Tuesdays With Hildy: Mmm... press box buffet...

by hildymac on Dec 29, 2009 11:44 AM CST

According to the Post Dispatch, Strickland, and what random people have tweeted, Erik Johnson's slated to be benched tonight. He hasn't had a point in eight games and is a minus three in that stretch. Apocolyptic play, no? I mean, Alex Kovalev didn't score a goal for 16 games before he scored a hat trick - and is now goalless in 8 games. Why compare him to Johnson? Kovalev's a forward - a power forward - and he's allowed to play with no offensive abilities. His not being benched is evidence of too much tolerance of the vets on the Ottawa team by the coaching staff. If he were on the Blues, would this be allowed to stand with our coach? And why is a lesser transgression from a younger kid who is still learning benching material, especially when we have seen under-performing vets play apathetic hockey and not reap the consequences?

Gotta show who's boss.

How are the youth supposed to learn accountability for their actions if they aren't shown that there are consequences for sloppy play that normal people consider part of a learning curve?

Sorry. That's the best I can do with that point. I can't even force myself to argue it, because it's absurd and my head's all foggy from sleeping until 10:30.

Can we apply the same standards to people, please?

Ok, stats here. Everyone's favorite punching bag (and I'm not picking on him, I'm just using him as an example) Eric Brewer, has yet to be benched this season, aside from injury. He has had a positive rating in exactly one game this season. He also has raked up 2 goals and 3 assists. Wow. You can argue that he's not expected to be the offensive power that EJ is, and you'd be right. But he's been underwhelming at least this season, and is a liability on the ice often. Total benched time: zip.

Weaver has three assists all season. He's also either one above or below zero in just about every game, or just at zero, so he's pulling his weight defensively.

Sydor, well... he has managed to get benched for the past few games. He's racked up a respectable 6 assists so far this season. He's also an overall +1 for the season, but recently he has been slow on the ice, and probably shouldn't be any higher than the 2nd pairing. 1st pairing with EJ works all right, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's done more for the leadership and mentorship, and I'm sure that it's working. He's actually played just as well if not better than Weaver, though not as strongly as Polak and Cola (who is surprisingly a -2, but is an offensive presence).

I'm actually not 100% sure where this argument is going right now because I'm being distracted by 30 Rock, but there are people on this team's defense who have been more inconsistent than Johnson, and who have been playing in this league a lot longer than he has. Murray's gotten in right by giving Sydor a few games to rest up and hopefully improve his game, but sitting EJ isn't the right message to send. For a team that's watched Perron and Berglund regulated to the puppy mill that Murray runs, having EJ sent there is probably par for the course, but no one wants to play on a course where the par is 7 and there are hazards all over the place.

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Comments

thats another problem

with andy murray, is if he wants to show who’s boss bench the effing VETS, by allowing to eff up and not bench them its setting an example to the young ones that they can play the same way

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

by DESTROYER on Dec 29, 2009 11:56 AM CST reply actions

Here's an example

Paul Karyia: 8 – 11 – 19. He’s being paid six million a year to put up points. Currently, hes tied with Glen Metropolit and others and sits in 174th place in the league leaders. No benching.

by averagejoe on Dec 29, 2009 12:37 PM CST reply actions

I thought Murray said he didn’t bench people if he thought that they would give them a better chance to win….So Murray is basically saying the EJ is benched because he feels his team is better with him not in the Lineup, what kinda crap is that….This better be because EJ needs a day off, not becuase he think the team is better without him!!!!

by Blue Note on Dec 29, 2009 1:04 PM CST reply actions

not sure sydor

has even been benched, i believe most here who wanted alex to play were leaning to the “sydor has the short straw and should sit” camp. he is just the odd man out when a 7th d-man is in line to dress. I’m not going to harp on the rookie treatment angle, but i will say this…

do you realize how slow we are on d with the d we are going to run out there tonight. not just slow because sydor and jacks are slow, and brewer is average at best etc etc etc, but slow because the slowest d skaters we have will have 1st or second d-pair ice time and the few bodies on d who dont have a name rhyming with pj and can skate will be likely the 3rd pair.

if it works for a game, it works for a game, but what kind of solution is it even SHOULD the blues win tonight?

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Dec 29, 2009 1:06 PM CST reply actions

guess that means

i should hold off on wearing my new johnson 3rd jersey til thursday lol

If you have a donkey and i have a chicken and youre donkey ate my chickens feet what would you have.... 2 feet of my cock in youre ass!! haha

by bleedblue2009 on Dec 29, 2009 1:13 PM CST reply actions

I almost there with you

All I am thinking about is all the things I could be doing other than watch the Blues tonight. I’ll still be in front of my Center Ice watching, but it’s a close thing.

