Huge win. Huge win in regulation. Tremendous defensive performance and a great game by Elliot.
I never thought I'd see him return to this form this season. Good on him. - bcallaway
Didn't expect that from him. Although, I don't want to get my hopes up and expect him to do this regularly, for him to only return to being absolutely worthless. Not yet at least.
What about bringing in Jori Lehtera in? He's put up damn good numbers, and as i've mentioned before, it would be sick having him play with Jaskin and Tarasenko next year. Then maybe you still trade Stewart, but I think re-signing him might be better. - jpl0219
Yeah that's where I'm at right now. Once we see how everybody plays in the playoffs, we'll have a better idea of who should stay and who goes.
Dam afternoon games. Should have set the DVR yesterday.
What about bringing in Jori Lehtera in? He's put up damn good numbers, and as i've mentioned before, it would be sick having him play with Jaskin and Tarasenko next year. Then maybe you still trade Stewart, but I think re-signing him might be better. - jpl0219
The problem is that we're seeing it with Tarasenko right now. There's a growing curve to understanding the compete level necessary for the NHL. As good as Vladdy is, teams create a book on him almost immediately and know how to play him. That leads to sub par efforts from him on the defensive side of the puck. Look no further than today's game. There were multiple times in the game where he just gave up in the corners.
I'm the biggest Tarasenko fan out there. Right now he looks like a shell of the beast that he was in the world juniors.
To be expected.
Adding Jaskin is enough. We saw it with Schwartz last year. It takes time to adjust to the NHL game.
I am glad he is playing well. He wasn't able to perform last time that Halak was hurt, this time he is playing well.
I don't think that it is a coincidence that the team is playing so much better with the additions of Leopold & JBo.
Keep it up boys! - carcus
This, this 1000x this.
I sure as heck didn't see this resurgence coming, but I hope it is here to say. The D went from a vulnerable line or three, depending on the given night, to the team's biggest strength in just a few days. So happy.
Location: trustinjarmo knows nothing, MO Joined: 06.28.2007
Apr 8 @ 9:32 PM ET
The problem is that we're seeing it with Tarasenko right now. There's a growing curve to understanding the compete level necessary for the NHL. As good as Vladdy is, teams create a book on him almost immediately and know how to play him. That leads to sub par efforts from him on the defensive side of the puck. Look no further than today's game. There were multiple times in the game where he just gave up in the corners.
I'm the biggest Tarasenko fan out there. Right now he looks like a shell of the beast that he was in the world juniors.
To be expected.
Adding Jaskin is enough. We saw it with Schwartz last year. It takes time to adjust to the NHL game. - eggsegan
But with Jaskin he is used to playing a ton of games now, played against men before this season, is bigger and most importantly has played numerous games this season on a North American ice surface.
Tarasenko is doing fine. He's playing too defensively and now that the speed of the game caught up to him he's not yet adjusting to that split second of time with the puck being taken away. Also teams key in on him and do not want him getting ice, time or that shot off. He needs to go into his bag of tricks and learn a couple of other ones to keep the Dmen honest and not so easy for them to rely on tape. He'll be fine.
Location: trustinjarmo knows nothing, MO Joined: 06.28.2007
Apr 8 @ 9:36 PM ET
This, this 1000x this.
I sure as heck didn't see this resurgence coming, but I hope it is here to say. The D went from a vulnerable line or three, depending on the given night, to the team's biggest strength in just a few days. So happy. - BerglundsGrundle
There's no coincidence this is coming when many of the chances are not that great and the good ones the commentators were speaking of for the Red Wings were coming ten feet plus away from the net and not in the open lane on the back door. It makes it so much easier on the net minder. Elliott was much much better but he's a back up. Seen it coming but I'm not going to be fooled by it again and over value the guy.
Same goes for Berglund and Stewart. Stewart did some things and has improved in some ways but he's so far worthless in his own end.
