Blues Re-Sign Alex Steen to a 4-year, $13.450M Deal posted by Jeff Ponder

The Blues got their leading scorer back.

Steen had a semi-breakout year in 2009-10, sharing the Blues lead with a career-high 24 goals, and ranking first on the team with seven power-play goals.  His shot from the point was the driving force behind the man-advantage this season, as he truly developed into a quarterback for his team.

“Alex had a career year last season and was a key part on our power play unit,” said Blues GM Doug Armstrong, who officially started his new job this morning. “We’re happy to have him in the fold for the next four seasons.”

The deal breaks down into a back-loaded contract.  He will receive $2.75 million in 2010-11, and $3.56 million in the next three seasons.  His cap-hit will be $3.36 million each season.

This is a very smart move for the St. Louis Blues.  Steen, who came to St. Louis as part of the trade that sent Lee Stempniak to Toronto back in November of 2008, averaged just 16:16 per game, which ranked him 16th on the team in time-played.  Scoring 24 goals in a season in that short of time is truly impressive.  The Blues may have stolen this deal. Continue reading "Blues Re-Sign Alex Steen to a 4-year, ..."

Blues Draft Day 1 Recap posted by Jeff Ponder

In Scout Jarmo Kekalainen and General Manager Larry Pleau's last acts as members of the Blues organization, the team made some noise in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. 

Blues draft forward Jaden Schwartz with the 14th overall pick

In a surprise pick, Jarmo made, what was sketched to be, his final first round pick as a member of the Blues organization.  Schwartz was expected to be a late-first round pick, but Kekalainen felt the need to take him much earlier.  As a member of the Tri-City Storm, the 5'10” 180 lb. forward scored 33 goals, 50 assists for 83 points in 60 games last season.  His puck control and crafty hands earned him a first-round selection.

"I don't think Jaden has changed his style of play since he was 14 or 15 years old,” Jack Barzee of the NHL Central Scouting said.  “He's very deceptive and shifty through the neutral zone and strong on the puck. It's very hard to get the puck off his stick."

But the question mark lies in his size.  Blues fans have witnessed on several accounts how smaller players can be victims of poor puck control against bigger defensemen.  Paul Kariya, Brad Boyes, David Perron and T.J. Oshie, all 6'0” or smaller, faced many problems last season keeping the puck in the offensive zone and on their stick in the corners.

But many players have succeeded that are small in stature.  Brian Gionta of the Montreal Canadiens (5'7” 173 lbs.) has made a living  of deking around the best defensemen in the league and putting the puck in the net.  Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning (5'9” 177 lbs.) has found a way to succeed in the league, scoring on blasts from the face-off dots and weaving around defenders to score the pretty goals.
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Is Oshie Truly 'Untouchable'? posted by Jeff Ponder

When Jarmo Kekalainen and his St. Louis scouting crew found T.J. Oshie with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, they knew that they had something special under their watchful eye. They had Blues management draft him with their 24th pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and talks of the future immediately began in St. Louis. Up until his first game in October of 2008, Blues President John Davidson kept promising that Oshie would be one of the future Blues that would rock the NHL. Two seasons into his NHL career, Oshie has found himself a permanent spot in the Blues lineup. But what does he bring to this lineup that has ensured him that spot on the team?

Oshie has had some flashy goals in his short professional career, including his amazing goal on March 26, 2009 against the Vancouver Canucks that earned him “Goal of the Year,” voted by the fans on NHL.com. His two hits in back-to-back games on Columbus' Rick Nash were also memorable from last season, catapulting him into the hearts of Blues fans as the team fan favorite. But lets look at the things that really matter; statistical importance.

In two seasons, Oshie has accumulated 32 goals and 55 assists for 87 points in 133 games played. How does that compare to other players that cracked their NHL lineups in 2008-09?

1. Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) – Going #1 in the 2008 Entry Draft, Stamkos did not look like he should have been taken so high after one NHL season. His 23 goals and 46 points did not impress the Lightning or anyone else in the NHL. But he really turned his game on this season, being one of three players to score 50 goals or more (others being Crosby and Ovechkin), while also adding 95 points. His 141 points in 161 NHL games dwarfs Oshie's numbers; but is it really fair to compare Oshie to a first overall pick that also plays in the offensive-oriented Eastern Conference? Well lets move on then...

Steen Should be Top-Priority posted by Jeff Ponder

Its hard to find a bright spot on a team that is currently ranked 21st in goals scored.  Alex Steen is the exception.

The St. Louis forward was not expected to be an offensive force when he was acquired from Toronto on November 24 with Carlo Colaiacovo for Lee Stempniak. Spanning over his two final seasons with the Maple Leafs, Steen played in 86 games and scored just 17 goals, including a minuscule two goals in his final twenty games.  It was even reported that Toronto head coach Ron Wilson was the only member of the Maple Leafs management team to not even say goodbye to Steen the day of the trade.  Steen came to St. Louis looking like another disappointing forward, since his 24th overall selection in 2002 built him up as the gun the Maple Leafs were looking for.  He may have faltered with his former team, but he seemed to fit in with the Blues after just a few weeks.

