Update
Dave Eminian of the Peoria Journal Star
reported via Twitter earlier Wednesday morning that Dave Allison would be named the new head coach of the Peoria Rivermen and the announcement was imminent. Official word came not that long after.
From the official website of the St. Louis Blues:
Peoria Rivermen General Manager Kevin McDonald announced Wednesday that the St. Louis Blues have named Dave Allison to be the Head Coach of the Peoria Rivermen. He becomes the 18th head coach in franchise history.
The 53 year old Fort Frances, Ontario native brings 18 years of head coaching experience spanning the a wide variety of leagues. From the AHL, IHL, and ECHL to the OHL. Allison briefly served as the Ottawa Senators bench boss for part of the 1994-95 season. As a player Allison spent 10 years in the professional ranks. Mainly with AHL and IHL clubs, but he did get in to three games with the Montreal Canadians back in the 1983-84 season. Most recently he's served as an amateur scout in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Per the announcement that is where Allison will remain till June 30th before making the transition to the Rivermen.
For those curious about the motives leading to the organization passing on the previous head coach Jared Bendar's contract option, I think you have your answer.
Peoria will be Allison’s fourth head coaching stop in the AHL after Prince Edward Island (1994-96), Milwaukee (2001-02) and Iowa (2005-08). He also coached for Milwaukee (2000-01) and Grand Rapids (1996-98) while they were members of the IHL. During his time with the Iowa Stars, he worked under then-Dallas Stars, and current St. Louis Blues, general manager Doug Armstrong.
“I am excited for the opportunity to join Peoria and coach these young men who are the future of the St. Louis Blues,” said Allison.“To work again with Doug [Armstrong] and the quality people associated with the St Louis Blues organization is humbling and exciting for both myself and my family, and a responsibility I embrace and am grateful for.”
If there was any doubt that Doug Armstrong is steering the ship these days, which there shouldn't be considering the uncertainty of John Davidson's future, changes like these should answer them.
The move is also part of regime change. While Bednar wasn't a Checkett's guy, he wasn't really anyone's guy. He was hired on June 15th, 2010 and Armstrong didn't officially take over till July 1st, 2010. Surely the incoming General Manager had some say. That only stands to reason. However, it's a short jump to say he just went with the flow. There is a time when opportunity comes to change the flow in a direction more suiting Armstrong's needs than his predecessors and those have been taken. Armstrong has transitioned out existing hockey ops and coaching staff to bring in those he is more familiar with. The Taylors, Ken Hitchcock, and now Allison.
Just saying now, it will be an interesting summer.
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Original Post
Before diving in to the blog, congratulations are in order for the LA Kings. Such a remarkable, unpredictable run theirs was. Truly, it’s what the playoffs are all about at their best. Unfortunately the Kings victory last night leaves the St. Louis Blues as the oldest franchise in the NHL without their name on the Stanley Cup.
Some day it will happen, right? That’s what they say at least…
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Trying to Make Sense of the Staal Talk
General Managers tend to earn reputations rather easily. Whether good, bad, or otherwise, they’re fastened to their back as a cape (or bulls eye) as effortlessly as a magnet picks up metal filings. Just ask Larry Pleau.
St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong was given his blue cloth with yellow trim and white lettering to attach his suit jacket quite a ways back. It was quickly handed over, before the position was even officially his, when the Eller for Halak deal was struck. With each passing transaction, the “while you were sleeping” Johnson and McClement for Stewart and Shattenkirk blockbuster, fiscally prudent “prove me” contracts like TJ Oshie’s, and depth steals (Arnott, Langenbrunner, Sobotka, Polak), the cape flies just a little higher in the wind.
Armstrong has carved out his namesake, so far, as a man of action, but not of the reckless variety. Have a clear purpose and don’t blather all about it. Virtually all of the afore mentioned transactions have addressed an obvious area of need and not been widely speculated about prior to. So when
Bruce Garrioch specifically names the Blues as one of two teams who would want to put in a bid for Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a modest amount of skepticism is healthy.
Not only are the Blues stocked with stereotypical top six quality forwards, they’ve got a cost controlled option behind David Backes in Patrik Berglund who is a more than serviceable option. Though the Swedish centerman isn’t as fleet footed as Staal, he has made great strides – anecdotally from my perspective – towards keeping an even, consistent competitiveness which can make up for shortcomings in mobility. The best third line center in the league may have a truck load of offensive potential hidden behind the two Steel City semis in front of him, but it can be argued that Berglund has more talent yet to tap in to and surpass his rough average of 20 goal and 40 point per season.
