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A New Blues Scout? (+Backes/Oshie/Shattenkirk US Olympic Thoughts)

August 28, 2013, 11:54 AM ET [9 Comments]
Jeff Quirin
St Louis Blues Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
For St. Louis Blues updates and thoughts follow me on Twitter @HockeybuzzBlues

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Just ran across this tweet from @Jhiitelä

SM-liigasta tuttu Jan Vopat on Ville Sirenin seuraaja St. Louisin Euroopan pääkykyjenetsijänä. Uusi Suomen scout on Timo Koskela. #änäri


What does that mean? Well, its Finnish... and I ran it through Google Translator.

Long story short Juha says Timo Koskela is a new Blues scout in Europe. Ville Siren left the organization in July to take a job with Columbus. He was the Head of European Scouting at the time. Jan Vopat, then a European scout, got a promotion to Siren's old post. I guess this means Koskela takes over for Vopat.

I haven't seen anything official come from the Blues and isn't listed on their site, yet. Just passing along the info for now.

Koskela apparently is a Finnish player with the GCK Lions in Switzerland (according to Wikipedia at least...).


Original Post

As discussed yesterday St. Louis Blues captain David Backes is a lock to represent the US in Sochi even if his role is not wholly determined.

Some clarity was has been provided with the announcement of the Leadership Group. Joining Backes are fellow forwards Zach Parise, Ryan Callahan, Dustin Brown, and defenseman Ryan Suter.

The group is representative of the type of team David Polie is trying to build. As he told NHL.com:

"They're top players. They’re guys you want on your team. They're hard to play against, especially guys like Backes, Brown and Callahan. That's no walk in the park. Parise and Suter are among the best at their positions in the National Hockey League. You add that they're good people, have good leadership characteristics, and we're glad we've identified them this early in the program."


My translation with some reading between the lines…

The US squad is not going to “out skill” the likes of Canada, Sweden, and Russia. To beat them they’ll need to bring a good ole fashioned blue collar mentality and team work. Parise and Suter represent the top of the crop at their position, but bring a do it all and do it well mantra to the table. With Backes, Brown, and Callahan Poile adds known leaders (all captains on successful teams) that lead by example. Afraid to get in the trenches with their teammates they are not. Putting them ahead of more skilled, but more individualistic counterparts (think Kessel, Kesler, Kane, Jack Johnson), the hope is that the style of play needed to win at the Olympic level trickles down.

No matter which line Backes ends up on, he will be expected to contribute and based on his words will be ready to do so.

"Just being on a second Olympic team, those words coming out of my mouth give me chills. A first Olympic team, I was flabbergasted to be on it. Talking about being on a second Olympic team blows my mind, and then to talk about putting a letter on your jersey, it is so humbling and proud, but there is also responsibility that comes with that. It's not just, 'Hey here’s a letter for your jersey. Good luck out there.' There's added responsibility to try and lead the guys and keep them on the right path.

"It would be nice to hopefully be the first one with a gold medal around your neck, but like I've said before, whether you've got a letter on your jersey or you're up in the stands with pom-poms in your hands, it is all for the red, white and blue."


Besides Captain America (as Backes has been labeled by Poile and head coach Dan Bylsma), who else from the Blues may make the final roster?

Usual linemate TJ Oshie and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk both attended the orientation camp that just wrapped up in Virginia. Out of those two one has a better chance than the other.

There are a lot of bodies between Oshie and the imaginary line that must be crossed to get off the lineup bubble. With the skill line winger spots already filled by Parise, Kessel, Kane, Bobby Ryan, the Warroad native will be battling for a depth/energy/checking role. A quick search of Youtube for highlights of big hits will show he has the ability to do just that. Fancy stats show he can slow down top performers.

But… there is always a but… can he do it better than Pavelski, Pacioretty, or Okposo? If there are injuries to top forwards can he surpass those just listed and the likes of Stastny or Stepan. Much work will need to be done to separate himself from the pack. Obvious chemistry with Backes will help, but that can only count for so much. In the end how strong he plays overall will determine his chances.

Though it seems as if Shattenkirk has just as difficult a task to prove himself apart from many other similar players, he has a leg up. He’s a right handed shot from the point. There are only five total righties with a significant amount of NHL experience. Two of which, Erik Johnson and Dustin Byfuglien, are not known for their mobility and the lack of could be a major hindrance on the expanded surface. Probably not enough to keep them off the team or out of consideration, but enough to put the deft puck mover from New Rochelle, New York ahead of them.

John Carlson probably presents the biggest threat to Shattenkirk’s inclusion. He is just as mobile, but is arguably stronger in his own end. Not to mention his WJC heroics.

With all that said I think Shattenkirk makes the final cut, but Oshie does not.

Quick Hits
- For those who may have missed it, Alex Pietrangelo remains unsigned and all remains quiet. However, Pietrangelo did speak with NHL.com at Team Canada’s orientation camp.

“I’ve just kind of been moving forward as if I’m going to start the season like a regular year. I’ve been working hard all summer, trying to put it behind me here for this week and trying to enjoy this process and, you know, hopefully something gets done here in the short term.”


Sounds like there isn’t much to dwell on at this point. Much like the protracted saga of selling the team, worry about it once they get to it.

- Any interest in a detailed review of NHL 14 once it releases?

Thanks for reading!
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