NHL Recognizes Tkachuk, Do Blues Fans?

by Brad Lee on Oct 7, 2009 9:00 AM CDT Comment 24 comments

How Jimmy Howard didn't make this save, Big Walt will never know. (AP Photo/Niklas Larsson)

Through two games this season, Keith Tkachuk has two goals and two assists. It was a flashy opening to the season. So flashy, the NHL named Big Walt (you think the younger players call him Uncle Walt? Papa Walt? Grandpa?) one of its three stars for the first week of the season.

If you rewind the memory tapes, you might recall that Mr. Tkachuk (Mama Lee always said to respect my elders) got off to a blistering start last season. He scored goals in each of the first six games and eight goals in the first eight games. But the 37-year-old couldn't keep that kind of pace. He had separate streaks of eight and 10 games without putting the puck in the net. He finished with what could be considered a disappointing 25 goals on the season. He was held pointless in the Blues' four game ejection from the playoffs.

Tkachuk's best season with the Blues was his first full year in St. Louis, 2001-02. He scored 38 goals and 74 points in 73 games played. He's not the player that attracted long-term, big money contracts. He used to command in the neighborhood of $10 million a year. That dropped to $4 million. His current one-year contract pays him $2 million. On the positive side, his personality commands the room. Eric Brewer may wear the captain's C while skating laps wearing a no-contact jersey, but Tkachuk is the leader in the dressing room. He's still a big body in front of the net and can play well in traffic with defenders trying to get in his way.

The flip side is that playing center is physically demanding and while he may provide the most value there, it's the assignment that wears him down the most. This offseason, the Tkachuk re-signing really didn't get a lot of attention in St. Louis. He's basically said St. Louis is the only team he wants to play for. Fans knew he wasn't going to demand a long or expensive contract. So his return was taken for granted, an afterthought. In everything said and written about the Blues in the preseason, little to none of it talked about Tkachuk or what he brings to the team.

No he didn't ever live up to the money the Blues committed to him after the trade brought him from Phoenix. Yes he can be a little slow. And take dumb penalties. But he's still a valuable member of the team, right? Right?

Commenters, please pass judgement on the NHL's third star of the week. Do you like the Tkachuk? Do you think he'll be valuable for the Blues? Tell us down below.

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Yes, I think he’s still a valuable member of the team. I like that he knows his role and isn’t complaining about it. He knows he’s getting older – I feel like he doesn’t run around out there trying to act like a superstar holding onto his youth or something. He works his strong points & he’s still producing that way. Also, I loved it when he stuck up for the kids last year when Murray went on that tirade in December calling a bunch of players out in the media (which may have ended up working, but at the time made me furious).

by oic on Oct 7, 2009 9:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like big butts and I cannot lie..

his big ass in front of the net on the PP is extremely valuable.

Coach Murray disagrees with your assessment that playing center is more physically demanding for KT. He says that because the centers keep their feet moving, it’s easier than stopping and starting all the time on the wing.

by forgetyerskatesdream on Oct 7, 2009 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you,

Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Let's go Blues!!!

by Milo. on Oct 7, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Walt's still a valuable guy...

He’s not gonna play big minutes 5-on-5, but he can still be one of the most dangerous “screen” men in the league on the PP.

I’ll leave the question of whether playing center or the wing is more physically demanding to wiser heads than mine… (Whadda I know? I’m a frickin’ goalie!) Keep Walt’s minutes down (just a bit!), and he should stay fresher for the grind of the season. He ain’t a 50-goal guy anymore, but he’s still darn good at what he does!

"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra

by The Ol Goaler on Oct 7, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd

say its about equal, the start and stopping for a winger(me) is pretty demanding, but I have played center, and usually do on the PK because i win faceoffs, and thats about as demanding because you have to go end to end and constantly chase the puck

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

by DESTROYER on Oct 7, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's had his off-times.

They’ve been well-documented. And no one is without their faults.

But overall I’ve enjoyed Walt playing for my favorite team, I must say. No one expected him to be overly-flashy, and he hasn’t been. No one expected him to be a complete dick, and he hasn’t been. A bit overpaid? Sure. But I can’t say I fault HIM for that.

I also like that he learned his lesson the one time he showed up egregiously overweight . . . and didn’t do that again.

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 7, 2009 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tkachuk has been...

and will continue to be a valuable contributor to this team. Papa Walt is my boy.

by mynameistyler on Oct 7, 2009 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was in favor of his re-signing...

… and frankly, the thought of us trading him away at the deadline scared the crap out of me. Like Brad said, he’s looked up to by the team. Brewer has the personality of a dishrag and is never there… who do you think is the de facto captain? Walter. It’s very important to have that locker room guy out there giving guidance.

