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.
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I asked him about his future in St. Louis and if he still wanted out of St. Louis. This took place after one of the early preseason games. It may have been the first time Tarasenko talked to the media this year - and it hasn't been many times. Anyway, to my knowledge, I'm the only one who's broached the subject with him this year. He said he didn't want to talk about any of that during the season, so I've tried to respect that request.If you're talking about the turnover last night against Toronto as evidence of him trying to play his way out of St. Louis, that makes no sense. It was a terrible play, we all know that. But why would you purposely play bad hockey? That's not going to increase your value or increase the number of teams that are interested in you. And he's been playing pretty well offensively lately.
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Happy hump day Jim! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. Here's to a stable, consistent, positive 2023 for our heroes before the team gets blown up. One thing we can say, there never seems to be a dull moment watching the team...either we are super excited (such as with Kyrou's game tying goal in the 3rd last night), or completely infuriated (Tarasenko's OT flub). How do your emotions flow during a typical game? Or, are you pretty stoic regardless because of your job responsibilities? Just curious.
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Interesting question. Yeah, you try not to get too caught up in the emotion of the game. Although you write largely for a local audience, and tailor your story in such a fashion, one of the first things you learn in sportswriting is the need to be objective. I've been doing this so long, that I try not to overreact to a particular play or game. You try not to be a prisoner of the moment. The hot takes are for talk radio. Not coverage of a game by a beat writer.And sure, it's always a happier locker room after a victory, which makes your job easier. But you quickly learn to take the good with the bad. And I've seen plenty of both over 48 years.
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The Blues are in an eerily similar position than where they were during the 2018-19 Cup season.On Dec. 28, 2018, they were 15-16-4 through 35 games - for 34 points - and 7 points out of the last wild-card position.On Dec. 28, 2022, they are 16-16-3 through 35 games - for 35 points - and 5 points out of the last wild-card spot.I think the Blues will make the playoffs, but I don't say this with much conviction. I'd make it about 53-47 they make the playoffs. They have a lot of work to do, and have yet to display the type of consistency to make any kind of a push up the standings. Yet, I look at their overall talent and see a team that is capable of playing better than they have.
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Jim, thank you again for doing the Blues chat. I'm positive I speak for my fellow chatters we enjoy your reporting and your unvarnished opinions of Stillman, Army, coaches and players. Pass along my comments to Tom and Gordo.
Do you know what happened to Krug? It had to be a collision during the Vegas game, when did it happen and did you see it? I assume a knee injury. -
He got struck by a puck in the leg late in the Vegas game, and I think that may have been it. But I saw him after the game walking around and he seemed to be fine. So not totally sure on this. Sometimes the full extent of an injury isn't clear until the next day.And thanks for your kind words.
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After watching the Blues Canucks game last week, all I could think of is how good Luke Schenn would look wearing the Blue note. He’s an unrestricted free agent after this season. I’m sure he could be had for a 3rd round draft pick. He made $900k this year and I’m sure he could be signed for the same if not slightly less.
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Interesting thought. Luke is 33, so signing him wouldn't be a long-term solution. He certainly brings toughness and physicality. I'm not sure he skates well enough. Do you consider him a second-pairing D-man? Or a third-pairing guy? He's getting about 17 1/2 minutes a game for the Canucks.
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The Maple Leafs are all in on making a run for the cup. They are looking for a scoring winger, like a Tarasenko, but they have also been rumored to be interested in O’Reilly. What would the Blues expect in return if they dealt both players to Toronto? I would expect the Blues would retain some salary.
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I don't think Armstrong has ever retained salary in a trade since coming to the Blues, so I wouldn't expect this to happen.And because of the team's cap situation, you might be hemmed in - at least beyond this year, in terms of taking prospects/draft picks over established players. (Unless, that is, Armstrong can move some money elsewhere, which he wasn't able to do prior to free agency last year.)So if that's your baseline, I'm thinking at least a first-rounder, maybe a first-rounder and a prospect because if you're trading to a contending team the first-rounder would be low in the round. I'd check in with Jeff Gordon on his chat as well, to see what he thinks.
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Tarasenko, Parayko, Krug, Barbashev, O’Reilly & Binnington should all be wearing different sweaters come March 4th. You’re never going to get as much for these players than you will now. There is a lot of 1st round draft picks and good young, affordable talent that can come back in return. It’s time for the team to retool. Even IF they make the playoffs it’s a one and done anyway. We need a top 10 draft pick. Haven’t had one since 2008. Your thoughts?
