St. Louis Game Time: FanPosts

Get your live hockey fix this weekend! Jr. Blues pre-draft camp in Springfield 5/24 - 5/26

2013-05-20T13:55:58Z

The Springfield Jr. Blues are having a pre-draft camp this weekend at the Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. What's a pre-draft camp? Basically it's a chance for interested junior hockey prospects to come in and get a first-hand look at the team, facilities and parts of Springfield that may be their home for the next few seasons. It's also a good way for the coaching staff to get a better look at their best prospects.

Here's some more information from the Jr. Blues website.

The check-in and evaluation games start at 4 on Friday, go all through Saturday and the last game will be Sunday at 9am. I'll be working with the booster club all weekend to make sure the kids get their food and hydration in between games. I think it'd be pretty cool for the kids to see a bunch of hockey fans show up during the camp to cheer them on. So if you have some time to spare this weekend come on over to Nelson Center and watch some live hockey!

Here's some more information from the Jr. Blues website.

For Those wanting to Play in the Brentwood Novice League with me...

2013-05-20T03:08:12Z

I am officially Registered!

YAY!!!

Any way If you are interested in playing with me or in the league in general call the Brentwood Ice rink and register for the Saturday Night Novice League. I have been put on team 1 aka the Bruins... gotta love that... will be using the #BluesForBruins tag even more now! whoot! lol

I am going to post the schedule on Facebook so if anyone wants to come out and watch me make a fool of myself come on out it will be fun!

I am officially Registered!

YAY!!!

I am going to post the schedule on Facebook so if anyone wants to come out and watch me make a fool of myself come on out it will be fun!

Free Agency and what it means for the Blues

2013-05-13T18:55:21Z

Now that I have come to terms with the tragedy that was Games 3-6 in round 1 of the playoffs it is time we all start looking on to the next steps for our beloved team. Naturally, July 1st has become the next date on the horizon in what will no doubt be a long offseason. If you have read anything over the past week about the Blues (or watched any of the playoffs) you know by now that we need a goal scorer. The problem is, at a glance, there are no pure scorers coming up as free agents. That leaves us with a serious problem - finding someone who can fill that void. Here is my opinion on players the Blues should go after that have underperformed over the past season. I believe teams are looking to unload these players for cheap. (note that I don't take cap space into consideration here as that has not been determined yet. Still a lot of questions going forward in regards to that):

Danny Briere: The Flyers loved Briere when he first signed a couple years back but his fame in Philadelphia has since faded. His production over the past two seasons have been well below his previous statistics and he is definitely looking for a change of scenery. At 35, he only has a couple years left, but if he starts performing like he did 3 years ago, especially like he does in the playoffs (led players in pts in the 2010 playoffs) he could be a great addition to the team. I know this is essentially like replacing McDonald with the same player but I like the potential here.
Ryane Clowe: Blues technically had a chance to get him before the trade deadline this year before he was sent to NYR but I don't think San Jose would have been willing to trade him to another Western Conference team. Clowe is not a pure goal scorer but he has but up some solid numbers over the past couple of years for the Sharks. This year he bombed it in San Jose hence his dealing to the Rangers but he has not lived up to the player they were hoping he would be. I believe Clowe is a free agent after the season and this could be an intriguing pickup for the Blues to consider.
Nik Antropov: Still not sure how I feel about this one but I have got to imagine that Winnipeg is looking to make some sort of change after missing the playoffs this year. They have a great team but are certainly missing something that perhaps the Blues can help with. Antropov has only netted an average of 15 goals over the past 3 seasons but has a couple of bright moments with around 25 to his name. The previous early pick in the late 90s still has plenty left in the tank at 33.

I know there are plenty of other underperforming players out there. I am curious to hear what everyone thinks so I can start keeping tabs on players that will help this team bring the Cup to St Louis.

