Jason Millen: They're Back!!! They're Back!!!

Liking all the hires thus far. Hopefully Otter can help with improving on garbage goals, being tougher to play against, and the PK, Sydor with instilling "never panic" mindsets with our d-men, and Jacks helping figure out who has the intestinal fortitude to play in the NHL and influencing moving those players who may not for other assets.

I found it interesting Otter decided to embark on a coaching career in an expansion year. Might have thought he'd try for one more year with more jobs opening up as a player. Maybe that hammy is not all it needs to be to compete at the highest level. Wonder if his ultimate goal is being a head coach...or to hop into the media at some point...

I notice Mitch Korn has a local goalie camp in the very near future....hmm....

I like that their bringing in team first character alumni guys, who played the game hard! and surrounding players /prospects with former players who know the system,and playing in the St. Louis market ,good move imho

Liking all the hires thus far. Hopefully Otter can help with improving on garbage goals, being tougher to play against, and the PK, Sydor with instilling "never panic" mindsets with our d-men, and Jacks helping figure out who has the intestinal fortitude to play in the NHL and influencing moving those players who may not for other assets.

I found it interesting Otter decided to embark on a coaching career in an expansion year. Might have thought he'd try for one more year with more jobs opening up as a player. Maybe that hammy is not all it needs to be to compete at the highest level. Wonder if his ultimate goal is being a head coach...or to hop into the media at some point...

I notice Mitch Korn has a local goalie camp in the very near future....hmm....
- Firebrand

Korn is really good buddies with Trotz, more like family. If Trotz would have gotten let go, I could see Korn coming here. The Blues wanted him before they hired Corsi but Nashville wouldn't allow the Blues to speak to him and the Blues didn't want to wait and risk losing out on him and Corsi.

I'd really like to see Korn come here.

Jason, glad your back. Yes I was worried we lost another Blues blogger. Keep you ear to the ground, I think the next few weeks are going to be very interesting.

Thanks for taking Ott on as a coach. People on the Wings management, roster, and broadcast team said they think they want Ott back as a player. This prevents such an atrocity.

sydor is a fool, got busted driving absolutely hammered with kids in the car at noon. yeo must love him though

Nice write up Jammer.

Well I have always been impressed by Jackman's tougness and passion for the team. My caveat is that while it is impressive to play injured, sometimes the more team oriented pkay is to heal and let someone go in your stead as hard as that can be. Team means being able to drop the ego and even sometimes to inflate it, but it should always be done to serve the greater good of the team. To the trainers and coaches over the years that took advantage of that character over the years--you are sick. The hardest thing about being anyone's friend is giving them hard information. Sometimes you even have to pull away out of love; sometimes hitting bottom is the only way up.

That said Jackman will be a fine addition to the club. Ott seems to me to be an intelligent person. Did he sometimes cross his edge and make poor decisions on the ice? It would appear so but his theory of the game is slightly different. Ott I would guess understands offense. It is difficult to say as we see journeyman players become successful coaches who deeply understand the game and rarely see offensive stars make great coaches. Babcock, Quenville, Yeo versus say Gretzky....

sydor is a fool, got busted driving absolutely hammered with kids in the car at noon. yeo must love him though
- mnredwings

That was a terrible decision. People make mistakes and it's not like he raped someone and became the face of the NHL or something.

Obviously the Blues alum team was a little weak on D.

This should make them a favorite for the alum Stanley Cup.

sydor is a fool, got busted driving absolutely hammered with kids in the car at noon. yeo must love him though
- mnredwings

I would bet 80% of the forum has gotten behind the wheel when they shouldn't have. I don't think that should count against the guy making a living in his chosen field. Maybe he can/does help educate people about making bad decisions after a night out on the town...not many better places than a sports team's locker room, since everyone there thinks they are invincible (until they get closer to 30, that is...)

Nice write up Jammer.

Well I have always been impressed by Jackman's tougness and passion for the team. My caveat is that while it is impressive to play injured, sometimes the more team oriented pkay is to heal and let someone go in your stead as hard as that can be. Team means being able to drop the ego and even sometimes to inflate it, but it should always be done to serve the greater good of the team. To the trainers and coaches over the years that took advantage of that character over the years--you are sick. The hardest thing about being anyone's friend is giving them hard information. Sometimes you even have to pull away out of love; sometimes hitting bottom is the only way up.

