SB Nation - Patrik Berglund

December 17 News and Notes

Robert Cleave — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:09:18 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Sigh.

Sir, Saturday morning, although recurring at regular and well-foreseen intervals, always seems to take this railway by surprise.

W.S. Gilbert

That's kind of where I'm at today, because I knew I was doing this bit, and yet here I am going on midnight still pissing around, so let's get to it. This week, the Flames hit a pothole, there's off-ice news from the Monterey Peninsula, and Canada sets its WJHC roster.

Flames:

They have some issues, no? Can't really count on the alleged top line, back-up goalie isn't that good, missing a couple of defencemen, it's been a rough week. I'm not going to rehash things any more except to say that Joker and Iggy have played, counting last season, almost 60 games together. It isn't working. It's long past time to move on. I have no expectation of that happening, of course, since the boss ascribes the problems to a general lack of effort. Having a first line worthy of the name might be a bigger issue, but the Flames will likely get around to acknowledging that fact next July when they don't resign Joker, and not before. It's a sad case.

Struggling is the way of the organization right now, as Jim Playfair has chosen to shake a few things up in Abby. The good news is that Matt Keetley has had some decent outings as of late, but he and Irving aren't getting much help from the offence. Mikael Backlund has hit a slump, with 1 point in the last 7, although he has the full endorsement of his old pal Patrik Berglund. Given that Berglund can't break an egg right now, his words might be construed as sympathy pains as much as anything.

Off-ice, the Flames might yet be in line for an outdoor extravaganza, and Peter Maher hinted this afternoon that it would be on Hockey Day in Canada rather than New Year's Day due to logistical reasons. Should have it had this past week, because, really, what's a bit of -30 weather between friends?

Elsewhere:

Up the road, the Oil have actually done OK in the standings with Hemsky and Khabibulin on the shelf. The Russian 'keeper's bad back has the usual tongues wagging regarding the Oilers' approach to due diligence, and this week brings news of analgesic injections to ease the pain. You know, Mike Rathje has been on LTIR for three years now. Just sayin'.

Tuesday night's loss to L.A. left Pat Quinn in a foul mood after the game, but he really shouldn't worry about things too much, what with his next career already laid out. Good luck, coach. Watching Patrick O'Sullivan would drive anyone to a binge or two.

David Koci looks like he'll join the list of this season's villains after running Mike Green Tuesday night in Denver. I suspect you'll be unsurprised to note that this bit from Bruce Boudreau has my approval:

Let's be honest, if this was (a competitive) game, (Koci) gets on the ice in the first three minutes, he gets into his fight with a guy, and then he sits at the end of the bench, and that's it. So what good is he?

Good thing Brent Sutter doesn't take that sort of approach with the Flames' roster, isn't it? At least Green doesn't appear to be too badly damaged at this point.

The general topic of player safety did come up at the Board of Governors' meetings in Pebble Beach, with a move afoot to draft a proposal regarding head shots for the Competition Committee to review this spring. As always, a rule is only as good as the enforcement.

The BOG meetings also had the usual discussion regarding a few franchises' financial status. Charles Wang is still playing the waiting game with the Town of Hempstead while exploring options that might include teaming with the NBA's New Jersey Nets. Dominik from Lighthouse Hockey reviews some of this as he ponders the willingness of the Islanders to add salary next year if some teams are cap-squeezed enough to move good players. If the Islanders ever get their arena situation squared away, that 30 million-ish TV deal they have will enable them go from the salary floor to the cap a lot quicker than most bottom-dwellers.

The other main topic of discussion on the shores of Monterey Bay was, of course, the Coyotes. Ice Edge's bid is proceeding through channels, and the principals are making noises with regard to potential profitability within our lifetimes. Let's see the colour of their money before penciling in those games in 'Toon Town for next season, shall we? Maybe they could invite this gent into their group? You never know when that sort of skill will come in handy.

The now-annual spectacle of sad, sleepy-eyed kids being herded toward a row of cameras played out Wednesday morning as Canada announced its final cuts to the roster for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship. Flame '08 first rounder Greg Nemisz of the powerhouse Windsor Spitfires joins his team mates Adam Henrique, Taylor Hall and Ryan Ellis on the squad. Good on him. Brandon Kozun and Martin Jones of the Hitmen also made the grade.

Finally this week, the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh is hosting its last season of NHL hockey this winter, as the Penguins move to their new digs next fall. The good people of the Pensblog are always willing to be creative in the service of their hometown, and their innovative proposals to address the city's financial woes are suffused with the sort of earnest public spirit that all of us on the 'tubes should aspire to. That, or bicker with A2Y, I'm good either way.

Have a good one, and as always, the comments are open for things of interest that you've noticed.

Blues Win; Killer Instinct Still Needed.

gallagher — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:13:50 -0000

First things first: They got the two points, which is important.

However....

The trend of not being able to finish off the end of a game is becoming a problem. The Kings score tonight with 34 seconds left to force OT. The Red Wings score with 57 seconds left to force OT and end up getting the win. The Stars score with 26 seconds left on Nov. 25 to force OT. It's a trend now and it's got to be addressed.

Much like the extra gear players have to access come the playoffs, the Blues need to have an extra gear to go to when teams pull their goalie and put 6-on-5 pressure on the Blues net. This year the Note have shown an inability to exercise that extra "want" when the other team is desperate. They need to find a way to be on the puck and to clear the puck.

Coaches will call it stepping on the necks of their opponents. It's a killer instinct that teams have to have to exert their will on their enemies. It's an inexact science and I'd have to say it's one of those "I know it when I see it" qualities. The Blues need to identify their closers and have them on the ice in these situations.

But enough of that for now. The Blues did what they had to and got the two points, making it four for Cali and pulling themselves within striking distance of Detroit (currently up one point) and Columbus (up two points, game in hand) and continuing to distance themselves from the Western Basement (three points from ninth-place Vancouver).

Next up is the surprisingly good Avalanche, who have been falling back a bit lately (3-4-3 in their last 10 before tonight's game) and can be beaten.