Location: trustinjarmo knows nothing, MO Joined: 06.28.2007
Apr 8 @ 9:42 PM ET
(In my best E.T., "EL-EE-OTTT...") Nice save at the end on Datsyuk.
btw - WTF happened to Nashville this year?! Was Suter really that important?! Is Trotz getting old in the locker room? - eggsegan
It has happened in cycles with them. When they have over turn on their roster development takes a toll on them. Still a very good and dangerous team just not solidified this year.
Weber with the weight of an immense contract that also said to Nashville I don't want to play there. Not the best in a dressing room.
Suter is better than period. Weber had a great season once and since then is slower and missing the net a ton. If half the calls were made against him that should be no one would talk about the guy so much.
Weber is very good all the same.
But when you subtract that from the equation it hurts them. This does seem to be their cycle. A couple of good seasons, miss the play offs and repeat. Trade away prospects and picks one year and go for it, lose players to used to be money but this time it is their first non returned free agent loss in long while. But it hurt them.
They'll be back next year. Trotz maybe reaching that point but it would be hard to believe. He's a positive guy most of the time so his message usually works.
But with Jaskin he is used to playing a ton of games now, played against men before this season, is bigger and most importantly has played numerous games this season on a North American ice surface.
Tarasenko is doing fine. He's playing too defensively and now that the speed of the game caught up to him he's not yet adjusting to that split second of time with the puck being taken away. Also teams key in on him and do not want him getting ice, time or that shot off. He needs to go into his bag of tricks and learn a couple of other ones to keep the Dmen honest and not so easy for them to rely on tape. He'll be fine. - BluemanGuruu
His comment was towards what i said about bringing in Jori Lehtera. While i may agree with him that there is a learning curve, Lehtera is a Center, and will only cost us an ELC if we bring him in, and he is a Center, which is a need. He's been nearly a PPG guy in the KHL and Finnish Elite League. Also has been a +48 in his past 4 seasons, which tells me that he's good defensively too.
So do we think Jaskin is in the lineup tonight? Figure Andy may still be out?
Put him out there with Vladdy and Sobotka. - Gerk
AMac is supposed to be playing tonight, and Jaskin is not playing unless it is an emergancy. Hitchcock has stated that he wants him to get a chance to skate a couple times with the team before just throwing him out there. I guess the best chance for him to play tonight or the next game would be for someone to warmup but not be able to go, such as AMac.
Jaskin will wear # 26. Am guessing he will warm up with the team tonight just in case, and then sit and watch.
Location: trustinjarmo knows nothing, MO Joined: 06.28.2007
Apr 9 @ 2:05 PM ET
His comment was towards what i said about bringing in Jori Lehtera. While i may agree with him that there is a learning curve, Lehtera is a Center, and will only cost us an ELC if we bring him in, and he is a Center, which is a need. He's been nearly a PPG guy in the KHL and Finnish Elite League. Also has been a +48 in his past 4 seasons, which tells me that he's good defensively too. - jpl0219
I understood that but the comparison is valid as well.
Not to say it isn't possible but I don't see the Blues adding him as a center. In the past he was described as a winger. In fact I have never seen him listed as a center. He's a good, young and exciting player to be sure. He was in Peoria for a short spell and didn't do much there but wasn't there for all that long. But the Blues will not have more than two small centermen in their lineup. Highly unlikely. Not impossible. Schwartz looks like he might being getting moved to center next season.
Maybe the kid will be traded this year? Maybe they will move someone like Stewart? Something is changing. Oshie hurt again and they wouldn't sign him long term because of his injury history until he played most of the season last year. A lot of contracts coming up and something has got to give.
I understood that but the comparison is valid as well.
Not to say it isn't possible but I don't see the Blues adding him as a center. In the past he was described as a winger. In fact I have never seen him listed as a center. He's a good, young and exciting player to be sure. He was in Peoria for a short spell and didn't do much there but wasn't there for all that long. But the Blues will not have more than two small centermen in their lineup. Highly unlikely. Not impossible. Schwartz looks like he might being getting moved to center next season.
Maybe the kid will be traded this year? Maybe they will move someone like Stewart? Something is changing. Oshie hurt again and they wouldn't sign him long term because of his injury history until he played most of the season last year. A lot of contracts coming up and something has got to give.