Danny Briere: The Flyers loved Briere when he first signed a couple years back but his fame in Philadelphia has since faded. His production over the past two seasons have been well below his previous statistics and he is definitely looking for a change of scenery. At 35, he only has a couple years left, but if he starts performing like he did 3 years ago, especially like he does in the playoffs (led players in pts in the 2010 playoffs) he could be a great addition to the team. I know this is essentially like replacing McDonald with the same player but I like the potential here.
Ryane Clowe: Blues technically had a chance to get him before the trade deadline this year before he was sent to NYR but I don't think San Jose would have been willing to trade him to another Western Conference team. Clowe is not a pure goal scorer but he has but up some solid numbers over the past couple of years for the Sharks. This year he bombed it in San Jose hence his dealing to the Rangers but he has not lived up to the player they were hoping he would be. I believe Clowe is a free agent after the season and this could be an intriguing pickup for the Blues to consider.
Nik Antropov: Still not sure how I feel about this one but I have got to imagine that Winnipeg is looking to make some sort of change after missing the playoffs this year. They have a great team but are certainly missing something that perhaps the Blues can help with. Antropov has only netted an average of 15 goals over the past 3 seasons but has a couple of bright moments with around 25 to his name. The previous early pick in the late 90s still has plenty left in the tank at 33.

The Blues, Life, and Everything.

2013-05-11T04:13:29Z

I just watched Dustin Penner score with 0.2 seconds left in the second period, so pardon me if my thoughts are jumbled.

This series is hitting me hard. As I watch this game my mother lies in her bed in a skilled nursing facility in Town and Country, her battle with a brain tumor approaching its inevitable conclusion. I sit in Brooklyn, drinking wine and over-thinking life, the universe, and our city's connection to it's professional hockey team.

I am a die-hard sports fan. I wasn't born that way, my mother made me that way. Whether it was late nights watching the blues in double overtime in the 2nd round of the playoffs or frequent weekend trips to Peoria to watch the future Blues in action, my mother bled blue through and through. She gave that to me. It was, with the exception of life, the greatest gift she ever gave me. To deeply care about grown men competing with other grown men in sports has become a lifelong obsession. It has grown to include baseball, football, college sports, golf, tennis, soccer, and any other sport. Hockey, however, remains my first love.

I'm writing this because I need some catharsis. Catharsis for this series, this season, and for my Mother's long battle with cancer.

My mother has been battling for 5 years. The Note needs to battle for one more period.

While the outcome of this game isn't certain, I know that the same mentality that the Blues have had over my lifetime is the same mentality that has allowed my mom to survive so long. No matter what happens, I will love the Blues like I love my mother.

LGB

I just watched Dustin Penner score with 0.2 seconds left in the second period, so pardon me if my thoughts are jumbled.

I'm writing this because I need some catharsis. Catharsis for this series, this season, and for my Mother's long battle with cancer.

My mother has been battling for 5 years. The Note needs to battle for one more period.

LGB

So I was at Practice this morning..... ( a wishful dream sequence, blended with a childhood favorite book)

2013-05-09T16:18:14Z

"Take a knee!" Coach Hitch yelled

"All right", he continuted, "I've been doing my homework on the Queens. I'm not gonna lie, they're good. The way the wiped your faces in the dirt last night was no fluke. So if you want your pride back, you better be willing to work."

"There's nothing glamorous about it. In the pros, we call it blue collar hockey. Now there's one thing the Queens do very well. They're vultures around the net. They pick up every piece of loose trash. That's how they beat you. Not with the first shot, the second and third. They bang in the junk. So if you wanna win, you're going to have to pick up the trash."

To prove his point he lifted the trash can that had been resting in front of him. He dumped all of the trash and it fell to the ice. The smell was nauseating as I buried my head into my glove to block it out. All the guys started laughing and coughing... making vomiting sounds

"Now, now let's save that for defense, because we're"- they interrupted Coach's speech.

"Picking up the trash!" They yelled back and Coach nodded and whistled.

The Blues got over their fear of trash as they had to block it and keep the net area clean. Coach literally made them dive into it, and they all did, some against their will of course.

When they met the Queens on Friday night, the Blues saw the Queens for what they were - TRASH, and effortlessly brought a win back to the fans and fought hard Monday night to WIN THE CUP!!!