That said Jackman will be a fine addition to the club. Ott seems to me to be an intelligent person. Did he sometimes cross his edge and make poor decisions on the ice? It would appear so but his theory of the game is slightly different. Ott I would guess understands offense. It is difficult to say as we see journeyman players become successful coaches who deeply understand the game and rarely see offensive stars make great coaches. Babcock, Quenville, Yeo versus say Gretzky....
- BluemanGuruu

I agree that I think it's a fine line between playing with pain and ego getting in the way and playing hurting your team's chances to win because you have a weakness the opponent could exploit, while the guy potentially coming into the lineup is fully able-bodied. That's a hard thing for a warrior mentality to swallow. I blame that more on weaker-minded coaching/medical teams, though, than the players.

Who knows how often Jacks pushed that envelope...or what games it might have cost the team in crunch time...hopefully not many...only he really knows when he had no business being on the ice...still, he represented the Bluenote in the best possible way at all times I've ever heard about, and that is worthy of my respect.

I agree that I think it's a fine line between playing with pain and ego getting in the way and playing hurting your team's chances to win because you have a weakness the opponent could exploit, while the guy potentially coming into the lineup is fully able-bodied. That's a hard thing for a warrior mentality to swallow. I blame that more on weaker-minded coaching/medical teams, though, than the players.

Who knows how often Jacks pushed that envelope...or what games it might have cost the team in crunch time...hopefully not many...only he really knows when he had no business being on the ice...still, he represented the Bluenote in the best possible way at all times I've ever heard about, and that is worthy of my respect.
- Firebrand

I agree.

I would bet 80% of the forum has gotten behind the wheel when they shouldn't have. I don't think that should count against the guy making a living in his chosen field. Maybe he can/does help educate people about making bad decisions after a night out on the town...not many better places than a sports team's locker room, since everyone there thinks they are invincible (until they get closer to 30, that is...)
- Firebrand

I agree with exceptions if it happens more than once and if there are children in the car. Still it could be the result of tbi's.

Would anyone be cool with trading one of our first's to Vegas to get them to take Lehtera? I would hope it wouldn't cost that much but that seems to be the going rate for a bad contract.

Would anyone be cool with trading one of our first's to Vegas to get them to take Lehtera? I would hope it wouldn't cost that much but that seems to be the going rate for a bad contract.
- fattyboubatty

I would personally not. Leave him unprotected if you must, but I hate selling low. I gathered from his interviews he was disappointed/upset/embarrassed by his season. I also wonder if the pre-season tourney did him a particular disservice. I would gamble on the rebound.

I also don't think Vegas will take a high priced veteran from the Blues in the expansion draft, (or really from many teams), but a younger guy who may still have some upside with more ice time. Jaskin/Paajarvi, Binnington, Lindbohm. After the expansion draft, Vegas may be more interested in picks to take on disagreeable contracts. You only get one crack at claiming diamonds in the rough from teams who can't protect all the guys they'd like, and several years of opportunities to take on bad contracts for picks/prospects.

I would personally not. Leave him unprotected if you must, but I hate selling low. I gathered from his interviews he was disappointed/upset/embarrassed by his season. I also wonder if the pre-season tourney did him a particular disservice. I would gamble on the rebound.

I also don't think Vegas will take a high priced veteran from the Blues in the expansion draft, (or really from many teams), but a younger guy who may still have some upside with more ice time. Jaskin/Paajarvi, Binnington, Lindbohm. After the expansion draft, Vegas may be more interested in picks to take on disagreeable contracts. You only get one crack at claiming diamonds in the rough from teams who can't protect all the guys they'd like, and several years of opportunities to take on bad contracts for picks/prospects.
- Firebrand

You always bring up Binnington like he is the next Patrick roy

he blows and will not be taken in the expansion draft

Paajarvi or Jaskin are likely to be gone

Would anyone be cool with trading one of our first's to Vegas to get them to take Lehtera? I would hope it wouldn't cost that much but that seems to be the going rate for a bad contract.
- fattyboubatty

I don't think i would. Both Lehtera and Bouwmeester's contracts are a bit of a burden on salary cap room, but, i don't think i would part with a first or second round pick just to get them off the books.

