Chip McCleary: Don't panic Great advice, even if you're not hitchhiking across the galaxy.

You guys will be fine, you're better off then most teams. Just a slump is all.

I personally don't think a good 'ol panic right now is such a bad idea.

no need to panic ... but i have no problem with the BLUES trading Berglund or Perron or both to bring in other pieces for Hitch both have had plenty of time to develop and i for one don't think they fit in the future of the organization going forward much longer...

I'm not sure what comments you're talking about chip, the few blues fans who still post on this site are pretty knowledgeable. Matter of fact, you want to get down to brass tacks your posts come across a little pompous and long winded. I can't say that I've ever read one in its entirety. Honestly the main reason I come here is to see what guys like blumanguru, callaway, carcus, and fans from around the league have to say.

I don't think anyone wants to blow up the team but it's hard to deny they could use a shake up. They weren't doing much better than this last year before they fired Payne.

Anyway the Blues and the Flyers have been scouting each other, and O'reily can be had for a roster player and a top prospect. If that information was buried somewhere in the blog, I do apologize.

Columbus is going to have a kick a$$ draft, three first rounders and now they have Jarmo picking them.

I'm not sure what comments you're talking about chip, the few blues fans who still post on this site are pretty knowledgeable. Matter of fact, you want to get down to brass tacks your posts come across a little pompous and long winded. I can't say that I've ever read one in its entirety. Honestly the main reason I come here is to see what guys like blumanguru, callaway, carcus, and fans from around the league have to say.

I don't think anyone wants to blow up the team but it's hard to deny they could use a shake up. They weren't doing much better than this last year before they fired Payne.

Anyway the Blues and the Flyers have been scouting each other, and O'reily can be had for a roster player and a top prospect. If that information was buried somewhere in the blog, I do apologize.

Columbus is going to have a kick a$$ draft, three first rounders and now they have Jarmo picking them.
- fattyboubatty

SO it wasn't up to JD about hiring the GM here then?... Or do you think he realized Armstrong was really good, got screwed in Dallas by the Jackson/Hull duet and said to Jarmo unfortunately you'll have to get that shot somewhere else if you want it sooner than later. Since I like JD I am hoping beyond probably reason that the Kings suck continues and the Rangers go tumbling down. Mostly the Rangers. It's the Kings per se I hate just a couple of players disgust me on and off the ice--Carter and Doughty for instance.

I'm not sure what comments you're talking about chip, the few blues fans who still post on this site are pretty knowledgeable. Matter of fact, you want to get down to brass tacks your posts come across a little pompous and long winded. I can't say that I've ever read one in its entirety. Honestly the main reason I come here is to see what guys like blumanguru, callaway, carcus, and fans from around the league have to say.

- fattyboubatty

Thanks bro. I asked him before and he said he has been reading somewhere at another site. If you ever read the Post-Disgrace's fan columns then you will here some of the stupidest stuff ever. FOr casual fans you have to remember the amount of coaches this team has gone through and the fact is after firing the last two coaches, each time the team played better. So if you aren't patient with them or take them seriously you'll probably go crazy.

I think the Blues will be fine just have some fine tuning to do.

As far as being a GM if anyone wants to try a sim look for some online hockey leagues that run FHLSIM as the sim

not the real thing but if you get the right league it can be pretty close

SO it wasn't up to JD about hiring the GM here then?... Or do you think he realized Armstrong was really good, got screwed in Dallas by the Jackson/Hull duet and said to Jarmo unfortunately you'll have to get that shot somewhere else if you want it sooner than later.
- BluemanGuruu

The short, short version is that Pleau wanted to step down, one guy had experience as a GM in the NHL and the other didn't.

The much longer version omits some really key details (several of which I am not at liberty to discuss), but let's just say that there were two candidates for GM and only room for one of them.

