Same script, different year. For the third time in as many seasons, the Blues have crashed out of the playoffs in the first round by a score of four games to two. There’s a lot of things which could and should be said after another quick exit and all of those things will be written on this site in the coming weeks and months. For now, it’s time to reflect on how disappointing this situation really is.
A lot of fans have tried to call the St. Louis Blues the Chicago Cubs of the NHL. That comparison used to be laughed off as other NHL teams were still hunting for that first Cup and the Blues had some company, but now they’re all alone in terms of a Cup drought. Ever since joining the NHL in 1967, the Blues have never claimed the ultimate prize.
The stat above is disappointing as is, but the harsh realization that the Cup is becoming harder and harder to win is a much more depressing notion. The NHL seems to be becoming more and more competitive every season. Look around this year’s playoffs and you’ll see some new names (Jets and Flames, to name a couple). Add in the fact expansion is coming to the NHL in the near future, the mathematical odds are only going to get worse. Instead of 1-in-30, it may be 1-in-32 in a handful of years.
The other factor here is that the 2014-15 Blues are an extremely talented group. They had an insane amount of depth (though it wasn’t always used) and skill. A strong argument could be made that this team was far better than the ones ousted by the Blackhawks and Kings. And yet … here we are. More of the same.
It’s time for sweeping changes. The team’s core doesn’t work and it’s time to move on.
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