December 8, 2008, the Blues hosted the Nashville Predators at home.  After never really seeing any consistency in Steen's play, the Winnipeg native exploded with a strong game for the Blues.  He netted a big power-play goal late in the second period, then made a very nifty play on an odd-man rush to get the puck to B.J. Crombeen for the game-winning goal in the third.  This just wasn't a good game for the newly-acquired forward; it showed Blues management that all he needed was a change of scenery.

Steen finished 2008-09 with just six more goals than he scored with Toronto, but displayed excellent penalty-killing skills and tremendous speed.  But the real surprise is what he has done this year.  With 24 goals on the season, Steen has powered his way from the checking line with Jay McClement to the top lines with Andy McDonald or T.J. Oshie.  His booming shot on the power-play has been nothing but pleasant to a sub-par power-play (17% for 20th in the league).  His team-leading 24 goals comes with third line minutes as well; he ranks 15th on the team in average-time-played-per-game, and has the seventh-most time played amongst strictly forwards.  Just imagine if this guy got top-line minutes and was playing with a major NHL goal-scorer.  This thought may lead to the key for the Blues to be more of a playoff-contender next season.
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Montreal Trades Matt D'Agostini to St. Louis for Aaron Palushaj posted by Jeff Ponder

Montreal landed a top prospect for their gritty winger.

Matt D'Agostini, the Canadiens' sixth round choice in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has just 14 goals and 11 assists in 94 NHL games played.  The winger is more associated with his feisty style of play, striking fear into opponents when they enter the corners of their defensive zone.  The winger does have an offensive upside though; with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, D'Agostini scored 128 points in 162 games played. 

Aaron Palushaj, formally considered a top prospect in the Blues' organization, has tapered off since joining the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.  Palushaj was considered to be a large part of the Blues' future coming into this season.

“He’s a rink rat and I like that,” Blues President John Davidson said in September.  “He’s skilled. He’s got a real upside.”

Palushaj, who scored 50 points for the University of Michigan in 2008-09, has just 22 points in 44 games this season in Peoria.  It is no doubt that his lack of production is the reason for this move.

Montreal gets Palushaj at the tender age of 20, which is the reason that they get the nod in this deal.  The 6'0” forward has played in just one half season in professional hockey.  College players take a little longer to adapt to professional play than players that come through the ranks of junior programs.  The Blues may have jumped the gun on moving the young forward.  He still has a long time to develop before it can be determined if he is truly NHL talent or not.
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Weighing in on Blues – Canucks Rumors posted by Jeff Ponder

Is it just me, or is it that Canucks media is making it seem that David Backes will ultimately end up in Vancouver?

Canucks GM Mike Gillis attempted to sign Blues forward and restricted free-agent David Backes to an offer sheet worth $7.5 million over three years.  With Backes as a fan-favorite and a valuable asset to the Blues' rebuilding phase, St. Louis GM Larry Pleau had no choice but to match the offer and reclaim his player. 

But now the rumor mill is filled with Backes going to Vancouver yet again.  It was reported by The Globe and Mail that the Vancouver GM was spotted at the Bell Centre last Wednesday in a game that featured the St. Louis Blues and the Montreal Canadiens.  What exactly would draw him to that game?

Backes will earn another $2.5 million next season.  The 25-year old scored a career-high 31 goals in the first year of his new contract, but has trailed off since that time.  After scoring one goal in the Canucks' four-game sweep of the Blues in the post-season, Backes has added just ten goals in 2009-10.  His production has slipped, but still has tremendous respect from around the league.  Former Blues head coach Andy Murray once said that David gives the Blues “a triple threat down low in the corners and in front of the net – a big body that can pass, score goals and be a presence down low.”

Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown has even sung Backes' praises. 

“When I look at David Backes, I see kind of a mirror of my career," he said last season. "You try to make an impact any way you can. We both started out by trying to impact a game with our size and our hits. In the process, you open up ice for yourself and your teammates.”
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Murray Out; Payne In posted by Jeff Ponder

I guess Blues management frequents NHL Hockey Online.

Blues President John Davidson announced that the club has relieved Head Coach Andy Murray of his coaching duties (something I eluded to just three days ago).  The team has in turn named Davis Payne the interim head coach. 

“I would like to thank Andy Murray for the job he has done here the past four seasons,” Davidson stated Saturday morning. “He was an integral part in turning the St. Louis Blues around. He is a true professional and I wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Murray registered a 118-102-38 record as leader of the Blues, including one playoff berth for the better part of four seasons.  The Blues' best time behind Murray came last season, when the club catapulted from the NHL cellar all the way to the sixth seed in the playoffs.  In that stretch, the team went 27-10-7, which put them as one of the hottest teams in the league before losing to the Vancouver Canucks in four games in the opening round of the playoffs. 