I'm not sure what comments you're talking about chip, the few blues fans who still post on this site are pretty knowledgeable. Matter of fact, you want to get down to brass tacks your posts come across a little pompous and long winded. I can't say that I've ever read one in its entirety. Honestly the main reason I come here is to see what guys like blumanguru, callaway, carcus, and fans from around the league have to say.

I don't think anyone wants to blow up the team but it's hard to deny they could use a shake up. They weren't doing much better than this last year before they fired Payne.
- fattyboubatty

Well said and I concur. Nobody here is running around like chicken little. Maybe on other sites......

There are obvious and alarming concerns that are interesting to discuss.

Bernie M does the same thing if you ever listen to his radio show. He'll rail for 45 minutes on a handful of lunatic fringe posters or callers as if the whole world is crumbling and he's the lone voice of reason in the wilderness.

Thanks for keeping us from all holding hands and jumping off a cliff, Chip. What would we do without you?

On a more serious note, Chip - I wish I shared your enthusiasm about Berglund's potential to be a #1 Centerman. I don't see it.

Bernie M does the same thing if you ever listen to his radio show. He'll rail for 45 minutes on a handful of lunatic fringe posters or callers as if the whole world is crumbling and he's the lone voice of reason in the wilderness.
- bcallaway

I've done it before over at the Asylum, but this is the only time I'll address him here.

Any time Bernie Miklasz writes or says anything about hockey, ignore it. I'm not sure I'd even use it as toilet paper. Despite his repeated insistance to the contrary, the guy has always been a bandwagon follower of the Blues - and more often than not, he's been more than willing to shovel dirt on the team. He loves to play to the lunatic fringe with some long-winded rant, then act as if he's the voice of sanity and it's everyone else that's nuts. He's consistently clueless about hockey (despite his insistence he loves the sport and used to cover it) and loves to troll on Blues fans when given the chance. If he were female, he'd be Kara Yorio II.

I don't give a rat's ass about anything Miklasz has to say. Haven't for years, still won't going forward. I won't read his articles, won't listen to his shows, ... and the sooner he goes away, the sooner people will realize he's the guy who everyone thought was smart once upon a time, but made a living for years off a reputation that was wildly incorrect. Kind of like when John Hadley became irrelevant and no one missed him, when Miklasz finally makes himself irrelevant everyone will realize they really don't miss him.

On a more serious note, Chip - I wish I shared your enthusiasm about Berglund's potential to be a #1 Centerman. I don't see it.
- bcallaway

I think he has the potential to be a #1 guy. Whether or not he ever hits it is an open question - and I totally get why people think he won't ever do it.

When he's on his game, you can see him just dominate the ice. The playoffs last year, games early this year, ... that's the kind of play he needs to have to be a #1 center for us. The last few games where he's been not noticeable to completely invisible, ... that's when I think, "damn it, he's never going to get there." It's why I think the only way he ever becomes a #1 center is to throw him in the spot and tell him, "sink or swim - because you're playing this either way, it's up to you whether you want it to succeed or not." If he gets confidence and takes his game up to the level it needs to be, we're set. If not, ... well, I almost say look for someone else who thinks they can unlock that potential.

I'm not ready to give up on him yet, but I think time is ticking. If by the end of next season he hasn't put the pieces into place, I don't think it will ever happen.

I've done it before over at the Asylum, but this is the only time I'll address him here.

Any time Bernie Miklasz writes or says anything about hockey, ignore it. I'm not sure I'd even use it as toilet paper. Despite his repeated insistance to the contrary, the guy has always been a bandwagon follower of the Blues - and more often than not, he's been more than willing to shovel dirt on the team. He loves to play to the lunatic fringe with some long-winded rant, then act as if he's the voice of sanity and it's everyone else that's nuts. He's consistently clueless about hockey (despite his insistence he loves the sport and used to cover it) and loves to troll on Blues fans when given the chance. If he were female, he'd be Kara Yorio II.