I also appreciate the fact that he busts his ass every night and works for his points. Hard. He leads by example, and there are too many aging superstars out there loafing to get a paycheck, while Tkachuk is always right there by the net, knocking in garbage goals, and getting us on the board.

That, and the hit in Saturday’s game was unreal.

Finally, I respect him for the kind words he’s said about our city and team. He wasn’t disrespectful to the Thrashers when he was here, but he made it very, very clear that St. Louis was his family’s home, and the Blues were where he needed to be. He left a line led by ilya Kovalchuk, which could have boosted Tkachuk’s point total seeing as how Kovy shoots a lot and not everything goes in. Walt’s always put the Blues first, and I appreciate that.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Oct 7, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

well

a) panger kept taking a goal away from kt in sweden, i guess panger still isn’t the official scorer. since the goal is still kt’s

b) this is what i like about kt === last season he was positionallly moved and his role was changed after the hottest start to his blues career. his offensive numbers fell off the table as a result. he didn’t bitch, cry, moan, hell he didnt even mention it. I did. eventually Andy mentioned it late in the season. some press did. when you are in a contract year, scoring like you need to score to get yourself a paycheck and the team tells you shit on your own stats. and you do it SILENTLY, you get my instant respect. kt had 14 pts in his first 20 games, 15 in his second, got moved for team needs then put up 7 points in the blues 3rd 20 game span. instead of 61 points he accepts 49, and 4 playoff games.

even with all that he was 3rd in goals, 4th in points, and second in power play goals., I had no problem with the blues re-upping kt as long as it was a legit contract.

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Oct 7, 2009 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Walt

He seems cuddly

"It’s a brand new day
And the sun is high
All the birds are singing
That you’re gonna die" ~ Dr. Horrible

by Carnie on Oct 7, 2009 10:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just trying to rile up henry miller aren't you brad?

tkachuk is far past his prime, but his value to this team is the fact that A) he can still score big body goals on the power play and B) can still pot 20-25 goals. that’s it. don’t give me the crap about leadership and all that stuff — we aren’t in the room. he could be a total dick that everyone hates but has to say nice things about because everyone assumes old guy = leader.

as ive said before, where was this fawning over his leadership during the bleak years? if leadership is so important, why wasn’t he a the captain over brewer?

still, i like walt. i think he still has some ability. i wish he would stick on the third line and play left wing and not center, but i’m not andy murray. i do think its weird that hes been a blue for 9 years. it doesn’t seem like that.

by averagejoe on Oct 7, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

well

the leadership i respected was the silence while taking a potential pocket book hit for the team.

walt has an “a” and has had it for a while. and he once had a c (not for us), but the “c” = team leader isn’t a valid assumption anyway. many teams do consider the “c” as some sort of leadership badge, some teams don’t care- either they have none, the vote, the rotate, or whatever, and some teams drop a c on a kids shoulder to grow him u faster. the c is an on-ice regualtory device to help refs ignore 90% of both teams, nothing more. and just how often this millenium has the c een in the hands of a blues player who was absent from the ice surface for extended periods of time? a no-show in the dressing room?

and on the leadership in the room? i’m in complete agreement about anything we get on that is rumour and speculation. I still remember the rumors and mad man-love for leader corson, but the end of his playing days make me wonder about his team concept. and we gave wayno the c the first day he came here. what does that say about wayne’s leadership? nothing. most of the peeps in the room probably never talked with waynr before he showed up with the c— unless it was to place a bet.

if someone is selling the c = leadership evidence - i just can’t buy it. and all the piles of dead billy mays bodies won’t produce enough hype to get me to believe.

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Oct 7, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

like walt

my favorite player on the team, busts his ass, and I model my game after the Power Foward position, he has been the leader in the clubhouse despite rinky dink brewer wearing the C

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

by DESTROYER on Oct 7, 2009 12:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

Walt’s a valuable player for the Blues both on the ice and in the locker room

Baltimore Blast - 6-time MISL/NISL Champions
Let's go Blues!

by UIWWildthing on Oct 7, 2009 12:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ditto on most comments above,

I think old number 7 will be a big plus for this club as always. As we go thru those hellish 8 games in 11 day stretches this season I hope AM gives heathy scratches to rest players (and not just the old guys). Love Woodn’s old #7 T, and how about a Gametime Jersey to wear for pickup hockey.

by notyoucoach on Oct 7, 2009 1:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Walt

And have to agree that his production did drop off kind of like the titanic last year. However, it seems to me that in addition to his position change his goal scoring also seeemed to coincide with the loss of Kariya to injury and the demise of the BTK line. I have to think that with Paul’s passing ability and speed gone Walt’s scoring chances were decreased. Just my 2 cents.

by SouthernBlue on Oct 7, 2009 1:26 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I see Walt as a hedged bet.

