St. Louis Blues: Fans Should Not Punish Blues for the NHL's Lockout

In 24 hours, the St. Louis Blues will be back.

Fans have waited four long months to see the puck drop because of the NHL lockout, and many fans are trying to do something to show the NHL that they are tired of being taken for granted. Some are refusing to buy NHL gear until a new Stanley Cup champion is crowned, some are refusing to watch hockey for the first few games, and some extreme fans are completely fed up, and won't return to the sport altogether. 

But for the Blues, the club needs its fans to come back.

Being in a mid-major market, the Blues have a hard time making a profit. The Blues were one of the 18 teams that was losing money before the lockout, even with sell out crowds year in and year out. New owner Tom Stillman comes from a hockey background, and is determined to bring the team into the black. The new CBA should help the team cut some of its losses, but with more teams being eligible for revenue sharing, the team may still need some extra help.

This is where the fans come in.

Blues fans should realize that boycotting the team for the NHL's lockout will hurt the team more than the fans will gain. Sure, you get to make a point by boycotting the games. But that money hurts the team down the line. If fans don't return to Scottrade Center, the Blues could end up being a bottom-of-the-barrel team once again.

This is exactly why the fans should come back to the Blues. For the first time since 2000—and possibly the first time in the history of the franchise—the Blues have a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup; and with homegrown talent. The Blues never offered players ridiculous contracts to try to aquire big name players to play for the Bluenote. Ownership was smart with their money, drafted well and developed the club over time.

Now, the Blues are in line to win the Stanley Cup. Fans need to come out and support this team. Instead of not watching the Blues or coming to the games, don't buy NHL Center Ice or Game Center Live. Refuse to by NHL gear.

But if fans really want to show the NHL they disapprove of the lockout, drown out Gary Bettman with boos when he tries to give the Cup to David Backes in June.