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I can pretty much guarantee you that Tarasenko, Parayko, Krug, Barbashev, O'Reilly and Binnington ALL won't be in different sweaters the first week in March. If you do that, you're talking a complete rebuild, not a retool. And if you rebuild, are you ready to go, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 years near the bottom of the standings and out of the playoffs? Good luck with that. That would be an extreme approach, and one that Armstrong will try to avoid at all costs.
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How was Berube's disposition this morning? Sour? Optimistic? Same old same old? I'm sure he gets tired of saying the same thing over and over again to you guys. Does he ever "let his guard down" and joke around with you guys, or is he pretty business-like most of the time? If I were in his shoes, I would struggle trying to have different, fresh responses when the team keeps doing the same things over and over again.
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I'm not exactly sure how he's perceived publicly, but Berube is one of the most even-keeled coaches I've dealt with. No matter how upset he might be when he talks to us 15 minutes after a game, he's back pretty much back to normal the next day.He was fine today. He certainly wasn't sour, although he was a few steps short of optimistic. But he believes the team isn't that far away. He feels the team is getting enough chances offensively, but needs to be given up 2 or 3 fewer chances defensively.Yes, he'll joke around with us a little. And on days when there are no cameras around - which happens a lot on non-game days, he's a lot more relaxed with the media.
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I am a big O'Reilly fan because of his talent and character. But, I don't think this year is building his stock very well for his next contract. Even with a down-year, re-signing him will still be a commitment...$4-5M for 3-4 years. Also, the latest report was the salary cap is only going up $1M. You know Armstrong better than a casual fan.....do you think...if nothing changes...Army re-signs O'Reilly?
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I think you've got a pretty good read on the situation, both in terms of the potential contract and term. If indeed the salary cap goes up only $1 million, it will be next to impossible to re-sign O'Reilly unless Armstrong is able to move some other contracts. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but has Armstrong ever re-signed a core player that was in his walk year AFTER that final season started? I've been covering the team for six years and I can't remember that happening.
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I know a lot of people are comparing this team to the 2019 team, but I just do not see the same level of talent upfront or on the blueline. I am not a fan of tearing a team apart, but it feels like this team is a middle of the road team. May be time to trade some guys to get draft picks and restock the cupboard again. Seems the Blues have quite a few prospects that are 3rd and 4th line guys, but not a lot to play on the top 2 lines.
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Well, no matter when it happens, you're going to see a different roster. O'Reilly, Tarasenko, Barbashev, Mikkola are all scheduled for unrestricted free agency. Again, unless Armstrong can free up some money elsewhere, at most he can re-sign 1 or 2 of those 4.I know for a fact, Armstrong has tried to be very patient in terms of what he does. He also wants to be able to get some value for whatever he might trade. So not an easy thing.I think this team still has a little time to change Armstrong's mind, but as each week goes by I do think it's trending more to what you say it is - a middle of the road team.As for prospects, Snuggerud and Bolduc are still thought of us top 6 guys - and I still believe Neighbours is a top 9 guy. But even if they live up to those projections, it will take Snuggerud and Bolduc a couple of years to get there.
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Sorry, I had to leave my post for a few minutes. But I'm back now. (I'm still out at Centene.)Krug hasn't been on IR this year. Until last night, he had missed only 3 games this season. He's been banged up most of the year - shoulder and hand issues. But this latest is a leg issue. I don't think it's a knee, but I'm not 100 percent positive on that, either.
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Ryan O'Reilly is having a terrible season. He leads the NHL in +/- with a MINUS 26. Do you think this is a sign of age and wear and tear on his body or do you see a comeback on the way? Maybe he needs iron in his diet (eat a 12 ounce steak Ryan).
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Well, in terms of goals scored, he's ahead of his pace from last season. But the assists are way down. He's just no generating enough offense - and he knows this. As I see it, he's not winning as many puck battles either as he usually does, which in turn can generate more offense. Obviously he misses David Perron - maybe more than any of us could have imagined. The Blues have spent the entire season so far looking for a right winger. And I'm sure the contract status weighs on his mind as well.There are some people I talk to who think he's simply past his prime, but because of some of the factors I mentioned above, I'm not ready to say that.And I believe he was a vegetarian during the Cup year, so I don't think the steak will do much good.
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Jim, with all due respect, I'm not sure a "retool" is what this team needs now. You are going to have players at the trade deadline who will never be worth more than they are then. Trade for 1st round draft picks and young talent that can then be parlayed into trades over the off season for established talent. A rebuild isn't the kiss of death if it's done right.
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You could very well be right on the retool vs. rebuild. But again, be careful what you wish for because a rebuild almost always means several years at the bottom of the standings. And you have to remember, you can't simply trade draft picks for established talent in the offseason because established talent costs money. And you don't have the cap room.