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St Louis Blues Blogger • 1380 ESPN •
Blues Head Coach Andy Murray isn’t too big on the word confidence. He’s made no secrets over the years that he doesn’t believe in it.
My purpose here is not to try and convert him into a believer. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I certainly respect Murray’s.
With that being said you could see Pietrangelo’s confidence grow by the shift in the Blues lost to Dallas last Saturday.
If we learned anything last Saturday, it’s why so many scouts raved about Pietrangelo prior to him being selected fourth overall in 2008. You could see the natural feel for the game he brings to the ice and how he makes the game look so easy.
One thing he improves is the Blues transition game. It’s hard to score 5 on 5 when you’re cycling the puck. Most goals scored 5 on 5 are scored in transition, that’s how you score in this league.
It’s up to him to build on his performance and prove he deserves to be a regular in the lineup moving forward.
It looks like that opportunity could be knocking at the door. He’ll play his second in a row for the first time this season Wednesday in Carolina.
It’s not easy getting a read on a player when you see him play once every two weeks.
In a recent conversation I had with John Davidson he stressed the importance of not just throwing him in there as opposed to putting him in position to do well.
In layman’s terms that means playing him with a partner who has some NHL games under his belt. The last few days Pietrangelo has worked in practice with Eric Brewer.
There’s a reason why Barret Jackman was paired with Al MacInnis when Jackman was a rookie and why Erik Johnson played with Jay McKee his rookie season and Darryl Sydor this year.
The main reason the Blues signed Sydor in the first place was to add some veteran presence to a pretty inexperienced group of “D”. Having Sydor gives the Blues some nice insurance especially when both Brewer and Barret Jackman are injured.
I actually thought Carlo Colaiacovo and Pietrangelo worked very well together prior to Colaiacovo leaving the game early with an injury. Colaiacovo has done a nice job of taking Pietrangelo under his wing both on and off the ice.
The coaching staff deserve some credit with how they’ve handled him in practice but it’s time to see what he can do in games. There’s no substitute for what he’ll face in live game action. You can do individual battle drills and participate in some up-tempo skates but for the most part players need games. I don’t think Pietrangelo worries about Cam Janssen running him through the boards in practice.
If the Blues staff commits to playing him on a regular basis then they’re going to have to live with the mistakes and live with the bad game. For good reason, Rangers D-man Michael Del Zotto, is receiving rave reviews around the league. You think he doesn’t make mistakes? I see veterans make mistakes all the time as well.
It’s a tough dilemma for a Head Coach who gets evaluated by how many games they win. They don’t have 3 years to develop players, they want to play the players that give them the best chance to win now even if some players don’t project in the organization’s plans moving forward.
You really can’t give a fair evaluation without seeing this kid play a good 5-10 games in a row. That’s when you can realistically make a decision. If he’s not ready then you send him back.
A decision on what to do with Pietrangelo could come sooner than later.
Both Jackman and Captain Eric Brewer are expected to return to the lineup soon.
The more Pietrangelo impresses the more interesting the upcoming decisions become. Even with the return of Tyson Strachan to Peoria, the Blues will still be left with 8 D-men. It might make sense for the Blues to hang on to eight as long as they can. How much time will Brewer need to knock the rust off? Why wouldn’t Brewer play a few games in the AHL before returning and gradually allow his game to adjust back to the pace of the NHL. I don’t know why he wouldn’t to be honest. We see All-Star baseball players do it all the time. (That’s the last time I make a baseball reference in a hockey story)
Will the Blues be forced to move a defenseman to create the necessary roster space? Not sure what kind of return the Blues could expect but it is possible that a player like Mike Weaver eventually becomes expendable. A lot of these decisions will obviously be based on health but also what the club elects to do with Pietrangelo.
From the beginning I've said if the Blues are going to keep him around then they need to play him.
If Pietrangelo shows improvement and ultimately that he can play in the NHL then it’s a no-brainer to keep him. The Blues drafted him fourth overall for a reason. If the club has visions of being a Cup contender a few years down the line then they need the fourth overall pick to be ready to contribute once they get there. This is all about the Blues continuing to move forward.
Rink Rats!
