Blues Don’t Cancel Season…Again

by Brad Lee on Nov 18, 2008 1:09 AM CST

Wooo! Broken ankle!!!!

By Brad Lee

For the second time in this tumultuous 2008-09 season, the St. Louis Blues defied prevailing logic and decided against forfeiting the rest of their games. For some reason, they're not ready to give in even though it seems every break (literally) is going against the Blues. First it was Erik Johnson shredding his knee playing golf. Now this.

The team reported Monday that center Andy McDonald has a broken bone in his ankle and that it's possible he has other damage to the joint. They have no idea when he might be able to return from the injury. The Blues set an arbitrary timetable of eight weeks. Minimum. McDonald was skating hard into the corner and lost an edge. He fell Sunday awkwardly into the boards, skate first late in the opening period of a 3-2 shutout loss to Montreal. His left foot jammed against the boards, bending back towards his shin, said team president John Davidson. An MRI was performed to see the extent of the injury. Surgery is unlikely, according to the team.

During the weekly podcast on the Blues Web site hosted by Chris Kerber, the radio voice of the Blues, Davidson described the impact of McDonald's injury on the team and the sense that they can't escape the injury bug as an organization.

"He was playing extremely well. When we went into the season we felt pretty excited with the fact that we had three lines that could score goals. And we knew every now and again that we would have some trouble keeping the puck out of our own net as we continue to grow our franchise in all areas. But now with Kariya and Oshie and Andy McDonald, it just keeps going on and on here. We've got to find a way to stop this."

During the interview, Davidson mentioned calling up players from Peoria. He didn't mention the likelihood of a possible trade or signing a veteran free agent still looking for a job a month into the season.

"It's frustrating in that we're playing hard. Even last night we were playing one of the better teams in the league in Montreal. Then you lose McDonald, you don't have a group of players that already injured. And we had at least three players that were playing pretty banged up and really put forth a pretty good effort. It's tough," Davidson said on the Bluescast. "I hope somebody upstairs puts a smile on their face and changes our luck."

One effect of McDonald's injury was a mish-mash of forward line combinations after the first period. I started to wonder if newcomers Cam Paddock and Steve Regier were having to introduce themselves to their line mates as the hopped over the dasher boards. "Hi, I'm Steve. I'll be your winger for the next 40 seconds."

When the Blues take the ice Friday night, there's little chance the David Perron, Lee Stempniak, ~~Erik~~ Patrik Berglund line will be split up. Over the last two weeks, they've been the most effective line for the team. There is a strong chance Brad Boyes, Keith Tkachuk and the hopefully-healed Paul Kariya will be reunited on a line. At the beginning of last season, the BTK line was a killer combination sparking the Blues to a strong first half of the season. The only downside would be Tkachuk playing center full-time, a more strenuous position requiring more skating and effort defensively.

When coach Andy Murray spoke to Kerber on the Bluescast, he was sympathetic to McDonald's plight, but obviously doesn't want anyone on the team to feel sorry for themselves.

"We didn't really discuss Andy's injury. He's no longer available to us. Great guy, great player but he's not part of the equation now. It's up to the guys who are here," Murray said. "No question he's been our best player from day one of training camp, even if you look at preseason scoring and regular season contributions he was making. But it was more than that. It was also his work ethic. But again, he's not available so we've got to have other guys step up."

The Blues have almost a full week to get back up to speed before Anaheim comes calling on Friday. It will be the debut of the new third jersey for the Blues. The McDonald injury clouds the near and long-term future of this team. I'll talk more about that later this week.

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Comments

There’s the whole thing where Boyes is actually a natural center and played well in that position at the end of last season.

What I;m surprised about is there is no mention that Regeir was sent down today! Are they fucking serious???

I think at this point the Blues should seriously consider a trade. They are more than well stocked up with forward prospects. I know we’d rather see something along the lines of goaltending but we’ve got to do something.

I’ve heard buzzes about Spezza and Ottawa has some needs at the moment.

We’ve got to get something or somebody now! Having all these goons and checking lines just isn’t going to work. And if the Blues organization wants to throw the towl in on this season I’ll be pissed.

I’m all about rebuilding but I’m not a huge fan of the trade deadline move to improve a team unless you’re on the rebuilding side. It seems to me, in the past the Blues have usually gotten that aspect wrong, i.e. Tkachuk trade and the one time we traded half our team away to Vancouver…god that one still gives me the creeps. We were neck in neck at the time with Chicago for the best record so we trade most of the team away. Awesome.

by Chris D. on Nov 18, 2008 3:24 AM CST reply actions

“Hi, I’m Steve. I’ll be your winger for the next 40 seconds.” Brilliant.

by Answer-Man on Nov 18, 2008 7:35 AM CST reply actions

Erik Berglund? Is that Patrick’s younger brother?

