There is a very strong chance the St. Louis Blues open up the 2009-2010 seaon in Stockholm, Sweden. The opponent isn't known at this time.
Stay tuned....
Both Carlo Colaiacovo and Alexander Steen passed their physicals this morning and will head back to Toronto to complete the imigration paperwork necessary to obtain a work visa. After 9/11 the process has become more complicated.
I spoke to Lee Stempniak this morning and he is expecting to play tonight in Toronto. He was unable to skate with his new team this morning because Colaiacovo and Steen had yet to pass their physicals.
Stempniak, who is very excited about joining an original six team, is expected to wear #12. He did not know who he'd be playing with.
I find it interesting that Ron Wilson was the only coach or executive who didn't say goodbye to Colaiacovo.
Story from yesterday........
The talks between St. Louis and Toronto began surfacing several weeks ago but began to really heat up over the last few days.
The bottom line here is the Blues are acquiring two players with no confidence. John Davidson and company are hopeful a change of scenery will correct that.
The Blues have been in hot pursuit of an offensive D-man with the ability to immediately upgrade the teams overall skill level from the back end.
The off ice injury to Erik Johnson completely slapped the Blues organization upside the head and left management speechless.
Without Johnson, the Blues have nobody in the organization who can bring what D-man Carlo Colaiacovo brings to the table.
He’s a big body who can skate, he’ll compete, has a great shot, joins the attack, and can quarterback the Blues power play.
He also makes a good first pass which is just as important as the other qualities I already mentioned.
I recently wrote a story few weeks ago giving my two cents on why I thought Colaiacovo made sense for St. Louis. I never suggested the 2002 first round pick of Toronto should be placed in the same category as Lubomir Visnovsky, Tomas Kaberle, or Nicklas Lidstrom when it comes to running the PP but he is certainly better than any player the Blues have.
The biggest challenge for Colaiacovo has always been staying healthy.
He apparently has put the concussion issues behind him and has recovered from a minor knee operation he had right after last season ended.
Last week he took a puck off the top of his foot and suffered a bone bruise as a result. He skated this morning and appears to be fine.
Toronto Head Coach Ron Wilson questioned Coloaiacovo’s conditioning after taking the puck off his foot. It’s mysterious to me how a bone bruise can provide any indication of what type of shape a player is in.
Don Cherry probably had the best response by asking “Does he have a fat foot”!
Coloaiacovo needs to be a smarter physical player. You don’t have to run an opposing player through the wall to make the play. The reckless style of play he’s shown much of his career is in large part responsible for the head injuries he’s endured.
Blues D-man Barret Jackman is a perfect example of a D-man who plays a physical style but has learned you don’t always have to destroy the puck carrier to make the play.
The Blues haven’t had an effective D-man with offensive tools since the lockout. Last season Johnson started hitting his stride and really coming into his own as an all around player the last 20-30 games or so.
When I say offensive, I’m not saying this guy should be expected to produce 20 goals and 60 points.
What he will do is move the puck up ice and show the awareness to understand when to take chances and when to jump into the play.
Every D-man who takes chances makes mistakes, it comes with the territory. It is critical that he be allowed to take those chances.
I spoke to Colaiacovo this afternoon and he is incredibly enthusiastic about joining St. Louis. This could be more about leaving Head Coach Ron Wilson and the Toronto organization.
It’s obvious Colaiacovo was somewhat affected with the recent remarks from Wilson.
He told me that it’s hard to believe Wilson would say that stuff publicly but pointed out he’s eager to open a new chapter in his life.
He’s also excited to be reunited with good friend Brad Boyes who played with Colaiacovo in Erie while in juniors. Together they won a OHL championship and both ended up being first round picks of Toronto.
Somewhat overshadowed in the deal is former first rounder Alexander Steen who will give the Blues depth up the middle. He’s a versatile player who can also play wing and kill penalties.
The Blues will likely give him a third line role with some penalty killing responsibility as well.
One person very close to the Maple Leafs tells me Steen hasn’t been given an offensive role since his rookie year and is capable of giving more offensively.
Word is he failed to see eye to eye with former Head Coach Paul Maurice as well as Wilson.
