Predict the prediction

by Chris Gift on Sep 16, 2008 2:16 PM CDT

Paul is playing Carnac. Paul is Canadian. Canadians love hockey. Therefore, totally perfect picture for this Web site.

By Chris Gift

Believe it or not Boyes and all three girls (Hi, Jessica, Diane, and the lacrosse player from Detroit) the regular season is just around the corner. While most teams are gearing up for a run at either the Stanley Cup, or at the very least a playoff spot, our "Whatever it Takes" Blues don't seem to be contenders for either.

Like dogsledding, the metric system, and curling, Canadians cover hockey just a tad better than we do here in the states (but they punt on third down in the CFL, so let's call that war a draw).

TSN (Canada's version of ESPN) is previewing all 30 teams and predicting where each team will finish the season.

To prove they are going through every team, they promised (while ice fishing), to preview the Blues on September 25.

So what are they going to say? Did the team underacheive last year, was the team's finish just aboot right? What aboot (I love that joke) the potential unrestricted free agents (Walt Tkachuk, Andy McDonald, Jesus Legace)? Will any or all of them be back next season, be dealt at the deadline, or both?

Be realilstic, they're not going to say "This team really sucks." That would be true, and something you'd find on stltoday.com's boards, but it would be spelled "sux."

For example, for the Boston Bruins (after the Celtics winning, the Red Sox winning, and Tom Brady becoming a martyr for the season, do you think anybody in the Hub cares about the BB?) their bottom line aboot the team was:

If they can build on last year's success in the regular season and playoffs, they just might be mentioned in the same breath as their championship-calibre (yes, that's how they spell it up north) peers.

Each team is broken into five categories: An introduction, statistical leaders, then sections called "What they did," "What to watch for," and a "Parting Shot."

Since the Blues did nothing- except turn 14th and Clark into a Country Club, tell us what you think we should watch for, and your parting shot. If you're extra creative, tell us what you think TSN is going to watch for, and what their parting shot will be.

The winner gets to read the closing credits in a style of my choosing.

As for what my predictions are. If I told you now, what the hell would I write about in the first print issue of the new season?

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What to watch for:

1) Watch for David Backes to have a have another solid year and increase his scoring.
2) Watch for David Perron to get more consistent minutes, but the fans will still whine because Murray isn’t using him properly.
3) Watch for Cam Janssen to get 1/3 of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. (I’ll let you guess which third)

Parting Shot:

If the Oshie, Berglund, and Pietrangelo play this year anything like they played against Columbus’ youth today, it’s going to be a good year for watching hockey.

by Dan on Sep 16, 2008 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

What to watch for:
1. Watch for this team to live and die by its youth. With few changes to the veteran roster (unless you count addition by subtraction- Backman), the younger players will spell the difference between last year’s dismal spring and this year’s outcome. If the younger players avoid the fatigue that can come with the grind of the NHL season, the Blues could avoid the downward spiral of the second half of 2007 (and a deadline sell-off of veterans like Tkachuk or McDonald- dear Lord, please not Manny!). If not, Blues fans might finally take it out on the team’s official, unofficial, self-aggrandizing male cheerleader, Towel Boy. (Hey, there has to be an upside to another year of not making the playoffs, right? A girl can always hope so!)

2. Watch for Blues fans to pray to the deity of their choice that David Perron avoids the sophomore slump that plagued some players like Stempniak (that is, if he is able to pry more minutes from Murray’s cold green goblin-y hands).

3. Watch for DJ King to make at least one opposing player wish he had become an accountant like his parents always told him to.

Ok, so maybe this won’t be the exact language TSN uses, but I stand by the predictions.

by Jessica on Sep 17, 2008 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

If you want to know how good the blues are just ask andy murray.

so we did.

they will make the playoffs

david perron is immature

dan hinote does everything the blues ask of him

eric brewer is definately the kind of captain the blues need

free tacos!!

by Childhood Trauma on Sep 17, 2008 10:49 AM CDT reply actions

What they did
Meet low expectations in 07-08 until the wheels fell off in the final quarter.

What to watch for
Kids yo-yo their way into and out of coach’s doghouse.

Parting Shot.
Kids do the craziest things, so anything is possible.

If you believe in probabilities, the Blues 08-09 edition will closely mirror 07-08’s. With good fortune, they’ll stay close to the 8th & final playoff spot in the West to the wire.

by brian on Sep 17, 2008 12:57 PM CDT reply actions

What to Watch For:

1. The presence of Chris Mason to stabilize the goaltending, and take the pressure off of Legace to win very night.

2. Baby Blues, Part I: Several players from last season’s Peoria Rivermen — Roman Pola’k, Jeff Woywitka, Yan Stastny — should make the opening-day roster.

At least two true rookies — Patrik Berglund and T.J. Oshie — should also make the opening-day roster, and 2008 first-rounder Alex Pietrangelo might just stick around for a nine-game trial as well.

Other kids who should be on the Peoria shuttle this year include Steve Wagner, Nikolay Lemtyugov, Jonas Junland, Chris Porter and Marek Schwarz.

3. Baby Blues, Part II: Youngsters from last year’s club — Erik Johnson, David Perron, David Backes and Jay McClement — continue to grow into their roles and climb towards actual stardom in this league. Two of these players will be contenders to represent the Lou at the All-Star Game at mid-season.

Parting Shot:

At some point before Christmas, Al Macinnis will stand up in the press box, announce, “I can’t stand this shit for one more minute,” march down to the dressing room, throttle Ray Bennett, and take over the running of the Blues’ power play himself. The power play goes from 100% shit-knuckle to the top third of the league within a month after this happens.

by Brian Weidler on Sep 17, 2008 8:13 PM CDT reply actions