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Join Blues beat writer Jim Thomas for his live chat at 1 p.m. Wednesday

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3rd & 7 37yd

Tarasenko is truly adored by the fans here, and as you mentioned, I think Tarasenko basks in that adoration. I agree with you. He's got a great situation and would be hard-pressed to find a better situation elsewhere. And yes, I too found it interesting that Berube has gone out of his way at least twice lately to praise Tarasenko's leadership skills. Unsolicited.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:21:34 PM
By the way, “Pardon me Jim” has to be the quote of the year. I love seeing interactions with the players like that. It’s been hard to get personalities to show up during vivid

by Kerry 4/13/2022 8:21:43 PM
For sure. And totally out of character for the normally straight-laced Schenn, Not quite the caliber of "Do I like nervous?" But pretty good stuff nonetheless.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:23:26 PM
Some of today's comments about scoring depth and playoff success are interesting, but I would like to point out this all goes out the window if you don't have a goalie who stands on his head every night. The goalie is the key, "Ville the Kid" may be that goalie for the Blues this playoff season that Binner was in 2019. In 2019 the Blues didn't have the scoring this current team does but they had "Binner the Winner". Last night's win gave me flashbacks to the 2019 cup winning team. I don't expect you to agree or disagree with this post, just for everyone to remember you sink or swim in the playoffs based on the guy between the pipes.

by Barry-Blues Fan in Orlando 4/13/2022 8:24:12 PM
No doubt. Just like pitching in baseball, or a quarterback in football, it's hard to do it at a championship level in hockey with strong goaltending.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:25:07 PM
The conspiracy theory I have heard as to why Armstrong was reluctant to trade away future assets to acquire a top 4 defenseman at the most recent trade deadline was so he could potentially use those assets this summer to help move Binnington. Your thoughts?

by Larry 4/13/2022 8:25:28 PM
Don't know about that. But II do think he was hesitant about trading a lot for a rental. And in the case of Lindholm and Giordano the Blues almost certainly couldn't have made it work cap-wise.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:26:48 PM
Mackenzie MacEachern must not know John Kelly pronounces his last name as MacEachren, otherwise you'd think he'd say something to Kelly. Or maybe he does know, but doesn't care since he is in the NHL.

by No Name 4/13/2022 8:27:44 PM
I was not aware of that. Then again, I'm almost always at the game, not watching on TV.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:28:28 PM
Mr. Thomas,

What bum shoulder? Not only does Tarasenko lead the team in goals and points, he's only 8 points behind his career high. Who saw that coming? I was all for the Blues giving him away for nothing if need be before the season. Boy, am I glad that didn't happen. The Blues are, too, I imagine. Any news on the trade request being water under the bridge, or is it still going to be revisited in the off season? Has Vladdy played well enough to erase any concerns about his shoulder being an issue gong forward?

by Chris 4/13/2022 8:28:58 PM
On at least a couple of occasions recently Armstrong has categorized it in so many words as "water under the bridge." The shoulder does seem fine. Tarasenko does seem happy. He's just two goals shy of his 6th 30-goal season, has tied his career-high for game-winning goals in a season (8) and already has set a career-high in assists (39).

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:31:59 PM
Vladi had some fun last night. Now we need someone to get under his skin every game. That Frederic kid tried that routine on Ovechkin earlier this season and it ended even worse for him.

by Liz 4/13/2022 8:32:15 PM
Interesting. Yeah, I wondered at the time: Why is Frederic doing this? Why is he trying to harass Tarasenko?

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:33:12 PM
I look at Kostin like Fabri. On a lesser team they could give Kostin minutes on scoring lines for a few years, which a contender couldn't do, and I think has the talent to develop and be a productive player. Like a Tage Thompson or a Fabri. The Blues have too much talent behind him. Which is great. I can't believe Tage has 33 goals. He wasn't a top first rounder. He was taken toward the bottom. Good for him and the Blues!

by Brian 4/13/2022 8:34:24 PM
Kostn certainly has shown flashes. Just not enough of them. His inconsistency bothers Berube, who doesn't know what he's going to get from game to game.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:36:00 PM
Jim, I am hoping the Blues can re-sign Husso, but if he leads the team on a deep run in the playoffs, I just can't see fitting him in under the cap, especially if you keep Perron, which I hope they do. If that happens, what is the best option? A trade for a proven goaltender with a more reason contract? Seeing Joel Hofer is ready? I like Lindgren but there seems to be a reason he is a career minor leaguer. If Husso can lead the Blues back to the Cup finals and maybe even win it, I'll be fine with whatever happens.