Wha... what? Yeah boss.. I was sleeping at my desk. Late Playoff game again last night.

No. They lost.

Yes, the blue streaks in my hair are staying until the last game is played.

Right.. Get back to work.

Let's Go Blues!!

"Take a knee!" Coach Hitch yelled

"Now, now let's save that for defense, because we're"- they interrupted Coach's speech.

"Picking up the trash!" They yelled back and Coach nodded and whistled.

The Blues got over their fear of trash as they had to block it and keep the net area clean. Coach literally made them dive into it, and they all did, some against their will of course.

When they met the Queens on Friday night, the Blues saw the Queens for what they were - TRASH, and effortlessly brought a win back to the fans and fought hard Monday night to WIN THE CUP!!!

Wha... what? Yeah boss.. I was sleeping at my desk. Late Playoff game again last night.

No. They lost.

Yes, the blue streaks in my hair are staying until the last game is played.

Right.. Get back to work.

Let's Go Blues!!

Game 2 Tonight

2013-05-02T22:11:33Z

Big win for the Blues last night as Alex Steen scored the game winning goal, shorthanded in OT. Now the Blues finally have confidence that they know they can finally beat the Kings, after losing to them eight straight times. This a huge Game 2 for both teams. I think it's going to be another defensive battle tonight as Quick and Elliott are looking strong, but I predict the Blues winning 3-2 tonight and leading 2-0 in the series heading to Los Angeles.

Any thoughts?

Follow on Twitter: @SEMOStava12 and @STLSportsTweets

Any thoughts?

Follow on Twitter: @SEMOStava12 and @STLSportsTweets

Shameless Plug Time Again

2013-04-30T12:45:50Z

To show my support of the Blues, and also to help a good cause, I have once again joined the Beard-A-Thon. I humbly ask that you donate a few dollars for the 14 Fund, as I hope my grizzly beard will be growing all the way till mid-late June! (The wife already has grudgingly agreed again to this, and I wonder if my kids will recognize me by the time this is all said and done)

Thanks for allowing me to post this, and as always Fuck Detroit, Fuck Chicago and Lets Go Blues!

http://www.beardathon.com/blues/UIWWildthing/profile.aspx

Oh and Fuck LA too.

Thanks for allowing me to post this, and as always Fuck Detroit, Fuck Chicago and Lets Go Blues!

http://www.beardathon.com/blues/UIWWildthing/profile.aspx

Oh and Fuck LA too.

Standings

2013-04-29T23:42:06Z

I am new to the Blues page here I am a huge fan of the Blues and have been for a long time now, I am one of those fans that has never played hockey, I live around Joplin Mo and we don't have and hockey leagues around here. My question is this: How did the Blues not get the number 3 seed when they had more points and a better record than Vancouver? Don't kill me on this one I love to watch the game like so many other people just not sure I understand it all the way.

Soooooo, we got LA for the 1st round........

2013-04-28T12:59:45Z

Good. Looking forward to watching the boys prove they can earn a Round 2 spot. Defending Stanley Cup Champions? Put up or shut up LA. I have heard many say they do not want LA or Chicago in the 1st round, but I feel if they can't beat LA and get that monkey off of their backs, they don't have what it takes anyway. Regardless, I will be rooting them on and hoping for exciting 1st round.

Poll

How do you feel about The Blues' chances against LA?