Some other notes from today:

Brad Boyes scored twice today with imperfect shots; the one in the second period was a whiff that eluded the goalie and the shootout goal hit Quick and still bounced over his shoulder and got in. If the hockey gods have any compassion at all, Boyes will take this as a lesson and realize that his shots don't have to be perfect roof shots to get in the net. Hit the target, NAMBLA, hit the target and good things will happen.
T.J. Oshie is getting his motor running again and it's good to see. Add to that Patrik Berglund's confident play and the excellent play of David Perron again and I know that I for one am starting to calm down the slowly building panic I was starting to feel about the young forwards.
Speaking of the youngsters, Roman Polak and Erik Johnson both looked solid again, boosting confidence in the future, while Darryl Sydor looked a step slower than normal and Barret Jackman looked like he forgot how dominant and angry he was agaiant San Jose Thursday. Young guys, show the old guys. Seriously, let's get this squared away.
Chris Mason has one and is playing great. Ty Conklin has started to grow one and has been great. It's officially time to Fear The Beard. My recommendation is to make it team policy to start growing them. Besides, you know Oshie's and Perron's would be high hilarity.
No idea why Paul Kariya can't score at home, but he clearly still has the ability. That power play slapshot was freaking Viagra. One of the broadcasters made the assertion that Kariya has been the team's best forward for the last couple weeks. Slow down, fella. He hasn't been the best, but I will say that he has shown a willingness to take a hit that was absent earlier in the year and I think it has helped his all-around game.
Oh, and finally, I don't know what it is about Tim Peel and his ability to make bad calls against the Blues, but the wave-off of the first goal because of goaltender interferance was complete cockfuckery. As Dominik pointed out in the GDT comments, it's frustrating when referees make calls based on the last split-second of a play. Tkachuk was around the goaltender interference, but it was caused by the Kings defenseman in the crease.

Next game is Monday night, but feel free to stop by anytime, we're always here for you.

And for those of you wondering what I mean by visual Viagra, here's Exhibit A:

Which Blues Could Make The Olympics?

Brad Lee — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:51:01 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

This face was built for dangerous activities. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Browse more photos »

The hockey blogs on the SB Nation network have been putting together previews for the 2010 Olympics. The idea is to put together educated guesses about which players from each team will participate in the Winter Games. We don't want to get left out, so keep reading to see our predictions for players making the Olympics.

Jay McClement, Canada
With his combination of speed, hard work, determination and Zen-like ability to control his emotions in the game, Silent Jay should pack his bags for Vancouver. And when we say pack his bags, we mean he needs to put his cross country skis and rifle in travel bags so he can participate in the biathlon. Ah, the biathlon. It combines the obscure sports of cross country skiing and shooting. The biathlon requires the participants to ski as fast as they can for long stretches then stop and hit small targets at distance with their rifle. That requires the shooter to slow his breathing and heartbeat to get a steady bead on the target. McClement is perfect for it.

Paul Kariya, Canada
One of the fastest and agile skaters on the Blues with a combination of sparkling moves and aversion to contact, Kariya should pack his bags. And he should make sure to include his skates that have toe picks. Kariya is the perfect ice dancer. Just add sequins.

T.J. Oshie, USA
Backwards hat, check. Frosted hair tips, check. Wild energy, check. Reckless abandon, double check. Oshie will be a hit in freestyle snowboarding, preferably the half pipe. Tell me he's not the prototypical snowboarder. Plus he'd guarantee a sellout and hundreds of screaming 16-year-olds.

Ty Conklin, Chris Mason, Canada
This tandem, they just look like they get along really well. They're openly happy for the other after victories and look genuinely concerned after defeats. Goaltenders are a different breed. They're odd. Different. Oddballs, you see. So they have a bond that most players can't even fathom. That's why they will be threats to contend in doubles luge. Have you seen these people in their skin-tight suits all spooned together? You think any two guys can just mount each other and the sled before hurtling down the ice-covered track? Most guys would piss their pants, and on doubles luge you really don't want that. Conk and Mase, they have everything.

David Backes, USA
The Olympics next year are in Vancouver. That's part of Canada last time we checked. And they sometimes highlight some of the local sports during the games. A dark horse to win a medal has to be David Backes in bear wrestling. He'll be in a battle with some work to do before becoming nearly a lock, but it's a safe bet he'll be moving on up the rankings as long as the bears agree to fight him. If not, he'll be moving down.

Patrik Berglund, Sweden
The second-year Swede has been gliding up and down the ice, just kind of scuffling along the entire season. Berglund should pack his broom for curling.

Alex Steen, Canada
It's as plain as the nose on his face, Steen is perfect for ski jumping. The said nose will cut the wind like a shark's fin through room temperature Velveeta. Plus he's mostly from Europe, so he's got that going for him, which is nice.

B.J. Crombeen, USA
Look at the marked-up, bruised, cut, toothless mug on this guy and know he has no fear. He's perfect for skeleton. You don't know what skeleton is? That's the sport where you climb on a sled that's about the size of a cafeteria tray and all the control of one and you slide down the ice track, cranium first at huge rates of speed - even when they measure it at kilometers per hour. Godspeed, B.J. Just remember there's no freaking brakes.

Roman Polak, Czech Republic
Now he's got a lot of work to do to make the Czech Republic men's ice hockey team. But he's pretty much a lock to make Team Italy. Or Poland's.

Are there any players/sports we missed? Give 'em in the comments.

---

Remember, Blues at Sharks tonight. GDT will be hopped up on Red Bull. Come back, won't you?

The Trading Block: Who The Blues Could Move

gallagher — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:30:12 -0000

More photos » by Gerry Broome - AP

The trade of Lee Stempniak signaled to the Blues that it wouldn't be Andy Murray that would be held accountable for their slow start. Who could be this year's Stempniak?

Browse more photos »

On Nov. 23 last year the Blues were 8-8-2 and 13th in the Western Conference, dead-last in the Central Division. They'd suffered some odd injuries, including an emergency appendectomy to one of their players. Fans were grumbling about the coaching of Andy Murray and the lack of team scoring (just 55 goals in 18 games to that point).

The next day the team traded Lee Stempniak, considered by most followers of the team to be one of the franchise's youthful building blocks, to Toronto for Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. The deal was a classic sell-high, buy-low for the Blues, as Stempniak had a bit of a point streak going at the time (he had three goals and 10 assists in 14 games to that point) and had been a 27-goal scorer once before in his short career. Meanwhile, both Colaiacovo and Steen had long since worn out their welcome in the Center Of The Hockey Universe as underperforming former first round picks.

But the trade was more than a "let's get two-for-one" deal for the Blues; this was a direct message to the players that Murray would be staying and if their performance continued to be mediocre, it was they that would be a-going.

The team continued to struggle along through November and December before going 6-4-1 in January and then, of course, going on The Run that ended with the Blues in the sixth seed in the West.

With the exception of waiving Manny Legace on Feb. 6, the Blues made no other roster moves after the Stempniak deal. Considering the similar state of the team today and the recent comments made by team owner David Checketts that the time to move forward is now, if the team doesn't start to climb the standings soon, another move will be made to shake up the roster. For the sake of this argument, we're going to assume that Andy Murray will not be fired and that the team will deal with first quarter doldrums in the same manner that they did last year and trade someone.

But who fits the bill to be traded this year? Last year's trade of Stempniak was unforeseen and shocking to fans, media and presumably, the players. If a trade is to be made this year, it'd likely be designed to shake up the players who remain behind. The problem is identifying a player who is shocking to see leave and sends the message, but not be the type of player that goes on to make you regret his departure.

Similarly, the roster is full of players that fans might want to see traded, but simply cannot be moved for one reason or another.

We'll analyze the current roster to see who is tradeable and who is not, leaving the minor leaguers and prospects out of the discussion as we're not talking about specific packages or team needs at this point. In the end, we'll give our most likely candidates to be moved if the Blues decide to dangle one of their players.

David Backes

#42 / Right Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-3

Weight: 216

Born: May 01, 1984

G A P +/- PIM

2009 - David Backes 4 6 10 1 38

David Backes, RW: The Blues thought highly enough of Backes to match Vancouver's RFA offer to him before last season, agreeing to overpay him to the tune of $2.5 million a year. Backes paid back the Blues in spades last year with his 31-goal effort and his nightly physical domination. He became known as Chuck Norris around these parts and it was justly deserved.

But is he tradeable today? Backes' slow start made him an early candidate for consideration in a shake up trade, but his six points in his last four games has made him an even more potent trading piece. If the Blues were to trade Backes it would definitely shake up the roster and send the message that no one here is untouchable, but giving up on the 25-year-old could end up being seriously short-sighted. The return might be great, but what of the loss? Have we seen the top of Backes' game or is he just getting started?

Patrik Berglund

#21 / Center / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-4

Weight: 187

Born: Jun 02, 1988

G A P +/- PIM

2009 - Patrik Berglund 3 2 5 -4 2

Patrik Berglund, C: The former first rounder from 2006 enjoyed a great rookie season, becoming coveted around the league for his 21 goals and 47 points in 76 games, despite playing in twice as many games as he ever had in a season previously. This season, however, has been the epitome of the sophomore slump for the young TechnoViking. He is on pace for just 11 goals and 18 points. His minus-4 stands out when compared to his solid plus-19 from last year.

Is he tradeable? Certainly. Would it be shocking? Absolutely. Would it be giving up on a talent who has not reached his final height yet? Probably. Depending on the return that could be gotten back, Berglund could find himself the target of a "needs a change of scenery" trade.

Brad Boyes

#22 / Right Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Born: Apr 17, 1982

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Brad Boyes	6	9	15	-5	2

Brad Boyes, C/RW: In his short NHL career, Boyes has bounced from Toronto to San Jose to Boston to St. Louis. His talent is evident as he has scored 43 and 33 goals over the last two seasons, but his streaky nature and perceived lack of hard work has kept him on the move. He is on pace for 29 goals this year, despite a recent streak of nine points in his last 10 games. At just 27 years old, he is still an NHL commodity and would surely find suitors if he were on the Blues' trade block.

But can the Blues trade a guy who one could argue is the only real sniper on the team? The last person to score 33 goals in the Bluenote was Tkachuk in 2003-04. The last to score 43 was Brett Hull in 1995-96. Yes, Brett Hull. In 1996. He'd likely draw some talent back to the team, but scoring, even if it is streaky, is not a strength from which the Blues have a deep well to deal.

Eric Brewer

#4 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-3

Weight: 222

Born: Apr 17, 1979

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Eric Brewer	1	2	3	-8	11

Eric Brewer, D: Calm down, boo-birds. Yes, Brewer might find himself atop many fans' Trade Now lists, but the Robot Captain seems to still be respected within the organization. His statistics continue to track along his career normal, in that area around 20-29 points, but his glaring minus-8 will keep the fans letting him know, "Brewer You Suck!"

If he hadn't missed a calendar year of hockey with various knee and back surgeries and if he wasn't currently on the shelf with another 'lower body' injury, Brewer might have some value. But add to those red flags his current contract of $4.5 million for this year and next and it's unlikely Brewer is going anywhere anytime soon.

Carlo Colaiacovo

#28 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Jan 27, 1983

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Carlo Colaiacovo	2	7	9	0	17

Carlo Colaiacovo, D: The beneficiary of last year's "change of scenery" trade, Colaiacovo has revived his career in St. Louis. The offensive defenseman, who never put up more than 24 points in an NHL season before, finished last year with 30 and is on pace for even more points this season, his contract year. He remains haunted by the injury bug, though he managed to play a career-high 73 games last season.

If the Blues think he can be re-signed and continue to be productive in a leading role for the team (he is only 26 now), he won't be traded. If they think he'll be squeezed out by upcoming defenders, Colaiacovo could be a prime trading piece.

Ty Conklin

#29 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-0

Weight: 184

Born: Mar 30, 1976

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Ty Conklin	7	386	3	2			15	2.33	204	189	.926	1

Ty Conklin, G: Conklin has only been with the team for this season and played only seven games. he's been solid and (most importantly for a goalie) uncontroversial in the back-up goal. He fills a serious need for the team and he's paid appropraitely for this year and next.

There's no shock value to shake up the roster by trading Conklin and any trade involving him immediately opens a hole that has to be filled.

B.J. Crombeen

#26 / Right Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-2

Weight: 212

Born: Jul 10, 1985

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - B.J. Crombeen	1	3	4	2	63

B.J. Crombeen, RW: The Beej has a very specific role on this team and depending on the night, he either plays it well by hitting and checking and making life a nightmare for the opposition, or he decides he's needed on the ice and puts himself on the ice for a too-many-men penalty. Basically, he's a role player who can chip in some points and allow older fans to boast that they remember when his dad played here.

Trading B.J. wouldn't be much of a blow to the team. Some might say that it sucks, but not too many fans or players would choke on the trade if it were made. There wouldn't be much of a return on a B.J. trade either because most people would see him as a starter, not the main event in any exchange.