I don't give a rat's ass about anything Miklasz has to say. Haven't for years, still won't going forward. I won't read his articles, won't listen to his shows, ... and the sooner he goes away, the sooner people will realize he's the guy who everyone thought was smart once upon a time, but made a living for years off a reputation that was wildly incorrect. Kind of like when John Hadley became irrelevant and no one missed him, when Miklasz finally makes himself irrelevant everyone will realize they really don't miss him.
- Chip McCleary

Feel strongly about this, do you?

I was really talking about Bernie in general, not in relation to hockey alone.

I'm fairly ambivalent about Bernie. As a columnist, it's his job to write opinion. To his credit, he usually will put up numbers that support his views. I'll read and listen to him because he will look at things a certain way sometimes that gets me to thinking. And that's what he's supposed to do.

For me a (former) columnist like Burwell was never worth reading because he never made you think. He never had an original thought.

I don't discount Bernie's hockey knowledge as much as you and others I've seen do. He's a football guy first and baseball second and I realize that going in. But his hockey insight decent.

I find it slightly humorous your rant on BM, as it is in response to my pointing out the similiarities of style the two of you share.

Perhaps you'll evolve and refine your style and stay away from the easy and obvious blogs - like when a team is going bad and writing a blog to tell people not to panic. That's fairly cookie-cutter in substance and style.

I hope so, i enjoy coming here.

The short, short version is that Pleau wanted to step down, one guy had experience as a GM in the NHL and the other didn't.

The much longer version omits some really key details (several of which I am not at liberty to discuss), but let's just say that there were two candidates for GM and only room for one of them.
- Chip McCleary

Not at liberty to discuss

I know what happened. FOr one thing Pleau wasa terrible GM and only held onto the job because people felt sorry for him and thought it would be bad to fire him when his wife had cancer.

They brought in Armstrong because he was available and he was slated to go. Jarmo didn't have experience being the king but he had a ton of experience being the prince. I often think some of his drafting is over rated but then I see things like Oshie where no one had him in the first round at all. So he was obviously able to evaluate talent well even before it played in the NHL and communicate with scouts well.

I find it slightly humorous your rant on BM, as it is in response to my pointing out the similiarities of style the two of you share.

Perhaps you'll evolve and refine your style and stay away from the easy and obvious blogs - like when a team is going bad and writing a blog to tell people not to panic. That's fairly cookie-cutter in substance and style.
- bcallaway

Similar? Meh, I've only been writing here for 28 days, and it's fit in around my real-world job. World-class novels don't get written overnight, but this will get better as time goes on.

Key differences: I'm OK with dissent (as long as it's grounded in some facts - don't bring hysterical, opinion-filled, baseless rants in and expect to be taken seriously), and I certainly won't go trash the team with "gosh, the Blues are suffering from the curse of Scotty Bowman" type articles when things go bad.

I think he has the potential to be a #1 guy. Whether or not he ever hits it is an open question - and I totally get why people think he won't ever do it.

When he's on his game, you can see him just dominate the ice. The playoffs last year, games early this year, ... that's the kind of play he needs to have to be a #1 center for us. The last few games where he's been not noticeable to completely invisible, ... that's when I think, "damn it, he's never going to get there." It's why I think the only way he ever becomes a #1 center is to throw him in the spot and tell him, "sink or swim - because you're playing this either way, it's up to you whether you want it to succeed or not." If he gets confidence and takes his game up to the level it needs to be, we're set. If not, ... well, I almost say look for someone else who thinks they can unlock that potential.

I'm not ready to give up on him yet, but I think time is ticking. If by the end of next season he hasn't put the pieces into place, I don't think it will ever happen.
- Chip McCleary

They did give him the sink or swim thing a number of times.

I love Berglund's game. Why he won't be a number one though is he doesn't use the ice as well as you would like to see out of a centerman. He's great driving from the boards to the net, going to the net, small give and gos and back to the D.

