ST.LOUIS, MO – Walking into Centenne Center this morning, I remarked to a longtime Blues fan that it smelled like something had died in there. He calmly surmised “That’s their Stanley Cup window…”.
And while that may be true for the original window which began with the 2019 Championship, watching the prospects on the ice today should give hope to any fan dispirited by a dismal 2022-23 season. In fact, the future looks quite bright, indeed.
While hoisting Lord Stanley may not be likely this year, or even next, seeing these hungry youngsters heading to St. Paul for the Prospect Showcase this weekend points to a wait much shorter than the 52 years St. Louis waited for their first.
Obvious names such as Bolduc and Alexandrov showed their finesse and skill with each shift, but other forwards such as Abramov, Heim, and Dean showed flashes of what could be, not only for them as players but the Blues as a team. Even amateur tryout candidate Antillo Biasca managed to make an impression at times.
The most important takeaway today was that they were loose and having fun. The kind of fun the Bruins were having last year. The kind of fun winners generally exhibit. A kind of fun last year’s NHL squad rarely showed or rarely had reason to.
This turn-around will take time. Reshaping, recrafting, retooling….however one chooses to characterize the work, it will not happen overnight. Still, watching the tools that Army has in the shed bodes well for the long-term health of the organization.
Images by the author