Barret Jackman

#5 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-0

Weight: 203

Born: Mar 05, 1981

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Barret Jackman	0	4	4	5	13

Barret Jackman, D: The World's Angriest Defender (TM), owner of the best You're An Idiot (R) look in the NHL, Jackman is an original Blue, drafted in the first round back in 1999. He has had to re-learn the game as a defensive defenseman after the new rules were implemented after the lockout. Despite his inexplicable role as "the guy we hate when Brewer is out of the lineup", Jackman plays a steady if unspectacular game and while he has seen time on the power play during the less-offesnive days, he clearly doesn't relish the offensive role and is happier defending his own net.

Jackman's trade would definitely shake up the team and the fanbase, though the return would not be terribly flashy due to his unflashy role and large contract ($4.5 million this year and next, $3.5 million in 2011-12).

Cam Janssen

#55 / Right Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-0

Weight: 210

Born: Apr 15, 1984

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Cam Janssen	0	0	0	-1	50

Cam Janssen, RW: It's almost superfluous to put Janssen's position in this description as all it does is designate where he lines up on face-offs. The local boy gone pro, Cam Smash, King of Eureka, spends his entire shift running around the rink looking for someone to run into or to punch. St. Louisans love their home-town products and Janssen is no exception. He plays a specific role and with his better skating and durability than heavyweight fighter D.J. King, Janssen has been useful to the team. Also, did we mention that the fans love him?

While his game has gotten better since he arrived here in February 2008, Janssen could be traded. The return would be low and the biggest shake up it would cause would be down I-55 south of 44, where they still need every body they can get to fill sandbags come spring.

Erik Johnson

#6 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-4

Weight: 219

Born: Mar 21, 1988

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Erik Johnson	4	14	18	6	16

Erik Johnson, D: Despite missing all of last year to a golf cart jousting incident (allegedly), the Eeeej leads the team in scoring, changes the way teams have to prepare for the Blues' attack, does a mean Napoleon Dynamite impression, isn't afraid to get down with your girlfriend in your car in Al MacInnis' driveway (allegedly) and is likely going to stage some sweet raid on Oshie's condo at some point to get his Elmo hat back.

How do you spell 'franchise'? Not sure, but it definitely has an E and a J in it. This kid isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Paul Kariya

#9 / Left Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 5-10

Weight: 180

Born: Oct 16, 1974

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Paul Kariya	6	5	11	4	12

Paul Kariya, LW: We owe Paul Kariya a bit of an apology. earlier this year we said something to the effect of, "The next time Paul Kariya takes a hit to make a play with be the first." Since that time, Kariya, who must have heard our admonishment through cyberspace, has been offering up his tiny, waif-like body to make plays. And, thankyouverymuch, it has resulted in Kariya's point totals rising, with points in each of the last three games.

Kariya is still on pace for a terrible offensive year, but that isn't the only reason that trading Kariya is a tough task. In fact there are 6 million reasons that other teams don't want to deal for Kariya. That hefty price tag, small offensive output and the final months of a contract owed to a notorious mercenary when it comes to free agency (just ask Anaheim, Colorado and Nashville) combine for a perfect storm of "hell no, we don't have interest in Kariya" among the rest of the NHL teams.

Chris Mason

#50 / Goalie / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Born: Apr 20, 1976

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Chris Mason	19	1129	7	8			43	2.29	557	514	.923	0

Chris Mason, G: Mason is the goalie. He's not winning enough games because he's not getting enough help from the rest of the team. His personal stats are great (eighth in GAA and seventh in save percentage) and that's tough to do on a struggling team.

Trading Mason would happen if only one of two things were happening: 1. Tha Canucks called and said, "How about Luongo for that Mason fella straight up?" or 2. The Blues called a press conference and announced, "Screw this year, we love drafting high."

Jay McClement

#18 / Center / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-1

Weight: 201

Born: Mar 02, 1983

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Jay McClement	4	4	8	0	6

Jay McClement, C: Silent Jay, one of the original members of the Blues' post-lockout Kid Line (along with the traded Stempniak), has developed into a legitimate Selke candidate right before our eyes. His even plus/minus is all the more impressive when considering that he sees most of his minutes against other team's top lines. McClement is also locked up for two years after this season to a reasonable contract ($1.45 million per). Plus, his stock photo looks like he has a skelton's grin, which is awesome.

McClement's trade would shock the locker room more than the fans, especially casual fans who too often overlook his quiet, workmanlike contributions to team success. His contract, work ethic and skill set make him a perfect add for an opposing team. His trade wouldn't bring back the intangibles he adds. It could happen, but it would likely be shortsighted.

Andy McDonald

#10 / Center / St. Louis Blues

Height: 5-11

Weight: 183

Born: Aug 25, 1977

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Andy McDonald	6	8	14	-2	2

Andy McDonald, C: McDonald is struggling offensively this year but everyone has seen what he can do with the puck when he starts running hot. Plus, the Blues just locked him up for another three years after this year at an average of $4.7 million a year.

Trading McDonald would be the Blues saying that they made a mistake with a big contract and are having buyers' remorse. Which would put them on the 'sell low' end of the negotiations, the bad end to be on. The trade wouldn't shock fans or the locker room and the return would be less than impressive.

T.J. Oshie

#74 / Center / St. Louis Blues

Height: 5-11

Weight: 170

Born: Dec 23, 1986

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - T.J. Oshie	4	9	13	1	10

T.J. Oshie, C/W: Oshie only seems like he's in a the throes of a sophomore slump because his rookie season took the city by storm. Young Mister Furnace Face scored the NHL.com goal of the year, blew up Rick Nash so badly (twice) that the fans coined the phrase "Oshied", got voted by someone to be his or her mayor in an actual election and had his name chanted by over 19,000 people on multiple occasions last year. By comparison, a second season where he only tallies 50 points would seem like a let down.

Last year, even suggesting that Oshie be traded would be reason enough to go into Salman Rushdie-like hiding for a writer. This year, it would be like suggesting that Anheuser-Busch is better off being owned by a foreign company like Inbev. It's still fighting words in most places, but in others, well, whatever, they just drink Schlafly anyway. Which isn't to say that Oshie's trade wouldn't shock the team and the fans, beacause it certainly would. The problem is that Oshie can score, but his intangibles are worth at least as much as his points, so the return on him wouldn't match what the team would give up.

