Blues chat at 1 p.m. Thursday
Bring your questions and comments about the Blues and talk to Post-Dispatch hockey writer Jeremy Rutherford.
- Hope everyone is doing well. Dan O'Neill is with the team in Nashville. I will catch them in Winnipeg and be on the rest of the road trip. Should be a lot of storylines over the next 10 days, especially with the trading deadline coming up Monday.
- Saw you mentioned the Blues may be interested in Hammerlik. Today he fired off a little bit on Coach Hunter. Would it cost the Blues just a draft pick, or could Chris Stewart go back the other way in that deal?
- There is definitely some difference of opinion in Washington between the Caps and Hamrlik. Hunter was planning to scratch him next week. If the Blues are interested, they would not have to give up Chris Stewart, nor should they. The Caps perhaps would be excited to get out of Hamrlik's $3.5 million salary next year. I would think draft picks or maybe a defenseman.
- I've heard the blues are less likely to make any deals due to the onwership situation, do you think that is preventing anything Armstrong could do?
- Yes, the ownership situation is certainly preventing Armstrong from making any major additions. He's believed to be in a situation where he's trading dollar for dollar and typically that doesn't allow you to improve your team.
- After all the line combo's last night why do you think we didn't see oshie/burgy/perron?
- Perron was placed on the fourth line after a couple of turnovers. They were juggled throughout the night, but it was pretty obvious that Hitchcock was sending Perron a message.
- Would it make sense for a team to acquire Ben Bishop at this point, since he will become a free agent this summer? I don't think he would reach the NHL starts required to stay RFA at this point....
- Not much sense unless a team thought they could either A) Play Bishop in 17 games (time is running out) or B) Re-sign him before July 1. Bishop would have all the leverage in the second situation, so it wouldn't make a lot of sense. Team may wait, give up nothing and then try to sign him in the summer.
- Do you have any insight on the Shanahan meeting. The hit by Clutterbuck on Petro was worth of at least a review? Is there a process for reviews, do the Blues have to submit video to be reviewed or does the league review each game for suspect hits?
- To my knowledge, the Blues didn't submit a complaint about the Clutterbuck hit on Pietrangelo, but there are times when we don't hear about those complaints. But keep in mind, a team doesn't have to voice its displeasure for a hit to be reviewed. Shanahan says the league reviews five or six hits a night without hearing from anybody.
- 1. Looks like Backes and Oshie are starting to wear down a bit. Do you think that Hitch should look at a guy like Crombeen on the PK. He was one of our better penalty killers in the past.
- That's a very fair observation. Hitch likes to play his top players on the special teams and it's worked for him in the past. The main concern is one of those players taking a puck off the foot. But there is also a fatigue factor. How many shorthanded goals do we see as a result of these guys on the ice? A few ... Backes scored one the other day. But is it worth it at the expense of their energy levels. A guy like Crombeen helped the Blues have the No. 1 overall PK in the league a couple of years ago.
- Thanks for another chat JR.
Already with 2 consecutive losses, we head to Nashville tonight to face the player that seems to own the Blues more than any other NHL'r (Rinne). Then we have 5 more consecutive road games. Add to that we just lost Langenbrunner for a month. It concerns me that this has the potential to turn into a skid. And, with Chicago heating up and Nashville/Detroit seemingly very consistent, I think a skid could be especially bad for the Blues right now.
Are you worried about this road trip as much as I am? What do you think they can do to prevent it? - All the games are important, but yes, because of the reasons you mentioned, this six-game road trip is critical. If the Blues limp through the trip 1-5, they could be in some trouble. There are some winnable games on this trip and after a couple of tough losses, it's imperative that the Blues regain their footing.
- Thanks for the chat JR.....Do you think Armstrong will make a move at the deadline due to the injuries of players lately?
- I don't believe he had any intentions of dealing for a forward BEFORE the Langenbrunner injury. But now he may be forced to. Steen hasn't been on the ice with the team the past couple of days and D'Agostini hasn't been seen since he left the ice in Ottawa. Yes, you're getting Langenbrunner back in four weeks, but things could look a lot different by then. The Blues are teetering on the edge health-wise with their forwards, so Armstrong will be scouring the market.
- 1. JR, is there any known notable difference between goals for when Elliot is between the pipes as oppose to when Halak is in net? 2. you mentioned in a tweet about Tampa Bay getting picks, and a possible trade for Bishop with those picks. I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw that. What pick could you see TB sending us in exchange for Bishop?
- I don't have the breakdown in front of me, but I earlier in the season, Elliott was receiving more goal support ... As far as compensation for Bishop, the Blues have a price tag out there. I don't know what it is. It could be a 1st, it could be a 2nd. But I've heard from outside sources that teams may be offering 4th rounders and I don't think that's going to cut it with the Blues.
- Are you going to have Dan O'Neill bring you something back from Jack's?
- Gosh, I hope he brings back some turkey, mac and cheese and cornbread. The turkey from Jack's BBQ in Nashville is like M&Ms ... melts in your mouth.
- What is the update with Halak and his illness?
- Halak is fine. He sat on the bench last night and is expected to start tonight against Nashville.