Things seemed to stay sour this year for the young club after their dismal playoff performance.  The Blues have recorded just 40 points in 40 games this season, putting them nine points out of the final playoff spot.  Production from players have seemed to drop as well.  Reigning Blues' leading scorer Brad Boyes posted 33 goals last season; he has just nine at this moment.  Seven-time All-Star Paul Kariya was expected to put up big numbers after an injury-riddled 2008-09; he has just eight goals and 19 points.  Probably the biggest disappointment is 21-year old Patrik Berglund.  Expected to pick up from his 47-point rookie season, Berglund has just 12 points in 34 games played.  He has been a healthy scratch at times and has even seen games where he plays less than ten minutes a game on the fourth line.
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Wrong Coach or Wrong Team? posted by Jeff Ponder

A “winning streak” is not a concept that the St. Louis Blues seem to entirely grasp in 2009-10.

The Blues, who did not see their first three-game winning streak until a 2-1 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on December 23, are currently posting a 17-17-5 record, placing them twelfth in the Western Conference and eight points out of a playoff spot.  The record itself is not the biggest problem; it is the lack of production from the core of the lineup.  Before being injured Sunday against the Sabres, left-wing Paul Kariya, who also happens to be drawing $6 million in the final season of his contract, has racked up just eight goals and 19 points in 38 games.  For a former six-time 30 goal scorer, the numbers can speak volumes for the lack of effort the team is seeing from Kariya.

Brad Boyes seemed to be a Godsend for the Blues after being acquired in 2007 for struggling Blues defenseman Dennis Wideman.  He scored 43 goals in his first full season as a Blue and 33 the next season.  The team relies on Boyes to take the big shots and pick the corners; pretty hard to do when you have just three shots on Sunday and one shot Tuesday night.  Boyes' scoring well seems to have dried up.  His nine goals this season is nothing to write home about.

With this lack of production from the Blues' veteran stars, the young players and grinders must be getting plenty of playing time, right?  In a game that he did not produce anything offensively, Paul Kariya played 18:12 in the Blues' win over Calgary last week.  Brad Boyes finished second of the Blues' forwards with 19:47 played Tuesday night against the Predators in their 4-3 losing effort.  It does not end there though.
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Bring on the Rivermen! posted by Jeff Ponder

120:52 is an eternity for the St. Louis Blues.

That is how long it has been since the team has lit the lamp, which occurred on October 28th in North Carolina when David Perron added an empty-net goal to seal a 5-2 Blues victory.  The celebration did not seem to last long.

The next night, the Blues threw 32 shots at Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who stopped every single one in a 2-0 blanking of the Blues.  Long-time Blues-killer Tomas Vokoun displayed a similar achievement two nights later in a 34-save effort en route to the Panthers snubbing the Blues 4-0 at Scottrade Center.  Being shutout two games in a row is not something that Head Coach Andy Murray has expected out of his club.

"All losses look bad," Murray said after the Florida game. "Again, we're down 2-0 in the first period and we're having such a tough time scoring ourselves, and yet we give up two easy goals; very poor coverage decisions in our end and it's 1-0. Again, another goal with poor coverage decisions." 

So where can the Blues turn to try and nip this problem in the bud?

The Blues' AHL affiliate, Peoria Rivermen, are riding rough waters as well.  No pun intended.

The Rivermen find themselves sixth in the Western Division with a 4-4-1-2 record (1 overtime loss and 2 shootout losses), placing them seven points behind the division leader.  So maybe a shake up would do the AHL club some good as well.

Defenseman Jonas Junland has been very impressive thus far for the Rivermen.  His 6 goals and 13 points are tops for the team, along with his impressive +5.  The near 22-year old is on the final year of his contract, and many believe that he will return to Sweden if he cannot crack the Blues' lineup in the near future.  Bringing Junland in might spark an offensive outburst from the blue line on the power-play.
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Blues Early Season News and Notes posted by Jeff Ponder

Only 3 games into the season, the Blues have plenty to talk about.  So lets get started...

Defenseman Barret Jackman sprains ankle; goes on IR (per Jeremy Rutherford).

Jackman will have to miss at least seven days, according to NHL injury reserve stipulations.  The Blues have claimed that this injury is “week to week.”  Jackman was a -1 to start the season, while posting 2 assists.

The silver lining from this injury is that Alex Pietrangelo will see some playing time with the big club.  He has been a healthy scratch the past three games, but showed promise in the pre-season.  He is expected to play alongside veteran Darryl Sydor in his season debut.

Forward D.J. King assigned to Peoria of the AHL for reconditioning.

Being one of the toughest guys in the NHL, D.J. King may soon see NHL action again.  The 25 year old forward has missed all but 1 game in the last two seasons with a severe thumb injury.  In 2007-08, King racked up 100 penalty minutes in 61 games, most of those being fighting majors against other NHL heavyweights.  Since the injury, the Blues have turned to hometown hero Cam Janssen for their fighting needs.  Both are expected to be the best resource for grit on the team, but will most likely not be dressed in the same games.

Defenseman Erik Johnson has showed flashes of brilliance thus far.

Erik is trying to prove to the city that the golf cart is the only thing that can stop him.

While expectations are high for Johnson, he has answered as well as he can thus far.  So far, Johnson has registered 3 assists in 3 games for the Blues, along with a few decent hits from the staggering defenseman.  Standing at 6'4” Johnson is expected to be a force on the blue line.  With Jackman out, this is the perfect opportunity to shine.  His current 19:47 average ice time ranks third on the team.
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