Blues Wrap-Up

Anyone who watched the Blues 2010-2011 season rode the cliche "roller coaster" of ups and downs. However disturbingly the ride seemed to be a majority of down slopes after the impressive 9-1-2 start in October. Compared to the 2009 heroic late season surge to the playoffs and 2010's choking away of leads in the third, this season lacked the emotional toying of the heart but in the end was very predictable. Ever since Joe "I ruin young careers full of potential" Thornton elbowed Mr. Perron in the head, the team seemed to be going no where. But it wasn't just Perron's absence that lowered spirits. The team lost Jackman, Steen, McDonald, Halak, Coliaccovo, Polak, Sobotka and Oshie for extended periods of time. 2009 took on the youngsters with something to prove aura. They never gave up and made an improbable playoff push becoming one of the hottest teams in league within the last few months. Unfortunately they were swept by a the Canuckleheads in the first round. 2010 became a season full of promise, ultimately sliding away. Yet it was ok, the team was young, it was a learning experience. 2011 will be seen as the year of excuses. It started with great expectations. First as a dangerous playoff team, then as a legitimate contender. But that didn't last long. As soon as Perron went down and the injury bug bit a few players the team seemed to take on the "well this isn't our year either" attitude. You could see it coming a mile away. Unfortunately the pile of injuries only grew throughout, never giving the team a chance to regain confidence and surge back. Flashes of brillance hit here and there. The Blues beat some top notch teams, but then would fall to teams like the Blue Jackets. Yes, the Bjs. In the end it became pretty predictable. We weren't going to make the playoffs. We had already decided to give up. No worries, we can blame injuries. We lost our star in the making. We lost our veteran D-man. We lost our up and coming goaltender. We lost our spark plug. The forgiving St. Louis fans will be compassionate as always. Well time is running out. The fans, and ownership have given plenty of chances. It's time to start winning no matter how young, or injured the team is. If the Johnson/Stewart trade didn't send the message, i don't know what would. I have full confidence in this team, and really am full of optimism going into the offseason. I can't wait til next year, hopefully it will be an uphill ride.