Blues Clues!
By the looks of today’s morning skate it didn’t appear Alex Steen is ready to return from a concussion that’s sidelined him for nine games. Skating with Andy McDonald and Chris Porter would certainly point towards Steen not playing. But after speaking with Ken Hitchcock I wouldn’t rule out a Steen return tonight against Dallas.
Hitchcock told me a decision would not be made until after he speaks with the Blues medical staff. Steen skated pretty hard on Sunday and came out feeling pretty good.
Speaking of McDonald, even though he looks great and is skating everyday he’s yet to fully shake the fogginess related to a concussion he suffered back on October 13th. There’s a chance he gives it a full two weeks once he becomes symptom free before he returns to the lineup. Once he removes the red sweater we will know he is no longer experiencing symptoms.
Kris Russell will return Thursday from a groin injury he suffered on December 31st. He could have played tonight but considering how important skating is to his game there is little point in pushing the envelope.
Kent Huskins has been skating for several days after undergoing ankle surgery a few months ago. Huskins still has a ways to go before a return is in sight. It will take a few weeks for him to build the strength back up to where he’s close to 100%.
Mobility…
Speaking to several members of the Minnesota Wild, they were very impressed with the Blues emergence as a legitimate top club in the West. Much of this has to do with the Blues defense who are very effective in getting the puck up ice quickly.
If there isn’t a passing option available all these guys have the ability to use their feet to get to the red line. Offensively they’re big, heavy, and fast and come through the neutral zone with lots of speed. Getting clean exits out of their own end creates the tempo they like to play.
David Perron continues to thrive especially on the power play where he controlled the play against Minnesota. Playing with a high compete level with or without the puck has always been a major part of his game. His battle level could come as a surprise for those who don’t watch him play every night.
Ownership Update…
League sources indicate things are progressing and moving in the right direction between Tom Stillman and the NHL. A signed purchase agreement is the next order of business and I would anticipate hearing some news on this soon. Stillman’s exclusive agreement runs through March 15th.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
Strickland.andy@gmail.com
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47 Comments | Share: Share Tweet
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I love seeing Stillman standing along the glass at the zamboni gate watching every game!
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I'm not sure Bergie is really a guy they would target though. I think he's a guy that we would include to balance our salary. They're probably looking for top prospects, especially defensemen, and high picks. flag this comment
This is moving your feet???? This is an elite defensemen somehow compared to Bieska who by the way has 25 points which is what three years for Jackman????? He sucks period.
D'Agostini has thrown his body around more in the last week than I've ever seen in his career. Fantastic commitment from him lately. Tougher than ever on the boards. flag this comment
Seriously, I'd like to see Oshie center, D'Ags on a wing and Grachev on the other. Balance some size out there. Of course there's Steen and McDOnald yet. Berglund is playing his way on the bench. Hell Crombeen is looking more effective than him lately. flag this comment
I don't want to take away from the win. Fantastic goal and gritty play. Let's keep it in context though. This is a Dallas team without their two top offensive threats. We should be burying this team.
A win is a win is a win. Blues are playing committed hockey. We've gotta find a way to score more goals NOW. flag this comment
This is one reason the leagues reallignment plan sucked ass.
anyone hear of any new alignment plans?
halak played great tonight. i didn't even know reaves was dressed tonight till about 5 minutes left in the 3rd. i want him over crombeen always. berglund played an unnoticed game for me. glad stewart stepped up in the first and helped out our smaller guys in a behind the net scrum.
BLUES ARE 1ST IN THE WEST AND TIED FOR OVERRALL NHL LEAD
HELL YES
*To me, that game looked like every Blues game against Nashville. They've never looked good going against Lehtonin.
*I'm excited about where the Blues are sitting but in the back of my head is all those road games that are coming. Still a lot of season left out there and no room to breath easy.
*Key save last night by Halak on the breakaway in what was still a scoreless game. Huge.
*Its hard to watch Berglund play these days. Nearly every forward has elevated his game under Hitchcock except him. He's the glaring misfit. I can't see him in a Bluenote by the time the season concludes.
Problem at the beginning of the season Halak was getting out played and not making those key saves. It was a story here almost every year. Last night yet again Halak has shown what he's capable of making a number of huge saves and staying solid and focused.
Berglund as I said earlier sucks right now. I don't see it changing because there two aspects that are problematic with him--1)he's out of shape, 2)he's slow with minimal on ice awareness. Remember how we talked about vision making up for other short comings? Berglund doesn't have good enough vision to over come his lack of foot speed. He needs to be in better shape and be capable of using his size and have some vision. A little better in any of these areas would change his game. Before this season statistically when he was on the ice the Blues were producing more shots on goal than against in other words the ice was tilted the right way. I don't know the stats this season I just know what I have seen and that is many times his line gets hemmed in their zone and ices the puck. Could also be Jackman being out there. If he used his feet to move the puck he'd ice it less... flag this comment
I'm not saying in anyway that Berglund plays disinterested hockey. I think he cares a great deal on the ice. But he doesn't care enough off of the ice. He's not in good enough shape. He's played at both ends most of his career as evident by being plus on teams that were mostly negative. He's skating much slower than in year's past. He's not very confident, which could be the biggest factor. And I haven't seen anybody miss as many chances close in as this guy since the first year Ryan Johnson played for the Blues and hit the post twenty something times in thirty games.
He CAN be a lot BETTER. What I think we are expressing is we don't like how low the ceiling is appearing on this guy. You can say if, could all you want after a while you see a pattern. You can have skewed years where production is either dramatically higher than usual or lower. But you'll have a median. Berglund appears to be a 40-45 point, 20 goal player. That's what you want from a third line center that sees power play time.
Could this be the Hitch effect? Some offensive players take time to adjust their game under Hitch. Could be. But what I see is a guy who skates hard down the ice and back down back checking and then is tired. That would be acceptable if he was me 34 years old and out of shape. But he's not. He's ten years younger than me and a paid athlete.
I can live with his ceiling more if I see more from him in the defensive zone similar to how well he does on the penalty kill. But that's easier for him because he doesn't have to skate as much and can use his reach.
Call me and others highly concerned about this kid with the wide perspective of who we have coming in and who we could possibly acquire. It doesn't ad up well for him. FOr now he's a decent player, which is a step below good and a few steps below great. flag this comment
I was muttering to myself last night questioning why he keeps getting thrown out there on the PP, but quickly answered my own question, it's because he's been winning faceoffs.
But the rest, I don't see it. I see him easily knocked off the puck and never, and I mean never, does he make a power move to the net like he should be doing.
He's been given way too much of a look as a top six and does not have the points to show for it. flag this comment