What I don't like is that he he isn't a true creator of space and time. He does it with force which is great but it's not what most number one centers rely upon. They use a mixture of ingredients and don't overly rely upon one. Berglund relies on that one aspect to create time and space.

Look time and space is what games like hockey are all about. You give anyone in the league(okay just about anyone), time and space and they will destroy most goaltenders. That's why Elliott while plying bad lately isn't the complete fault as there have been some chances by players you just don't want to give away more than once a game if you can help it(those players being great are bound to get a chance at some point).

What has been promising is this year he's kept his head up. In the past he has dropped his head when he curls out meaning he's limiting his options. But I have seen him make the back door pass off of one of these plays. That is a creativity I don't see on a constant basis from him that is the difference from him being a number one center in my opinion. That kind of creativity is going to be hard to teach on video scouting because you don't want to give up an easy tap in and you don't really want him getting a clear shot. Where as if you see a guy like Tarasenko in similar spot he sees the whole ice and he has the hands to make a shot where you don't see one, and a pass in any direction on the tape. I'm not saying Tarasenko is a center but that is I believe you want form a number one center.

The best ones throughout the ages could bring one than one thing and made their linemates better for it. Berglund isn't a one trick pony and does make his linemates better and does well in his own zone. He just lacks over all creativity and vision.

Which is what impresses me so much concerning Tarasenko. They might be dropping two to three players on him in a instant but many times he is making a pass out of it that is the kind only special players can make.

Berglund has shown the ability to improve and it is still tough to see his ceiling because he tantalizes. So far he isn't consistent on that basis which is why I rate him a great third line center and a good second line center with upside. I can't help but wonder what he would like on a wing. Not saying that should happen as it cannot right now but if he were on a different team when he came in it could very well have.

Feel strongly about this, do you?

I was really talking about Bernie in general, not in relation to hockey alone.

I'm fairly ambivalent about Bernie. As a columnist, it's his job to write opinion. To his credit, he usually will put up numbers that support his views. I'll read and listen to him because he will look at things a certain way sometimes that gets me to thinking. And that's what he's supposed to do.

For me a (former) columnist like Burwell was never worth reading because he never made you think. He never had an original thought.

I don't discount Bernie's hockey knowledge as much as you and others I've seen do. He's a football guy first and baseball second and I realize that going in. But his hockey insight decent.

I find it slightly humorous your rant on BM, as it is in response to my pointing out the similiarities of style the two of you share.

Perhaps you'll evolve and refine your style and stay away from the easy and obvious blogs - like when a team is going bad and writing a blog to tell people not to panic. That's fairly cookie-cutter in substance and style.

I hope so, i enjoy coming here.
- bcallaway

Becall play nice bro.

The one thing we always get mad at Andy about is he won't say so and so was terrible without posting an opposing opinion on the guy an article or two later. Oh the days of Eric Brew-tal. He's lighting it up in Tampa but just think on that team what Shatty or Petro would put up points wise... That would be the first 100 point Dman since... was it Coffey or Bourque I forget.

Not at liberty to discuss

I know what happened. FOr one thing Pleau wasa terrible GM and only held onto the job because people felt sorry for him and thought it would be bad to fire him when his wife had cancer.

They brought in Armstrong because he was available and he was slated to go. Jarmo didn't have experience being the king but he had a ton of experience being the prince. I often think some of his drafting is over rated but then I see things like Oshie where no one had him in the first round at all. So he was obviously able to evaluate talent well even before it played in the NHL and communicate with scouts well.
- BluemanGuruu

Pleau wasn't a great GM, but he wasn't nearly as terrible as some have made him out to be. Some of Pleau's problems had to do with the Bill Laurie Reign of Terror; at times, Pleau didn't have nearly the free hand many thought he did - decisions were vetted by Laurie's staff, and Pleau was tasked with carrying the order out whether he thought it was a good idea or not. (The entire Pronger ordeal and not being able to pull the trigger on the Hasek deal are 2 prime examples.) You can blame Pleau for not walking out at some point, and that's a fair criticism - but even if he had walked, Laurie would have just sought out someone else who would serve as a rubber stamp.

