I'm Sorry, The Correct Answer Was Andy McDonald

by Brad Lee on Oct 15, 2009 9:50 AM CDT Comment 20 comments

I win!

In our poll yesterday, Keith Tkachuk was the winning vote getter. I'm not saying all those people who chose Grandpa Walt are wrong, but the better choice was Andy McDonald. Don't worry, I'll explain.

Just in terms of on-ice observations, McDonald is Tasmanian Devil. He's the fastest skater for the Blues. And while he's undersized, the man doesn't fear anything. He skates hard into the corners, he can take contact, he wins battles along the boards. He's killer on the power play, but not just as a perimeter player. He can work in tight and doesn't mind traffic. He makes the power play go.

In one of the prettiest goals of the season for the Blues (granted, there aren't a lot to choose from), McDonald was on the edge of the Detroit crease when the puck came in. He hopped and spun in the air sweeping the puck around the goaltender and into the net. He made it look easy when it was a difficult, split-second play that required vision, imagination and some nifty skating. You can count on one hand how many other Blues players could make that play. But that's not looking at the statistics.

Sure, McDonald has three points in four games -- less than Tkachuk. But they'll come. Last season McDonald started the season with 18 points in 16 games before he broke his ankle sliding into the boards. He finished the season with 44 points in 46 games. Granted that's last season and not "now" like we talked about yesterday, but I'm the one writing the post.

McDonald was invited to the Canadian Olympic hockey camp this past summer. TSN said he "initially seemed an odd choice." And then they made the case of how he's good on the power play, fast and a point-per-game player when healthy (do the Blues have any other guys who could be described that way?). And the other Blues players invited to Team Canada's camp included...wait for it...wait for it...nobody.

When you add in the fact that whenever he scores tat commenters in the game day threads post pictures of Happy Meals and Hamburglars and Grimaces and the phrase "I'm Lovin' It," it's clear that Andy McDonald is the best player on the team. Whatever line he plays on is the No. 1. Whatever power play unit he's on is the top. Every shift he's a threat to make a play. Hopefully there will be other players we can describe that way by the end of the season, but right now, it's just No. 10.

Grill me in the comments.

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You have officially been grilled.

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by BoylenOver on Oct 15, 2009 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That was a pretty goal

Assisted by Walt. Who had the presence of mind to see Andymac open on the other side of the crease through the two wings covering him, leaving Little Mac all alone for a very graceful tap-in. I still vote for Walt.

by Bleedbluecp2 on Oct 15, 2009 10:18 AM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Consider yourself Grilled

And though I voted for Walt, I will give your arguement a very valid point.

Put your big girl panties on and deal with it!

by BluesFanFromNE on Oct 15, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

sadly

the grooler is sold out. no grilling while chillin today!

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Oct 15, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In the voice of Stewie Griffin:

“Spot on…spot on.”

by Washoo on Oct 15, 2009 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I VOTED

for the MAC, for reasons stated above in the post, but to my knowledge not really a whole lot of canadians on our sweet team here, and wasnt Oshie, and someone else invited to the USA camp?

Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat

by DESTROYER on Oct 15, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh yea

david backes, erik johnson, yea so 3 invites to your 1 canada invite suck on it trebek!

Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat

by DESTROYER on Oct 15, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't you know

the way to win an argument is ignore the things that might take away from your point?

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Oct 15, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My arguement

is that yes he may be the only canadian invited to camp, but based on what was said the team has enough talent for others to be invited to their respective countries camps.

Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat

by DESTROYER on Oct 15, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

POLAK

also invited to the czech camp as well

Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat

by DESTROYER on Oct 15, 2009 10:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yet strangely, not to Polish nor Roman City-State camp.

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Oct 15, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Agreed with the Happy Meal choice here, dude!

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by drfrankentweed on Oct 15, 2009 12:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Time to grill you . . .

in the truly shittiest way possible:

One day, David Backes and Albert Pujols will combine forces to become the most awesome piece of violent force known to man.

by Donut King on Oct 15, 2009 12:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

pah

impossible to compare a star forward to a star goalie (which we don’t have) to a star d-man (which many hope we have in ej) anyway. andy’s lack of size showed up these last two games, had his team stepped up and knocked a few bodies to the ground, andy may have gotten more accomplished, but they didn’t and neither did andy.

my question on andy is this Brad: can Andy elivate his linemates or is he elivated by his line-mates? Andy’s speed is impressive and everytime he got the puck against the kings i was instantly hopeful, and as the game wore on, andy was the ONLY player with the puck that made me hope (although it turned out steen’s hard work paid off eventually). is his line the top line because of his speed? cos it isn’t, at least yet, because of his results. 3 of his 4 points are special team points, even up he is -2 just one better than the team worse. he is 7th on the team in shots (one better than silent jay).

overall, for a scorer with a speed game this is what he has given the blues as far as points per game

2008andy was the 4th best blues and the 97th best in hockey
2009 andy was the 5th best blue and the 150th best in hockey
2010 andy is the 4th best blues and the 123rd best in hockey.

skills not withstanding, andy must score more and/or minus less to be the blues true elite player.

andy lead the ducks in minus when we traded for him, and since we got him racked up a -32 in the note the only other two blues players able to keep up that 3 year pace are jay mcclement (in more games abnd as a pure checker) and eric “booooooooooo” brewer (in fewer games go big boooooo)

of course not only has andy done well on the power play when he faced detroit, it appears Andy Murray has the Andy macdonald jones, Andy has the most ice time of any blues forward, and that is unlikely to change as long as some points start showing up, and frankly they MUST, and soon.

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Oct 15, 2009 12:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I will have to start watching him.

We know I am the newbie, thanks for giving me someone to watch during the game tonight.

"As large as life and twice as natural"

by BlueBee on Oct 15, 2009 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Might I also suggest...

That you watch:
Oshie
Perron
Backes

Those three usually are really fun to watch.
But lately… meh?

by DanGNR on Oct 15, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd grill you

…but I voted for McDonald too, so I just want my ribbon.

No ribbon? Dammit, knew I should have justified my vote. Fine: I voted for McDonald because…uh, what Brad said. And he has hands. Soft, smooth, well-manicured hands.

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Oct 15, 2009 2:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

But has he won any contests?

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Oct 15, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can only assume he has, what with those nice hands and his admirable discipline.

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Oct 15, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Though I like a good grill..

… I’m totally with you on this one….

(but maybe I’m not that objective, because I spoke to the guy in Stockholm. Great guy, great hockey player, if u ask my humble European opinion)

Now let’s grill some Coyotes!!!

"THE NETHERLANDS has its capital AMSTERDAM and at least ONE BLUES FAN"
Also nice: Subject of a story in GameTime (Feb 2009) and special GT reporter @ NHL Premiere Stockholm, Sweden (Oct 2009) YEY

by FanFromEurope on Oct 15, 2009 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs