Husso needs to prove himself for a full season at the AHL level, which he is trying to do that this season. If he can complete that assignment, then he figures to back up Binnington next season after Allen is moved to create cap space.
I am a big Kyrou fan, but I would not be shocked to see him spend a bit more time at the AHL level this season. The Blues wanted him to fill a primary role at San Antonio longer than he did this season. Circumstances brought him here ahead of schedule. The Blues may still see him in that light. But, yes, this man adds speed and skill -- qualities this team will need when guys like Perron and Schenn suffer their inevitable cool-down. Big things are coming for him.
I will bet the under there. There is just no track record of such ventures lasting long. Football is SO expensive. High overhead sport, even with modest salaries.
I'll go with Stastny. His time in Europe and his early years in Quebec were dynamic. He was a shell of his old self when he played here, but he was still effective because he is such a strong and heady player. I'd go with Paul Kariya second because he was a dynamic talent once upon a time. Injuries took a massive toll on him and he was merely good here.
A lot of teams started to realize attendance decline. As it turns out, fans won't pay good money to watch a consistently bad product. Cost-cutting got contagious last winter and the results on the field reflected that. Most teams are wildly profitable, so it's not like teams couldn't afford to sign players. The Chicago White Sox are a great example of this. Ownership realized that can't sell a rebuild forever.
He will. There is a fair amount of buzz around him in the industry -- and rightfully so. He's a sharp guy and he has some personality.
I'm sure the Bruins still toss and turn at night thinking of that Game 7. They could not believe what the Blues did to them.
But baseball is still here, so the reverence for Stan the Man made sense. The NBA is long, long gone and it was never as integral to St. Louis culture as baseball.
There will be money for Binnington. Give him Allen's $4 million a year and back him up with a prospect like Husso on entry-level money. Done!
If by minimal cost you mean a Top 10 payroll season after season, then you are probably correct.
In 30 years the NFL will be just a faint memory for the vast majority of people.
I'd go with Doug Smith. He was unstoppable in college. Willie Smith may have had the single greatest year, but he was a JUCO transfer. Stipanovich and Sundvold vaulted the program to new levels with terrific careers, but they were a tag team, a joint entry.
I'm with you on Allen for this season. He is excellent insurance for a team trying to repeat as Cup champion. After this season, the Blues will need his cap space. But for this season, they can afford his protection -- especially with Husso still in development and no viable Plan C in the wings.
Bill Bidwill was a nice man, but as a NFL owner he was a buffoon. That George Boone was in charge of scouting was on Bidwill. Mr. Bill and Stan Kroenke head the doom mlist. Bill Laurie bailed on the Blues, which was unfortunate, but did spend a lot of money (for a while, anyway) trying to win.
I agree. But fans won't let go until his situation is resolved one way or another.
They played only a few years here but they made a big impact. What's more interesting is a guy like Doug Harvey, who passed through WAY past his prime.
Whoa, wait, what? A reasonable person got in here? Security! SECURITY!
Albert's exit wasn't pleasant. I'm not so sure there would work for him here. As for his Hall of Fame cap, we all know his great years were in St. Louis and fans appreciate that. They gave him the proper amount of love when he came through town. Whatever he decides with the Hall won't move the needle too far one way or another with most fans.
None, actually. Have people finally given up on that?
That's fair. DeWitt runs the Cardinals as a business. It's a good business, but it's a business.
Would you really want that franchise back? Yeech.
The Taylors could buy Jefferson City, raze it and turn the whole thing into a petting zoo for laughs if they chose. OK, so that's a slight exaggeration. But I imagine this ownership group will find ways to make this stadium work. This group was already shouldering a huge financial load on this project.
Brett Hull. He took the franchise into the sports mainstream here. And he ranks among the NHL's elite goal-scorers of all time.
They should contend for four or five more years. And they will need to keep the young players coming because that is the only way the franchise can stay cap compliant. But Armstrong is giving out some longer term, so at some point the Blues will have a big chunk of their payroll tied up in older guys. That's the cost of keeping a winning nucleus together for several years.
The relievers are pretty picked over right now. I'm surprised the Cardinals were not more active in that market when the getting was good. It's not like they are loaded with proven relief talent. I know they have some bad contracts, but that seemed like a smart area to spend.
OK, it looks like we are done here for the day. I hope everybody is having a good holiday season. Let's all behave on New Year's Eve. Until next time . . . see ya.
Happy Friday afternoon Jeff... I'm watching the Blues and wondering what your thoughts on Kyrou's progression since he has been up??? Clearly high skill and can make plays at high speed... In my mind he's a game changer.... but if he slumps for a time do you see Berube sticking with him, having that trust that he'll work himself out of it? I think this could be an interesting moment for Berube... sticking with a young guy, even when the kid slumps a bit... I think Kyrou changes the dynamic of the Blues entirely, at least offensively.. Gotta play him and get him a good 15 minutes + of ice time... Thoughts sir?