Let’s hope Canucks forward Ryan Johnson will be ok after leaving the ice Tuesday night on a stretcher. One of the true good people in the game.
Anyone else surprised Flyers Captain Mike Richards wasn’t suspended for his hit on David Booth?
I’m told Colorado Darcy Tucker appreciated the phone call he received from Carolina forward Tuomo Ruutu after receiving 40 stitches and a concussion thanks to a Ruutu check. Tucker is not suffering any headaches, nausea, or sickness as a result of the concussion.
Blues Clues!
I will give Stars forward Krys Barch credit. He has you know what! The guy will go with anyone. D.J. once fought Barch three times in one game in the AHL. King fed him each time and Barch wouldn’t give up, the two ended up dropping the gloves for the fourth time the next night.
The Blues had their Halloween party this past weekend. Colaiacovo’s Teen Wolf costume apparently was pretty good. Darryl Sydor who dressed as the Joker and Paul Kariya who went as Mr. Freeze also received good reviews.
Speaking of Kariya, I understand he missed most of last season, but unless he decides he’s willing to play in the interior it could be a frustrating season for Blues fans. The Blues are paying Kariya $6million, he needs to pay the price!
Goaltender Chris mason is having a new mask made to resemble the same one he wore last season.
Congrats to Barret AND Jen Jackman on the birth of their first child Cayden James Jackman!
T.J Oshie left the hospital Tuesday after having his appendix removed.
John Davidson will be away for a few days in early November to attend his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I couldn’t be more impressed with the grit and effort B.J. Crombeen brings to the table nearly every night. When will that begin to rub off on David Backes?
The bottom line is the Blues need the Andy McDonald’s, Brad Boyes, Paul Kariya’s, and David Backes’s to pick up their game. They’re working but seeing limited results.
Peoria forward Derek Armstrong is back on the ice after a bout with the Swine Flu.
Do fans now understand why the Blues elected to hang on to both King and Cam Janssen?
Speaking of Janssen, I asked him about his recent self control including when he was run from behind vs. Minnesota and didn't retaliate. He repsonded by saying " They can hit me all they want, it's when they hit my teammates when we'll have problems".
More to come,
Andy Strickland
Strickland.andy@gmail.com
My purpose here is not to try and convert him into a believer. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I certainly respect Murray’s.
With that being said you could see Pietrangelo’s confidence grow by the shift in the Blues lost to Dallas last Saturday.
If we learned anything last Saturday, it’s why so many scouts raved about Pietrangelo prior to him being selected fourth overall in 2008. You could see the natural feel for the game he brings to the ice and how he makes the game look so easy.
One thing he improves is the Blues transition game. It’s hard to score 5 on 5 when you’re cycling the puck. Most goals scored 5 on 5 are scored in transition, that’s how you score in this league.
It’s up to him to build on his performance and prove he deserves to be a regular in the lineup moving forward.
It looks like that opportunity could be knocking at the door. He’ll play his second in a row for the first time this season Wednesday in Carolina.
It’s not easy getting a read on a player when you see him play once every two weeks.
In a recent conversation I had with John Davidson he stressed the importance of not just throwing him in there as opposed to putting him in position to do well.
In layman’s terms that means playing him with a partner who has some NHL games under his belt. The last few days Pietrangelo has worked in practice with Eric Brewer.
There’s a reason why Barret Jackman was paired with Al MacInnis when Jackman was a rookie and why Erik Johnson played with Jay McKee his rookie season and Darryl Sydor this year.
The main reason the Blues signed Sydor in the first place was to add some veteran presence to a pretty inexperienced group of “D”. Having Sydor gives the Blues some nice insurance especially when both Brewer and Barret Jackman are injured.
I actually thought Carlo Colaiacovo and Pietrangelo worked very well together prior to Colaiacovo leaving the game early with an injury. Colaiacovo has done a nice job of taking Pietrangelo under his wing both on and off the ice.
The coaching staff deserve some credit with how they’ve handled him in practice but it’s time to see what he can do in games. There’s no substitute for what he’ll face in live game action. You can do individual battle drills and participate in some up-tempo skates but for the most part players need games. I don’t think Pietrangelo worries about Cam Janssen running him through the boards in practice.