The wi - BluemanGuruu
It's important to note that when I said that Tarasenko is a shell of himself at world juniors, I'm specifically talking about how he dominated. We saw some level of offensive domination early in the season.
All I'm saying is having three guys come in who have never played significant North American hockey is not going to improve our chances to win the Stanley Cup and has the potential to disrupt any chemistry/ take away playing time from players who are going to provide the Blues a better opportunity to go deep in the playoffs. While I respect European players for playing Canadian Junior hockey, I don't think that game necessarily translates to success at the NHL level. Remember Brett Sonne's last year in the WHL? 100 points in 64 games? How's that worked out for his NHL chances?
Unless Jaskin can think the game faster than half the NHL when he's never touched the ice against NHL players in an NHL game, I don't think he's a huge difference maker, except to provide an additional skill body to give players a respite in the long run.
It's important to note that when I said that Tarasenko is a shell of himself at world juniors, I'm specifically talking about how he dominated. We saw some level of offensive domination early in the season.
All I'm saying is having three guys come in who have never played significant North American hockey is not going to improve our chances to win the Stanley Cup and has the potential to disrupt any chemistry/ take away playing time from players who are going to provide the Blues a better opportunity to go deep in the playoffs. While I respect European players for playing Canadian Junior hockey, I don't think that game necessarily translates to success at the NHL level. Remember Brett Sonne's last year in the WHL? 100 points in 64 games? How's that worked out for his NHL chances?
Unless Jaskin can think the game faster than half the NHL when he's never touched the ice against NHL players in an NHL game, I don't think he's a huge difference maker, except to provide an additional skill body to give players a respite in the long run. - eggsegan
Also you have to keep in mind that this a shortened season so even though Schwartz and Tarasenko have a year under their belts, next year will be their first full year in the NHL. Still I think those two players are good enough that you don't really have to worry about them being a liability. Especially Schwartz.
Obviously Jaskin is right on the verge of making the roster and he has the size and style of game that should lend him to being able to contribute right off. Lehtera has said that he wants to come straight to the big club and has no interest in playing minor hockey. On paper, he's put up points at every level and he's listed as a center. The concern, as mentioned, is his very brief stint in the AHL and the fact that the Blues would be extremely young up front if he were to make the roster next year.
I think we could get by ok with them next year. We already know Schwartz, Tarasenko, and most likely Jaskin can hold their own. Lehtera is the wild card but what do you do, make him spend another year away from north american hockey? Trade him for another prospect?
Even this year there's a logjam with Jaskin-
Oshie Backes Perron
Tarasenko Steen Mcdonald
Stewart Berglund and Sobotka, which puts Schwartz on the fourth line.
Then you still have plenty of options on the fourth line with Porter, Cracknell, Reaves, Nicol.
I think we package a couple of forwards plus whatever and go for a home run top line center or a good playmaking number two center. Or at least deal somebody to get back into the top 15 at the draft.
It's important to note that when I said that Tarasenko is a shell of himself at world juniors, I'm specifically talking about how he dominated. We saw some level of offensive domination early in the season.
All I'm saying is having three guys come in who have never played significant North American hockey is not going to improve our chances to win the Stanley Cup and has the potential to disrupt any chemistry/ take away playing time from players who are going to provide the Blues a better opportunity to go deep in the playoffs. While I respect European players for playing Canadian Junior hockey, I don't think that game necessarily translates to success at the NHL level. Remember Brett Sonne's last year in the WHL? 100 points in 64 games? How's that worked out for his NHL chances?
Unless Jaskin can think the game faster than half the NHL when he's never touched the ice against NHL players in an NHL game, I don't think he's a huge difference maker, except to provide an additional skill body to give players a respite in the long run. - eggsegan
To compare anyone to Brett Sonne is laughable. He never had a good season until his overage season and more importantly, he never played against men, only kids. Lehtera has played against Men, same with Jaskin. So developing an NHL Game would probably come quicker to the ones with experience. Sonne had one good year with good linemates..