David Perron

#57 / Left Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-0

Weight: 180

Born: May 28, 1988

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - David Perron	9	7	16	-1	14

David Perron, LW: Perron leads the team in goals, works his poutine-loving ass off on every shift (doing a great rookie Oshie impression) and has an early nod for selection for this year's NHL.com goal of the year. Despite what has happened between Perron and the coach in the past, he is newly mature and coming into his own. And he's only 21.

Despite the fact that he's coming into a contract year and will certainly be looking for a huge pay increase this summer, the day a competing general manager picks up his phone to learn that the Blues are calling to offer Perron in a trade is that GM's best day ever. David Perron is untradeable at this point, no matter the return (sort of insanity, which can happen in the NHL) because of his ceiling.

Alex Pietrangelo

#27 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-3

Weight: 206

Born: Jan 18, 1990

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Alex Pietrangelo	1	1	2	-9	6

Alex Pietrangelo, D: There's a rule in hockey that goes something like this: goalies hit their stride and their prime later than any other position. Defensemen hit their stride and their prime earlier than goalies, but still not until later in their careers. Forwards can be thrown into the league earliest at all because creativity, speed and their shot can compensate for other factors.

Pietrangelo isn't playing enough in the NHL for most observers and he's got nothing left to learn in junior, but that hardly makes him prime trade bait. The fourth overall selection from just last year going on the trade block would garner a ton of calls from around the league, but the fact is that the offers would almost always be "you take our busting project for your young defenseman who isn't playing anyway".

Roman Polak

#46 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-1

Weight: 227

Born: Apr 28, 1986

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Roman Polak	2	4	6	6	22

Roman Polak, D: He's 23, he's locked up for this year and next for a little over a million bucks each, plays solid defense, can contribute offensively and is fast enough to rush the puck and get back to protect his own zone. He's quiet and unheralded and he's the Jay McClement of the defense. Plus, his fake Twitter account is awesome. As is farting in teammate's helmets.

The shock value is high, his replacement is fairly easy considering the Pietrangelo, Junland, Rundblad, Cole pipeline and the return on him would likely be comparable, if not exactly earth-shattering.

Alexander Steen

#20 / Left Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-1

Weight: 205

Born: Mar 01, 1984

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Alexander Steen	1	1	2	-1	6

Alexander Steen, LW: Steen has been a staple on the McClement line almost since his arrival in St. Louis and he has also shown flashes of the offense that caused him to be drafted in the first round by Toronto back in 2002. But unlike his trade-mate Colaiacovo, Steen hasn't exactly made himself a more desired commodity around the NHL. he plays an important role for the team, but his role can be filled by plenty of similar players in Peoria who would love the opportunity.

No one nose what value Steen might have around the NHL, but we smell a boring trade if he's the tip of any deal because he's at the end of his contract and has likely reached his beak.

Darryl Sydor

#44 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-1

Weight: 211

Born: May 13, 1972

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Darryl Sydor	0	4	4	6	10

Darryl Sydor, D: Sydor's best days are well behind him. He's lucky that he happens to have a skill set that allows him to be paid premium dollars (a cool million for this season) to act as 'mentor' and not really be expected produce much offensively. Sydor's only value in trade would be at the deadline as a depth/veteran presence guy. As for shock value in trading Sydor at this point, it's unlikely there would be much shake up in the locker room after the initial "I couldn't believe he took Pronger's number in the first place" discussion.

Keith Tkachuk

#7 / Center / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-2

Weight: 232

Born: Mar 28, 1972

G A P +/- PIM

2009 - Keith Tkachuk 5 8 13 -3 22

Keith Tkachuk, LW/C: The days of trading Tkachuk for a big return are probably long gone. If the trade deadline were looming, there might be a ~~sucker~~ general manager or two out there who might still fall for the siren song of "big body, proven goal scorer, veteran presence" for their playoff run, but as for a trade today, there won't be many takers around the NHL.

Tkachuk is on a short, NHL-cheap contract and does have a strong locker room presence... which is exactly why the Blues want him and will be unlikely to trade him. It'd shake up the roster, but the return at this point wouldn't be worth the exchange.

Mike Weaver

#43 / Defenseman / St. Louis Blues

Height: 5-9

Weight: 182

Born: May 02, 1978

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Mike Weaver	0	1	1	5	8

Mike Weaver, D: Small but steady, Weaver doesn't get mentioned much because he is a defensive defenseman who does his job effectively. Not being mentioned much is a compliment for defensive defenseman.

As for trade value, Weaver has virtually none. There'd be little shock value to the team due to his journeyman status and zero shock value to the fans (have you ever seen a Weaver 43 jersey worn by a fan?) and the return would be the definition of infinitesimal.

Brad Winchester

#15 / Left Wing / St. Louis Blues

Height: 6-5

Weight: 228

Born: Mar 01, 1981

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Brad Winchester	0	2	2	1	24

Brad Winchester, LW: It's hard to believe that a guy who stands 6'5 tall and weighs nearly 230 pounds could ever be described as invisible, but Winchester has done just that and in the process has proven how a guy who is taken 35th overall in the NHL draft (2000) can muster only 200 NHL games and 36 points in the following nine years.

Yeah, this is about trade value and shake up of the roster, neither of which describe Winchester.

***************************************

So where does that leave the Blues if they are looking to make a trade? Here are our best guesses, by category.

Untradeable Due To Value:

These guys aren't going anywhere because they are too important to the team now and/or in the future.

Erik Johnson. If the trade documents came to the NHL offices, even those numbskulls would void it based on sheer stupidity. Wayne Gretzky got traded, sure, but not when he was 21 and the best player on his team.
Chris Mason. What do you need the second you trade Chris Mason? A top-10 ranked starting netminder. Whoops!
Jay McClement. Much like Mason, if you trade McClement, you suddenly need a guy just like McClement.
T.J. Oshie. Oshie's intangibles outweigh anything the team would get for him unless some other GM was eating peyote and then firing up the Blackberry to offer up some ridiculous package for the kid. The P.R. hit alone would making trading the Teej a huge mistake.
David Perron. The kid will be worth three first round draft picks to some RFA-contract-offering idiot this summer, so if the Blues are willing to lose an emerging talent like Frenchie, they should wait until then to do it.

Untradeable Due To Lack Of Value:

These guys aren't going anywhere because the return is too small.