The Blues know what they have in Berglund, the devil they know. What they could want from Staal, the devil they don’t know, may not be what they get.
Concerns on the backend, the primary concern this offseason among media and fans alike, cannot be overlooked. With burgeoning star to be Alex Pietrangelo still without a partner on the team’s top pairing it would make more sense to divert trade efforts towards resolving that need rather than adding another forward. Especially when one considers the bear market for left handed defenseman not named Ryan Suter. There is a distinct possibility that the situation could price longtime Blues leader Barret Jackman out of their price range should he decide to entertain offers from outside St. Louis. Should Carlo Colaiacovo move on as well, which he likely will, then how quickly the Blues defense looks so very young and prone to overly physical teams having their way as LA did a few weeks ago. That is unless they overpay for a lesser filler on the open market and hope the newbie integrates well.
For all the reasons to doubt, there is an angle that makes sense.
Travis Yost, my Ottawa Senators counterpart,
touched on this topic with one of his Trade Wars posts. The proposal accepted was Jordan Staal and a 2012 1st round pick for TJ Oshie and prospect Ty Rattie. To paraphrase the justification, Staal is a tremendous two-way player and would fit in perfectly with head coach Ken Hitchcock’s philosophies and utilization of his top centermen. While I would prefer, as would many other Blues fans and probably the team themselves, to not deal Oshie, he is one of several top line forwards who may be expendable with the additions of Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko to the roster. Surely Ray Shero and the Penguins would prefer Oshie, as he fits their playstyle well also, but he is not likely going anywhere.
I first flinched at the notion. As a fan of both teams I’d rather see both stay where they are. That said, if the Blues were able to take Oshie out of the equation, the ability to roll Staal and Backes interchangeably or back to back is enticing. From a depth perspective Berglund could slide down to fill Jason Arnott’s role. Giving him more reps against weaker opponents in more offensive situations while Staal takes over the heavy minutes against top lines in defensive zone starts. What about adding a defenseman? If a home town discount could be worked out for Jackman to stay, not many would complain if the middle can be strengthened.
I’m not sold the Blues would make such a deal or someone will pony up the return the Pens will need to make it a reality. What I am sold on is that anything is possible as Armstrong works to reconfigure his team as they try to improve on last season’s mark.
One Out While Two Stay?
The life span of a NHL head coach seems to be pretty tiny these days. Looks that way in the AHL, too. Today the Blues announced they will not exercise their option on Peoria Rivermen head coach, Jared Bednar.
From the Blues official website:
Peoria Rivermen General Manager Kevin McDonald announced Tuesday that the St. Louis Blues have declined to exercise its option on head coach Jared Bednar for the 2012-13 season.
“I want to thank Jared for his dedication and passion for our organization and the game of hockey,” said McDonald. “He deserves tremendous credit for developing our young players over the past two seasons and we sincerely wish him the best in the future.”
Bednar, 40, was named the 17th head coach in Rivermen history and fifth since joining the American Hockey League on June 15, 2010.
In his two seasons, Bednar compiled a record of 81-63-5-7 (0.557%). The team qualified for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs in his first season and was defeated in the opening round by the Houston Aeros.
As shocked as Bednar and defenseman Cade Fairchild are, something about this just seems to make sense. New ownership wants their people in key positions. For many teams their AHL affiliate is a vital resource that funnels in much needed replacements that have to perform right away. Development of those players is critical. The coaching staff not only has to win, but develop players. The Rivermen were a preseason favorite to contend for the Calder Cup with a solid goaltending tandem (Ben Bishop and Jake Allen) and experienced scorers (TJ Hensick, Brett Sterling, Jonathan Cheechoo). From a team stand point they failed to qualify for the playoffs. From a player personnel and development perspective Allen, Phil McRae and Evgeny Grachev did not progress as well as some would have hoped. That said, Fairchild and Bishop’s progress are two to hang hats on.
I am not claiming to know the situation. However, it seems as if the opportunity presented itself with a legitimate rationale for the decision. Sometimes doing business hurts good people. Here’s to hoping coach Bednar lands on his feet and keeps moving his career forward.
In other coaching news,
Andy Strickland reports that both Brad Shaw and Ray Bennett will likely remain with the organization.
My indifference regarding Bennett’s potential return is does not hold true for Shaw. It’s good to hear he is likely coming back because of how well he was able to manage a young defense and get as much out of them as he did. Not to mention his work to bring the penalty kill out of the basement.
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