Auf wiedersehen, Ears... Toivonen, Richmond to CHI for Fallon

i hated ears being brougfht back. the guy we knifed, chis holt, admittedly still a longshot for the nhl, has battled back into the ahl for a crappy team and is hacking broduer out of the depth chart. again, anyone want to explain to me how a long shot that is overachieving (in holt) can be knifed while a past failure and still long shot can be loved?

now this trade ALSO seems to be a “fish or cut bait deal” with both the new guy and bishop. both huuuuuuge goalies with some nhl asperations (though both may be backups instead of starters), and i suspect both will still be looking up at jake allen when he arrives. next season going to be an ahl contest between the two for the next blues back up of the future tag???

And I’m not particularly sure if Fallon does either, but eh.

Honestly, I think us clearing out defensemen who flat aren’t gping to get time long term isn’t a bad move. Where did Richmond rank on our organizational depth chart long term? 15th? We’re going to have a lot of guys coming to play hockey for us soon, so freeing up space makes sense to me.

Any chance Warsofsky joins Peoria late in the season as well?

…but at this moment, it kinda leaves Peoria in a bit of a jam. They have Mitch Love who can play either forward or defense, so my suspicion is that he plays pretty much exclusively on “d” for a bit.

As for Warsofsky, he’s only a sophomore, so I doubt he comes out early, and he can’t come play for Peoria even on a tryout contract and go back to BU next year, thanks to the hypocrites at the NCAA headquarters…

B.

Not bad, but it’s really hard to get a grasp on a goalie at an ECHL game, especially when the Glads didn’t play too hot last year (and again this season). Glad to see that the return of Ears served a purpose.

Fast is up with Peoria now.

With Richmond gone, Peoria’s depth chart on defense looks like:

Jonas Junland
Tyson Strachan
Nate Guenin
Justin Fletcher
Bryce Lampman
TJ Fast

As far as I can tell, neither Lampman or Fletcher are in the Blues’ plans. Guenin probably isn’t, either, and was most likely acquired — like Lampman and Fletcher — as AHL depth.

There should be a place for Turek in that lineup; I believe he’s on a Peoria contract, as opposed to an NHL contract, so they can bring him back at will.

For next season, Ian Cole will likely be on board, as will Mark Cundari. Alexander Hellstrom could be brought back from Sweden, and Kristoffer Berglund could come across as well.

Warsofsky and Cade Fairchild srill have NCAA eligibility next year, and I believe David Shields and Brett Ponich still have junior elgibility next year, so there’s probably no need to rush any of them up.

The 6’ 3, 215-pound, right-shooting Shields in particular has come on strong in the last month; he’s a plus-12 in February, plus-7 overall, after being a minus-5 at the end of January. He’s looking like a pretty good pick at 168th overall in the last Entry Draft.

B.

The Blues (Peoria) have traded goaltender Hannu Toivonen and D-man Danny Richmond to the Chicago Blackhawks AHL affiliate in Rockford in exchange for goaltender Joe Fallon and D-man Darryl Boyle. All players will remain in the AHL.

a certain goalie from Vancouver? I’d like both of those 2 happen.

why is JD making these pointless trades

For Tomorrow’s Blues. Seeing that the Blues have not yet signed Mason, what do you think about them trading the Panthers for Vokoun? He’s signed through 2011 with a cap hit of 5.7 million.

I know he’s making quite a bit more than Mason was offered, but in my opinion he’s quite a bit better. I would like the Blues to finally have a legit #1 goalie, and I consider him to be one.

Also, with Florida looking to dump salary for picks/prospects, it’s possible to get him for a reasonable deal. If they want the farm, fuck ‘em. But if they are selling for a decent price, I’d be interested.

Opinions?

I agree with you. If they’re asking for a first rounder, AP, or Eller I don’t think it would be a good idea. I’d approach them and say “I’ll take this guy off your hands, save you $12 million, and give you any two of: 2nd rounder, a decent prospect, Mason, Carlo Colaiacovo.”

It sounds like I’m dreaming, but when a team is dumping salary they rarely get the better of the deal. Hell, look what Giguere got the Ducks. A mediocre, overpaid Jason Blake and an awful, overpaid Toskala. And Giguere’s resume is a lot more impressive than Vokoun’s.

As for Schneider, for those of us not as well-versed in the AHL, what do you think of him?