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I was combing through some profiles of professional hockey teams on Forbes, and I was shocked to see that the finances for the Blues aren't in good shape. The team has been competitive, and the fans have done a good job of supporting the team, but this profile says that they have a bad TV deal and not much revenue coming from the arena. This entire scenario sounds eerily similar to the scenario that drove the Penguins into bankruptcy in 1998. The Penguins had good fan support (contrary to popular perception), but they also had the most expensive lease in the NHL on the most obsolete arena in the NHL, and their TV deal at the time wasn't very lucrative either. The Blues have a relatively new arena, so their arena revenue situation probably isn't as dire as it was for the Penguins, but their TV deal sounds worse. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel there? When does the TV contract expire? I'd hate to see the Blues enter bankruptcy, but they've had operating losses for eight consecutive years. Is there anything that can be done to make things better? I'd like to see the Blues stay and thrive in St. Louis.
The Blues are looking very good heading into the playoffs. However, the Western Conference is once again very strong and deep in high quality teams this year. I still think the Wild is the most dangerous team in the West. I would not be surprised to see them advancing at least to the Conference Finals. As I said before, this is going to be an incredible playoff season in the West. The East has some great teams again this year, but I see the eventual Cup winner coming out of the West again this year.
I could see the Blues having difficulty with the Preds/Blackhawks winner. I know the Blues won the season series vs. Chicago, but the playoffs are a whole new season, and that's what the Blackhawks sleepwalk through the regular season to get ready for. As for the Preds, Pekka Rinne will be the best player for the Preds on the ice, and if the best player is your goalie, you can be pretty successful. I've got the Blues advancing out of the West anyways, but as Texan said it definitely won't be easy.
I just found this forum and this thread. I didn't even know an NHL forum existed on this site. GO BLUES!!!
Fellow Blues fan here who used to live in St. Louis for 42 years and now lives in Texas. Go Blues! They have a tough road to the Stanley Cup Finals round though as all Western Conference teams do. Looked good in Game 2. The team that showed up in Game 1 took a period and a half to even get going. They came out with high energy in Game 2 and it lasted all game long. We needed Tarasenko to step it up yesterday and he surely did that with the hat trick!
I could see the Blues having difficulty with the Preds/Blackhawks winner. I know the Blues won the season series vs. Chicago, but the playoffs are a whole new season, and that's what the Blackhawks sleepwalk through the regular season to get ready for. As for the Preds, Pekka Rinne will be the best player for the Preds on the ice, and if the best player is your goalie, you can be pretty successful. I've got the Blues advancing out of the West anyways, but as Texan said it definitely won't be easy.
If and it's a BIG IF, the Blues get past the Wild, they will definitely have their hands full with Nashville or Chicago. The winner of that would go into round 3 fairly beat up.
Hitchcock is signed for another year. Blues now need to worry about signing young stars Vladimir Tarasenko and Jake Allen to bigger contracts and seeing which older players can be shed to make room in the salary cap. Wouldn't mind seeing somebody replace David Backes as captain and I wouldn't be surprised if the Blues traded TJ Oshie and some others.
Hitchcock is signed for another year. Blues now need to worry about signing young stars Vladimir Tarasenko and Jake Allen to bigger contracts and seeing which older players can be shed to make room in the salary cap. Wouldn't mind seeing somebody replace David Backes as captain and I wouldn't be surprised if the Blues traded TJ Oshie and some others.
If the Blues don't make the Stanley Cup Finals next year, Hitchcock is gone. He is on a one year deal. I think for Hitch, it's Finals or gone, especially with the roster changes that are supposed to be making this team go deep into the playoffs. Blues fans are upset and others outside the Blues laugh at their lack of playoff success. They are not to be taken seriously until they win a Cup with all the talent they have.
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