by longlivesudsy 4/13/2022 8:36:23 PM
Ideally, Joel Hofer needs another year. I myself wouldn't be against beginning the year with Lindgren as your backup if you can't keep Husso.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:37:26 PM
Jim, I would give Bozak a chance here late in the regular season to see what he can do. He's obviously on the tail end of his career but I think he's still a pretty good penalty killer -- and man, do you need that in the playoffs. Thoughts?

by longlivesudsy 4/13/2022 8:37:45 PM
Unless, Brown really turns ti up, why not give Bozak a couple of games? Especailly with MacEachern sidelined.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:38:50 PM
Jim, I am sure Berube talks to players privately all the time. But it seems like when he really wants to send a message, he talks to them on the ice during practice. It seems like doing it publicly at that point is his way of letting the player know "Hey, what is going isn't good and you really need to step it up." Am I reading too much into it or am I onto something? Whatever he does works. I think he's a tremendous coach.

by longlivesudsy 4/13/2022 8:39:13 PM
As someone still reltively new to covering hockey on an everyday basis, I find these rinkside chats fascinating. Is it some kind of hockey tradition? Or just a Berube thing? I don't know. But if we see it, obviously we're going to ask about it and report on it. Berube is a good motivator. And more than one player has said they appreciate Berube's forthrightness, even if it's not always praise coming from the head coach. Players like to know where they stand.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:43:33 PM
And the 1999-2000 team got ousted in the first round by the Sharks. So much for winning the President's Trophy.

by No Name 4/13/2022 8:43:38 PM
For sure. Just another indication that where you finish in the regular season often has little to do with what happens in the playoffs. I think this is true in hockey more than just about any other major pro sport.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:45:04 PM
Jim, as always, appreciate the chats and all your work on the beat. I'm a Blues fan but sometimes I wonder. People ask why the team doesn't do certain things all the time, like win every game. Maybe it's because they're human? Like all of us, they make sometimes? The other team sometimes has something to do with that. Plus, it's a long season in a brutal sport. I'd like to think I have the same level of intensity every day at work. But realistically, I know I don't -- and I'm not trying to skate and control a pick while someone is knocking my head off. Those kind of questions kind of make me laugh. I love the way this season has gone and can't wait for the playoffs.

by longlivesudsy 4/13/2022 8:45:44 PM
As Tony La Russa used to say. Maybe he still says it. Men not machines.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:46:32 PM
Is Kyrou pouting because he can't play with Thomas and Buchnevich?

by Liz 4/13/2022 8:46:38 PM
No I think he was tired coming out of the All-Star break, then got sick. And also is getting plenty of attention from the opposing team. He's no longer a secret.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:47:38 PM
Thanks for the chat JT! How much value do you think Chief/Army put into the draft pick they'll lose if they play Brown? I believe one more game puts him over the limit.

by Hocko in Colorado 4/13/2022 8:48:00 PM
Actually, Brown reached the 30-game threshold last night. In the midst of a pennant race, I don't think you concern yourself with such things. You can't.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:49:46 PM
Do you believe any of the current assistant coaches could be head coaching candidates this summer?

by Rich 4/13/2022 8:50:38 PM
Over the last year or so, I've heard such things on more than one occasion on Steve Ott. Now he's only 39, so I don't know if he's got enough experience yet to be a serious candidate somewhere.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:51:45 PM
The Blues need more success in the face off circle. What has Bozak's face off success been this season versus Brown?

by Barry-Blues Fan in Orlando 4/13/2022 8:52:46 PM
Brown is at 35.6% this year; Bozak is at 44.8%. Which is a down year for him.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 8:53:24 PM
I was in the bar with the Blues after that 99-00 team were eliminated (the team drove them in a bus to that big place on Manchester so they could drink), and the players seemed shocked and angry to not still be playing. They lost Scott Stevens because of the arbitrator after signing Shanny that off season, so never were as good again until 2019. Question, Jim, excepting Binnington--their goalies together are acceptable cost, with Husso playing like this--do the Blues have any fat under the cap. In 2019, they really didn't, and other teams' caps and fat problems made them fall away. They Blues won as a total team with depth. Maybe this year, too.

by Easy Ed from '67 4/13/2022 8:58:23 PM
Per CapFriendly, the Blues have about $11 million of cap space for next season with Perron, Husso, Leddy, Bozak, Rosen, and MacEachern scheduled for UFA status. (And Mikkola and Perunovich scheduled for RFA status, with Mikkola arbitration eligible). It will be difficult to make it all fit uner the cap.

by jthomas 4/13/2022 9:00:49 PM
Our three hours have flown by. Have to leave now to tape this week's edition of the NetFront podcast. It was fun to be back on the chat. There ware many questions I couldn't get to. I apologize for that. But please try Gordo's chat, or try again next week. Regards. . . .

by jthomas 4/13/2022 9:02:37 PM