Eric Brewer. The Robot is too broken and expensive to warrant interest from another team.
Paul Kariya. It isn't 1996 anymore. Kariya costs too much, is too close to unrestricted free agency and is producing far too few points to be of any interest to any but the drunkest of general managers.
Andy McDonald. We have no doubt that McDonald will be valuable again one day, but right now he too closely resembles the guy who was easily required for a virtually worthless Doug Weight two seasons ago.

Untradeable Due To Role:

Unless these guys are a problem in the locker room, and there's no reason to think they are, no possible advantage can be gained from trading them.

Ty Conklin. This guy gets traded and has to immediately be replaced by a guy who plays like him, gets paid like him and has the same demeanor as him.
Cam Janssen. Add in the hometown bump you get for having this guy in the lineup, the team would have to get something special to let go of the P.R. advantage Janssen brings. No GM in the league is about to overpay for Janssen.

Could Be Traded For Low Impact:

These guys could get traded, but the return will be small and the shock to the team won't likely be enough to cause significant change.

B.J. Crombeen. Swapping a role player for a mid-to-late pick or another role player isn't going to have the impact the team is looking to get. Plus, why ruin a whole season of blow job jokes if you don't have to?
Alex Steen. The worst thing that can happen to a player is to get injured and then have someone step into your role and make everyone forget you were gone. Steen has played 11 games this year. Seems high, doesn't it?
Darryl Sydor. "Oh no! They traded a 37-year-old depth defenseman they brought in for one year and would have been gone in six months anyway! I guess they are serious; anyone can be traded!"
Mike Weaver. Seriously, how many people really know Mike Weaver is on the team right now anyway? Impact of trading him: all of his immediate family have to update their mailing address for him. As if anyone mails anything anymore.
Brad Winchester: "So we have an offer for 228 pounds worth of hockey pucks. We lose maybe one more fight but we do save about $200 in souvenir costs."

Are You Kidding Me? Seriously. Are You Kidding Me?:

You want shock value? You want some return on your exchange? These are the guys the management and staff are going to argue about trading and the guys who, if traded, would make you call your friends liars when they told you about the trade.

David Backes. Sure, he's struggling. Sure he gets paid a lot for a guy his age. Sure it's been a long time since anyone here has vehemently compared him to Chuck Norris. But general managers in the NHL aren't as easily freaked out by slow starts as fans are. If Backes were made available, the list of teams with nice offers in hand would be long. Trading Backes shakes up the team, nets a good return and lets everyone know that no one is safe. The downside is that he almost certainly becomes a monster and regularly returns to haunt his former team.
Brad Boyes. Most fantasy hockey guys will tell you that the second you trade a great player you immediatley make yourself believe he was never on your team. Boyes can be streaky and frustrating and may always leave you wanting more, but when he's on your team he's a guy that can change a game. Trading him likely brings a nice return, scares the other players into focus and makes all of us go fantasy GM and pretend he never played here, because he's got at least a couple more great scoring seasons ahead of him.
Patrik Berglund. In five years we'll know what we had in Patrik Berglund. He's no Peter Forsberg, but is he going to become the shifty Swedish version of Pavel Datsyuk? Or is he on the fast track to becoming our next Jim Campbell? If he gets traded and blossoms into the slick playmaker with a nasty power play one-timer that we saw in glimpses next year, we'll be tasting our own vomit for the next 10-15 years. If he becomes the next great suburban Mite coach, we'll be applauding his trade like we used to talk about the Christer Olsson for Pavol Demitra deal.
Alex Pietrangelo. Classic giving up too early trade. The kid is 19-years-old and if not for a bout of mono in his draft year could have been drafted before Drew Doughty and Zach Begosian. If he goes away the Blues are counting on Jonas Junland or David Rundblad, both high-risk, power play specialist type of players, to round out their game and fill his spot as they swap him for a slumping scorer of comparable value like Columbus' Nikita Filatov.

On The Block:

These are the guys whose age, reputation, contracts and shake up value to the current roster make them the most likely players to become 'former Blues' should the team decide to go that way.

Carlo Colaiacovo. The guy is young and stepping into his game, but the crunch on the blueline, his contract status and injury history makes him a prime candidate to get dangled out there. His ceiling is probably ahead of him, but he's expendable from a P.R. standpoint, a talent standpoint and in terms of return.
Barret Jackman. This would be even more shocking than the trade of Stempniak last year, but his contract and the depth of the Blues' defensive pipeline makes this a 'head' move more than a 'heart' move. The return would likely be good, too, as Jackman's reputation around the league is excellent.
Roman Polak. How different is Roman Polak today from Dennis Wideman back when he was traded for Brad Boyes? When considering the current and future depth on the blueline, if the Blues could trade Polak today for another streaky sniper do you think they'd do it? Yeah, us too.
Keith Tkachuk. He's the vet with the good story because his family lives here and everyone sees him around town, but he's been rumored to be in the middle of more than one split locker room in his time as a pro. Sending Tkachuk away shocks the Blues' system, forces a younger guy to step up and likely results in a decent return. Short of a no-trade clause we don't know about, it could happen.

******************************

Trade rumors are always a risky proposition and the saying goes that when a team is struggling it's easier to change out one guy (the coach) than a whole team, the Blues have proved in the past that they're willing to change out one player to shake up the others.

Will this year be any different?

Game 26 Preview: The Jackets take on the Blues

Mike MacLean — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:15:00 -0000

by Paul Vernon - AP

View full size photo »

This is a tale of two teams going in seperate directions. The Jackets are in a five-game tailspin, and the Blues have earned points in five of their last six games, including four wins in that span. The Blues have absolutely had their way with the Jackets in recent times, so this will be a tough one. It's a battle of the Masons in net, and the only lineup adjustment from last game is the insertion of Kris Russell into the lineup for Methot.

What the Jackets need to do tonight is match the physicality of the Blues, and Mason needs to continue to get better. The killer instinct has to be there for the entire game, this season has had many instances where Columbus has sat on leads playing the "prevent defence" and it has bit them in the ass.

I'd personally like to see Nasher level T.J. Oshie, not because I don't like the guy, but because Oshie showed last year that he is one of the few guys that can knock Nasher down. Rick's ability to drag defenders on his back is one of his specialties, but Oshie levelled the captain on a few different occassions. I'm sure Nash wants to show the kid that he won't be pushed around.

Fearless Prediction: Nash levels Oshie, Jackts stop the losing streak.

