The decision of Blues general manager Doug Armstrong to retain Ken Hitchcock spoke volumes about where he believed the club’s shortcomings lie.
“Some of this has to fall on the responsibility of the players in the playoffs,” Armstrong said, while welcoming back Hitchcock and his entire coaching staff a week ago. “I think the system is pretty darn good in the playoffs, but we’re not getting it done.”
The Blues have made a number of changes to their roster in the four summers following postseason exits under Hitchcock. Only eight players in the lineup during the team’s first-round loss to Minnesota were in uniform for the opening of its 2011-12 series against San Jose.