Nice match up, but the Blues will edge them out and advance to round 2

9 votes

Awwww Fuck, not those guys again

9 votes

Fuck Detroit

7 votes

Blackhawks Suck

0 votes

25 votes | Poll has closed

Thoughts about special teams

2013-04-27T00:08:32Z

Sitting at the Blues-Blackhawks game a few Sundays ago, and half-heartedly joining in the quirky dance that kicks off a St. Louis power play, my dad turns to me and says, “The Blues make your high school team power play look good.” I hear the moans and groans from the crowd as Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith sends another puck past the Blues power play unit to the other end of the ice and start to wonder, does it really make a difference? Historically, the Blues have rarely had a notably efficient power play, and even when they have it hasn’t translated into much postseason achievement. Does a power play unit really carry that much weight? I think of the Washington Capitals, whose high-octane offense over the past several years has consistently produced one of the most successful power play units in the league. What have they accomplished in the postseason? Thanks to their fluky, white-hot performance through the season’s first month, the Blues currently sit 12th in the power play rankings. But that is no indication of how they’ve performed of late. Over the past 28 games, St. Louis has managed an atrocious 8% efficiency with the man advantage. Fans are starting to worry that, despite a stout crew of blueliners and consistent goaltending, the Blues playoff run is going to fizzle out early if they don’t find a way to produce with an extra skater. While this is a reasonable concern, we can turn our attention away from special teams scoring because the fact is, power plays do not produce Stanley Cup champions. Yes, it is easy to remember the timely power play goals of Dustin Byfuglien in Chicago’s 2010 cup campaign, and Carolina’s prowess with an extra man that led them to the 2006 championship. But largely the power play is not a consistent indicator of a Stanley Cup contender. Since the lockout, the Cup winners have averaged only 17.9% on the power play, a hair under this year’s average (18%). It is hard to justify the Blues recent 10% output as a sufficient mark, but we are just a year removed from watching the Los Angeles Kings ride a 12.8% power play to its first Stanley Cup. The year before that, the Boston Bruins clawed their way to a championship with only an 11.4% power play efficiency. With even a slight improvement, St. Louis may not be in as much trouble as fans think. Flip to the other side of the special teams coin, and you might find another silver lining. There is something NHL champions, and the runner ups for that matter, have done very consistently over the past 7 seasons. Kill penalties. The Stanley Cup winners have combined to kill off almost 86% of their penalties since 2006. This number sits decently above the 82% average of this year’s NHL squads. The Blues have bolstered their defense over the years and currently own an 84.5 penalty kill percentage, slightly under the benchmark, but still good enough for 7th in the league. With continued improvement, the penalty kill may be just one of the horses that carry the Blues deep into the playoffs. Despite the small indication that Stanley Cup contenders consistently perform well on the penalty kill, successful playoff teams have and always will be defined by timely goal scoring and a formidable goaltender. That’s the nature of playoff hockey. We cannot submit to thinking of the 5-4 advantage as a deity of playoff hockey. So next time you see David Perron slide a cross ice pass into a defender’s skates on a 5 on 3, or Kevin Shattenkirk try to singlehandedly skate through the opposition’s entire PK unit, don’t break out into a fury, ease that TV remote out of your throwing hand, and relax. Playing with an extra skater is not the Blues specialty, but come playoff time, it doesn’t have to be. **Stats taken from espn.com

Blues get the help they needed.

2013-04-25T20:03:58Z

With the Sharks and Kings both losing last night, the Blues can clinch home-ice advantage in the first round with two more wins left in the regular season. Just take care of business against a Flames team which you should beat and a Blackhawks team that should be resting their players for the playoffs because they already have the Presidents' Trophy in hand. Literally no excuses to lose to the Flames tonight, or the Blackhawks for that matter, if you want it, go get it.

Time to finish this regular season off on a good note and get ready for the playoffs. Let's Go Blues! Clinch home-ice!

Twitter: @SEMOStava12 @STLSportsTweets

Time to finish this regular season off on a good note and get ready for the playoffs. Let's Go Blues! Clinch home-ice!

Twitter: @SEMOStava12 @STLSportsTweets

Ty Rattie Is in Beast Mode

2013-04-25T02:50:27Z

I'm not sure if everyone's been following our top forward prospect during the WHL playoffs, but Rattie has been unstoppable. Through 14 playoff games he's put 14-G 14-A, for a 2.0 PPG pace. With tonight's game against the Kamloops Blazers and Blues' D prospect Joel Edmundson, he's already maintaining that pace with an additional 2 primary helpers for a 14-16-30 scoring line through 15 games.

Brian, aka TomorrowsBlues, has done a great job covering the Blues' prospects and has been high on Rattie despite, as he's pointed numerous times, people expecting him to regress with the loss of linemate and Flames' prospect Sven Baertschi.