Game Time: 7:00pm ET

Opponent's Blog: St. Louis Game Time

Game Page: Blues vs Blue Jackets Coverage

TSN Preview: Blues vs Blue Jackets Preview

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Can the Blue Jackets stand up to the Blues physically? Last season, St. Louis ran roughshod over the Jackets, winning five of the six games. The Blue Jackets are 2-9-1 vs. the Blues since Nov. 4, 2007, including three straight losses. The Blues are 4-1-1 in their last six games, including a 4-3 shootout loss vs. Detroit on Saturday.

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Raffi Torres	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
Kristian Huselius	Derick Brassard	R.J. Umberger
Jason Chimera	Samuel Pahlsson	Jakub Voracek
Michael Blunden	Derek MacKenzie	Jared Boll

Fedor Tyutin	Anton Stralman
Rostislav Klesla	Jan Hejda
Kris Russell	Mike Commodore

Steve Mason

Mathieu Garon

EXTRA: Kris Russell, Alexandre Picard

INJURED: Fredrik Modin, Andrew Murray, Derek Dorsett

St. Louis Blues

David Perron	Andy MacDonald	Brad Boyes
Paul Kariya	David Backes	T.J. Oshie
Patrik Berglund	Jay McClement	B.J. Crombeen
Alexander Steen	Keith Tkachuk	Cam Janssen

Carlo Colaiacovo	Erik Johnson
Roman Polak	Barret Jackman
Eric Brewer	Mike Weaver

Chris Mason

Ty Conklin

There Are Moral Victories

Brad Lee — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:24 -0000

More photos » by Bill Boyce - AP

Dammit. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

Browse more photos »

I saw the postgame press conference with head coach Andy Murray after Saturday's shootout loss to the Red Menace and could see the disappointment on his face. I heard David Backes talk in hushed tones. I know the team took Todd Bertuzzi beating Chris Mason hard. And yeah, I was pissed off right after the game ended.

How they played against a Red Wings team desperate for a win was just another positive sign in a string of many. The game-tying goal off of Barret Jackman's arm pit was a fluke. A bad break. Not indicative of how the Blues played even in the waning seconds when they gave up the lead.

Let's be realistic, the Blues seem to be back on track at the moment. They've won some games they wouldn't have three weeks ago and they're playing hard in most facets of the game, probably for a couple reasons.

I think most evident is that Mason has elevated his game and the players in front have responded. A goaltender on his game behind his teammates can be a calming influence. It's easier to play in front of a hot goalie. I have no facts or evidence to back this up, mind you, but I think it's probably true.

The Jay McClement and B.J. Crombeen Rejuvination Machine is still working its magic. David Perron found his game and has kept going. Patrik Berglund forgot he was scared of his own shadow and has shown some improvement. I believe the rotting corpse of Paul Kariya saw some time with McClement and Crombeen before coming back to life in recent games.

And in the end, I don't think anyone panicked. Other than the fans and all of the crazies who comment around this place and the people who write for the Game Time paper and Towel Boy. He had to be pissing his air-brushed jeans thinking all his autographed towels would never seen the outstretched hands of his fans. But the guys on the ice and the front office didn't lose their shit. And suddenly the Blues are again a dangerous opponent every night. Go figure.

An NHL season is so damn long. If the Blues can keep this intensity and play with some balance and dare I say confidence and we might forget at the end of the season about late October and early Novemeber. Hopefully.

So fine Game TIme readers who continue to grace us with your presence, have the Blues really turned the corner? Is this the real Blues? Or will we be seeing the team from a couple weeks ago resurface? Tell us down below.

And don't forget to come back for the GDT when the Blues travel to Columbus.

The One Period Blues

gallagher — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:42:02 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Carlo Colaiacovo's offensive instincts were one of the few Blues highlights tonight.

Browse more photos »

First period shots for the Blues: 16. Second period shots for the Blues: 3. Third period shots for the Blues: 12.

And the Blues actually played better in the second period than they did in the third, which was sloppy, slow-footed and off-target. If the homestand told us anything about this team it's that they are an incredibly inconsistent bunch. No idea what makes them think that 20 minutes of effort is enough for this team, but it isn't the attitude they had at the end of last year. Plenty to pick on tonight:

The Bruins did a great job of clogging the middle of the ice in their own zone. This allowed the Blues to do a good job of firing shots right into them which were quickly turned into a breakout.
That shorthanded goal was a back-breaker. Fans started pouring out of their seats with over 8 minutes to play and for once I didn't blame them. Mistakes happen, but that was a catastrophic breakdown.
T.J. Oshie was great last year because he was in constant motion. He was barreling up and down the ice and showing little hestiation at any point. He has lost that running motor. He had some moments, but he also had plenty of moments tonight where he was flat-footed or not moving towards the puck-carrier who was his responsibility. He's not a premier offensive talent at this level; his heart is what makes him different. He's not showing enough heart lately.
Patrik Berglund is invisible out there. His ice time slipped to less than nine minutes tonight and it looked like he played even less than that. Let's hope this is a sophomore slump and not the norm for what we should expect from him.
David Backes was trying to use his size and physicality tonight, but he's being paid to be a scorer. In over 17 minutes of ice time, he registered one shot on net.
Hit the net. I don't know how many shots missed the net completely tonight and then self-cleared by wrapping around the glass and going out of the zone far side, but it was a lot. Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes, Erik Johnson and others all did it. I understand that at the NHL level you have to make perfect shots to beat good goalies, but sometimes just making the goalie make a save turns into a rebound. Sometimes there's no rebound, but at least the face-off is in the offensive zone. Sometimes those shots even go in. I swear. Try it sometime.
One positive: The trend started with Erik Johnson, but a bunch of the defensemen are jumping up into the play more now. I like it. As long as they're getting back or getting covered by a forward, I think it adds an element of danger and makes the team harder to defend. Worked pretty well for Carlo Colaiacovo tonight.

Games in Dallas Wednesday and against the Predators Friday. Guarantee they'll need to play hard for more than one period if they want to win either of those games.

Thursday links: Time to stop playing 'too safe' edition

averagejoe — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:23 -0000

Cats are fighting outside my apartment. They need to shut the hell up so I can watch T.V. Reason No. 1452345 why I love dogs more.

