St. Louis Game Time: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: MLB Trade Deadline: Who is available around MLB?

Something has to change...

The Blues aren't playing mean. They aren't playing smart. And they do this at home, which is the one place where it should be easier to do both. I'm not on the "Fire Murray" bandwagon; I mean,he was a finalist for the Jack Adams award LAST YEAR. With virtually the same roster. But we're not playing like we did the second half of last year. Did the Canucks somehow manage to expose how to beat the Blues? I don't think so. The Blues gave them no quarter in the series; Luongo was the biggest difference. So how does the organization fix what's going on here? I think, unfortunately, the answer is to fire Andy Murray, and the main reason is that the old saying is true: it's easier to fire one person than it is to fire 20. The other is that if you were going to make a trade, who *could* you trade from this major league roster and reasonably expect a team-revitalizing difference maker in return? It's a short list: Perron, Oshie, Johnson, Berglund, Backes, Polak, McClement. Prospects aren't going to cut it; teams with bare cupboadrs have already begun to stock them through the draft, and they want players who can help NOW. Which is what we are looking for, too. Trading a disappointing underachiever for a disappointing underachiever is treading water for the franchise.

(Yes, I left Orange Jello off the list - he's not NHL-ready yet. Not because he doesn't have the skills, but he's not big enough to survive the pounding every night, especially on a team with physically challenged defensemen. Unfortunately, there's nothing left for him to learn in juniors.)

I also have a list of things that aren't his fault:

Opposing players stand around our net and in our crease without getting moved out or tied up.

Our forwards regularly get too close to the net to get those juicy rebounds.

Brad Boyes consistently makes bad shoot/pass decisions on the ice.

Players don't realize that they need to make themselves available for the pass when Perron goes into the corners/behind the net.

Erik Johnson thinks the only way to get out of the zone to is to skate/stick handle, or try the homerun pass.

Barret Jackman thinks he's Erik Johnson, and tries the same things.

Brad Winchester is invisible this year.

Paul Kariya is tiny and soft.

Andy McDonald is tiny and tough.

Cam Janssen can't be on the ice without being a defensive and offensive liability.

Keith Tkachuk is  willing, but old.

That the defense corps is undersized except for Polak and EJ - who is making second year defensemen mistakes.

We can't put the puck on net without any regularity.

Murray is not responsible for any of that. But this team is not performing to the level anybody expected, including him. Have the players tuned him out? I don't think so. I know what it looks like when a team quits on the coach (Keenan) and this isn't it. If you're ownership, what do YOU do?

Poll
What record do the Blues need on their upcoming trip to save The Green Goblin's job?
7 or 8 points - anything less proves that he's lost the team.
0 votes
6 points - Give him some margin of error.
4 votes
4 points - It's the dreaded western canada swing.
2 votes
Doesn't matter - the boss won't dump him til after the holidays.
9 votes
Doesn't matter - Ownership has the patience of Job.
4 votes

19 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Well

according to the Post-Dispatch, in an article here:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/E9A8878E105BAB16862576920011309B?OpenDocument

Ownership HAVE addressed the problem directly to the players:

But if the players are tanking it to speed up Murray’s demise, they won’t get their way anytime soon, according to Davidson. “We very recently addressed that particular point with the players,” Davidson said. “The players are aware of where we stand on Andy Murray. But I won’t get into it any more than that.” A source told me that Blues general manager Larry Pleau had some strong, choice words for the players. But Davidson wouldn’t confirm that the meeting had taken place. He just reiterated that the players “very recently” were made aware of management’s feelings.

So, if they’ve told the players that they’re sticking with Murray and if they don’t improve then it’s the PLAYERS asses on the line…maybe that will be enough to light at fire under their currently lazy asses.

BLUE SKIES - new St Louis Blues hockey blog.

"If you prick me, do I not...leak?"
"I could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without cause."
"I am programmed in multiple techniques, a broad...variety of pleasuring..."
RIP Lt Commander Data

by drfrankentweed on Dec 20, 2009 8:36 AM CST reply actions  

Maybe some players want out.

Let's go Blues!!!

by Milo. on Dec 20, 2009 9:23 AM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Murray

I am curious to know: if the blues did fire Murray, who would we get? I ask this as an honest question and not snark. I unfortunately don’t know the coaching situation like football. I know in football there are quite a few coaches who have been successful and are now doing analyst work ie Shanahan, Dungy Gruden etc. So what are the possible prospects for that?

by nihilate on Dec 20, 2009 9:46 AM CST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Your number one purveyor of Halak and Payne puns.
Start posting about the Blues »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Chaser to be on Battle of the Blades
Tony Twist & Kelly Chase: Born to Raise Hell
Blues sign Perron to 2-year deal
Matt Walker to PHI
Looking for Video of a Game....
Erik Johnson on Twitter
Think it's hockey or music related?
found this jersey from when i was a little guy, turns out it fits ol' Reese just right! too bad i can't get him into games..
Brewer For Souray
Toughest Competitor: "Simon Gamache. He played in Milwaukee when I was in...

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

Featured Poll

Poll
Who wins this match-up of St. Louis sports media?
1. Chris Kerber
224 votes
8. Frank Cusumano
17 votes

241 votes | Poll has closed

SBNation.com Recent Stories

NEWARK NJ - JULY 20:  Ilya Kovalchuk of the New Jersey Devils poses for photographs following the media opportunity announcing his contract renewal at the Prudential Center on July 20 2010 in Newark New Jersey.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) +9 updates

With Arbitrator And Hearing Date Set, Is Kovalchuk Contract Mess Set To End?

In this photo taken on Monday, July 19, 2010, Atlanta Thrashers forward Andrew Ladd, formerly of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, spends his day with the Stanley Cup atop Crown Mountain, British Columbia., north of Vancouver. Ladd, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, was flown by helicopter to the top of Crown Mountain to watch the sunrise. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,  Mark L. Johnson) +54 updates

NHL Free Agency: Andrew Ladd Avoids Arbitration, Signs With Thrashers

FILE - In this May 7, 2009, file photo, Milan Michalek, front left, of the Czech Republic attacks Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson, right, during a quarterfinal at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Bern, Switzerland. Sweden's Carl Gunnarsson is seen behind on left. The Toronto Maple Leafs landed Gustavsson with a one-year contract on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. The 24-year-old netminder, nicknamed "The Monster," was also heavily pursued by Dallas, San Jose and Colorado. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File) link

Euro Hockey For Dummies: A Primer On How European Hockey Leagues Work

More from SBNation.com >


Lee Stempniak

Face_lo-res_copy_small gallagher

160gthockey_small Brad Lee

Jay McClement

Plagerbarc_bob_small Poor College Student

250px-nation_of_joe_small averagejoe

David Backes

Alternate_logo_small Tomorrows Blues

Krispy_kreme_small Donut King

Stag_logo_small CrossCheckRaise

_unset__small hildymac