- With Jeff Carter on the block and Hitch likely having a good read on him, having coached him for a time in Philly, do you think the Blues would be interested in him? Would Columbus be willing to trade him within the division?
- Just because Hitchcock coached him before doesn't mean he wants to coach him again. Columbus may not want to trade him within the division, but the Blues aren't interested. The contract doesn't make sense with the Blues' ownership situation and even if that weren't the case I don't believe the Blues would be interested.
- Does it really make sense for the Blues to get Hamrlik? It seems like a waste of $3.5M for next year when it seems we have a lot of defensemen already. If the Blues are on so tight of a budget, it makes more sense to me to spend that money on a forward.
- It may not make 100 percent sense with the way the Blues' defense has been playing (before last night) and with the money Hamrlik's due next season ($3.5 million), but the Blues will need depth and veteran experience in the playoffs. The same could be said for every team, but if the Blues have a chance to help themselves now, I believe it makes sense.
- You say D'Agostini hasn't been seen since he left the ice in Ottawa. No comments by the team on him whatsoever?
- The team has acknowledged its a concussion situation, but they don't know any more than you or I about his timetable. No reason to comment.
- For the most part, Stewart seemed to play a hard 60 minutes last night. I was more impressed with that than the goal he scored, since he seems somewhat apathetic at times. Do you think last night could be the start of a turnaround for him? Is there anything that might have sparked a solid performance?
- He did play well last night. One would like to think that it's the start of something, but until he puts a string of games together, I don't know that too many folks are ready to buy into it yet. But he did look good and perhaps Hitchcock calling him out recently played a role.
- How would you describe the rivalry between the Blues and Predators from the St. Louis perspective. The games are always intense and competitive, but there doesn't seem to be that venom that can be seen in most ultra-competitive rivalries. Is there anyone on Nashville's team that the Blues really dislike (aside from Pekka Rinne for obvious reasons)?
- I believe that the Blues, for the longest time, didn't want to look at it as a rivarly. They had Chicago and Detroit and Nashville was just kind of a pest. But now that Nashville has been able to sustain its status in the league for several year now, and the Blues have played many close games with them, it's developing into a pretty interesting matchup. It helps that Trotz and Hitchcock go way back.
- On February 28th, Chris Stewart will be playing with who?
- I believe he'll still be with the Blues unless a trade proposal is overwhelming, which I wouldn't expect. There is the thought process that with Stewart's contract being up after the year, and he'll be a restricted free agent, the Blues may be able to get him cheap, and if he bounces back they'll have a bargain on their hands. He scored 28 goals twice, so it was no fluke.
- Lots of crazy hits in last nights game, especially with Oshie, how are he and the rest of the team feeling today?
- As far as I know, everyone came out unscathed. Dan O'Neill is with the team in Nashville.
- I watched the Vancouver Nashville game on Tuesday and the Preds were impressive in a solid victory. They play a similar style to the Blues - solid goaltending, a large and mobile (except Hal Gill) defence and pressure all over the ice. In a 7 game series between the Blues and the Preds, which team comes out on top?
- That would be a VERY tight series. I think either team could win, but with the way the season series has gone this year, you'd have to give the edge to Nashville right now. Rinne is 4-0 against the Blues with a 1.20 GAA and a .967 save-percentage. Only way the Blues turn that around is somehow solving Rinne.
- In the past couple games Perron has been seeming very frustrated with the game ... is it from being out for so long with the concussion and getting bad in the habit of things or is it due to the different coaching style and him having to adjust.
- He just came off a lengthy point streak, so I think he's happy with his play. Last night, he was bounced to the right wing on Berglund's line, and then demoted to the fourth line after a couple of turnovers, so that might explain his frustrations last night.
- What is your opinion re: the production of the Blues thus far? I think the thing that's most frustrating is that fans feel that the Blues CAN produce more and have seen them do so. At what point do you stop waiting for them to magically start scoring more and look for other options?
- I'm assuming you're talking about offensive production. If so, yes, the Blues have the talent to score more goals. But keep in mind, Hitchcock is coaching his style and also to capitalize on the way the team was built. The team limits the number of shots against and tries to keep the puck out of the net. From there, they try to create offensive chances. They don't take as many risks as other teams. Yes it limits their opportunities, but they've shown that they can be successful keeping the goal total low and winning.
- Does this two game slide indicate a problem? I'm not so sure. I think with the way the team has responded to other issues this year, it will only make them work harder. Thoughts?
- I asked Hitchcock last night if he saw any similarities between the two losses and he said no. Against Chicago, they didn't have a solid effort from the entire lineup. The effort was fairly good last night across the board, but there were simply too many turnovers. You'd like to think the results will fire them up, but we'll have to wait and see tonight.
Most Popular
Deals, Offers and Events
- Bommarito Buick - 2012 Buick Verano
- Bommarito Buick GMC West County
- Gift certificates are available at Nail Art
- Nail Art
- Comfortex Window Fashions
- Gateway Shutters & Blinds
- Fall Dance Schedule
- DD's Dance Class
- Certified Pre-owned Vehicles
- Bommarito Motor Trend West County
Poll
What will you do for your mom on Mother's Day?
Loading…
- Take her out to eat
- Give her flowers
- Buy her a gift
- Give her a card
- Other