Blues news

Blues vs. Coyotes tonight at the Scottrade Center. Here's a preview. [Blues]
Good news Blues fans, now you can text the DrinkScotch personnel to complain about the escalators not working. [Blues]
Patrik Berglund is playing "too safe." Huh, I thought he was playing "too shitty." [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Bruins fans take a look at the Brad Boyes/Dennis Wideman deal and pose the question: Would the teams do the trade today? [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
Silent Jay McClement is the designated party starter. [STLtoday.com]
David Backes and Paul Kariya are struggling to score/be useful. [Belleville News-Democrat]
Jeremy Rutherford will be chatting today at 1 p.m. It's like Ask Coach Osh, but without Bermuda Cup jokes. [STLtoday.com]
Windsor Spitfires defenceman Mark Cundari, one of the Blues prospects, is playing well as a shutdown d-man. [Windsor Star]

Hockey news

Last night's results can be found here. [Yahoo! Sports]
Game-splosion tonight. [Yahoo! Sports]
ESPN hands out some award-winners at the quarter mark. [ESPN]
Sidney Crosby carried the Olympci torch yesterday. [CTV Olympics]
Ryan Smyth will miss up to a month with an injury to his lower body. [TSN]
As posted on here, Fragile Jay McKee is hurt. [TSN]
The Blackhawks are still trying to sign Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. [ESPN]
It's safe to say Alex Ovechkin doesn't like being hurt. [Japers' Rink]

Other links

Was the video game Contra supposed to Arnold and Stallone vs. Alien? [The Daily What]
Because of this site, I am now Czar Joelax the Savage. Fuck and yes. [Make Me Mighty]
Some people have some kick ass Holiday cards. [My Amazing Holiday Card]
Famous last Facebook status updates. [College Humor]

Video

Remember that 80s dating video PCS linked to a few weeks back? (And then I did a day later because I'm a moron.) Well, there is a part two. Enjoy.

gametimelinks(at)gmail.com. See you all later.

Tuesday links: Ninja Turtles and Red Berenson: A match made in Heaven edition

averagejoe — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:36 -0000

Well, I think it is safe to say that my laptop is dead. We had some good times together.

Blues news

Norm Sanders takes a look at the putrid offense. UPDATED with working link. [Belleville News-Democrat ]
Know your history: Before there was the Red Berenson Cowboy, there was the actual Red Berenson, one of the most exciting players in franchise history. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Alex Pietrangelo is in limbo. With the Blues carrying 8 defensemen, a decision is forthcoming on where he finish out the season. [STLtoday]

Hockey news

Here are your Monday winners. [Yahoo Sports!]
A look at what is going on tonight. [Yahoo! Sports]
Our old friend Brandon at Defending Big D, you know the guys who love Steve Ott, is going to be in charge of the hockey coverage at SB Nation. I for one welcome our new blogger overlord. [Defending Big D]
Old hockey head James Mirtle weighs in on the goings on in Phoenix. The Coyotes are still bankrupt, in case you forgot. [From the Rink]
A Murray on the hot seat? Now where have I heard that? Anaheim Calling debates if the Ducks should fire GM Bob Murray. [Anaheim Calling]
The Leafs are still trying to figure out who is the No. 1 goalie: Jonas Gustavsson and Vesa Toskala. [TSN]
Peter Forsberg is staying in Sweden. For now. Until he decides otherwise in two-to-three weeks. [ESPN]
Cha-cha-changes in Florida Panthers. New owners for the franchise. [ESPN]
Alex Ovechkin should be back tonight. [TSN]
Nikita Filatov might be heading back to Russia. He's struggling with his confidence and declining ice time. Patrik Berglund could not be reached for comment. [The Columbus Dispatch]

Other links

Reminder: Vote for Atlanta and Carolina. [ESPN America]
I found out this weekend that a friend of mine had a rat tail in high school. I can only hope it looked like this. [The Daily What]
The only thing I hate more than children? Old people. Senile old people. [This is why we love them]
Holy shit, this is the best way to get out of late fees. [Blockbuster Employee of the Month]

Video

Ever wondered what would happen if Quentin Tarantino made the Ninja Turtle movies?

gametimelinks(at)gmail.com

Five In A Row: Blues Lose In Atlanta

gallagher — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:47:53 -0000

More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP

No worries Hedberg, he's so snakebit right now he couldn't bury this.

Browse more photos »

I watched today's game looking for a fatal flaw. I wanted to see if there was something I've been missing in the Blues' game that would explain why they aren't scoring enough and in turn, not winning enough. And besides a growing impending sense of doom that started right about the time that a goofy dump-in pass from about 65 feet out hop-skipped over Ty Conklin's glove and into the net to tie the game, I just didn't see it.

Clearly, I'm no expert. I'm not a coach or a scout or even a person who has played the game at any seriously competetive level. I have watched a lot of NHL hockey and a lot of Blues hockey over the years, but still; clearly no expert. And there doesn't seem to be any discernible reason for this extended slump the team is in. they're playing physically. They're getting quality shots on the net. They're crashing the goal. The energy has been there. The goaltending has been there.

It's just an old-fashioned slump.

The problem with a slump is that unless you're Mark Grace, there's no tried-and-true way to bust it. It could happen with a weird bounce in a game (that goes your way for once) or it could come from a weird off-ice incident that loosens up the team and helps them to quit gripping their sticks. It could come from anywhere. Sooner or later it'll happen and the Blues will break out of this funk; they're simply too good of a team to not have it happen. Problem is, we have no idea when it's going to happen. With games at home on Tuesday (Canucks), Thursday (Predators) and Saturday (Sharks), we'd all prefer if it was sooner rather than later.

A few other notes from tonight:

David Perron is getting better. And he was already better this year than he was last year. The Blues were apprehensive about spending a first round pick on him, but he looks like he's on his way to a pretty great NHL career.
Patrik Berglund is getting more and more invisible as the games go along. If it's determined that someone needs to go to Peoria this week, I'd vote for Berglund before I'd vote for Eller.
Lars Eller plays a more physical game than I would have expected. It's early to make any real determinations on him, but I like him on the line with T.J. Oshie. Let's put Perron on the other wing and see what happens there.
Actual text message exchange from tonight: Please get Kariya off this team. Um, then who would we have to play soft and shoot high? Boyes. Oh yeah. OK, I'll work on it.

Finally, DanGNR sent this picture from his trip to Atlanta to watch the debacle. We look forward to hearing stories from yet another roadie GT meet up.