I'd argue we shouldn't be the least bit surprised by these playoff numbers given his 19-G, 14-A in 21 playoff games last year and his league leading best 1.77 PPG pace (48-G, 62-A, 62-GP). If you look at his PPG numbers during Junior, they've improved each season of his 4 years with Portland.

I haven't had a chance to actually watch Rattie except for a bit from World Juniors, but I'm really high on this kid and hope he makes the Blues out of camp next year. I'm concerned with the Blues' new AHL affiliation with the Chicago Wolves, that he could get stuck there. I think he's proven that he's ready to make the jump. Any other thoughts or impressions about him?

The Blues have just FIVE picks in the 2013 Draft

2013-04-21T22:13:10Z

Is this a concern to anyone else?

After trading their first-rounder to Calgary for Jay Bouwmeester, and their second- and fifth-rounders to Buffalo for Jordan Leopold, the Blues have become a much better team in the here and now... but at what cost to their future?

As of now, the Blues' first selection in the upcoming draft is at 49th overall. The last significant player selected at 49th overall was Shea Weber by Nashville in 2003. The last time the Blues had a selection at 49th overall, they spent it on Carl Soderberg, who refused to come over and pay his dues in the AHL, and has only just recently decided to report to Boston, six years after being traded there for Hannu "Ears" Toivonen.

Here is the list of players selected at 49th overall in the drafts from 2012 back to 2003; except for Weber, nothing even approaching a household name anywhere in the bunch:

2012-49, DET, Martin Frk, RW, CZE, 6' 0, 193, QMJHL, Halifax

2011-49, LAK, Christopher Gibson, G, FIN, 6' 1, 191, QMJHL, Chicoutimi

2010-49, COL, Calvin Pickard, G, CAN, 6' 1, 195, WHL, Seattle

2009-49, COL, Stefan Elliott, D, CAN, 6' 1, 180, WHL, Saskatoon

2008-49, PHX, Jared Staal, RW, CAN, 6' 4, 210, OHL, Sudbury

2007-49, COL, Trevor Cann, G, CAN, 5' 11, 199, OHL, Peterborough

2006-49, MTL, Ben Maxwell, C, CAN, 6' 1, 195, WHL, Kootenay

2005-49, ATL, Chad Denny, D, CAN, 6' 3, 210, QMJHL, Lewiston

2004-49, STL, Carl Soderberg, F, SWE, 6' 3, 198, SWE, Malmo

2003-49, NSH, Shea Weber, D, CAN, 6' 4, 234, WHL, Kelowna

Barring a pre-draft or draft day trade for any additional picks, the Blues will have selections in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds of this draft... and low picks at that, about the 20th position or so in each round.

The 2009 Draft was the low-water mark for the Blues in the last decade, with just six picks. The first-rounder that year was turned into Vladimir Tarasenko, and four of the remaining five picks played in the AHL this season, with varying degrees of success.

Two of the Blues' four AHL'ers from the 2009 Draft -- defenseman Brett Ponich and winger Tyler Shattock -- also toiled in the ECHL this season. Ponich is still there, skating for Alaska in the playoffs.

Is this a concern to anyone else?

Here is the list of players selected at 49th overall in the drafts from 2012 back to 2003; except for Weber, nothing even approaching a household name anywhere in the bunch:

2012-49, DET, Martin Frk, RW, CZE, 6' 0, 193, QMJHL, Halifax

2011-49, LAK, Christopher Gibson, G, FIN, 6' 1, 191, QMJHL, Chicoutimi

2010-49, COL, Calvin Pickard, G, CAN, 6' 1, 195, WHL, Seattle

2009-49, COL, Stefan Elliott, D, CAN, 6' 1, 180, WHL, Saskatoon

2008-49, PHX, Jared Staal, RW, CAN, 6' 4, 210, OHL, Sudbury

2007-49, COL, Trevor Cann, G, CAN, 5' 11, 199, OHL, Peterborough

2006-49, MTL, Ben Maxwell, C, CAN, 6' 1, 195, WHL, Kootenay

2005-49, ATL, Chad Denny, D, CAN, 6' 3, 210, QMJHL, Lewiston

2004-49, STL, Carl Soderberg, F, SWE, 6' 3, 198, SWE, Malmo

2003-49, NSH, Shea Weber, D, CAN, 6' 4, 234, WHL, Kelowna

1st Round Playoff Matchup?

