Chip McCleary: 3/20, Blues at Canucks - Recap (aka "if we took out the 2nd period, ...")

Canucks played rope a dope in the third, and it worked. I hate it when AV makes them do that, but it worked this time...can't wait until he's fired!!!

There’s a slowly growing chorus of Blues fans putting together the "trade Perron" bandwagon. It’s not that he’s not skilled (we all know he is), it’s that for all that skill he continues to play selfish hockey at times – and given Ken Hitchcock’s history of busting his top players to play a complete 2-way game, it’s really surprising that Perron continues to play that way and that Hitchcock hasn’t stapled him to a seat in the press box by now. Sure, the Blues could trade him away and it could come back to haunt the team for years to come – but at some point, everyone has to buy into playing the team game. Right now, Perron doesn’t seem that interested in it – and when he’s not, he’s hurting whatever line he’s on the ice with more than he's helping it.
- Chip McCleary

I couldn't agree more. Perron is talanted, but he is definately the first on my list of guys to go to bring back a need for the Blues.

I don't really mind Chris Stewart dropping the gloves because that's always been part of his game. I think you trade off those times in the penalty box for the long-term space he can create for himself on the ice.

Most good power forwards have that as a part of their DNA.

Rough night for the Steen-Backes-Stewart line though. All minus 3. Yuk. Which sort of magnifies a season long issue: David Backes hasn't been very good.

He's always been a battler, contributes defensively and a notoriously slow starter offensively but he's really struggled this season. They simply need more out of him.

Bad habit the Blues always seem to get into: They are at their best when they have a lot of injuries. They seem to take a collective breath and sit back at times when they get their guys back, thinking someone else is here to step up now, I can relax a little.

I can't stand the staged fights off the faceoff... unless it has to do with a play earlier in the game. But for momentum reasons etc...

I couldn't agree more. Perron is talanted, but he is definately the first on my list of guys to go to bring back a need for the Blues.
- carcus

I strongly disagree with both you guys. Perron might not be the best two way player in the game but he has come a long way defensively. Which is why Hitchcock gives him so many minutes and puts him on the PK. Sometimes he doesn't back check hard enough and tries to cherry pick a little but he does a lot of other things well on a regular basis. He makes a good first pass out of the D zone and he's one of the few players on the team with the skill to lift the puck out of the zone safely without taking an icing.

I strongly disagree with both you guys. Perron might not be the best two way player in the game but he has come a long way defensively. Which is why Hitchcock gives him so many minutes and puts him on the PK. Sometimes he doesn't back check hard enough and tries to cherry pick a little but he does a lot of other things well on a regular basis. He makes a good first pass out of the D zone and he's one of the few players on the team with the skill to lift the puck out of the zone safely without taking an icing.
- fattyboubatty

I didn't say anything about him being a two way player or not.

When he wants to, I think he does a good job playing defense. When he wants to, he can do all the things that you mentioned.

My biggest problem with him is, there are way too many times where it looks like or is painfully obvious that he doesn't want to.

He is very skilled, and because of that and the fact that I really believe that others on the team consistantly work harder than him to play a complete game, he would be on the top of the list of guys that I would shop that have value.

I strongly disagree with both you guys. Perron might not be the best two way player in the game but he has come a long way defensively. Which is why Hitchcock gives him so many minutes and puts him on the PK. Sometimes he doesn't back check hard enough and tries to cherry pick a little but he does a lot of other things well on a regular basis. He makes a good first pass out of the D zone and he's one of the few players on the team with the skill to lift the puck out of the zone safely without taking an icing.
- fattyboubatty

While I can see some of their points I also disagree. Actually fact is when he was drafted Perron was known for playing a two way game. Sometimes when he is tired he floats too much for my taste.

If there is one single issue I have with David is that he tries to do too much. Sometimes you need to let the puck do the work. As I have said at other times though I think he's getting that figured out. Last season he was trying to set his teammates up too often and passing on good scoring chances. This year people talk about him holding onto the puck too much. But I have not seen players regularly do what he does with the puck.

That said last night in the first I want to say, Perron came in on a three or four on 2 and he created good space. He made the pass there was a bad shot imo. Right there he had a gap where I would have liked to see him creep into with the puck and take the shot.


This kid has too much and Hitchcock has changed. There have been times where Perron has been guilty of holding onto the puck too long, not letting the puck do the work for him and not properly using his teammates. How many great chances did they have on the power play in the first because of the time and space Perron was able to create?

Chip I saw pretty much the same thing.

Nice way to put it about Allen. I thought all three goals could have went either way, in that they could all have been stopped by great saves but at the same time I can't heap too much blame on Allen. If it happened regularly that he failed to make any of those saves then yes I would have a problem with it.

My reasoning is you need a goaltender that can take over a game and keep you in it when you are not doing your best. Perfect example was Schneider in the first period. Some of it I blame the Blues for not finishing and Petro for not one timing especially the second set up by Tarasenko. The game was pretty close a few posts especially that Berglund shot or a first period goal changes the fabric mightily.

