Capitals At Blues Morning Open Thread: Welcome Back T.J. Oshie

Ah, T.J. Oshie. Who could forget your breakfast cereal? T.J. Sochi? Your (but not really your) failed campaign for mayor of St. Louis? We still love you Teej. Mayor Slay isn't running for re-election in 2017. There's still time for you to come back and take the job that you were always intended to have: mayor of St. Louis.

Or, you know, you could continue to get paid millions of bucks and play on a line with Alexander Ovechkin. Your choice.

How'd that trade work out for the Blues? Troy Brouwer is tied with Robby Fabbri for third on the team with 18 goals; Brouwer's worked out pretty well so far. Oshie has 26 goals and 24 assists, for a fifty point season, which is good for fifth on the Caps as far as points go and second behind Ovechkin for goals.

A good bit of that point disparity has to do with linemates and coaching strategies, and there's more to the trade than just on-ice performance. The deal freed up some cap space. Still, it's difficult to look at the statistical lines for both Oshie and Brouwer this year and not sigh a bit.

This is your morning open thread. While you're waiting on your final Lighting the Lamp of the regular season, the preview, or the GDT, head over to Japers' Rink and say hello to the good folks over there.