On 2010: even then, many thought Kekalainen lacked experience as a GM. He had been GM of HIFK Helsinki from 1995-1998, and had also been assistant GM in Ottawa. It's not like he did strictly amateur scouting for 12+ years and was never in the room when trades and contracts were discussed, but that wasn't enough for some who wanted to see "General Manager in the NHL" on his resume. Saying, "but you've never been GM, we can't make you one now" begs the question of how one gets experience doing something if you never get the chance to do it. The legitimate argument for having Armstrong take over is that he came in with an outside view and could be objective evaluating the franchise - and that's completely acceptable.

When I say shoot if the Blues end up sucking this season it wouldn't be a total loss considering how deep the draft is...that sarcasm combined with hopeful optimism and truly wanting to see the Blues lift the Cup and lord knows this cheap owner might not pony up what it takes and the draft or a generous trade might be the only way then let's let it be what it is.

The Blues are in a spin and that happens. Funny I never got credit for seeing it coming just with frustrated opinions. Actually this team is good enough to win a Cup. But there is room for improvements that would take them over the top.

There are obvious things the team lacks and cannot be questioned except maybe at goaltending but even then you would be speaking in terms or potential.

I don't think playing Allen throws the team down either. He deserves a shot. He's earned it every year working in Peoria. If you question his Peoria stats well that would be unfair as the team has been porous. He's probably not the answer but then again just as we can't say for sure Elliott will get better or that Halak will be a true number one you can't say something might not change in him.

I am glad to see Allen playing tonight. I know that Halak was on the ice earlier today, kind of hoping that Elliott doesn't even dress.

Harsh, maybe. No panic here, just hoping he has zero chance of playing tonight.

As for the rant on Bernie, I find it funny. I have similar feelings to bcallaway. He is not a hockey guy, but I don't mind hearing what he has to say about the Blues when he decides to talk about them. Don't always agree, but I will at least listen and hear his views/stats that he presents to backup what he says.

I don't think playing Allen throws the team down either. He deserves a shot. He's earned it every year working in Peoria. If you question his Peoria stats well that would be unfair as the team has been porous. He's probably not the answer but then again just as we can't say for sure Elliott will get better or that Halak will be a true number one you can't say something might not change in him.
- BluemanGuruu

I disagree on Allen deserving a shot. I have lived here in Peoria for a while so needless to say I go to quite a few games a month. He has showed nothing that even resembles an NHL goalie in any game I've been to. He lets in a ton of softies, he is very bad with any sort of traffic in front of him, and is surprisingly slow going side to side. I sincerely don't think Allen will ever get a chance from the organization to even be the backup goalie without someone going down. I really miss watching Bishop...

I think the Blues will be fine. They're just going through a rough patch right now. It will pass. Every team goes through it. They're a talented young team. Their overall team defense was downright scary last year. I figured they had the best chance to win the Central this year, especially if they play physical against teams like the Hawks.

Looking forward to watching the Blues & Wings tonight. Franzen is out with a hip-flexor injury (listed as day-to-day). Patrick Eaves will replace him in the lineup. Should be a good game. Maybe tonight they break out of their current funk. The Wings really need to start showcasing their young talent out of Grand Rapids... they need to recall Nyquist and sit a few of their old bottom six (useless) forwards

- Former Blues defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo is out tonight with a shoulder injury. He skated briefly this morning and afterwards was seen catching up with his ex-Blues teammates. Hitchcock had an epic line when he walked past the oft-injured Colaiacovo: "Do you play in games, or are you a practice player?" Hitchcock said.

http://www.stltoday.com/s...bb-91e6-23f4804cc8a1.html



Didn't expect that to come from the coach.