Avalanche divisional rival admit to massive mistake that could jeopardize their future
Photo credit: Bill Boyce / AP News
The St. Louis Blues may have let a key piece to the Stanley cup puzzle slip through their fingers.
With former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews signing with his hometown Winnipeg Jets, the Blues didn't just miss out on a quality player, they also watched one of their toughest divisional rivals get even stronger.
Avalanche divisional rival admit to a massive mistake.
Justin Bonhard from Bleedin' Blue writes that you can't fault a guy for wanting to return home and suit up for his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets.
"He joins the biggest rival to the Blues at the moment, which has been fueled by the first-round matchup in this year's playoffs that went the distance. It was brutal for both sides, with the Blues getting the full devastation by losing the game after leading with two minutes to go in regulation. Toews joins a solid leadership group, and now the Jets are heavily going to be the favorites for winning the Presidents' Trophy again. This matchup was already a handful to begin with, and now that #19 is back in the mix, this could be catastrophic for the Blues." -Bonhard
Thats said, the blues missed a golden opportunity to add a high-impact piece to their roster. With the team trending upward and another playoff run potentially on the horizon, bringing in a player like Toews, one of the few active skaters with not one, not two, but three Stanley Cups, could have been the difference-maker that pushed the franchise to the next level.
"Currently, there are only a handful of Blues players who remain on the roster since the 2018-19 Stanley Cup victory. Colton Parayko, Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Binnington are the only four left. Adding one more leader would have made all the difference, and the Blues' hesitation might have cost them." -Bonhard
Rumours suggest that another Central Division rival was Toews' second choice, but it's hard to believe the Blues weren't at least on his radar, especially after their incredible run last season.
In the end, though, it seems the pull of home was too strong, and Toews chose to return to Manitoba to close out his storied career where it all began.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
JUIN 23 | 26 ANSWERS Avalanche divisional rival admit to massive mistake that could jeopardize their future Do you think Jonathan Toews will excel with the Winnipeg Jets? | ||
| yes | 9 | 34.6 % |
| no | 17 | 65.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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