If you bring in Harding you have a replay of this past season’s Legace/Mason unpleasantness, with possibly Mason in the role of “disgruntled holdover.” And no one wants to see Mason’s gruntles out of whack.

If Mason had that kind of problem I’m sure he could be traded but Mason’s more a team player than Manny was. Manny was upset about the money also.

The point is rather than go out and attempt to get a real starter or someone with more upside the Blues are taking a risk on Mason that historically isn’t there. What he did last season he did in the past when Vokun was injured in Nashville. What Mason hasn’t done is proven he can take the mantle of being the man from the start.

As our D improves do you think this will help polish our average goalies a bit? Knock them up a notch or two?

we dont need to trade boyes or anyone else to open up a roster spot for a youngster, unless you really think its vital that two of the following: winchester, cam, dj king, bj crombeen, and yan stastny HAVE to play every night.

for some of the more skilled players because thus far the Blues have a set up they seem to enjoy employing where come the third line they start giving up skill for character guys. We could legitimately ice four solid lines and intersperse your ‘big’ guys throughout adding a strong forecheck to skill.

What I’m not liking about Boyes is his backcheck and defensive play. Fine if he’s a goal scorer but he needs to net forty or more if that’s the case. Some nights he looks dominate with his offense as far as stickhandling and controlling the play. When he has bad days it’s glaring.

But I guess something this year that should change a lot from what we saw last season is the transition game should be much improved.

The reason I mentioned giving up Boyes is you then are changing salary and while Boyes gives you about a half a goal to a goal a game depending how you look at it Harding can keep a goal or two from going in on most nights. Goaltending usually wins the Cup not goal scoring.

As far as Mason being better because he doesn’t have to start 38 games in a row, well that’s not what I’ve seen historically. Historically he’s looked good taking the mantle in the second half which he has done twice now. Historically he has been given the starters mantle once going into a season and was horrible that season.

Yes Conklin is a great back up goaltender. You won’t here me say different. He is also old.

I’m calling for an elite starter of the types that give teams a chance to win every night. It’s like baseball if you have a lot of good starting pitching you’ll have a winning team even if you don’t have hitters so it is with goaltending. Great goaltending invites risks to be taken because of the confidence the players have in the netminder. Which increases defensemen offensive output.

My big thing is why wouldn’t you trade a Kariya or a Boyes for a Harding? Or why wouldn’t you sign a guy like Harding to an offer sheet?

Well Hannu’s back so I guess this answers the questions about the pure confidence the Blues have in Mason.

I’m fairly certain Kariya would not have been acceptable return in that deal. Gut feeling. Boyes? I wouldn’t trade him for Harding. Nor would I move any of the young guns. Backes? Yes. lesser prospects, sure. But not EJ, AP, TJ, DP, or PB.

At the time yes I think Minnesota would have taken Kariya and a prospect for Harding. And yes I’d send Boyes in a second. I’m for winning the Cup.