The Blues have them for two more years unless they can find a taker, but i wouldn't give up draft picks.

Now, if there were a three way trade, where Vegas could snatch up someone that would help the Blues, then i would make a package like you suggest. But I'd want something coming back.

Would anyone be cool with trading one of our first's to Vegas to get them to take Lehtera? I would hope it wouldn't cost that much but that seems to be the going rate for a bad contract.
- fattyboubatty

Blues can afford bad cap hits for a couple of years.

They can't afford giving away draft picks.

So no, I wouldn't be cool with that. We need all the 1st, 2nd, 3rd rounders we can get. You never know which ones will turn out to be the next Parayko or Edmundson and become a big part of your team for years.

I would personally not. Leave him unprotected if you must, but I hate selling low. I gathered from his interviews he was disappointed/upset/embarrassed by his season. I also wonder if the pre-season tourney did him a particular disservice. I would gamble on the rebound.

I also don't think Vegas will take a high priced veteran from the Blues in the expansion draft, (or really from many teams), but a younger guy who may still have some upside with more ice time. Jaskin/Paajarvi, Binnington, Lindbohm. After the expansion draft, Vegas may be more interested in picks to take on disagreeable contracts. You only get one crack at claiming diamonds in the rough from teams who can't protect all the guys they'd like, and several years of opportunities to take on bad contracts for picks/prospects.
- Firebrand

Las Vegas must, with just the expansion draft counting, reach the salary cap floor at a minimum. This means they will have to take contracts with bigger money and not just prospects. they apparently aren't interested in taking.

This means it is actually in their best interest to take one of two players from the Blues and that likely means Lehtera and it should not in any way cost a first.

Better to hold onto him for a year and buy him out, hope his value rises or force him out with a LTIR as other vets have gotten in the past two seasons who were capable of playing.

You always bring up Binnington like he is the next Patrick roy

he blows and will not be taken in the expansion draft

Paajarvi or Jaskin are likely to be gone
- sycsam

Binnington is much better than you are crediting him. All goaltenders suffered since corsi. before corsi he was ahead of Allen and looked much better.

Binnington is much better than you are crediting him. All goaltenders suffered since corsi. before corsi he was ahead of Allen and looked much better.
- BluemanGuruu

Binnington fell behind Husso by a long way this year

he is expendable

Blues would be happy to lose binnington if it meant they get to keep Jaskin and Paajarvi

Binnington is much better than you are crediting him. All goaltenders suffered since corsi. before corsi he was ahead of Allen and looked much better.
- BluemanGuruu

Binnington has never been ahead of Allen.

I don't think i would. Both Lehtera and Bouwmeester's contracts are a bit of a burden on salary cap room, but, i don't think i would part with a first or second round pick just to get them off the books.

The Blues have them for two more years unless they can find a taker, but i wouldn't give up draft picks.

Now, if there were a three way trade, where Vegas could snatch up someone that would help the Blues, then i would make a package like you suggest. But I'd want something coming back.
- bcallaway

I tend to agree with you on this. I would hate to give up a first just to shed some salary. Maybe if there was another piece coming back like you suggest.

I also think guru may be correct about them having interest in him purely on merit. They do need to reach the floor which will be hard for them. Centers will be harder to come by too I would assume.

I actually did a mock of all the teams on CapFriendly's ED site the other night and got to the floor fairly easily, even picking the younger, less established set and not taking a guy who is likely on the move before the draft (Vatanen/Fowler/Lindholm, for example). Adding in a few enticements (Dallas paying to lose a goalie), but I didn't go crazy with that either. It's a fun little site I spend too much time on. I always seem to end up d-man/goalie heavy, with not as many forwards.

I do agree Husso has passed Binnington on the potential chart in the last year, but Binnington is still likely the team's #3 goalie if he doesn't get chosen, with Husso getting heavy AHL minutes this upcoming season. After that, who knows, Hutton is only signed for next year. Goaltenders are currency in expansion drafts, though...which is why I could see Vegas taking a bunch and then flipping them for other players later.

I would probably be ok with losing Binnington over Jaskin. But rather have Binnington than Magnus. Maybe the new coaching staff can get Jaskin being the big body we need. (Coach Otter's pet project, perhaps?)

I'd rather be out from under Bouwmeester, and would spend a mid-round pick, if George McPhee gave me a ring...