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Join columnist Jeff Gordon for his live STL sports chat at 1 p.m. Friday

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3rd & 7 37yd

Well, Dennis Gates filled his biggest need by landing point guard Sean East today. So he has landed two of the top JUCO prospects in the country and one of the top players in the transfer portal. He also got a four-star recruit to re-commit to Missouri, which was huge. I'm not sure the other two Horizon League transfers he added can make a big impact in the SEC, but that's about the only negative I can muster at this time. He hired a big-time assistant coach and he has working hard to revive the fan base.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:18:24 PM
Is Shildt with his latest 2 headlines hurt his chances of getting a future managers job? Has his window started to shut or will some team embrace his fire and passion?

by Paul J 4/15/2022 6:18:56 PM
Mike Shildt sure didn't need the negative headlines. He got back into big-league circulation with his fill-in coaching work and it would have been better if that time passed quietly. That said, most baseball people who review this unhappy incident will realize that Mike did nothing out of the ordinary.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:21:46 PM
Happy Easter Jeff!
He was playing well before this obviously, but it really seems like Tarasenko has made up his mind to go full on "Beast Mode". I've always been a fan, but like you, I never saw THIS coming

by netboy65 4/15/2022 6:21:58 PM
We forget that the shoulder was an issue for some time. Now he has confidence in it and it shows. That, plus the jump in his skates has helped him turn back the clock.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:22:46 PM
Is there no such thing as golie interference anymore?

by Larry 4/15/2022 6:23:42 PM
That rule changes from season to season. And, really, it is different from game to game. Yesteryear's dreadeed "skate in the crease" rule was too strict and current too much is let go. Any jostling in front of the net gives an opposing forward the green light to crash into the net.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:25:41 PM
The Padres w Luke Voit come into town late next month. How big of a reception will he receive and do you see him staying healthy and being an integral bat during and afterTatis's absence?

by Paul J 4/15/2022 6:26:35 PM
Voit, like any ex-Cardinal of any significance, will hear nice applause. His role as a DH in San Diego could last for a while if the team is able to clear out overpaid hitters like first baseman Eric Hosmer (who is off to a fast start) and outfielder Wil Myers as part of a lineup overhaul. Voit could be good value for his per-dollar production.
So far Voit has done OK, but nothing great. That ballpark is no fun for hitters.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:32:10 PM
Regarding an earlier comment negative to what Gates is doing is failing to secure quality and consistent shooting. He's got a lot of redundancy on the roster now in terms of mid-sized wings who don't shoot it well. Re-landing Shaw, getting a PG, that's to the good, of course, but I still foresee a lot of problems scoring points for this team with no real deep threats.

by Dave in Charlotte 4/15/2022 6:34:26 PM
Noah Carter is a scorer with the strength to muscle into the lane, but he is not a consistent 3-point threat. The same goes for Kobe Brown. And Ronnie DeGray III. Mohamed Diarra comes advertised as a good perimeter shooter for a big, but we'll have to see about that. Sean East has been a OK outside shooter at lower levels. Perhaps the team's best spot-up shooter from behind the arc is Boogie Coleman, who to this point has stayed out of the transfer portal.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:43:14 PM
Jeff: How do you assess the Blues defensively now? I don't know tons about hockey, but I see them give up a lot of shots, but are they giving up a lot of quality scoring chances? Their goals against is higher than we're used to seeing, but with the increased scoring throughout the league it's actually pretty good compared the league at 7th overall. It seems at times they do get hemmed in their own end for long stretches, more than I've seen in the past, and I don't know what that's attributable to. What do you see?

by DCG 4/15/2022 6:43:29 PM
This is the question with this team. The Blues have tremendous offensive depth, so they are more than willing to go up and down the ice trading chances. We're seeing that over and over for long stretches of games. Of course, it's hard to win playing this way in the postseason. Given the makeup of the defensive corps and the dearth of elite checking forwards, perhaps their best defense will be a good offense -- but one that pins opponents into the zone rather than one that exchanges rushes with the opponent.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:46:40 PM
Jeff: Regarding Kyrou - If he is healthy, he absolutely must be in the lineup come playoff time, even with his lapses or inconsistencies. He has shown he is able to be a true game changer. As for Robert Thomas, we may be looking at the greatest all-around forward in St. Louis Blues history coming into his own.

by Robert 4/15/2022 6:47:34 PM
I'm feeling better about mentioning Doug Gilmour as a ceiling comparison for Robert Thomas. He could definitely become that type of player.
As for Jordan Kyrou, he will play in the playoffs. But if he gets lost defensively, Berube could slide Alexei Toropchenko up to his spot with Brayden Schenn when he condenses his forward lines during a game. Toropchenko has looked good when playing on that line.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:50:48 PM
Are you surprised there hasn't been any backlash towards the Russian players in the NHL because of the war in Ukraine? I tried to Google and see if the NHL currently had any players from Ukraine playing in the league right now, but I could not find any. I guess that would make for a tense locker room if a team did end up having a player from each country.

by timothy mark 4/15/2022 6:51:28 PM
These Russian players have nothing to do with the conflict in Ukraine and fans are generally treating them that way.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:52:02 PM
With Bader the team bought out his two remaining years of control. However, seems like that’s not in the cards for O’ Neil. We’ll see soon enough. What is your read on what’s probably really going to happen here with TO contractually short and longer term?