The part of me that says “forget the standings, get those kids developed into NHLers” tends to think that Walt is occupying Lars Eller’s spot, and that a change now could pay dividends a couple years down the road.

But the part of me that absolutely loved watching the Wings get pasted in Sweden says that this year’s standings DO matter (especially in light of the current marketing campaign), and therefore Walt has a legitimate place on this roster.

Tkachuk’s contract is not unreasonable, and he doesn’t seem to have the kind of negative attitude that would drive a wedge into the locker room. Two years ago, he seemed like just another dollar-sucking loafer in the Bluenote, aloof and disinterested in the fortunes of the team. I think it’s possible that playing with all the kids has refreshed his outlook; he still floats at times, but he seems to be enjoying himself more now that at any other time in his St. Louis career.

I still don’t think he’ll be on the roster when the Blues finally raise the Cup; but I might finally be able to start contemplating a Tkachuk/Unger/Berenson jersey retirement night.

by BleedBlue42 on Oct 7, 2009 2:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

he is absolutely one of the most classiest players in the nhl.he is a great leader and competitor and one of the more underated players in the league.great player and person

"Some people think of the future and it upsets them. They see a rocket and they start building a bomb shelter. They see T.J. Oshie, they start building a fallout shelter."

by Oshie#74 on Oct 7, 2009 3:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He's helped the team with more than his on the ice talent

While he has done quite a bit on the ice, everyone talks about his leadership so I won’t really touch that but he has really stepped up and done things to help the team that he didn’t have to do.

He has taken less money to stay in St Louis (yes he’s old but wth his talent he could have gone somewhere else) Plus when he was traded away at the deadline he’s always come back and resigned quickly. Why because it’s what was best for the team.

I ws happy when we got him in 2001 and I’m even happier now. Just because you’re not putting up points doesn’t mean you’re not helping the team

by Maverides on Oct 7, 2009 3:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Forget the 'Unrec' button...

where is the ‘unsee’ button?

SWYD

by gallagher on Oct 7, 2009 6:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

did the chara pic make you forget what thread you were in

it messed with my mind, too.

by averagejoe on Oct 7, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's made so much money he should play for the league minimum finally living up to what he was supposed to bring but not completely

He’s no Paul McClean able to turn the garbage into forty goal seasons year in and out. His screening is weak as he rarely tips the puck but his turn does produce.

He’s not the leader thought hat’s what we’re being sold. Seems to me we all noticed his anger when Legace was thrown away. I believe it’s the kids that are the true leaders and guys like Andy McDoonald and Jay McClement. He even complains that no one drinks beer on the plane rides but rather drink protein shakes to build and repair muscles. How horrible someone should take their jobs seriously.

He is contributing. He’s not the worst and his pay is getting closer to what he deserves. He’s not a leader, not someone who can be counted on when you need someone the most. He never has been.

I think Kariya was robbed of the third star. He even had a game winner did Tkachoke?

But hey are team’s a winning. Will he be able to play next year like some suggest he wants to? There’s a lot of talent knocking at the door and he has to be able to compete with it. Eller is already looking super strong down low. What could save the Fat One is that Berglund is looking more and more like trade bait.

by Henry Miller's Used Penis on Oct 7, 2009 7:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was waiting for this...

Look, the old guy can’t play a full-bore 20 anymore, but he knows it. He is a leader, simply because he knows when he has the opportunity to set a tone, and he does. See the hit on… I forget his name, but I bet he still can’t remember it, either.

You get 20 goals from him, most of them garbage, a big body in front of the net, and somebody who does take up attention in front of the net on the PP. He’s not getting paid so much that it’s out of line with his experience and his production. As for the lack of playoff production, he’s always been a front of the net guy, and in the playoffs, they don’t call ’em like they do in the regular season. Anybody other than me remember the wars that he had with Adam Foote in front of the net?

Truth to tell, they got KT after he’d lost the speed that made him so special in Winnipeg. He’s finally adjusted to that, and so has the team. I think he is valuable, but not to the point where if they lost him, they’d go into a tailspin.

I do however, agree with you on Kariya and the third star. Did the NHL publicity machine forget about him?

by The Goalie Guy on Oct 7, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Walt is a valuable asset to the team not only on the ice but off.
I think he’s a steadying influence for the youngsters off the ice.
I believe he’ll have a spot in the organization after his playing days are over.
He and his family are now a part of the St Louis community.

by luvhockey on Oct 7, 2009 8:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs