Blues look for consistency mid-season
2026-01-17The Blues under this General Manager have seen it all, the terrifying lows, the dizzinging highs, the creamy middles. Starting in 2014 with a hollowed out husk of a team. The Blues made the playoffs and almost snuck into the conference finals, losing in 7 . From there, a rebuild took place. A sorely needed one. From 2015 to 2019, the Blues lost and lost well. Then in 2020-2021 they exploded, making it to the conference finals, then the cup finals in 2021-2022. It seemed like they would be at the height of their powers for some time. However, fickle be the MRFHL. Two straight 6 game losses in the quarter finals put a bit of a damper on the Blues. Last year, 2024-2025, the Blues made it to the semis, but lost in 6.
Coming into this season the Blues looked prime to compete, and then a bunch of weird shit happened. overtime loss after overtime loss has them at 9 right now, tied for the league lead. Unable to develop consistency they are currently three points out of a playoff spot. Time to pack it in right? Time to retool for next year and get those vets out and on their way right? wrong-o bucko (jordan peterson voice before he went into a coma). THe Blues took an opposite route. First they traded third line winger Bobby Brink to Minnesota to make a little room for salary. Then the blockbuster happened. Brady Tkachuk comes home to Missouri and Dylan Cozens and multiple picks head to Boston. What a move when two first picks, including St Louis' own pick, is gone when they aren't even secure in the playoff hunt. Well more to come, Cam Talbot, who shared the Jennings Trophy in St Louis last season, was gone, for some picks. We find out a month later, the Blues had their eye on Daniel Vladar to take over backup duties and plucked him from the Wild with Holmberg for Pospisil, Ingram and and a 2nd.
With the changes, the Blues now face a put up or shut type season from here. If they sink to the bottom they gave Boston their 1st and will look on in envy while they draft a young stud. However, if the Blues can rise from the ashes like a Phoenix, then the risky moves will pay off and Blues Management and players will look back and laugh, cheering martinis over the mighty Mississippi, returning to their contender glory.
The Blues recently won a definitive contest against a low ranked Bolts team. It will be interesing to see if the Blues continue with their new lines.
Keller - Miller - Rantanen
Tkachuk - RoR - Beniers
Coronato - Cates - Kiviranta
Pospisil - Drury - Rooney
Obviously the trade had been made moving Pospisil out so it will be interesting to see if it is Kiviranta or Holmberg who takes those third line duties. However, the big change is Keller on the top line. His first game resulted in a 4 point night. If that continues, old man Stu (GM) will be kicking himself for having Keller dwell in obscurity on the 2nd line until now.
That's it for St. Louis. I understand we have a big crime problem so we'll be checking out and locking our doors before the sun goes down.
"a bunch of weird shit happened" might very well end up being the best line written this season. well done.
Blues look for consistency mid-season
It's just the Blues, the St. Louis Blues, running around my head like dreams in Dorthey's shoes.