by Nick N 4/15/2022 6:52:07 PM
Tyler O'Neill has star potential. He is a level up from Bader. And O'Neill could be just fine going year to year, collecting big arbitration awards ahead of free agency and a nine-digit deal. Buying into that potential free agency would be expensive for the Cardinals. I don't see Tyler selling himself short. Hs fielding/speed/power mix gives him massive earning potential.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:54:58 PM
Which Blues game is more important this weekend? Bury the Preds and guarantee a 2-3 spot or get a leg up on the Wild for a possible home 7th first round game? Would the Blues be better off finishing 3rd and go on the road and play 2 simple straight ahead games?

by Paul J 4/15/2022 6:56:26 PM
The Blues are going to make the postseason, so the Wild game is bigger. Home ice against the Wild could decide the series. The Blues have excelled at home this season.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 6:57:42 PM
Will we ever get a clear answer on what led to the dismissal of Mike Shildt? To me it’s become a kind of Rorschach test in that you can look to whatever part of the manger/team you find frustrating and point to that as the reason.

by WP 4/15/2022 6:58:22 PM
Points of conflict between Mike Shildt and John Mozeliak seemed to include the failure to get pitching help sooner last season, the push for more game input from the analytics team and hitting strategy. As Shildt admitted, he saw himself as a keeper of the Cardinal Way. His passion for protecting that organizational heritage got the best of him. Obviously he made his arguments more forcefully than Mozeliak appreciated.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:05:05 PM
Although Rolen seems destined for enshrinement into Cooperstown soon enough, what is it specifically you feel that is probably causing pause with a fairly significant # of sportswriters still?

by Nick N 4/15/2022 7:05:32 PM
Injuries cut into Rolen's effectiveness and longevity. When healthy, he was one of the top fielders of all-time at a premium position. When healthy, he was an offensive star as well.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:06:57 PM
If Yepez and Gorman force their way on the roster who get's sent down? Nootbar and Dickerson haven't been used much by Oli.

by Ed 4/15/2022 7:09:11 PM
Juan Yepez and Nolan Gorman are still in development, so they are not going to come to St. Louis and sit. I could see Gorman hitting his way onto the team if Corey Dickerson is just so-so in the DH role. Yepez is blocked by Pujols, so I don't see him doing more than just fill-win work this season as long as Albert is reasonably effective.
As for Nootbaar, he needs to get some outfield and DH reps. He, too, is in development. He can't develop sitting on the bench.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:12:22 PM
Thanks Jeff for the live chat
What do you think about STL getting a NBA team?

by Uncle Joe 4/15/2022 7:12:29 PM
I can't imagine it. There are only so many sports dollars in this market and the MLS will start grabbing its share soon enough.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:13:13 PM
Mr. Gordon: If Husso goes into the playoffs as the #1 goaltender, does he have any room for error? Will a loss or bad game cause Chief to switch to Binnington?

by Robert 4/15/2022 7:13:22 PM
I imagine Husso would have some wiggle room, but not much. A bad goal is one thing, but a terrible game is another. If Binnington closes the season well, his postseason experience will make him an attractive option.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:15:06 PM
Jeff, I am getting a 2019 vibe about this Blues team. Jim Thomas disagreed with me. If I am wrong, why? I understand the blue line is not the strength of this team but I do not see it as a real weakness especially with Krug back and the addition of Leddy.

Is Doug Armstrong the best general manager in sports?

Thanks and Happy Easter.

by Roy Earl 4/15/2022 7:15:16 PM
I still wonder about this team's ability to check consistently well and handle the physical bump-and-grind of the playoffs. Even in this point streak they have been too eager to trade chances with their opponent.
But there is time to fix some of that.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:17:24 PM
The pieces seem to be falling in place for the Blues to make another run this year in the playoffs. Which goalie do you see having the hot hand or will both contribute?

by Paul J 4/15/2022 7:17:26 PM
As noted earlier, I see Husso getting the call. And if he plays well, he will keep the role. But the likelihood of using both goaltenders is higher than usual.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:18:38 PM
Was Buffalo's trady of Ryan O'Reilly a great move for the Sabres. Three years ago I would have said no but today I Yes. Tage Thompson is their leading scorer and at 24 should be great for years to come. A winming deal for both teams.

by Andy Andy 4/15/2022 7:19:01 PM
The Sabres suffered much pain in the years following that trade while the Blues won the Cup and followed up with more winning seasons. The snowball effect for both franchises was huge.
While Tage Thompson's breakout has given the Sabres a big building block, they are still terrible. To make the Ryan O'Reilly trade and the Jack Eichel trade true wins, the Sabres need to finally build an enduring contender with guys like Thompson, Alex Tuch and Owen Power leading the way.
And, yes, that looks way more possible now than it did a year ago. Good on Tage. He is fulfilling his potential and then some.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:25:16 PM
Forgive me if this has been asked and answered... I know it's a small sample size, but DeJong doesn't look any different that last season. If DeJong continues to struggle, is it possible he could be packaged for a starting pitcher? Edman could shift to SS and Gorman could play 2nd.

by Rob in St. Charles 4/15/2022 7:25:31 PM
If DeJong doesn't hit, he won't have much trade potential. But, yes, he could give way to Edmundo Sosa again or perhaps the Tommy Edman/Nolan Gorman combo. The latter keystone could be a big step back defensively, though.
This is Paul's last chance here. And the more Gorman hits in the minors, the more the front office has to think about.

by Jeff Gordon 4/15/2022 7:27:45 PM
Is it possible that Cardinal nation will have another fairy tale season w Pujols drinking from the fountain of youth, staying healthy and productive as a fixture in the 5th spot to help lead the team to another pennant?

by Paul J 4/15/2022 7:28:04 PM