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

Get your questions ready and join in at 1 p.m. Wednesday for our weekly Blues chat.

3rd & 7 37yd

Is there any chance the Blues could institute a kangaroo court and fine players $100 for every drop pass? $50 for every pass that forces the recipient to turn around to receive it? Something has to be done to improve the passing ...

by CT Bluesman 12/14/2022 8:41:14 PM
I know this, Berube is no fan of drop passes. I don't know if $50 or even $100 would do the trick given the amount of money the players make.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:42:23 PM
Jim, when you asked Tarasenko if he wants to be here what did he say? Your question and Vladi's answer must have been before or after the short video posted online after Sunday's Dec. 11 loss to Colorado. I just watched it again and I didn't hear it. Does he want to be here? I think his answer would make headlines.

by Barry - Blues Fan in Orlando 12/14/2022 8:51:37 PM
The question was asked early in the season:
“I don't talk about this right now,” he said of his situation after this season. “I'm just preparing for the season. Very excited and we'll figure it out.
And as for his trade situation, he said, “I'm not going to answer it. This can go both ways. I'm focused on the season now and I'm excited to be here, that's it.”

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:52:23 PM
....and MERRY CHRISTMAS to the Thomas family and my fellow Blues chatters all across the fruited plain.

by Barry - Blues Fan in Orlando 12/14/2022 8:52:26 PM
And same to you Barry.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:52:44 PM
Hi Jim: Happy Holidays to you and yours !

Like a lot of fans, I am frustrated with the Blues inconsistent play and current record. However, the Western Conference overall is underperforming and competition is generally weak relative to previous seasons and I think this should offer a glimmer of hope.

There is plenty of time to “right the ship” and if the team is able to regain consistency and put together another winning stretch or two they will be right back in the middle of the playoff picture.

Step away from the ledge Blues fans!

by Robert 12/14/2022 8:52:53 PM
Blues fans enjoy being on the ledge.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:53:22 PM
To CT Bluesman: Mikkola is on his way to becoming a Derian Hatcher-type player. He may never be quite as dominant or annoying as Hatcher was, but Niko’s performance is showing consistent improvement IMO.

by Robert 12/14/2022 8:53:32 PM
I definitely think he has top 4 potential.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:53:54 PM
Who are the teams that have been scouting the Blues games?

by Buster 12/14/2022 8:53:56 PM
You know, I need to start writing them down.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:54:14 PM
Wasn't so much referring to the penalty minutes of a Hatcher as much as the way he and Big Walt would go to war in the crease. Hatcher was one of the few who was strong enough to make Walt work for it. How do we acquire that or turn Mikkola into that?

by CT Bluesman 12/14/2022 8:54:25 PM
OK. I think Mikkola is on that path.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:54:47 PM
Jim: I read an Athletic article today about some NHL owners lobbying for a “play-in” round to give more teams a chance at a playoff slot. Bettman is opposed to this, with most fans as well, based on the comment section. Any thoughts on this pro or con? Thanks for the chat!

by Robert 12/14/2022 8:54:49 PM
Not a fan. The playoffs already are long enough in the NHL. And half the teams get a shot at the Cup. That's plenty as far as I'm concerned.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:55:41 PM
Is Berube's message getting stale? Are the players tuning him out?

by Buster 12/14/2022 8:55:43 PM
The longer they're in this malaise, I think the more you have to wonder.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:56:27 PM
We don't need a comprehensive list, JT. How about just off the top of your head?

by theMIck 12/14/2022 8:56:29 PM
I looked at the list for 5 seconds Sunday and Monday, just counting them up. So I couldn't tell you.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:57:05 PM
OK, we've run through the list of questions. If you want to get in, now's your chance.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 8:58:43 PM
Do you think the Cardinals will make anymore moves?

by Seth 12/14/2022 8:59:34 PM
You need to check in with @dgoold on that one.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:00:28 PM
Perhaps you can go back to that list and give us some of the teams scouting the Blues next week?

by theMIck 12/14/2022 9:00:31 PM
Sure. I'll check on it next homestand.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:00:52 PM
Will Ovechkin catch Gretzky in career goals?

