When the final horn sounded on Tuesday, the Blues once again found themselves on the winning side of a hockey game. Fans at the Enterprise Center let them know how they felt with their deafening applause, but many online believe the Blues finishing the season hot is the last thing they need to do.
Winning being a worst-case scenario?
The Blues have been one of the best teams in the league since returning from the Olympic break, going 9-2-2 over that span. They have lifted themselves in the standings from the second worst team in the NHL to sitting just 8 points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, many fans believe this is the worst thing the Blues could have done.
At the break, the Blues had the second best odds to win the NHL Lottery, and they were poised to get one of Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg - two players projected to be genuine superstars. Either one could completely turn the Blues around within a year or two, and fans have been excited about this prospect ever since the Blues made clear they weren't going to be competitive this season.
The importance of a winning culture
Now, the Blues hold the fifth-best odds in the Lottery, something that will likely cost them a top-2 pick in this year's draft. On top of this, it's important to recognize that while only being eight points out of a playoff spot, their odds of actually making the run and sneaking into the postseason are still next to nothing.
However, it can't be overstated how important it is to cultivate a culture of winning within an organization - especially when the team consists of so many young developing players. This is where analytics and numbers can only go so far; the eye test and intangibles come into play.
Compare how the team looked in games before this recent winning stretch and the difference is clear. The way the team is playing loose, sticking up for their teammates, and working together seamlessly within their systems is exactly what fans and coaches have been wanting to see from this squad all year. The cycle of losing that tanking puts an organization in is no guarantee of future success and sometimes the damage to the culture in the locker room is bad enough to drive away current and future elite players.
With the absence of leaders like Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk, there was inevitably going to be concern about the culture of the team moving forward and as it seems as though everyone on the roster has stepped up to help build the team's future. When new guys like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Otto Stenberg make strides during a winning streak, fans need to understand that the team playing good hockey is the best thing for the group both right now and for the future.