Andy Strickland covers the Blues for KFNS and HockeyBuzz.com.
Newly-acquired Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak went 26-13 last season with a 2.40 goals against average.
Q: Just your thoughts on the Jaroslav Halak trade and the subsequent 4-year deal we signed him to.
A: I think it was a great trade. I thought it was a no-brainer, slam-dunk, had to do it, especially when you consider that they didn’t have to give up a roster player to get a goaltender like that who’s been a hot commodity in the NHL, certainly the best goaltender in the world throughout the playoffs until they were eliminated. If you can get a guy like that, while he’s hot, create a buzz in here in town, who’s had had success at every level and shown that he’s ready to take that next step into the upper-echelon of goaltenders in the NHL, if he isn’t there already, I think it’s a no-brainer. And again, just to hammer in the point, they didn’t have to give up a roster player to get him. So, they got a guy who is young, who can grow with the nucleus that they have here in Saint Louis, 25-years of age, jumping into his prime right now. If he can play at the level he showed during the playoffs, then obviously it’s going to be a great move. But, with that being said, goal-tending is the most unpredictable position in hockey. You never know how a goalie’s going to perform from one season to the next.
Q: Why do they give him a four-year deal, when guys like Perron and Johnson are getting shorter deals? Is there any reason for that?
A: David Perron and Erik Johnson, let’s start with them. First, the Blues don’t wanna get themselves locked into long term situation with players that have yet to really prove who they are as hockey players. They’re getting there, but the Blues wanna keep that carrot dangling in front of their nose, to keep them hungry. I don’t think that is going to be a problem with either of those guys, Perron or Johnson, two highly motivated young players who are very talented.
I think a lot of it has to do with budgets. There are short-term budgets and long-term budgets for the Blues and I think this made more sense from an economic standpoint to get them locked into short-term deals. Johnson, whose deal is going to get done sometime soon, that’s an interesting one. I think you can make the argument that it makes sense for the Blues to lock him in long term. It’s probably the best way to get him into a cap friendly number because if you get him to a 2-year deal and all of a sudden he becomes a 50-point guy, he could become a 20 goal scorer, then you’re going to end up having to pay him a significant amount of money. Defensemen who play minutes and produce points at the NHL level get paid very, very well.
At the same time, it comes down to the Blues just don’t wanna give them any sort of long term security to make them feel too comfortable. They want them to have to earn it and let them play on the ice to determine how much they get paid.
Saint Louis native Ben Bishop has yet to have the type of season for the Rivermen to warrant a call-up to the NHL team.
Q: Where does this Halak deal leave Ben Bishop?
A: I think he’s still very involved. Ty Conklin has one year left on his contract. If Ben Bishop has a strong season in Peoria this year, it’s very possible that he becomes part of the equation here in Saint Louis the following year. You look at goaltenders in the NHL, the majority of goalies in the NHL rarely make it to the pros with the team they were originally drafted by. It just doesn’t happen. He’s got holes in his game that the has to resolve. He’s gotta get better. He’s got to mentally focus on playing in the American League. You can’t play in the American League with your head in the National League. It just doesn’t work like that. This guy’s gotta know where he is. He’s got to understand how much work he has to do. I mean, statistically he hasn’t been all that impressive over the last couple of years.
People talk about Cory Schneider. He’s just getting to the NHL this year. He’s paid his dues in the minors and while he was there, he was the best goaltender in the entire league. Bishop hasn’t been one of the best goaltenders in the American League. You don’t just hand guys assignments to the NHL. This guy’s gotta dominate the AHL before we start talking about the NHL.
Q: Do you think he has the potential to do that?
A: Absolutely. I mean, he’s got a lot of potential. I think it’s difficult sometimes for tall goalies like him, but he’s got some holes in his game that he’s got to fix. I think he’s got the potential to play in the NHL. I know he does, but he hasn’t earned the right to just play in the NHL based on the way he’s performed in the American League.
They still think he can play, but I will say this: the [Blues] organization isn’t quite as high on him today as they were 2 years ago. It doesn’t mean they’re down on him, but there’s some question marks internally when it comes to Ben Bishop in terms of what type of goaltender he’s going to develop into.
Q: There isn’t that high level of excitement like there was a few years ago?
A: I think there was more excitement on the outside than there was on the inside. They liked his potential, they drafted him in the third round. He’s from Saint Louis so obviously you get a lot more attention and because of his size. He’s a big kid, played at Maine had some decent success there. Played well at Maine. He’s just got a ways to go. Look at goalies who were drafted in the year that he was selected in the first round. It takes a long time for goalies. It’s tough. There’s only 60 spots in the world for goalies. It’s really, really hard. There shouldn’t be any rush to get him to the NHL.
Q: How close are the Blues to signing Johnson?
A: They’re close. I would not expect it to linger much longer.
DJ King may think he should be receive a contract similar to the one Derek Boogaard received from the New York Rangers (4-year worth $6.5 million).
Q: Where do they stand with DJ King? He let the 1-year offer expire on July 15, where are they at now?
A: They are still just hoping to get something done, sometime soon. My opinion is that DJ was maybe considering waiting this thing out and seeing if he gets moved and then negotiate a contract with the team that trades for him, but he hadn’t played in two years pretty much. He’s had some injuries. The organization just wants him to prove beyond this year. They gave Cam Janssen a 1-year deal and he signed it right away. They want King to sign it and then they’ll have to make a decision. I don’t htink they want both Cam Janssen adn DJ King on this team once the season starts. I don’t think the Blues are too concerned.
If they wanted to screw DJ King over they really could right now. Any offer that was on the table before July 15 is off the books. He’s got no options. He didn’t file for arbitration. He doesn’t have unrestricted free agent rights. They could give him a 2-way offer and he’d have no choice but to take it. They could throw him in the minors and pay him $50,000 if they wanted to. I don’t think they’ll do that. Or they could give him a 1-way American League. He’s not really helping himself by allowing this thing to linger like it has, but I don’t think the Blues would do something like that.
Q: Do you think that there is really that market for an enforcer type player?
A: Absolutely. Edmonton, Montreal, Detroit, you gotta be able to play these days, that’s the problem. DJ, I think people overrate his ability to play, he can play don’t get me wrong. But it’s not like this guy is pumping in 5, 6 goals a year. He maybe scores one, right? So, he is what he is. Some people try to use that when they try to compare him to Cam Janssen. They say “Oh, Cam can’t play, you get no production from him at all.” You’re right, DJ probably has that advantage when it comes to being able to control the puck below the goal line and play a regular shift and be a guy who can go out there and do more than just fight. Let’s not confuse him with Bob Probert, who produced points in other areas.
I’d like to see DJ as more of a physical presence. There’s no question he can fight and he can take on anybody in the world, but you’d like to see him be a guy who the opposition knows when he’s out there. He’s that guy who throws that devastating body check like a Cam Janssen does. People have to be aware when [Cam's] out there because they just don’t know what he’s gonna do. People know who he is and they don’t wanna fight him, but I don’t think he scares teams as much as Cam Janssen does just because Cam plays with a little more of that maniac style. Reckless, just crazy. Cam’s nuts. He’s crazy. Cam is an absolute nut case. I don’t think DJ plays at quite that same level, that Kamikaze.
King will throw his body around, it just doesn’t rock the house. Cam rocks the house because he comes at you at a 100-miles-per-hour from like 2-lines away, 2-zones away. You could probably call charging on Cam Janssen every shift if you want. He’s a guy that gets the crowd involved and his teammates involved. Teammates love Cam Janssen. They love DJ King, too. It would be very tough for me to trade DJ King, based on how tough he is and it would be equally tough for me to trade Cam Janssen. But if I’m DJ King, I don’t want Cam Janssen there and if I’m Janssen, I don’t want King there, I don’t want this rotating situation where I’m in the pressbox every other game. If I’m a coach, I don’t want to make one of these guys unhappy every night.
Cam Janssen ranked fifth in the league with 190 penalty minutes.
Q: If you had to make the decision, though, who would you pick?
A: I’m taking Cam. This isn’t boxing, man. You don’t get bonus points. Cam is an energy guy. I want a guy that will bring people out of their seats. DJ did that a few years ago. They had that King Kong stuff going on and all that stuff. Cam is an entertainer. You get your money’s worth with him. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.
Q: Are there any available free agents or any forwards available via trade that would make sense for the Blues and that they could realistically get?
A: They’re not looking to sign free agents. Any upgrade they make to their roster will come via trade.
Q: Okay, are there any names out there that you’ve been hearing or that you see that could be a good fit for this team?
A: I don’t like to throw out names. I just think if the right trade falls in their lap, they’ll make it. But I don’t wanna just throw out names. It’s not gonna be one of those guys that you know are on the trading block, like Kaberle for example. It’s gonna be a hockey trade, where you’re trading dollar-for-dollar. If this Kovalchuk thing gets working out with New Jersey, maybe they gotta move some bodies and they don’t want much in return, they don’t want any salary in return. Could the Blues add a player? I don’t know. I think they could be part of the discussion. I think Doug Armstrong looks at this roster and deep down if he had the ability to improve this team offensively, I think he’d like to add an experienced defenseman too, I don’t think he would hestitate to.
Q: Do you think there’s any chance we’re able to move like Eric Brewer?
A: No. I don’t wanna say no completely, but no.
Q: Just not a market for a guy like Brewer?
A: I think it’s just tough to move $4-million player. Teams don’t wanna take on a $4-million player and not give up one. How are you going to replace a guy like Brewer?
Alex Pietrangelo was drafted 4th overall by the Saint Louis Blues in 2008.
Q: I guess there’s Pietrangelo. Do you think he’s ready?
A: He’ll have to prove it in camp. They won’t hesitate one bit to put him in the minors, at all, and Ian Cole. Ian Cole may be better than Pietrangelo in training camp for all we know. It’s a big year for Pietrangelo to really step it up and to really show some dividends for being that guy. I think he’ll see some more success under Davis Payne. I think he was a little hand cuffed under Andy Murray. He wasn’t a very confident player under Andy Murray.
