Tracking the Improbable...

[ViPeRx007]

This thread has really become a tribute to what Andy Murray has done since he got here. To even have this thread at all is quite an accomplishment on its own, let alone having it go this far. I don't see the Blues making it, but they're right there. If you had told me they'd even be close a few months ago I would have laughed in your face and called you a derogatory name.

Coach Murray

[BringBackZezel]

Teh Dream is over.

The Blues are 16 points out of 8th place with 7 games to go...

And before we go anointing Andy Murray, the Blues are 3-5-2 in their last 10. It's quite possible that they played well because of the coaching change, and it wasn't a long term miracle solution. It's happened many, many times before.

[stlbluz]

I don't get it.

[kodos]

Teh Dream is over.

The Blues are 16 points out of 8th place with 7 games to go...

And before we go anointing Andy Murray, the Blues are 3-5-2 in their last 10. It's quite possible that they played well because of the coaching change, and it wasn't a long term miracle solution. It's happened many, many times before.

3-5-2 is still a lot better then they have been. Especially when you consider that they gutted the team and we have several key injuries.

I'm optimistic about their chances next year.

[SMS Bleeds Blue]

Much as I'd like to see it happen, The Blues won't even be able to pass Colorado, never mind passing Colorado AND Calgary. It's just a shame that current management wanted to give Kitchen a decent chance to show he could be a head coach on the NHL level. Had Murray started the season, The Blues would have made it. Even firing Kitchen 3 weeks earlier than they did, might have gotten The Blues in (but that's another story).

Checketts and J.D. want to have The Blues' organisation do right by the players and all employees, while at the same time, answer to the fans' needs.

They want to build an organisation known for class (for the longrun). They did right by Guerin and Tkachuk, and Kitchen and Legace. This will be the first really high-class blues' organisation since The Salomans. I predict they'll be winners and make The City of St. Louis proud. Let's just hope that the City Fathers appreciate this, and lift the City taxes.

In the longer perspective, the hiring of Murray may have come at the perfect time. By waiting those extra three weeks, ownership ensured that they would be able to sell at the trade deadline, turning bargain-bin players like Guerin into first-round draft picks. But the move was made early enough to provide a significant boost at the box office in late season, and to generate a wave of enthusiasm that should bode well for season-ticket sales this summer.

[BringBackZezel]

Teh Dream is over.

The Blues are 16 points out of 8th place with 7 games to go...

And before we go anointing Andy Murray, the Blues are 3-5-2 in their last 10. It's quite possible that they played well because of the coaching change, and it wasn't a long term miracle solution. It's happened many, many times before.

3-5-2 is still a lot better then they have been. Especially when you consider that they gutted the team and we have several key injuries.

I'm optimistic about their chances next year.

I'm optimistic about their chances as well, as there's no question that Andy Murray is better than Mike Kitchen, but it's pretty obvious now that this was never really the team that was awful under Kitchen, and never really the team that was great for the 28 game stretch (or whatever it was) once Murray took over. This is an average team at best. They have to keep getting better.

[kodos]

I can agree with average at best. Right now anyway.

They are however, in a good position to be buyers in the offseason and add some difference makers.

In 2-3 years, some of these kids should be difference makers as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that... it's all uphill from here.

[Hollywood]

Teh Dream is over.

The Blues are 16 points out of 8th place with 7 games to go...

And before we go anointing Andy Murray, the Blues are 3-5-2 in their last 10. It's quite possible that they played well because of the coaching change, and it wasn't a long term miracle solution. It's happened many, many times before.

3-5-2 is still a lot better then they have been. Especially when you consider that they gutted the team and we have several key injuries.

I'm optimistic about their chances next year.

I'm optimistic about their chances as well, as there's no question that Andy Murray is better than Mike Kitchen, but it's pretty obvious now that this was never really the team that was awful under Kitchen, and never really the team that was great for the 28 game stretch (or whatever it was) once Murray took over. This is an average team at best. They have to keep getting better.

Considering the talent that this team has.....I'll take average right now.

If you would have heard that Glen Metropolit, Ville Nieminen, DJ King, Tom Mojzis, Jeff Woywitka, and Matt Walker would all be getting regular ice time to go along with Drake, Dvorak, Ryan Johnson, McKee would not play more than 30 games, and that our starting goaltender was going to be Cash.....who here would have thought that the Blues would be 'average'

Looking into the future, having guys like Stempniak, Backes, Boyes makes me think that they can be contenders sooner than later. Take that core and add guys that are already on the team (ie: Orszagh) and youngsters coming (Oshie, Berglund) and a FA or two....no reason not to think that it is a good time to be a Blues fan.

[cprice12]

Teh Dream is over.

The Blues are 16 points out of 8th place with 7 games to go...

And before we go anointing Andy Murray, the Blues are 3-5-2 in their last 10. It's quite possible that they played well because of the coaching change, and it wasn't a long term miracle solution. It's happened many, many times before.

3-5-2 is still a lot better then they have been. Especially when you consider that they gutted the team and we have several key injuries.

I'm optimistic about their chances next year.

I'm optimistic about their chances as well, as there's no question that Andy Murray is better than Mike Kitchen, but it's pretty obvious now that this was never really the team that was awful under Kitchen, and never really the team that was great for the 28 game stretch (or whatever it was) once Murray took over. This is an average team at best. They have to keep getting better.

