Schwartz Returns, Elliott Starts Vs Sharks

The Blues are coming off another loss, this time to the Anaheim Ducks. It was their fifth regulation loss in their last seven games, and they are looking for a boost. They might just get that boost, as Jaden Schwartz will return to the line up tonight against the Sharks.

Brian Elliott is back in net for the second time since coming back from an injured leg. Elliott played his first game back against Nashville, where the Blues left him out to dry. He was dominant in net, but with little help on the offensive or defensive side, he took the loss despite his performance.

The Blues are in San Jose, trying to get their game back in order. They've been struggling and it's been apparent on the ice. The defense has struggled, the offense has been sporadic, and the goaltending has been off and on.

Getting Jaden Schwartz back is going to be a nice boost, but will it be enough to solve the Blues woes? I'm not so sure. Many, including myself, believe that a change is needed in St. Louis. Some are demanding a trade, and depending on the pieces, I could see that happening. Some are demanding a coaching change, and that is where I'm at as well, but I'm not eyeing Ken Hitchcock.

Brad Shaw, the Blues defensive coach and PK coach. The defense is in shambles and the penalty kill has been abysmal. He's been here through the Mike Kitchen firing, the Andy Murray firing, the Davis Payne firing, and now with Ken Hitchcock on the hot seat, he remains.

Lets take a look at his coaching record, even before the Blues.

Tampa Bay Lightning - 1999-2000. Shaw was brought in as an assistant coach, presumably in the same role as he's in now. The Lightnings record? 19-47-9-7. Shaw resigned after one season.

Detroit Vipers (IHL) - 2000-2001. Shaw was named the head coach of the the Vipers, and they didn't fair well with Shaw behind the bench either. With a record of 23-53-6, the Vipers missed the playoffs. The IHL folded after the 2000-2001 season.

Springfield Falcons - 2001-2002. Shaw joined Springfield as an assistant coach, and again, a losing record followed him. 35-41-2-2 was the Falcons record, missing the playoffs.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks - 2002-2005. Shaw was named head coach of the Mighty Ducks, replacing Mike Babcock, and for the first two seasons, the Mighty Ducks struggled. The Mighty Ducks record in his first season was a lackluster, 26-35-13-6. His second season improved a bit but not much, securing a record of 29-37-13-1. The record was enough to make the playoffs, and they were ousted in the first round.. His last season with the Mighty Ducks, he improved his teams record to 44-31-1-4. The Mighty Ducks made it to round two before being eliminated from the playoffs.

New York Islanders - 2005-2006. Shaw joined the Islander as assistant coach, and after a 18-22-2, the Islanders fired head coach Steve Stirling, and named Shaw head coach. The islanders went 18-18-4 under Shaw. The Islanders opted to part ways with Shaw after just one season.

St. Louis Blues - 2006-present - Shaw joined the Blues in 2006, and has been the assistant coach since then. He's controlled the defense and penalty kill since he joined the Blues, and many considered him to be "the next guy" for the coaching gig, since Mike Kitchen was let go. However that has not been the case, and over his tenure with the Blues, their record during his tenure as been 338-242-80. Not bad, but it's improved most since Ken Hitchcoch has joined the Blues.

With Ken Hitchcock on the hot seat, maybe we need to start looking at a guy who's been here through the firing of three head coaches, who's been here through the "Dark Ages" that saw the Blues finishing with a few top five draft selections.

Ray Bennet could also be looked at as a guy who should possibly be on their way out. He joined the Blues in 2007 with Andy Murray and has been here through two different coaching changes.

Maybe it's time we start looking at those who have been here through the losing days, instead of guys who's been doing nothing but winning since joining the Blues?

Congratulations to St. Louis native, Chris Wideman, who was recalled by the Ottawa Senators today. Wideman was drafted in the fourth round, 100th overall in 2009 and has played the last three seasons in Binghamton of the American Hockey League. The puck-moving defensemen plays an offensive game and has posted solid numbers in the Senators of the AHL. He's a healthy scratch today, but could get into the line up against the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow.