John Jaeckel: CENTRAL ISSUES: Quick Look/Blues & Rockford News

First, excellent write up on the boos.

John Jaeckel: CENTRAL ISSUES: Quick Look/Blues & Rockford News
- John Jaeckel

HOCKEYBUZZ OUTING NIGHT AT BMO HARRIS BANK CENTER IN ROCKFORD

John Jaeckel

Be sure to have a round for all of us who can't make it.

3rd.

Backes sucks!

EDIT: Thanks for throwing something in the blog about Rockford. It's appreciated.

Be sure to have a round for all of us who can't make it.
- Beaver-Warrior

I'll have one for you, Beav.

Be sure to have a round for all of us who can't make it.
- Beaver-Warrior

I second this motion!

Solid and fair write up.

(I'm guessing I disagree with you on what the likely answer to some of the questions facing the Blues will be, but still a fair write up.)

I second this motion!
- DarthKane

It's unfortunate that you and Beav can't make it. I'm sure I'll catch a game with you and Beav one of these days.

Good write up not a lot of bias I actually thought this was written by the Blues blogger haha.

Good write up not a lot of bias I actually thought this was written by the Blues blogger haha.
- cuethenoise

I would agree, a fair and good write-up.

The Blues are solid, deep, good defense core...

I see the Hawks STILL slightly better, as I think the Hawks TOP end talent of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Sharp is still well better than the Blues top 5-6 guys.

But, Blues will be tough, make no mistake about that!!!

All this depends on the blues getting Pietrangelo signed, that dumb contract of Bouwmeester is hampering that.

All this depends on the blues getting Pietrangelo signed, that dumb contract of Bouwmeester is hampering that.
- BlackhawkDown

...or Pietrangelo's salary demands.

...or Pietrangelo's salary demands.

- EKolb13

That too. Guys coming off bridge contracts now expect a boatload, too much precident out there for agents to use in negotiations.

Blues GM Doug Armstrong called his team's goaltending situation "cloudy."

Does Jake Allen make one of the two goalies expendable this year? Not a huge fan of Halak...

I thought the Blues had something two seasons ago when they lost to the Kings in the second round, obviously i was wrong but that seemed like their year. This past season i was more confident they would lose to the Kings. This season coming up could be a make or break for them. Or not, just seems like if a team doesnt get over the hump in the first couple years of them getting really good it seems to never work out for them.

Here is a joke...

BRIAN ELLIOTT

Does Jake Allen make one of the two goalies expendable this year? Not a huge fan of Halak...
- BlackhawkDown

If Halak comes up injured he could be in St. Louis.

All this depends on the blues getting Pietrangelo signed, that dumb contract of Bouwmeester is hampering that.
- BlackhawkDown

Not even in the slightest is the Jaybo Contract hampering the blues. Read something before spouting off. No where has anyone in the blues fandom bloggers/ front office/ media personal has it been said Jaybo is hampering Pie's contract.

Buck the Flues.

The Blues are absolutely banking on Roy being that playmaking center they've desperately needed. Stewart thrived in Colorado with Stastny, and the hope is that Roy will help Stewart achieve what he did in Colorado. Sure, there are even question marks with Roy. But to be fair, he played 2nd fiddle in both Dallas and Vancouver. He'll be given every opportunity to succeed.

I also believe that the Blues need to work on their accuracy. They missed 5-10 open nets, that would have led to them winning games 3/4 and probably winning the series in 5.

The one plus for the Blues this year, is that they have a lot of Depth at the Forward position. They have probably Cracknell and Reaves sitting out every night, Aucoin (a decent 4th line center option ala Scott Nichol) who will start in Peoria, Plus if any of their top 9 go out, they have the option of calling up Jaskin or Rattie to replace them.

The one place i'm worried about Depth is on defense. After Ian Cole, you only have Taylor Chorney, or Cade Fairchild as callups, and i'm not sure i trust either of them to play for a long period of time.

All and all, should be an interesting year, both the Blues and the Blackhawks (assuming the Hawks don't have some crazy run to start the season) should be neck and neck towards the end of the season, and either team could take the central, imo.

Not even in the slightest is the Jaybo Contract hampering the blues. Read something before spouting off. No where has anyone in the blues fandom bloggers/ front office/ media personal has it been said Jaybo is hampering Pie's contract.
- sycsam

If JayBo is the second best D-man on the team, and he's making $6.7....How much does the best D-man on the team expect to get paid?

Just because his contract isn't affecting them cap-wise or budget-wise doesn't necessarily mean it isn't hurting them.

The Blues assessment looks right to me, but I offer a couple of additional thoughts.

* the Blues dmen do not block shots as a group as well as your Blackhawks

* the Blues goaltending has not proven itself capable in playoff hockey lately. Or
have they? Halak was huge in Montrael taking Philly to the limit in the Flyers and
Blackhawks 2010 Cup season.

* when teams knock each other about as a Kings/Blues match up last season, then
you have to figure that by the Conf final that the Blues may be more beat up and
tired than possibly their opponent (emphasis "may" and their opponent could be
us).

* two other thoughts....1) some on this board would love to have their big tough LW
as our tough. But our tough guy, Bollig, is the better fighter but yet as good in an
intimidator role. Bollig needs regular minutes to become a better player. Don't
know if anyone has noticed how Bollig often is seen tapping his stick to the ice,
wants the biscuit off a pass. Bollig does have a powerful shot. He could use the
shot as our weapon with Bollig on the fourth line. Could happen, maybe could
result in some key goals.

* looking at prospects I see an interesting development and let us keep this in mind
particularly those (like myself) who hope Johns becomes our next big bruising
dman.....I Cole, good skating, aggressive big size dman prospect, a #1 round pick.
Hasn't yet become a top four NHL. Maybe he won't with Blues. St Louis obviously
was not going to wait IF Cole does become that good. Instead got Bowmeester. So
let us not "assume" just because we have this Johns, that he automaticly pencil in
on our future defense.

If JayBo is the second best D-man on the team, and he's making $6.7....How much does the best D-man on the team expect to get paid?

Just because his contract isn't affecting them cap-wise or budget-wise doesn't necessarily mean it isn't hurting them.
- Ogilthorpe2

If he gets in the neighborhood of $7M, this puts the Blues right up against the cap ceiling (according to Capgeek). So I don't know what that Blues fan was spouting off about.

If JayBo is the second best D-man on the team, and he's making $6.7....How much does the best D-man on the team expect to get paid?

Just because his contract isn't affecting them cap-wise or budget-wise doesn't necessarily mean it isn't hurting them.
- Ogilthorpe2

I am guessing the Blues are hoping that Pietro will see the extension that Bouw received and accept that. Unfortunately, while Pietro had an off year last season the consensus outside of St. Louis is that he is Norris caliber player.

If JayBo is the second best D-man on the team, and he's making $6.7....How much does the best D-man on the team expect to get paid?

Just because his contract isn't affecting them cap-wise or budget-wise doesn't necessarily mean it isn't hurting them.
- Ogilthorpe2

JBo signed an extension for a little over 5 a year. Petro is going to be the highest paid defenseman on this team. Having a solid partner in JBo is going to be great for Petro, as he was playing with guys before who were either on his line or in the press box, depending on the night.

Petro will get signed, JBo is not hurting them.