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Tonight I will be on the Monday Night Forehand podcast talking all things St. Louis Blues, free agency, and the Central Division. Listen in here. I should be on around 9:15pm Central for about 15 minutes.
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Towards the end of last season I tried to get a weekly mailbag / Q&A post off and running. It didn’t go so well. Can the concept be rekindled at the height of the hockey offseason in the heat of August? We shall see. It’s worth a shot.
The concept is pretty simple. Pose a question to me on Twitter, Facebook (please see the links above, use the hashtag #BluesQs) or via comments on my posts here on Hockeybuzz. I’ll gather them through the course of the week and answer each Monday.
On to this week’s batch of talking points…
Question from @Aakduce: What are your thoughts on the upcoming season? I know the Blues are trying to get a defenseman. Think it will happen?
Answer: Assuming hockey is actually played there is so much to look forward to it’s going to be very hard to miss significant news and changes around the league. With Nash, Suter, and Lidstrom all out of the Central a shift in the power structure seems certain. How Minnesota is transformed by their wild offseason is probably the storyline to follow from October through late spring. As is how much the Atlantic’s loss (Carle, Staal) is the Southeast’s gain. Last, but not least is has to be the Jay McClement for Selke campaign moving up to Toronto… okay, just kidding there.
In all seriousness, I wish nothing but luck to him. He’ll need it.
From a St. Louis Blues specific angle it’s difficult to find a reason why the success from 2011-12 shouldn’t carry over. Losing Jason Arnott from a veteran presence and power play perspective could certainly be a more significant loss than most anticipate, I’m not sold that’s the case. His departure opens the door for Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Tarasenko to put their size and skill on display when up a man. With Barret Jackman, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Scott Nichol around there is still plenty of “back in my day” storytellers to keep the locker room grounded. Similarly, Kris Russell is ready and able to move in to Carlo Colaiacovo’s place on the power play.
As Eklund reported today, the Blues are still very much interested in Jay Bouwmeester of the Calgary Flames. But takes two GM’s to pull off a swap and currently Calgary’s Jay Feaster doesn’t HAVE to move JayBo and therefore he simply won’t unless an offer blows him away. The Blues aren’t at a place to do that. At least as long the asking price is NHL players rather than picks and prospects. Besides Bouwmeester, there really aren’t any other options, at least obvious ones, to make a deal for. Keith Yandle of Phoenix would be an ideal addition, but there too the motivation to realize complete a trade doesn’t likely exist today.
As of today, I sit at 70/30 the Blues won’t complete a trade to acquire a defenseman. As always, right’s are reserved to amend should information necessitate a need to.
Question from @LochNezzMonstaa: I think the future of the payroll needs to be discussed. Pietrangelo’s inevitable raise, what the Blues can afford, etc.
A: I plan to discuss this topic a little more in depth later this week. A quick flyover at 50,000 feet of my take heads north to Peoria. The Blues’ ability to hold on to the top 6 / top two pairing quality players they develop internally, think the TJ Oshie’s and David Perron’s of the organization, is directly related to how well they can develop NHL capably players at the AHL level. The more depth and role players that come spend time with the Rivermen the lower the costs will be to fill said depth slots. Less payroll spent on those spots -- think BJ Crombeen at over a million vs. Ryan Reaves at less than $700,000 -- the more payroll budget available to retain big producers.
As far as Pietrangelo’s raise goes, the Blues are probably looking at a contract similar to what Erik Karlsson received from the Ottawa Senators.
Question from @hammer473: Third line center?
A: With Arnott moving on there is a noticeable hole at even strength that must be filled. Head coach Ken Hitchcock has alluded to Alex Steen switching back to the middle from the wing. Personally, I’m not a fan of the idea. When Steen has played pivot in St. Louis his production and effectiveness just isn’t as high as what he is capable of on the outside. To me the solution is to move Andy McDonald back to center and micromanage matchups. Use his line against weaker competition and in offensive zone starts and use Berglund in tougher situations (stronger opposition, defensive starts).
Question from Tyler M via Facebook: The tank. Russian Tank.
A: Not much to talk about on the Tarasenko front. He hasn’t arrived from Russia yet, but is expected to later this month. When he does there will be plenty to chew on then.
Question from Roger N via Facebook: How will the youngsters will perform with their new contacts?
A: This may be the biggest question mark heading in to the season. Oshie and Perron had all the motivation they needed to secure lucrative long term deals. They were successful, but how do they handle the expectations that now come with such paydays? It’s nearly impossible to predict the future, but the environment for those two, plus Chris Stewart, to grow beyond what they have proven to be is present.
The following questions all came before last week via comments on my July 23rd post regarding who should/will get an opportunity to partner with Alex Pietrangelo should a defenseman from outside the organization is not brought in before training camp.
From Pilgor09: Jaybo for Berglund?
A: With Arnott leaving, that’s a big “no”. Losing him creates too much weakness down the middle.
From poisonhearts37: Maybe Steen and something (for Jaybo)?
A: If the Blues were to break down and succumb to the Flames demands a winger is probably the return. Not sure it would be Steen. At least from a personnel perspective. From a payroll POV, it would make some sense to mitigate the negative impacts of adding such a big contract.
From DepecheModer: Gunnarson would be the perfect fit. Would love Berglund, but don’t know what it would take to get him though.
A: Gunnarson would fit relatively well in St. Louis. I don’t believe the cost Brian Burke would set to acquire his services is one that Doug Armstrong would pay.
From All Blues: Fedor Tyutin is now available in Columbus since they picked up Erixon.
A: Pass.
From blues fan 257: To BOS: Tyler Greene, the Towel Guy, Charles Glenn and Bernie’s Statue.
To St. STL: Zdeno Chara and a 3nd rounder
A: But who would be the Cards fan’s whipping boy? Someone has to count the goals and Chuckie is on the untouchables list.
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Thanks for reading.
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