Q: There’s been a lot of Perron becoming this prolific forward that the Blues seem to need, do you think he’s going to have that break-out season this year?
A: I think he broke-out last year. He scored 20 goals last year. This is what we’re going to find out about David Perron: Is he a consistent 18-25 guy? Or can he take it to another level and be a 30-goal scorer. Hopefully, he can be a guy that is a little more creative with his teammates, make more plays off the pass. He’s a terrific passer, got great hands. But sometimes you gotta give the puck up sooner, play that give-and-go game. Those are the areas he needs to improve on. I think his break-out year was last year, that’s what’s given him this contract. Even though the Blues, I’m surprised they got him that low. $1.8 for the first year, that’s pretty good for Saint Louis. He’s on the right track, without a doubt.
Q: What about TJ Oshie? Does he have that ability to become that big-time scorer?
A: I don’t know if he can ever become that big-time scorer. He’s more of a timely scorer. He just makes plays all over the ice and he gets you a goal when you need one. Is he ever going to be a 35 goal scorer? He hasn’t shown any signs to make you think that he will be, but it’s going to be real interesting. He’s a hard player to figure out. There’s so much value to his game outside of his offensive production. He kills penalties, relentless worker, responsible in all 3 zones, creative offensively, he can score, he’s an all-around player, man.
Patrik Berglund and David Perron are two of the players at the core of the Blues youth movement.
Q: What about Berglund? He’s been rumored in trades what do you make of him?
A: Big year for him. It’s up to him. We don’t know. Everything was going for him his rookie year. He’s on the left face-off dot, power-play, one-time shots going in, in position to score, didn’t sulk, had thick skin. He’s gotta have that thicker skin, go out there and play. This guy’s gifted. I mean, he’s an unbelievable player: size, skill, hard to get the puck away from. I like Patrik Berglund, a lot. He’s got the chance to be a special hockey player.
This is a huge year. It’s time for all these guys to start focusing. They’re not kids any more. We see players all over the league evolve earlier than ever. It’s time for him to step it up and come to play day 1. All these guys are going to have the opportunity to become impact players. We’ll see what they do with it.
Q: Do you think it’s time to to give David Backes the captaincy?
A: You never want to rush it. I don’t think it would hurt, but I go either way with that. Eric Brewer, I don’t have as much an issue with him as a lot of people do, when he was given the “C” that was a real head-scratcher because he was probably the least popular player on the team at the time and this was purely, 100% an Andy Murray decision and the organization went along with it. Players like Eric, that’s not the issue. He wasn’t horrible last year. He scored 8 goals last year and I think he’s got more mobility than people give him credit for.
Who wears the “C” on the jersey I think it is a statement because they become the face of your team league wide and people look and say who’s the face of the Blues, Eric Brewer. Well, take a look at the other teams in the division: is he Shea Weber, who’s the captain of Nashville? Is he Rick Nash in Columbus? Is he Jonathan Toews in Chicago? You like to see somebody evolve and grab a hold of that. It’s a contract year for David Backes so they may want to hold it off and make an announcement at the same time. That will be interesting to watch how that plays out.
Q: Who are some other prospects in Peoria who could find themselves on the NHL roster next season?
A: Ryan Reeves, big opportunity for him to become a call-up guy, Nicholas Drazenovic, TJ Hensick who they got from Colorado. Those are the guys aside from the obvious ones in Pietrangelo and Cole if they’re both down there and I’m sure at least one of those guys will be down there.
Q: Do you think that with Davis Payne, his experience in Peoria before, do you think that’s going to help him this year with the Blues?
Blues head coach Davis Payne's past experience as coach of the Peoria Rivermen will definitely help him heading into this season. He is young enough to relate with the players and his coaching style agrees well with the players.
A: Absolutely, he’s got a relationship with these guys. One thing that Davis Payne understands and gets is the game away from the rink. Allowing players to be who they are away from the rink but still understanding the focus and understanding when you walk through those doors. He’s still young enough to connect with these players off the ice. He gives them their space. Andy Murray wanted these guys to be thinking hockey 24/7 and to be thinking hockey away from the rink.
Q: If they get off to a bad start again this year, do you think Payne’s job security will be at risk by the end of the season?
A: Dave Checketts told me that this is a big year for the organization on all levels. Well, every year is a big year, but this year is a big year. You can’t just keep firing coaches. You got a 2-year contract. They’re paying Andy Murray this year, so if they were to fire Davis Payne this year, they’d be paying three head coaches basically. That shouldn’t come into play at all this year.
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[...] shown any signs to make you think that he will be, but it’s going to be real interesting,” said HockeyBuzz writer Andy Strickland. “He’s a hard player to figure out. There’s so much value to his game outside of his [...]
[...] shown any signs to make you think that he will be, but it’s going to be real interesting,” said HockeyBuzz writer Andy Strickland. “He’s a hard player to figure out. There’s so much value to his game outside of his [...]