by Buster 12/14/2022 9:01:32 PM
Yes. It seems almost inevitable.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:01:48 PM
Did the Blues give up on Kostin too quickly? Will they ever get any production from the player that the Blues got in return for Kostin?

by Buster 12/14/2022 9:01:54 PM
I don't think so. He spent parts of four seasons with the organization in the minors. He played in 46 games with the Blues, including 40 in one season. He just never seemed to be able to string consistent games together. And he's never scored more than 13 goals in one season in the minors. It looks like Samorukov is getting lots of playing time in the AHL; he has 2 goals and 3 assists in 24 games as a defenseman. Not sure how the Blues feel about his play.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:06:54 PM
Does Stillman ever address the media during the season? Would love to know his thoughts.

by D Matt 12/14/2022 9:06:58 PM
Occasionally. Maybe I should try to get him at some point.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:07:40 PM
Do you ever miss covering the NFL?

by Buster 12/14/2022 9:07:43 PM
Not nearly as much as I thought I would. But yeah, I miss it from time to time.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:08:12 PM
Who are your favorite 5 players that you have covered in your career?

by Buster 12/14/2022 9:08:15 PM
Wow. I'm sure I'm going to leave somebody out. But here goes, in no particular order: Isaac Bruce, Kurt Warner, Chris Long, London Fletcher, Jordan Binnington.
Honorable mention: David Perron.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:11:25 PM
Are the Blues making the playoffs this year or not? What's your gut feeling?

by amp 12/14/2022 9:11:38 PM
Yes, but I say that without overwhelming conviction.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:12:04 PM
This is not a question...but a comment that I'm sure all of us in St. Louis have the Pietrangelo family in our thoughts and prayers for the "family illness" he is dealing with that has caused Vegas to remove him from their active roster.

by D Matt 12/14/2022 9:12:09 PM
Thanks for this. Obviously, we wholeheartedly agree.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:12:40 PM
some of these questioners (primarily ones who are here every week asking the same ridiculous questions) need to go touch grass

by darkwing duck 12/14/2022 9:12:46 PM
I try to answer most, if not all of the questions, no matter how out there they are.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:13:21 PM
If O'Reilly and Tarasenko are not with the Blues next season, who becomes the Blues captain?

by Buster 12/14/2022 9:13:28 PM
I'll say Brayden Schenn, with Robert Thomas getting an "A."

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:13:56 PM
Who are the blues players most likely to be traded before the trade deadline?

by Buster 12/14/2022 9:15:44 PM
In part because of their contract situations, I would say Tarasenko and O'Reilly. And that's assuming team is no longer in contention.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:16:34 PM
Hi Jim, enjoy your writing. Listen, it's a bit early for fan hysteria, don't you think? Army might make a deal early, but it would probably be of the steal variety, knowing him. Listen, on D, we're missing Petrangelo and Baumeester for '19--that's a lot of D to lose. How's Faulk doing D-wise compared to Petrangelo? How's 46 on the PP compared to our former captain? How's Parayko on D compared to last two years of Bow? Otherwise, Leddy is surely and upgrade and 77 is older and better. Your thoughts, please.

by Easy Ed, fan since 1967 12/14/2022 9:16:55 PM
After what I thought was a very strong start, Faulk has tailed off lately, and currently wouldn't be in the Pietrangelo class.
I assume for "46" you mean Krug. I actually like him better on the PP overall than Pietrangelo in terms of both passing and shooting. But Krug has missed a lot of games because of injury since he's been a Blue, and there's no comparison in terms of defense to Petro.
Bouwmeester certainly was steadier defensively than Parayko is now on a game-to-game basis, he seemed to make fewer mistakes. He wasn't an overly physical player either.
Leddy has been OK, but I really thought he'd have more of an impact than he's had.
And I do agree that Mikkola has taken steps forward.

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:22:25 PM
OK, looks like that's it for today. As always, I appreciate the questions. I'll be on the road next week, so I'm thinking you'll get TomT next week. He's in his final days on the Blues beat; he'll be switching over to MLS full-time at the start of the New Year. (Matthew DeFranks will be joining the Blues beat at the start of the year, coming to us from the Dallas Morning News.)
Merry Christmas to all. Until next time. . . .

by jthomas 12/14/2022 9:26:41 PM