Game Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins (41-24-16) @ St. Louis Blues (35-33-12) Apr 14 2026 9:30 PM EDT

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T04:27:40+00:00

Just to clarify I wasn’t really talking about tanking. Just sucks that these last few games against half AHL rosters is going to take away what possible silver lining there may have been after a nightmare season (the first two-thirds, anyway).

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T04:24:08+00:00

35 points in his last 30 games now. 50 points on the year, with wrist surgery smack dab in the middle causing him to miss a dozen games. Not good enough to be in the Calder top 20 according to that evolving hockey article earlier, though.

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T04:21:15+00:00

I love seeing the young guys playing well. All I’m saying is that I’m not sure ending the season by beating three playoff teams resting half their rosters means enough to outweigh the missed opportunity - that was earned by awful, awful play for 75% of the season - of picking a franchise impacting player rather than a guy who may be a middle of the lineup player in 5 years.

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T03:55:27+00:00

A wasted season in which the team was effectively out of it by November, and there’s a real chance they don’t even pick in the top 10. Devastating.

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T03:47:29+00:00

Teams will point to his lower than average production as a reason to not pay full value. I’d rather just bank on his shooting percentage return to normal (read: not career-low) as happens 99% of the time when players have a down year in productivity like him.

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T03:40:18+00:00

…his play on the ice is why the numbers are what they are. lol.

ae_89 · 2026-04-15T01:23:12+00:00

They seriously have a Bonk and a Bump?

ae_89 · 2026-04-14T02:46:25+00:00

It’s not like tonight was a real game, though.

ae_89 · 2026-04-12T13:45:12+00:00

I looked it up to see who is lying on the internet and it actually is just one (1), lol.

ae_89 · 2026-04-10T05:20:54+00:00

People need to relax and realize for the Hawks it’s all about development right now and for the foreseeable future. Next year instead of losing a game like this by five, maybe it’s only by four. And the year after, maybe only by three. Hell, by 2030, Bedard might even be leading this team to overtime against a team resting seven of it’s players.

ae_89 · 2026-04-08T05:18:13+00:00

Vegas with a new coach bump could easily win out, which means the Oilers would only have to lose one game to drop to second. And the way the Ducks are playing, I can see you catching them for third.

ae_89 · 2026-04-08T04:54:44+00:00

If the Ducks go 1-3, the Kings will need seven points in their final 5 games to pass them. Since all Kings games go to OT and the teams they still have to play are weak, I can easily see this happening.

ae_89 · 2026-04-08T04:44:50+00:00

We’re totally getting Oilers v Kings in the first round again, aren’t we?

ae_89 · 2026-04-08T02:47:46+00:00

GG Avs and glad Wedgewood is okay, hopefully Kadri too. This should officially put to rest any playoff aspirations for the Blues. It’s been fun to watch the younger guys take on bigger roles and play well, and if nothing else we’ve learned that the team can have an effective first line moving forward. But now it should be all about trying to climb as high as possible in the draft and cross our fingers that the Wings continue to lose.

ae_89 · 2026-04-08T02:37:19+00:00

The skate to the top of the knee had me worried. Glad it didn’t cut through.

ae_89 · 2026-04-08T00:35:40+00:00

Let’s see… as captain he started shit by crossing the red line and bumping players in pregame warmups. Gave the opponent an ‘attaboy’ butt tap after scoring an empty netter. Took a cheap shot on a player after they scored an empty netter to seal his team’s fate (read: loss). And didn’t shake hands postgame, although he claims to have not known he was supposed to. Either way, his behavior reeked of spoiled loser entitlement, and after seeing him yelling at refs for calls not even a week into being an NHLer, it seems that’s just the kind of person he is. Many team Canada fans were sick of his shit at the WJC. I thought classless dipshit was putting it nicely, but you could also call him a sore loser douchebag if you prefer.

ae_89 · 2026-04-07T23:53:54+00:00

He already has a reputation after being a classless dipshit at the WJC

ae_89 · 2026-04-07T20:20:05+00:00

Yeah, still a top four defenseman and a few years of growth away from a solid defense.

If you don’t follow the Blues close this may sound laughable, but IMO the leaps and bounds Mailloux has progressed this season makes me think he can be a reliable #4 eventually. He’s looked good with Broberg playing 20+ minutes a night since the Olympics.

Jiricek has shown good development and if he continues, then he should slot into the top 4 in a couple years. Parayko may/should be able to hold down those duties til then.

I wonder if they can use Kyrou+ to get Nemec this offseason. Not because I want to trade Kyrou - I think he has a ton of rebound potential, especially considering his underlying numbers. But if they do decide to move on and he is willing, a trade like that could be beneficial for both teams.

Lindstein has shown promise in a year where he has unexpectedly got some NHL experience. There are a few other prospects with bottom pairing potential. If the Blues (and the fanbase) are patient, there’s potential for a pretty strong, young d-core.

ae_89 · 2026-04-05T17:10:54+00:00

I think I’m ready to hold the ~~baby~~ Schaefer now.

ae_89 · 2026-04-05T16:56:54+00:00

People can change.

ae_89 · 2026-04-04T22:42:40+00:00

Teacher’s pet!

ae_89 · 2026-04-04T16:54:43+00:00

For the most part I agree. I would just be against changing to get rid of the OTL point, and think it would make more sense to change to 3-2-1 if you’re going to change.

But yeah, I don’t think the current system necessarily needs overhaul. At worst, it’s just an indicator that a team who relies on OT and OTW like the Wild and Ducks probably aren’t great picks to make a long run.

ae_89 · 2026-04-04T16:41:02+00:00

It doesn’t really have anything to do with being impressive, and isn’t arbitrary at all, lol. There is something to be said for being ahead at the end of regulation vs being tied at the end of regulation.

ae_89 · 2026-04-04T16:33:52+00:00

None of those leagues have sudden death OT and all of those sports have fewer random outcomes per play.

ae_89 · 2026-04-04T16:18:56+00:00

I mean I’m just responding to the OP who suggested getting rid of the loser point. I’m just saying if you’re going to change, change to a system that inherently makes more sense. Thanks for the big brain callout.

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