2013-04-11T17:34:21Z

Not to jinx us or anything, because we know how quickly the Blues play can go downhill so quickly especially in the shortened season, but just to see if others feel the way I do.

My thoughts in order,

San Jose (2-1 loss, 4-3 OT win, 4-2 win) Did anyone watch the Playoffs last year????

Vancouver (4-3 SO win, 3-2 loss, 1 game left) Don't feel like the Blues fear this team and it's a team we can dominate the physical play, plus fuck them for '09 playoffs

Anaheim ~~Mighty~~ Ducks (6-5 SO loss,4-2 loss, 2-1 OT win) Even though we haven't played them well this year, if we have to play on the road first round, I see at least a win against in SoCal.

Chicago ~~Fuck~~Blackhawks (3-2 loss, 3-0 loss, 4-3 SO win, 2 home games left) Honestly wouldn't mind this match up in the second round, barring the nail biting collapse of falling to 8th seed, but does anyone really think that Crawford/Emery is that scary? If Elliot keeps his head could, see this being one of the better series the Blues have been a part of in awhile.

LA Kings (4-1 loss, ~~4-1 win~~ 6-4 loss, 4-2 loss) Seriously have we ever beaten this team? I don't think I have seen a team get inside the head of an opponent more the the Kings/Blues. I don't want to see the Kings ever. Period. Even if that means losing a game to forfeit home ice advantage to not play them in the first round.

I know Minny is still a possibility and would welcome them in the first round, but I honestly there the 7th seed and props to JD Corp for sneaking the BJ's into the 8th seed on the final day of the season.

Thoughts? Let me hear them, and please feel free to tear my rankings apart, I'm a big boy

Oh what's that I left ~~Detroit~~ Detwat out of the playoffs? Call me an optimist

Not to jinx us or anything, because we know how quickly the Blues play can go downhill so quickly especially in the shortened season, but just to see if others feel the way I do.

My thoughts in order,

San Jose (2-1 loss, 4-3 OT win, 4-2 win) Did anyone watch the Playoffs last year????

Vancouver (4-3 SO win, 3-2 loss, 1 game left) Don't feel like the Blues fear this team and it's a team we can dominate the physical play, plus fuck them for '09 playoffs

Anaheim ~~Mighty~~ Ducks (6-5 SO loss,4-2 loss, 2-1 OT win) Even though we haven't played them well this year, if we have to play on the road first round, I see at least a win against in SoCal.

Thoughts? Let me hear them, and please feel free to tear my rankings apart, I'm a big boy

Oh what's that I left ~~Detroit~~ Detwat out of the playoffs? Call me an optimist

Bye Bye Sonne and Regner

2013-04-10T12:04:26Z

From the PD:

The Blues made a couple of minor-league trades Tuesday, sending defenseman Brent Regner to the Chicago Wolves (Vancouver) for winger Nathan Longpre and dealing forward Brett Sonne to the Texas Stars (Dallas) for defenseman Carl Sneep.

I'll leave it to TB to tell us something about Longpre and Sneep (which, by the way, are GREAT hockey names.) However, its kinda sad to see Sonne go. The two kids I had been rooting for the hardest were Cundari and Sonne and in one week's time they both are traded away.

This proves it does not pay for fans to get too attached to prospects

From the PD:

The Blues made a couple of minor-league trades Tuesday, sending defenseman Brent Regner to the Chicago Wolves (Vancouver) for winger Nathan Longpre and dealing forward Brett Sonne to the Texas Stars (Dallas) for defenseman Carl Sneep.

This proves it does not pay for fans to get too attached to prospects