Our #1 goalie is out with an injury...Sanford has been in consistent, and Cash has a ways to go yet.
3-5-2 over the last 10 isn't good, but that is without Guerin and without Legace.
Two huge reasons why the Blues were so good after Murray took over.
This team has some tweaking to so before they are contenders, but you can see that they are on their way.
The right moves this offseason and with the additions of Jonnson and maybe Oshie (should he play well) next year...and I think we are signifcantly better...which should easily put us in the playoffs.

[BringBackZezel]

...which should easily put us in the playoffs.

your error is in using the word "easily". You should have used "possibly". You can't seriously expect the Blues to be that much better next year without Tkachuk or Guerin (yes, they might have one or the other back, but since we've been through the finances they don't have the money to sign both, and even getting one will probably mean they can't sign another good FA)

On top of that, they're only a playoff team if they're healthy, and the team hasn't really been healthy for a couple seasons. There's no reason to assume they will be next year.

With the right moves this offseason, they'll contend for the playoffs and another 1st round exit.

[Hollywood]

Sanford has been in consistent,

Hopefully he can get out of that consistent he is in soon.

[stlbluz]

I can't believe that you guys are so down on Kitch. He managed to get us into the playoffs when he took over for Q, what had Andy done?

[BringBackZezel]

I can't believe that you guys are so down on Kitch. He managed to get us into the playoffs when he took over for Q, what had Andy done?

Yet another example of how a coaching change can make a team play better, even if the new guy is not necessarily better as a coach.

For the record, I do think Murray is a better coach than Kitchen, but Murray's coaching record doesn't exactly scream success.

He's never made it past the 2nd round, he's only made the playoffs 50% of the full seasons he coached, and he's never had a team finish with more than 95 points, which wouldn't even make the playoffs this season.

He was the best guy for the job when he was hired, but that doesn't mean he's the guy to lead this franchise to the Cup.

[stlbluz]

I can't believe that you guys are so down on Kitch. He managed to get us into the playoffs when he took over for Q, what had Andy done?

Yet another example of how a coaching change can make a team play better, even if the new guy is not necessarily better as a coach.

For the record, I do think Murray is a better coach than Kitchen, but Murray's coaching record doesn't exactly scream success.

He's never made it past the 2nd round, he's only made the playoffs 50% of the full seasons he coached, and he's never had a team finish with more than 95 points, which wouldn't even make the playoffs this season.

He was the best guy for the job when he was hired, but that doesn't mean he's the guy to lead this franchise to the Cup.

I was joking about Kitch, though those are very good points.

[kodos]

I can't believe that you guys are so down on Kitch. He managed to get us into the playoffs when he took over for Q, what had Andy done?

Yet another example of how a coaching change can make a team play better, even if the new guy is not necessarily better as a coach.

For the record, I do think Murray is a better coach than Kitchen, but Murray's coaching record doesn't exactly scream success.

He's never made it past the 2nd round, he's only made the playoffs 50% of the full seasons he coached, and he's never had a team finish with more than 95 points, which wouldn't even make the playoffs this season.

He was the best guy for the job when he was hired, but that doesn't mean he's the guy to lead this franchise to the Cup.

Yeah, but LA didn't have a powerhouse roster as any point during his tenure. He was going up against teams with twice the payroll.

[BringBackZezel]

I can't believe that you guys are so down on Kitch. He managed to get us into the playoffs when he took over for Q, what had Andy done?

Yet another example of how a coaching change can make a team play better, even if the new guy is not necessarily better as a coach.

For the record, I do think Murray is a better coach than Kitchen, but Murray's coaching record doesn't exactly scream success.

He's never made it past the 2nd round, he's only made the playoffs 50% of the full seasons he coached, and he's never had a team finish with more than 95 points, which wouldn't even make the playoffs this season.

He was the best guy for the job when he was hired, but that doesn't mean he's the guy to lead this franchise to the Cup.

Yeah, but LA didn't have a powerhouse roster as any point during his tenure. He was going up against teams with twice the payroll.

But there is nothing there that says he could win with a powerhouse roster and twice everyone else's payroll. Furthermore, he won't have a powerhouse roster in St. Louis for a long time (if at all) and he'll never be able to outspend anyone in St. Louis.

[the knob]

Time to lock this thread or change the title - Blues were officially eliminated by Cal-gary's win over the Hawks.

[OS]

I'm optimistic about their chances as well, as there's no question that Andy Murray is better than Mike Kitchen, but it's pretty obvious now that this was never really the team that was awful under Kitchen, and never really the team that was great for the 28 game stretch (or whatever it was) once Murray took over. This is an average team at best. They have to keep getting better.

The only thing that is clear is that they got worse after they traded their two best forwards. That's not exactly shocking either.

[BringBackZezel]

I'm optimistic about their chances as well, as there's no question that Andy Murray is better than Mike Kitchen, but it's pretty obvious now that this was never really the team that was awful under Kitchen, and never really the team that was great for the 28 game stretch (or whatever it was) once Murray took over. This is an average team at best. They have to keep getting better.

The only thing that is clear is that they got worse after they traded their two best forwards. That's not exactly shocking either.

They could be even worse right now if they had kept Tkachuk and Guerin.

[OS]

I'm optimistic about their chances as well, as there's no question that Andy Murray is better than Mike Kitchen, but it's pretty obvious now that this was never really the team that was awful under Kitchen, and never really the team that was great for the 28 game stretch (or whatever it was) once Murray took over. This is an average team at best. They have to keep getting better.

The only thing that is clear is that they got worse after they traded their two best forwards. That's not exactly shocking either.

They could be even worse right now if they had kept Tkachuk and Guerin.

They could be worse if they traded a 4th and 5th round picks Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin too.