He should be rather familiar with Blues coach Andy Murray who first met Steen years ago when Murray was coaching with the Winnipeg Jets. Murray’s oldest son Brady played youth hockey with Steen while his father Thomas played in the NHL.
A big problem for Steen this season has been the ability to finish, he gets chances but often misses the net and fails to execute.
When Steen came into the NHL he had top line expectations but has never delivered, he was given a tremendous opportunity right away playing next to Mats Sundin.
One individual called Steen a classic underachiever.
There is no doubt he’s unproven and it’s up to the Blues to get more out of him. The organization feels there is another level for him to get to.
Larry Pleau deserves credit for getting a two for one deal, the Blues wanted two players for Stempniak and got the players they wanted.
Toronto wanted a right handed shot on the PP and are getting a very smart, mature kid who was once considered a building block for the Blues organization.
Stempniak brings lots of versatility to any lineup. He can be a top six player who can play the half wall or the right point on the PP. He can also kill penalties.
The Buffalo native became somewhat expendable with the emergence of rookie T.J. Oshie who remains out with a high ankle sprain. The plan is for this trade to allow Oshie to see more minutes in both 5-on-5 and PP situations.
This move was made with a long-term approach.
When you look towards next season it is easy to wonder if Stempniak would fit on the top two lines with wingers David Perron, Paul Kariya, Brad Boyes, and Oshie likely filling those spots.
Maple Leafs fans should be excited about getting a guy who has underrated strength on the puck and has shown greater explosiveness after dedicating himself this past summer to improving his skating. His quick release and scoring knack makes him a threat every time he crosses the blue line.
He is currently in the second season of a three year deal that averages out at $2.5 million per season although he’s owed $3.5 next season. The Blues appeared frustrated by his lack of offense last year and quietly some question whether or not he can recapture the offense he showed in 2006-2007 when he buried 27 goals and earned a three year $7.5 extension.
Stempniak has recently played his best hockey of the season and has the ability to bust out. I wish this kid the best of luck, he’s earned his way to the NHL after the Blues selected him in the 5th round in 2003. No one outside of Dartmouth University had even heard of him when he skated into the NHL and he has made himself a quality pro.
Blues Clues!
The entire organization is surprised by how long it is taking for Paul Kariya to return to the Blues lineup. He didn’t skate on Monday and has been ruled out for the next two games.
Rookie Patrik Berglund will also miss the next two games with a hip flexor/groin injury.
Andy McDonald is hopeful he will be able to return before the estimated eight week time table. McDonald did tear two ligaments near his ankle but apparently he tore the right ones. There are four ligaments near the ankle and if he had torn the other two he would be looking at pins, screws, surgery and a much longer, intense rehab.
Congrats to former 2nd round pick Simon Hjalmarsson on making Sweden’s World Junior Championship roster.
Al Macinnis took in some Notre Dame hockey this past weekend to catch up with 2007 first rounder Ian Cole who could turn pro after this season.
Cole, Aaron Palushaj, Cade Fairchild, David Warsosky will likely play for team USA in the WJC. Philip McRae should but may have a difficult time cracking the roster.
Alex Pietrangelo and Jake Allen will almost certainly play for Canada.
Pietrangelo by the way has registered 9 points in four games with Niagara in the OHL.
Calgary Hitmen forward Brett Sonne now has 39 points in 27 WHL games.
Blues 2008 draft pick James Livingston was a late addition for the OHL during a recent Canada, Russia challenge game.
Chris Mason will start Tuesday in Nashville for St. Louis.
Colaiacovo and Steen were expected to arrive in St. Louis late on Monday night to take their physicals before heading back to Toronto and finishing up their immigration paperwork. The last I heard late Monday night was they were stuck in Chicago due to engine problems on the plane. The two won’t likely play until Saturday vs. Edmonton.
The Blues will not make a roster move on D until Colaiacovo is ready to play.
Is it fair to question if Dan Hinote could have difficulty getting back in the lineup when he returns from his ankle injury? He’s a great leader and brings lots of experience to the table, but it’s possible the team may elect to stay with the young kids from Peoria when he’s ready to return. Stay tuned to this one.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
[email protected] 
St Louis Blues Blogger •1380 ESPN • 
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