St.Louis is the PERFECT example of how to build a successful franchise

[Edlerberry]

Having a lower cap hit than the Islanders with as many good young players as they have must feel nice.

[Apples]

If you're picking a team to copy, at least pick one that has at least won something. Kings, Hawks, Bruins.. etc

[Sugar baby watermelon]

Have three goalie monster works pretty well, ecspecially when your rookie backup is outplaying your veterans

[Baggins]

In the new NHL, team success is usually built around youth and pedigree, with ELC's. In order to build a good team, you gotta build through the draft.. when i look at them, and compare them to us.. it shows how poorly we've been managed.

For example, through scouting, and development they are set for awhile.. just look at these examples.

David Backes - 28 years old; $4,500,000 Until 2015-16

TJ Oshie - 26 years old; $4,175,000 until 2016-17. Just entered first season of new contract after his ELC. During his entry level years he combined for 120 points.

David Perron - 24 Years old; just started new contract worth 3,812,500 until 2015-16.

Check out these stats, he's not a superstar, but these are his first 3 season. Right out of the draft.

2007-2008 St. Louis Blues NHL 62gp 13g 14a 27pts

2008-2009 St. Louis Blues NHL 81gp 15g 35a 50pts

2009-2010 St. Louis Blues NHL 82gp 20g 27a 47pts

Consider that, they have a core group of Backes, Oshie, Perron, and then add on to that in your forward core you have Berglund (RFA), Stewart and Tarasenko (2010 draft pick, we traded our first rounder with grabner for Ballard).

Additionally, you can't forget the young d-men in Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo. Both are due pay raises, but these are top d-men in the league. 24, and 23 years old respectively. Plus, Halak isn't old, and Jake Allen is looking like a pure young goalie.

Now that you've read that, i'm gonna sum up our core as it stands right now..

Daniel and Henrik Sedin- 32 years old both combining for 12.2 Million. Money well worth it for the players we're getting, but contracts are coming up. - Our highest picks ever.. but that was in 1999

Ryan Kesler - 28 years old at 5 Million per year.

Booth - We know this story..

Burrows - signed for 4.5 Million a year until he is around 36/37 years old.

That's a combined 25.5 Million. For 5 Players, and that's without touching the Defense.. and goaltending.

Since 2004, our most profitable draft in recent memory giving us Schneider, Edler, and Hansen, we have drafted Grabner (gone), Patrick White (lol), Hodgson (gone), Jordan Schroeder (so far, a work in progress after 3 years still). Recently we have drafted Gaunce and Jensen, who show some promise.. but as far as our future goes.. if you think it's gonna better through a blockbuster move.. you've got another thing coming.

Boston, LA, Chicago and Pittsburgh have proven that teams that go far are built through youth and drafting well.

just food for thought. the future doesn't look that great.

[Aladeen]

Oh wow we beat the PERFECT franchise, what an accomplishment! We should make the day we beat the Blues a Provincial Holiday!