Also, I’m guessing that the Regeir send down is simply a cost saving move, I bet he will be back for the Anaheim game this Friday.

by HuntsvilleBlues on Nov 18, 2008 8:16 AM CST reply actions

I hate the injury bug.

Oh well, we’ve still got two very potent lines to throw out there…

Karyia – KT – Boyes
Perron – Berglund – Stempniak

I guess we’ll have to shorten the bench a little… I’ve got no problem with that, although we will HAVE to score early from here on out, because without three dangerous lines rolling out there, there is not going to be any strong 3rd period finishes in our near future.

At least McClement is playing out of his mind right now…. He has replaced Ryan Johnson as Murray’s favorite player.

by HuntsvilleBlues on Nov 18, 2008 8:31 AM CST reply actions

Hey Huntsville, thanks for the catch. I was a little drowsy when I finished that.

And the Regier thing is temporary. I believe he’ll be back by Friday.

by Brad Lee on Nov 18, 2008 9:17 AM CST reply actions

Jeremy Rutherford confirmed at The Asylum that Regier would, in fact, be back on Friday.

I’m a little PO’d that the club is pinching pennies so tightly that they decided it wasn’t worth the $7000 or so difference in three days’ salary up here vs. three days’ salary in P-Town for Regier to practice with the NHL team… especially after what he did on Sunday, and especially given the fact that Cam Paddock is still here.

I’m not the one making the decisions, though.

by Game Time Prospect Department on Nov 18, 2008 10:43 AM CST reply actions

Y’know, the Riverman are shorthanded as all get-out themselves, or else I’d say this would be a good time to bring up an entire line — Lemtyugov, Regier and Julian Talbot — and play them as the third line some night.

Peoria plays this Friday and Saturday, and then they’re off until Wednesday night in Milwaukee; the Blues play Milwaukee’s parent club, Nashville, on Tuesday in Music City.

If I was the one making the decisions, I’d call Talbot, Lemtyugov and Regier up after the Rivermen game on Saturday in Hamilton, have ‘em practice with the big boys on Sunday and Monday, be in the Blues’ lineup on Tuesday, and on a plane to Milwaukee to meet the rest if the Rivermen there on Wednesday.

That’s a lot of running around for the kids, but it’d be a good test of character, and of how great a price they’re willing to pay for an NHL shot.

Give some of the grinders a rest on Tuesday, and let’s see what a whole line of prospects can do at this level… they’ve played together extensively in Peoria, and have been pretty successful as a unit there.

Plus, the travel involved isn’t all that onerous; it’s not like you’re asking them to come from the West Coast to New England overnight, and then back again. All the travel is basically within a 500-mile arc from St. Louis.

by Game Time Prospect Department on Nov 18, 2008 10:59 AM CST reply actions

You know Brad, we might just need a dose of Erik Berglund’s sweet sweet healing music, given all the Blue’s injuries.

Check out the dude’s website! Friggin’ classic.

http://www.erikberglund.com/

by HuntsvilleBlues on Nov 18, 2008 12:55 PM CST reply actions

HuntsvilleBlues Says: November 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
You know Brad, we might just need a dose of Erik Berglund’s sweet sweet healing music, given all the Blue’s injuries.
Check out the dude’s website! Friggin’ classic.
http://www.erikberglund.com/

I think Brad just doomed himself to a lot of bad presents this holiday season! Eighteen CDs to choose from. Get them before someone else does, or you’ll be stuck with plane fare and concert tix to shows in Israel or England.

by Milo on Nov 18, 2008 1:15 PM CST reply actions

Blues claim Dallas right winger B.J. Crombeen off waivers. his dad Mike played for the Blues in the 70’s

you sure Regier is coming back Friday?

by Dooks on Nov 18, 2008 1:32 PM CST reply actions

At least if Brad would have errored in say typing Kristoffer Berglund he’d have named a Blues prospect.

Hey we picked up a guy who’s old man used to play for the Blues and is well another checking type of player. Great news. Then again if it’s a third line consisting of Regeir, Paddock Brombeen it might work.

by Chris D. on Nov 18, 2008 1:38 PM CST reply actions

Yikes, those bottom two lines sure are volatile. Who knows where the chips are going to fall?

Hey, at least we’ll have lots of enthusiasm from all these fellas fighting for bottom six noteriety. Should be fun to watch, provided that they don’t take stupid penalties looking for the “big hit”.