The Blues averaged 3.14 goals per game last season despite missing Tarasenko for 61 games. That was their highest scoring average since the '94-95 season. Can lightning strike twice in terms of offensive production? You know, missing Tarasenko for a good chunk of the season, but being able to overcome his absence? That could be a lot to ask, so you could be right on scoring as a potential issue.
Excellent point. Thanks for playing.
We're more than 2 hours into the chat and have run through our list of questions. Now's your chance to get in, if you have a question.
And I've got to say, considering the fact that the Blues have gotten in only six weeks of hockey since March, it's amazing to me that we'd go 2 hours-plus before running through that list of questions.
I've thought about doing Pettersson. Mullen would be good, too.
St. Louis is a great hockey town. I quickly discovered this when I started doing this 3-plus years ago. And that feeling seems to be basically unanimous from other media members I run into in the hockey world..
Binnington in that first period of Game 7 . . . one of the best stretches of play I've seen in any sport I've covered in 40-plus years in the business.
Which helps on the power play, eh?
Would be very cool to see a KC-StL pucks rivalry. I think Houston and Quebec City would be in line for future expansion. I don't know if the league necessarily would shut the door on future expansion, even if it leads to an uneven number of teams in some divisions. They seem to have gotten by quite well with 31 teams. Besides, I think the owners like their share of that $650 million expansion fee. My only question would be, _ even with the realization that the NHL is a truly international league, drawing players from everywhere _ is there enough talent out there to keep adding teams?
You could sense the Bruins getting a little frustrated. They came out throwing thunder bolts at him, and he stole their thunder.
Bettman seems pretty clear he wants a regular playoff format _ 16 teams and all best-of-7 series. Don't know if the league is committed to re-seeding after every round..
I think Garry Unger would be a good book as well.
I agree. I'm in favor of re-seeding as well. It makes what you did over the course of the regular season more meaningful.
OK, seems like we've run our course for today. Our reader poll shows more than 72 percent believe there will be an NHL season of some sort _ an optimistic bunch. We'll see you next week. Thanks, as always, for your participation.
The Blues averaged 3.14 goals per game last season despite missing Tarasenko for 61 games. That was their highest scoring average since the '94-95 season. Can lightning strike twice in terms of offensive production? You know, missing Tarasenko for a good chunk of the season, but being able to overcome his absence? That could be a lot to ask, so you could be right on scoring as a potential issue.
One other big reason for the league/players to get a season (or part of one) in. To burn the last year of their NBC TV contract. If they play this year they fulfill their last year of the contract and they can cash in a new contract with whomever. If there's no season this year, the contract rolls over another year.