Vancouver is a dirty team. They dive, hack and I can't say I have seen so many slew foots in a game and the on on Porter not being called was a joke and even more so in light that not long after McDOnald was called for hooking where it is a terrible call. That game though is not on the refs.

It mystifies me that the Blues were able to win most of the puck battles in two periods and seemingly none at all in the second. They chased the play and coasted too much.

Sometimes I wonder if they are purposefully losing it is that bad. I could see where in the play off picture I would rather be in sixth at this moment than fourth or fifth. I believe the Blues could destroy the Wild unless one of their goaltenders got hot.

It looks more and more like the Blues will have to face their demon this year and play LA in the play offs barring they don't have another terrible run of games.

As we all knew going into this lame shortened season it was going to crazy and rust would play a part.

I wonder if my picking Columbus over Detroit might not pan out. I still figure the Predators will make a run sooner than later.

I didn't say anything about him being a two way player or not.

When he wants to, I think he does a good job playing defense. When he wants to, he can do all the things that you mentioned.

My biggest problem with him is, there are way too many times where it looks like or is painfully obvious that he doesn't want to.

He is very skilled, and because of that and the fact that I really believe that others on the team consistantly work harder than him to play a complete game, he would be on the top of the list of guys that I would shop that have value.
- carcus

I think you're off on that last statement. Stewart by far is the weakest in that department of any of the blues top forwards. If you assume that any move would be made to bring in a defenceman, you wouldn't want to trade any centers because they are already thin at that position. Oshie, Steen, and Perron for the most part are consistent at both ends of the ice and relied upon both on the power play and the penalty kill. Tarasenko and Schwartz have too much potential at this time to think about trading either of them. So that leaves you with Mcdonald and Stewart. Mcdonald is in decline and as a soon to be UFA, holds little value. That leaves Stewy. I know his offensive production has been amazing this year but don't let that blind you.

I'd rather have a rock solid defense top to bottom and a nice group of skilled two way forwards than a shaky defense and a guy who puts up points but is not a complete player. look at the stats from last night,

Perron, over 20 minutes of ice including pp and sh, one assist, plus 1
Stewart, 17 minutes of ice, no PK time, minus 3, one giveaway.

I think you're off on that last statement. Stewart by far is the weakest in that department of any of the blues top forwards. If you assume that any move would be made to bring in a defenceman, you wouldn't want to trade any centers because they are already thin at that position. Oshie, Steen, and Perron for the most part are consistent at both ends of the ice and relied upon both on the power play and the penalty kill. Tarasenko and Schwartz have too much potential at this time to think about trading either of them. So that leaves you with Mcdonald and Stewart. Mcdonald is in decline and as a soon to be UFA, holds little value. That leaves Stewy. I know his offensive production has been amazing this year but don't let that blind you.

I'd rather have a rock solid defense top to bottom and a nice group of skilled two way forwards than a shaky defense and a guy who puts up points but is not a complete player. look at the stats from last night,

Perron, over 20 minutes of ice including pp and sh, one assist, plus 1
Stewart, 17 minutes of ice, no PK time, minus 3, one giveaway.
- fattyboubatty

If I had to choose between keeping Perron or Stewart, it is a no brainer for me. It is not about stats this year.

I would have said the same thing last year as well.

I think you're off on that last statement. Stewart by far is the weakest in that department of any of the blues top forwards. If you assume that any move would be made to bring in a defenceman, you wouldn't want to trade any centers because they are already thin at that position. Oshie, Steen, and Perron for the most part are consistent at both ends of the ice and relied upon both on the power play and the penalty kill. Tarasenko and Schwartz have too much potential at this time to think about trading either of them. So that leaves you with Mcdonald and Stewart. Mcdonald is in decline and as a soon to be UFA, holds little value. That leaves Stewy. I know his offensive production has been amazing this year but don't let that blind you.

I'd rather have a rock solid defense top to bottom and a nice group of skilled two way forwards than a shaky defense and a guy who puts up points but is not a complete player. look at the stats from last night,

Perron, over 20 minutes of ice including pp and sh, one assist, plus 1
Stewart, 17 minutes of ice, no PK time, minus 3, one giveaway.
- fattyboubatty

What's amazing about that is that not only was Stewart banished from the ice for five minutes but that he received two more minutes of ice time than he averages. My guess three goals down barely any fourth line time in the third and playing with Steen and Backes.

If I had to choose between keeping Perron or Stewart, it is a no brainer for me. It is not about stats this year.

I would have said the same thing last year as well.
- carcus

Then what is it about?

Then what is it about?
- fattyboubatty

Stewart is a power forward, much harder to replace than Perron.

Perron has had a serious head injury.

Perron has a lot of skill, and with his contract it should increase his trade value with the cap coming down next year.

Plus, I have never been a huge Perron fan. He holds onto the puck too much for my liking. Sure, he makes great plays and draws penalties, but he also turns the puck over too much, is lazy getting back at times, etc.

It is not really that close in my eyes. This years production from Stewart just opens the gap up even more.