The term "in my humble opinion", which they think adds weight to their statements rather than indicating , in reality, "these are the mean little views of someone with the social grace of duckweed"

by Maverides on Dec 29, 2009 1:29 PM CST reply actions

Wow that's a HUGE reply fail for me.

That was supposed to be on DanGNR’s fan post. Must have hit the back button without realizing it at work.

I put Sydor’s down as resting him not benching him. And I wouldn’t go apeshit about the EJ’s “benching” for all we know his knee’s sore or he’s got a bit of a cold and they are just giving him some rest. If that’s not the case maybe Andy thinks EJ will respond to a benching when he thinks the vet’s won’t. A coach isn’t supposed to be like a judge and treat everyone the same, he is supposed to know how to get the most out of every player and that usually means treating them differently.

Yes he has been incredibly hard on Perron, but Perron has also really picked his game up lately so it might be what he needs. You can’t say it’s the wrong move till you see what comes of it.

The term "in my humble opinion", which they think adds weight to their statements rather than indicating , in reality, "these are the mean little views of someone with the social grace of duckweed"

by Maverides on Dec 29, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

Don't forget Perrons contract is up and he wants to get paid

Points = Money

Why is patience a virtue and procrastination a sin...I mean whats wrong with patiently procrastionating?

by Go_Blues on Dec 29, 2009 2:38 PM CST up reply actions

And sadly enough

money = motivation

Why is patience a virtue and procrastination a sin...I mean whats wrong with patiently procrastionating?

by Go_Blues on Dec 29, 2009 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

and random benchings

and domotions on lines=no more perrohna

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

by DESTROYER on Dec 29, 2009 3:25 PM CST up reply actions

My first game this year

And AM sits our best defensmen and probably best player….I also thought AM like to replace a guy with the same type of player, Sydor and Johnson are not the same type player. I wonder who is coming in for Kariya, one would think it would be a skill player since again AM said he like to replace a player with the same type player…..AM is confused and this team has not reponded to anything he has done. I think the team should just not pay attention to him and play their game….They need to make the playoffs just don’t listen to Murray and maybe you will Win…Just play your ass off and Win

by Blue Note on Dec 29, 2009 1:29 PM CST reply actions

im so tired of seeing

the comments everywhere sayin how he is our best player… has anyone actually watched the last 5 or 6 games.. it looks like he doesnt know what hes doing.. hes skatin around in a daze half the time.. no way he is our best player right now not even close..

If you have a donkey and i have a chicken and youre donkey ate my chickens feet what would you have.... 2 feet of my cock in youre ass!! haha

by bleedblue2009 on Dec 29, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions

Thats why I said probably, I think he will be our best player…He is who the fans come to see! I am just sick of AM making comments and then doing something that is the complete opposite of the comment. Oh and I am also trying to figure out why whenever AM calls a timeout it back fires and the team plays worse. Just doesn’t seem like the players are giving AM their all. I don’t want another Kitchen though, thats for sure

by Blue Note on Dec 29, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

Just because he will probably be our best player..

doesn’t mean we have to treat him like he’s our best player now. Because he’s not.

While I agree that A-Mur needs to be more open about benching vets, Johnson has been badly underperforming, and I think benching him isn’t a bad choice. But that’s just my opinion.

Breaking News: I'm currently in the process of writing "I will not say and/or type "that word" 1,000 times.

by Novacain on Dec 29, 2009 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

we dont have a best player

bench em by lot before each game and lets get on with the rest of our lives

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Dec 29, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

I just got a picture in my head

Of AM with one of those huge rolling cages they use for bingo spinning it like mad standing in the middle of the locker room with the Blues all around him in various stages of caring or not caring.

Also would that involve some kind of coin toss to see who’s in goal?

The term "in my humble opinion", which they think adds weight to their statements rather than indicating , in reality, "these are the mean little views of someone with the social grace of duckweed"

by Maverides on Dec 29, 2009 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

You EJ haters absolutely baffle me.

Are we watching the same game? Johnson may not necessarily be our best player, but “he looks like he doesn’t know what he is doing”??? You’ve got to be kidding. His outlet passes are sharp, he creates numerous offensive chances by pinching in, and he his capable of powering through the neutral zone like Bobby Orr. I am beginning to think there is a real lack of understanding in this city about the defensive position. Every time the team struggles, all I hear is “Brewer sucks”, “Jackman sucks”, “Johnson sucks”, etc., etc. Go watch baseball.

