Chip McCleary: Blues/Jackets, Recap II: Still a big 2 points

BTW, any GDT and recap tomorrow are dependent on how I'm feeling; as long as the room isn't spinning and I don't have that "get me a bucket" feeling, I'll put them up.

I hope you get well soon Chip. It sucks to be sick.

You make a couple of good points. Blues are lacking sharpness and discipline right now. They're getting by with it but won't for long.

Offsides, bad passes, etc. Andy McDonald has lost a step or more.

Shattenkirk on the point last night was brutal.

For whatever reason, Blues have been better this season on the road, hope that continues through this week. They need these points.

Chip McCleary: Blues/Jackets, Recap II: Still a big 2 points
- Chip McCleary

"Allen didn't play anything like this while in Peoria the last 3+ years. Simple question: why not? Is this a short-term thing and we should be worried about "Steve Mason syndrome" at some point in the next year or two, or is it a sign of the general lack of development of Blues prospects in Peoria over the last several years? I'm going to bet the latter, especially since I'm not been impressed with how Blues prospects who spend more than a year in Peoria tend to not develop into even occasional NHL'ers - something that has arguably gone on for about 10 years."

2010-11 Peoria Rivermen AHL 47 2 0 2805 118 4 6 2.52 25 19 3 1306 0.917 3 0 0
2011-12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 38 0 0 2148 105 4 1 2.93 13 20 2 1131 0.915

Notice the first season and the six shutouts. Paying attention to save percentage I like it.

Having seen play in Peoria a couple of times I disagree. He did start out terrible last season in Peoria but recovered and dominated for a long while.

So I think he is in a developmental arc I like a lot. There was a goal by Vans Riemsdyk against Bryzgalov the other day. That was a sweet play but you have to think man that is terrible positioning. But that is how butterfly goaltenders position themselves because the odds are most players not only can't make but don't see the play. And if they attempt it they tend to fail to get it up.

I'm not defending giving up that goal though. But I see how that can happen. What to me gives me hope this isn;t a flash in the pan rests on his demeanor or metal toughness so far and his reflexes. Watching him I don't think this is a fluke. Watching Elliott last season I was thinking fluke for a long while and then sold myself on it not being so. Then as the season wore on and the play offs...well it was not a fluke.


I don't think you''re picking on or whatever. I believe I am a decent evaluator of talent. For one thing I said that between the COlumbus defense and getting Boborovsky they would make the play offs. A lot of people thought Bob sucked. I started wondering about it early in the season myself because it was not the same goaltender I had seen play in the past. And boom.

The big problem when it comes to evaluating talent is character. It is tough to judge these guys from so far away. You try to piece it together passed the PR coached interviews, past the charity that benefits them anyway and passed contract negotiations.

Yeah McDonald looked a lot better but still is not playing physical which means what is his value to this team? Not much. I would rather see Jaskin on the ice.


I have been saying for what three years or more that Cracknell should be on the Blues. I mention this as my resume. I have been wrong. I liked Senja and still thought he got the short end of it. Coach Q was terrible with young players in the past. This has seemed to have improved since his time in Chicago.

I hope Cracknell is extended and Nichol watches. I still hope to see Russell or Cole in there. At least let me see the good Jackman more often. Thank god he is playing with Polak.
Good read. Feel better.

I hope you get well soon Chip. It sucks to be sick.

You make a couple of good points. Blues are lacking sharpness and discipline right now. They're getting by with it but won't for long.

Offsides, bad passes, etc. Andy McDonald has lost a step or more.

Shattenkirk on the point last night was brutal.

For whatever reason, Blues have been better this season on the road, hope that continues through this week. They need these points.
- bcallaway

TO me it's not a step he's missing it's his unwillingness to play physical which he used to do.

TO me it's not a step he's missing it's his unwillingness to play physical which he used to do.
- BluemanGuruu

His game is definitely slipping. I believe he is slower. Still, you see him try to make plays that he really shouldn't be making. I think maybe he knows he's not as fast as he used to be and it's getting in his head. Almost like he doesnt think he's gonna get there fast enough and escape the pressure so he ends up making a pass to an area thats already covered.

I still think they may move a forward at the draft. Edmonton's got to be ready to transition from drafting to building a team for next year. I doubt they'd be willing to trade Nugent Hopkins but maybe Gagner? He's not a big guy but he could be the playmaking center we need. Bet we could also recoup a pick or two. I'd definitely deal Stew for Gagner and the 12th or 13th overall pick.

