Your prerogative. Enjoy the game.
No doubt, they'd certainly be among the favorites. Last time I checked, they were the points leader in the Western Conference.
I think repeating would be harder under COVID-19. Sure the Blues will be fresh ad healthy but so will everyone else. But I also think it might take the Blues a little longer to get to their grinding, physical, structured style than teams that rely more on simply going out there and skating. (I know that's an oversimplification.) Also if there are any kind of limitations on contact and hitting, that hurts the Blues as well.
Agree. The Blues wear teams down in the playoffs. The classic case was the San Jose Western Conference Final series from last year. The Sharks were beaten to a pulp by the end of the series.
Hockey seems to be more tradition bound than just about any sport. The handshake lines after playoff series. Having a rookie skate on the ice first prior to his NHL debut. Not steeping on the team logo in the locker room. No touching of the conference championship trophies. And wearing the "C" or "A" is one of them. The Blues have several players who exert leadership even though they don't wear a letter. There are captains in the NFL. Doesn't pro soccer have captains as well? I guess the only functional purpose for a captain in hockey during games is having someone to talk to officials during disputes or replay reviews.
I agree. It would be almost like a rules change. Like saying you can't try to break up a double play at second base in baseball.
That could very well be the case if it's a lengthy contract. Let's say it's a six-year deal, Schwartz would be just shy of 35 by the end of the contract. And he's not the biggest guy around. Given his feisty style of play, maybe his body wears down late in his career. But streak or not, the guy is productive, he's one of the faster guys on the team, and his overall style of play is a great fit with the team's overall style of play. Twenty-goal scorers aren't on every corner, either.
Doug Armstrong has never bought out a player in his 10 years as GM. And it would have to be a compliance buyout, where you could save the entire cap number for the '20-21 season, something that hasn't been used since after the 2012-13 lockout season. Under the terms of the regular buyout provisions, the Blues wouldn't be able to save enough cap money to keep Petro just by buying out Steen and trading Allen.
That's a good question. I did a quick Google search but couldn't find anything.
Don't think so. I think some lead time would be needed if that were the case, and we're in mid May already. And again, I don't think cancelling the season is part of the NHL's mindset right now.
With maybe a socially-distanced parade down Market Street on June 15?
I think you're right. To a degree it'd be like a hockey version of flag football. And the NHLPA does have to sign off if hockey returns.
Never seen or heard of a championship parade where the players were so involved with the fans. Have you been able to watch any of the "History Made" specials on KSDK? The one on the parade was very entertaining.
Have not. I would guess he's still thinking things over.
I believe it was just before I came on the beat, in the spring and summer of 2017, that the Blues were seriously considering Kansas City, with the Hunt family of KC Chiefs fame as potential owners. But I think the combination of paying a fee to leave the ECHL (the KC Mavericks, plus a fee to enter the AHL made the deal unattractive. Not sure if the Blues would want an affiliate as close as St. Charles. I wonder if Springfield, Mo., wouldn't be a good possibility (does it have a suitable venue for hockey). Keep in mind, many of these AHL franchises are independently owned _ so you'd have to buy the franchise (like the Vegas Knights did with the San Antonio Rampage) to set up the team where you wanted it.
OK, we've answered all the questions in our queue. Now's your chance to get a question in.
My bad. Thanks for clearing that up.
From a 2010 edition of Smithsonian Magazine: Bradbury Robinson completed the first pass in college football history _ 20 yards to Jack Schneider _ in a 22-0 St. Louis University victory over Carroll College on Sept 5 1906.
And how's this for a late arrival?
OK, that's it for this week. I will be taking my second of two furlough weeks next week. So the estimable Tom Timmermann, you may know him from his work on Flotsam and Jetsam (but probably not!) will be your cruise director. Regards, and as always, thanks for playing. . . . .JT
I think I would be will to take the leap and still go to an NHL game without a vaccine...especially since there is more chance of dying from the FLU than COVID-19...you won't see that stat for a few years...but eventually you will read it from the CDC and you will say...humm...who would have thunk it.