise you

Jesus Christ! This might be my new favorite thread!

strocklen083 wrote:






Jesus Christ! This might be my new favorite thread!

Because of the post right above yours?

comeoriginal wrote:

strocklen083 wrote:






Jesus Christ! This might be my new favorite thread!

Because of the post right above yours?

Damn! Look at the newbie talkin a little smack. I like it.

So Battra....

What flaws did you see in the goaltending tonight? Is Mason ready to collapse yet or do you think he's got another week or two in him before he crumbles?

strocklen083 wrote:

comeoriginal wrote:

strocklen083 wrote:






Jesus Christ! This might be my new favorite thread!

Because of the post right above yours?

Damn! Look at the newbie talkin a little smack. I like it.

That's what I said, I like his style.

section319 wrote:

strocklen083 wrote:

comeoriginal wrote:

strocklen083 wrote:Jesus Christ! This might be my new favorite thread!

Because of the post right above yours?

Damn! Look at the newbie talkin a little smack. I like it.

That's what I said, I like his style.

I too find myself on the noob bandwagon. I want to buy him dinner... in a heterosexual way.

strocklen083 wrote:So Battra....

What flaws did you see in the goaltending tonight? Is Mason ready to collapse yet or do you think he's got another week or two in him before he crumbles?

Sorry, I'm in school on Mondays and Wednesdays...so I saw nothing.

I remembered to check the score of the game when I was into my 3rd double bourbon and Coke though...