I still think they may move a forward at the draft. Edmonton's got to be ready to transition from drafting to building a team for next year. I doubt they'd be willing to trade Nugent Hopkins but maybe Gagner? He's not a big guy but he could be the playmaking center we need. Bet we could also recoup a pick or two. I'd definitely deal Stew for Gagner and the 12th or 13th overall pick.
- fattyboubatty

Not sure Stewart is enough there.

I still think they may move a forward at the draft. Edmonton's got to be ready to transition from drafting to building a team for next year. I doubt they'd be willing to trade Nugent Hopkins but maybe Gagner? He's not a big guy but he could be the playmaking center we need. Bet we could also recoup a pick or two. I'd definitely deal Stew for Gagner and the 12th or 13th overall pick.
- fattyboubatty

That would be sweet. But I think maybe a bit steep. I think you could get their pick but not necessarily the player.

Edmonton has waited for Ganger to develop. He took that step at the end of last season and continued forward. I don't see them moving him. When the rumors were out there before Ganger was not producing. I like him but I don't think he's going anywhere.

Their pick could easily net a center as good if not better anyway. It would save payroll and cap space for a couple of years. Trades are going to be coming in the next few seasons. It's a matter of knowing who to keep, who you can sell high with(last season Elliott keep Bishop saves $600k and an upgrade whoops).

To me Stewart and Berglund might just be battling for the chance to stay with the Blues. Maybe they both stay. The one good thing about the Sobotka line not raking in the goals yet is it keeps Sobotka's price down.

I still think they may move a forward at the draft. Edmonton's got to be ready to transition from drafting to building a team for next year. I doubt they'd be willing to trade Nugent Hopkins but maybe Gagner? He's not a big guy but he could be the playmaking center we need. Bet we could also recoup a pick or two. I'd definitely deal Stew for Gagner and the 12th or 13th overall pick.
- fattyboubatty

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.

Chip while I agree with your sentiment about the goalie interference call, it was still the correct call to be made: http://thehockeywriters.c...in-blues-vs-blue-jackets/

Chip while I agree with your sentiment about the goalie interference call, it was still the correct call to be made: http://thehockeywriters.c...in-blues-vs-blue-jackets/
- bbsunshine92

That's what CHip was saying. He just said he wished it was called more consistently as Holmstrom made a living doing it and was rarely called.

The Blues play too much on their heels with a lead. They are btter defensively and positionally but I still don't like this tatic.

DeKeyser looks good. Of course he's gotten away with a lot of stick action and interference. But hey he plays for the Dead Things now.

I loved seeing Zetterberg whining about Porter's goal.

If we get these two points especially in regulation that would be HUGE. It also exposes Detroit to the bubble. How sweet would it be to see Detroit not make it? Pretty sweet.

The Blues need to work on their stops and starts. Too much turning and coasting. When you turn, you turn your back on the play. When you stop and start, and those that play know this, you face the play and can recover much more quickly.

Could this be an actual penalty on the Dead Things when they cheat at the end of the game they are losing and is close? WOWOW

How do you have the puck on the power play five on five with an empty net and not score. Not even to throw the puck to the net or blast a slapper at it. No sense. Inexcusable.

Could this be an actual penalty on the Dead Things when they cheat at the end of the game they are losing and is close? WOWOW
- BluemanGuruu

(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?

Great WIN!!!! SCrew you Dead Things!!!!

Elliott played great. Needed it and got it.

How were the Blues not hungry enough to score on the empty net when they had all that zone time on a power play?

Better defensive play but too much of it. They have to get on it and play in the other end more.

Hi so I was wondering what you guys feel the price of Kevin Shattenkirk is? what would you want for him on the flyers roster?

Great WIN!!!! SCrew you Dead Things!!!!

Elliott played great. Needed it and got it.

How were the Blues not hungry enough to score on the empty net when they had all that zone time on a power play?

Better defensive play but too much of it. They have to get on it and play in the other end more.
- BluemanGuruu

Foot on the throat is right. I know it's only four points, but sixth feels so much better than eighth.

Kinda hope that we end up eighth though. If we can't be the Blackhawks we don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

Hi so I was wondering what you guys feel the price of Kevin Shattenkirk is? what would you want for him on the flyers roster?
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

I don't want him on the Flyers roster. So, I guess that would make it Giroux for Shattenkirk straight up...

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.

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

Totally agree. Good for him. This team responds well to adversity. When they are healthy they throw duds.

Hi so I was wondering what you guys feel the price of Kevin Shattenkirk is? what would you want for him on the flyers roster?
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

Couturier, Schenn, and Scott Laughton