Randall Ritchey: Breaking Down The 2014-15 St. Louis Blues Schedule There are quite a few dates you'll want to keep open on your schedule during the Blues season, and today I'll break them down here!

On September 25th, the Blues will play their first home game of the pre-season against the Columbus Blue Jackets, their former division rival. Games between these two opponents are always fun to watch.

Just two days later on the 27th, the Blues will be hosting the Dallas Stars in Kansas City! Do you live in Kansas? Making any Blues home games could be difficult for you. Well now they will give you the chance to attend a game closer to home!

Those are two good ones. Almost got me to give back my diet coke through my nose.

Did you miss the Blue font? Hardly seems entertaining other than I guess a good winning record with the series record at 46-26-3 with zero playoff meetings. Were you trying to look at the bright side in the down years when the series was close during the terrible Blues years from 2006-2008? Having said that, good to see that Jarmo and JD are turning the Jackets back around.

Sorry for the KC fans but a preseason game is generally a very poor substitute for even a meaningless regular season NHL game. As a season ticket holder, I'd be willing to give up 2 pre-season and 3 regular season home games to kc every year if that meant I had to only purchase 39 games instead of 44. I'm out if you are going to force me to take duplicate tickets to other games like they did the Sweden year. I wonder how many 5 game packs they could sell in KC if you were guaranteed 3 regular season games.

Things I noticed about the schedule....

1 six game road trip vs 1 six game home stand (7 if you count the game after the all star break which i don't because of the 10 days off and most of the team traveling anyway)

1 five game road trip vs 1 five game home stand

2 four game road trips vs 1 four game home stand

First 2 and last 3 games are at home.

From Feb 26 to March 24, the Blues play 11 of 14 on the road. Really? Ton of travel during the seeding/playoff push and the trade deadline. Does Scottrade have the circus and ncaa wrestling championships or something?

looking back on the Seabrook hit on Backes. Clean or not, there is almost zero doubt that there will be repercussions for the hit.
- Randall_Ritchey

I wouldn't say that's an automatic assumption. Watching the way the Blues played Joe Thornton the first time after the David Perron hit, they couldn't have been a nicer host.

Thornton was never touched. I think he actually gave out a few autographs and posed for pictures with Louie.

November 22, Spezza returns to Ottawa.

November 22, Spezza returns to Ottawa.
- Brockilee

November 25, Berglund returns to St. Louis

From Feb 26 to March 24, the Blues play 11 of 14 on the road. Really? Ton of travel during the seeding/playoff push and the trade deadline. Does Scottrade have the circus and ncaa wrestling championships or something?
- stljam

We always have the Missouri Valley Men's Basketball Tournament during that time frame. Often, STC hosts an NCAA Regional as well.

We always have the Missouri Valley Men's Basketball Tournament during that time frame. Often, STC hosts an NCAA Regional as well.
- bluenatic411

Also, when does the SEC basketball tournament come to town though maybe that is at Chaifetz? I was thinking 2016 but I could be wrong.

I wouldn't say that's an automatic assumption. Watching the way the Blues played Joe Thornton the first time after the David Perron hit, they couldn't have been a nicer host.

Thornton was never touched. I think he actually gave out a few autographs and posed for pictures with Louie.
- bcallaway

Any chance we get a real blog?

I mean this is just fluff. I know chip was annoying but at least he gave us substance.

halak as your profile picture?


your a joke buddy

halak as your profile picture?


your a joke buddy

halak as your profile picture?


your a joke buddy
- DannnnyBriere

Your double post and fan following of Buffalo is the joke.

Or maybe that we could have gotten just as far into the playoffs if we still had Halak instead of leasing Miller.... Thats a joke too.

halak as your profile picture?


your a joke buddy
- DannnnyBriere

man, you fail on so many levels, and in so many ways....it's like a train wreck, hard to look away.

halak as your profile picture?


your a joke buddy
- DannnnyBriere

I am sure he wishes he could be as cool as you.

I am sure he wishes he could be as cool as you.
- carcus

Looks like Alex Burrows plays soccer for Uruguay!

Looks like Alex Burrows plays soccer for Uruguay!
- eggsegan

I was thinking Mike Tyson, but Alex works as well.

I was thinking Mike Tyson, but Alex works as well.


- carcus

I'M GONNA EAT YER CHILDREN!

Byfuglian for Shattenkirk....

I don't understand Hextall's reasoning in moving Hartnell for Umburger and 4th round pick. Are they thinking that they have scorers who aren't getting scoring line minutes?

Maybe his injury history makes him expendable...

I don't understand Hextall's reasoning in moving Hartnell for Umburger and 4th round pick. Are they thinking that they have scorers who aren't getting scoring line minutes?

Maybe his injury history makes him expendable...
- eggsegan

My 2 cents...

Hextal saves 500k in real dollars for the next three years and then about 7.5mm in the two years after that. He also saves 150k in cap space in the next three years and 4.75 million in each of years 4 and 5.

When you look at the players in detail, you might be surprised at the raw numbers though those often lie.

Regular seasons goals and points per game are very close with Hartnell leading .26 vs .25 and .56 vs .54. while RJ has a big advantage in the playoffs with .47 vs .21 and .67 vs .52 though RJ's playoff sample is 1/3 less. Consider who each played with during these seasons and it makes me wonder how much better Hartnell really is. Hartnell spent most of the year playing a lot more minutes and playing with Giroux yet they had similar goal production.

Both players are 20 goal scorers with Hartnell having a higher upside. Is that upside worth a cap hit of 4.75mm when he is 36 and 37 vs not having a big contract like that on the books?

Stastny says he's going to test the market. If nothing else, it'll force the Avs closer to the cap...

Stastny says he's going to test the market. If nothing else, it'll force the Avs closer to the cap...
- eggsegan

This is very good news. Means the Blues at the very least will get a shot to make him an offer, unless they make a trade between now and the draft.

Bergy signs 3yr, 3.7 per deal.

But will he be here opening night or be traded?

Bergy signs 3yr, 3.7 per deal.

But will he be here opening night or be traded?
- carcus

The question everyone should be asking themselves is,
Will he be here after the draft?

Thinking it's a sign and trade type deal, in order to get Stastny, Spezza, or maybe even Kessler. Berglund is best friends with the Sedins, maybe there is some pull there. Berglund + for Kessler?