"You suck but you know you suck. That's what I like about you." -Brett Hull

by hullnoates on Dec 29, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions

I like this move...

He is most likely banged up from getting 20+ minutes a game….he missed all of last season and im pretty sure he still isn’t a 100% in hockey shape….it gives Sydor who is the unlikely winner of our most consistent D-Man award some ice time. You sit a young talent for a veteren its gonna get all the young guys (3/4ths of the team is under 30) thinking they might be next. When you make a move like this your not sending a message for of the FUTURE youre sending one of right NOW.

Why is patience a virtue and procrastination a sin...I mean whats wrong with patiently procrastionating?

by Go_Blues on Dec 29, 2009 2:34 PM CST reply actions

It's a good move right now

The Blues have played practically every night for the past 2 weeks (thanks Olympics) with some crazy travel thrown in and probably some serious holiday partying. EJ looks lost and tired out there. Did any one really expect him to play all 82 games after missing the entire season?

by forgetyerskatesdream on Dec 29, 2009 2:54 PM CST reply actions

God bless OUTRAGE!

The idea Johnson is our best player as of this second is hilarious, and I’m not even talking about the point production. He’s activly been our worst defensmen for at least 5 games now, trying to do too much, and basically making really stupid plays. That penalty that led to the PP goal in teh game against Buffalo was absolutly terrible.

He needs to simplify his game, because right now, for all the talent he has, he just isn’t very good, and is activly hurting his team. While Kariya might not be scoring, atleast he’s not commiting dumb plays seemingly every game.

Breaking News: I'm currently in the process of writing "I will not say and/or type "that word" 1,000 times.

by Novacain on Dec 29, 2009 3:19 PM CST reply actions

HAS ANYONE WATCHED HIM PLAY LATELY

Ej is NOT playing like they player you all are relying on him to be. He has not been playing like that for a while now. . . If he wasn’t the golden boy to every fan in building, his sorry butt would have sat a few weeks ago ( and kariya would have sat after CHI, and if he was not being paid 6mil, he would have been traded).
You harp on Brewer’s play (number’s) but when he has been back, he has been playing w/ EJ, staying back so EJ can join the play, and he as turned over countless pucks, leaving his goalie out to dry. (and if he has been able to get back, he is lackadaisical about stopping the play of the opposing forward, there is little sacrifice or heart from him right now.
It was good to see his rocket go off late in the game against the sens, but it was nowhere near the net . . . Brew got a GOAL with a soft wrister from the point because he was playing smart, and following screens. . . EJ has to play with those skills as well, not simply relying on the hard shot, he needs to find the accuracy that made him offensively dangerous. . .
I do not believe Murray WANTS to sit EJ, he wass in hot water, and now a lot of people are going to be offended by this move. . . But honestly, EJ needs to sit. . . I do not know if it will do any good, but with all of the bull he pulled w/ Berg and Perry, and his justification of those scratches/line changes, he HAD to sit EJ or risk losing the locker room. . .

I do not like Murray’s depend on the Vets to be consistent (consistently average/mediocre) type of coaching. . . I do not feel it fits in with this teams “build around youth” mentality from the GM . . . but that is Management’s responsibility to figure out. . .
I see EJ out for 1 game only. . . and I hope Kariya’s injury will cause permanent changes to the Kariya. Backes . Tjosh line . . . For the level of talent on that line, I never thought they connected on the ice . . . (yeah they can make plays, but like I said, they are talented, but if they actually had chemistry on the ice, teams would FEAR that line. . . They DON"T)

by breibird on Dec 29, 2009 3:39 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

you know whats so amazing about johson and the blues in general? we draft so many euro players that the one time we probably should have gone to europe to grab the number one ranked euro player in nick backstrom, we pass and go north american. we know europe as well as anyone right? is that what people still say about our front office? we draft really well right, isnt that what they say?

(look look, i know ej will probabaly pan out dont get too pissed off about it, just saying, if we had toews or backstrom right now instead of johnson this team wouldn’t really be hurting that bad considering we’ve been collecting dmen on draft day like trading cards since drafting johnson and oh yeah he missed that whole season last year…ok, if youre pissed now I deserve it.)

by bzgea2 on Dec 29, 2009 4:15 PM CST reply actions