If the Blues staff commits to playing him on a regular basis then they’re going to have to live with the mistakes and live with the bad game. For good reason, Rangers D-man Michael Del Zotto, is receiving rave reviews around the league. You think he doesn’t make mistakes? I see veterans make mistakes all the time as well.
It’s a tough dilemma for a Head Coach who gets evaluated by how many games they win. They don’t have 3 years to develop players, they want to play the players that give them the best chance to win now even if some players don’t project in the organization’s plans moving forward.
You really can’t give a fair evaluation without seeing this kid play a good 5-10 games in a row. That’s when you can realistically make a decision. If he’s not ready then you send him back.
A decision on what to do with Pietrangelo could come sooner than later.
Both Jackman and Captain Eric Brewer are expected to return to the lineup soon.
The more Pietrangelo impresses the more interesting the upcoming decisions become. Even with the return of Tyson Strachan to Peoria, the Blues will still be left with 8 D-men. It might make sense for the Blues to hang on to eight as long as they can. How much time will Brewer need to knock the rust off? Why wouldn’t Brewer play a few games in the AHL before returning and gradually allow his game to adjust back to the pace of the NHL. I don’t know why he wouldn’t to be honest. We see All-Star baseball players do it all the time. (That’s the last time I make a baseball reference in a hockey story)
Will the Blues be forced to move a defenseman to create the necessary roster space? Not sure what kind of return the Blues could expect but it is possible that a player like Mike Weaver eventually becomes expendable. A lot of these decisions will obviously be based on health but also what the club elects to do with Pietrangelo.
From the beginning I've said if the Blues are going to keep him around then they need to play him.
If Pietrangelo shows improvement and ultimately that he can play in the NHL then it’s a no-brainer to keep him. The Blues drafted him fourth overall for a reason. If the club has visions of being a Cup contender a few years down the line then they need the fourth overall pick to be ready to contribute once they get there. This is all about the Blues continuing to move forward.
Rink Rats!
Let’s hope Canucks forward Ryan Johnson will be ok after leaving the ice Tuesday night on a stretcher. One of the true good people in the game.
Anyone else surprised Flyers Captain Mike Richards wasn’t suspended for his hit on David Booth?
I’m told Colorado Darcy Tucker appreciated the phone call he received from Carolina forward Tuomo Ruutu after receiving 40 stitches and a concussion thanks to a Ruutu check. Tucker is not suffering any headaches, nausea, or sickness as a result of the concussion.
Blues Clues!
I will give Stars forward Krys Barch credit. He has you know what! The guy will go with anyone. D.J. once fought Barch three times in one game in the AHL. King fed him each time and Barch wouldn’t give up, the two ended up dropping the gloves for the fourth time the next night.
The Blues had their Halloween party this past weekend. Colaiacovo’s Teen Wolf costume apparently was pretty good. Darryl Sydor who dressed as the Joker and Paul Kariya who went as Mr. Freeze also received good reviews.
Speaking of Kariya, I understand he missed most of last season, but unless he decides he’s willing to play in the interior it could be a frustrating season for Blues fans. The Blues are paying Kariya $6million, he needs to pay the price!
Goaltender Chris mason is having a new mask made to resemble the same one he wore last season.
Congrats to Barret AND Jen Jackman on the birth of their first child Cayden James Jackman!
T.J Oshie left the hospital Tuesday after having his appendix removed.
John Davidson will be away for a few days in early November to attend his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I couldn’t be more impressed with the grit and effort B.J. Crombeen brings to the table nearly every night. When will that begin to rub off on David Backes?
The bottom line is the Blues need the Andy McDonald’s, Brad Boyes, Paul Kariya’s, and David Backes’s to pick up their game. They’re working but seeing limited results.
Peoria forward Derek Armstrong is back on the ice after a bout with the Swine Flu.
Do fans now understand why the Blues elected to hang on to both King and Cam Janssen?
Speaking of Janssen, I asked him about his recent self control including when he was run from behind vs. Minnesota and didn't retaliate. He repsonded by saying " They can hit me all they want, it's when they hit my teammates when we'll have problems".
More to come,
Andy Strickland
Strickland.andy@gmail.com
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