Chat all things Blues with Jim Thomas at 11 a.m. Wednesday
Get your questions ready and join in at 11 a.m. Wednesday for our weekly Blues chat.
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I still can't believe our power play is so bad. The only thing I have noticed is the passes are too slow from the point to the guy taking a one-timer. Once he takes the shot the goalie has moved over. Anything else you have seen that could be improved? -
I can't believe it either. Yes, the passing needs to be quicker and less predictable. But it starts with wining the faceoff and getting it through the neutral zone. I'm a proponent of more shots. Putting the puck on the net even if it isn't the cleanest look, then hunting for rebounds. -
Mr. Thomas,
Thanks for chatting again! Is there anything to read into Bozak switching to LTIR, such as a setback, or is he still recovering as expected and the move was done for cap reasons only? The longer Bozak is out, the more it burns me that the NHL apparently considered Stone's head shot to be a clean hit. -
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Hi Jim, I read an article the other day posted by Lou Korac that hinted at the possibility of Toropchenko making the trip over from Russia due to all the injuries. Have you heard anything about this. I haven’t heard much about his season in the KHL. Regardless if he does or doesn’t make the journey over here this season, what would his floor and ceiling look like with the Blues in the future?
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Actually, it was first reported by the Post-Dispatch on Sunday. Check out the third item in this notebook (Heading Stateside?)
Blues notebook: De la Rose becomes latest Blue on IR
STLtoday.comTeam is running out of centers after he suffered lower-body injury Saturday against San Jose.And the injuries aren't realy the determining factor; it's the fact that Toropchenko's season is over in the KHL. He has good size, is a fast skater. Can be physical. But not a big scorer. -
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Pietrangelo returns to St. Louis in about a week and a half. What are you predicting the Blues will do for him? Sadly, it won't be a packed house for a tribute. Do you think maybe the Blues also do something for when the arena can be full next season? Or maybe the fans just do their own version without a video. Also any word on if the Pronger jersey ceremony was pushed back to next season?
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Jim -- Good afternoon. Kind of a general question on my part but that is is like covering a team during the COVID-19 era? Is there any interaction with players and coaches via Zoom or do you ever get people on the phone? You've been a sports writer for quite awhile. Any concern that some of these limits will become permanent even when the pandemic is over? Has to stink not being able to go into the locker room after practice.
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It's far from ideal. Occasionally I'll try to kid around a little on the Zooms or go for the offbeat _ it is a game, after all _ but overall the format is stiffer, more formal. It's rare, but occasionally you do get someone on the phone. You build relationships and can get original material in the locker room. That's especially true on the road, since even in normal times we're normally the only non-rights holder from St. Louis that travels. I would be very opposed to being limited to Zoom calls once the pandemic is over. It would probably hasten my retirement.
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I saw Armstrong's comments about it being tough to trade right now. I believe that, I also believe that he's not just going to sit back & do nothing because its harder right now. If there is a deal he'll make it. My question is which position is the most pressing need? Center? Defense because Parako could be dealing with issues even after returning? Scoring forward at any position? Leader for the locker room since the first 4 people that held the cup are no longer with the team?
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I'd rate them in this order with 1.) being the highest order of importance and 4.) being the lowest order of importance:1.) Defense2.) Center3.) Scoring4.) LeaderAs for Armstrong, he's always working the phones and talking to people. But if he believes standing pat and waiting for players to get healthy is the best course, he'll do that. Back at the all-star break in 2018-19, when the team was still floundering in the standings, Armstrong told me in an interview that the play of the team in the next few weeks would tell him if he needed to make a move or moves at the deadline. Well, you know what happened: the team got hot in February, he stood pat at the trade deadline, and the team went on to win the CUp.
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It's puzzling without the dynamic of having fans in the stands _ or many fans in the stands at home. The usual reasons, such as too many distracctions at home,, or trying to get too cute with their play for the home fans, don't really apply in pandemic hockey Sometimes it's just a matter of who you're playing and when you're playing them. But I think it's fair to say that the Blues are more locked in, more focused on the road.
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The Blues didn't post one. The best I can do is post a link to a pair of stories I've written on the subject. (I haven't written anything yet on what he had to say on Kostin/Toropchenko _ it was my question. I hope to in the near future.)
Armstrong's state of the Blues: No easy path to the playoffs
STLtoday.comThere's not much that can be done to improve the roster at this point; but there are things the team can do better as it rides out injury wave.
Blues notebook: Armstrong never has experienced anything like the injury situation the team is having
STLtoday.comOther than Tarasenko, a return is not imminent for a half-dozen other injured Blues. -
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Yes, as I mentioned earlier, I brought the subject up during the call. Here's part of Armstrong's response:"Toropchenko we’re working on right now and the reason, it was very difficult to get them back from the KHL, like a lot of teams just kept guys over there that were in a good situation, a) getting them a visa was a lot more difficult this year than ever before. I would say both governments probably had a hand in that and then the quarantining when they get back and where they were in their growth, we just thought, they’re in good situations, they’re playing big minutes, just let them keep going. Toropchenko’s is over now and we’re trying to get him back. Again the reality of the countries that have military, I heard he thinks they told him he may owe them some military service. It won’t be long, but we’re trying to push that off, the Finns have too, so it’s not like it’s just a Russian thing. But that was new to us. There’s little things that get in the way all the time,"
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I was always interested to know, what's your policy on reporting other media's questions to whoever gives the interiew and their answers. Are you allowed to do that with a reference, or you should stick to only your questions/answers when you write a story? For example, JR has first reported the type of Parayko's injury, but no one on the different media has referred to it until it became obvious.
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