Now that the NHL trade deadline has passed it is time to assess where the Blues stand going forward.
What to think... what to think...
Well, I suppose there is always next season.
The playoffs are a little too far out of reach this year. Even if the Blues get red hot they would still need to leap-frog 5 teams in the span of 20 games. I just don't see all of those teams cooling off, and all you need is for one of them to get hot themselves to doom the Blues.
No, it is time to build for next season, which is exactly what the Blues have been doing. They have cleared the books of a couple big contracts, gotten a couple draft picks for unrestricted free agents they were not going to re-sign anyway, and picked up a couple top drawer young NHLers and a decent prospect.
Meanwhile, this edition of the Note is going to have to get by with the Porters and Reaves of the world, which is fine for the most part. Replacing Brad Winchester is not the hardest thing in the world to do. McRae is banged up a little and on the shelf, which is a shame. The more games he could get at this level now the sooner he will be able to contribute consistently.
As for other players in the organization, the only one I could see making a brief debut appearance by year's end is Cade Fairchild presently with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, though it is more likely if he signs he will get some games in Peoria (who at least have a shot of making the playoffs.) Part of me would also like to see Mark Cundari get a cup of coffee with the big club, but he should get his chance next season to take the Peoria shuttle.
I'd be happier if there were a couple more forward prospects threatening to make the leap, but beyond Tarasenko no one even seems remotely possible to crack the lineup. This means we will need to look outside the organization. We should have the cap space to do just that.
But, do we have the will in the front office?
What to think... what to think...
Well, I suppose there is always next season.
The playoffs are a little too far out of reach this year. Even if the Blues get red hot they would still need to leap-frog 5 teams in the span of 20 games. I just don't see all of those teams cooling off, and all you need is for one of them to get hot themselves to doom the Blues.
No, it is time to build for next season, which is exactly what the Blues have been doing. They have cleared the books of a couple big contracts, gotten a couple draft picks for unrestricted free agents they were not going to re-sign anyway, and picked up a couple top drawer young NHLers and a decent prospect.
Meanwhile, this edition of the Note is going to have to get by with the Porters and Reaves of the world, which is fine for the most part. Replacing Brad Winchester is not the hardest thing in the world to do. McRae is banged up a little and on the shelf, which is a shame. The more games he could get at this level now the sooner he will be able to contribute consistently.
As for other players in the organization, the only one I could see making a brief debut appearance by year's end is Cade Fairchild presently with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, though it is more likely if he signs he will get some games in Peoria (who at least have a shot of making the playoffs.) Part of me would also like to see Mark Cundari get a cup of coffee with the big club, but he should get his chance next season to take the Peoria shuttle.
I'd be happier if there were a couple more forward prospects threatening to make the leap, but beyond Tarasenko no one even seems remotely possible to crack the lineup. This means we will need to look outside the organization. We should have the cap space to do just that.
But, do we have the will in the front office?
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