St Louis Blues

NHL trade rumors will soon come to an end for the 2011-2012 season. A mere seven days remain. The St. Louis Blues have been linked to all sorts of names in the process.

Some franchises will frantically search for a deal that will put their team over the top. Others will practically auction their pieces of value off to the highest bidder.

While much of the league will participate in some sort of shuffle in the final week of the trade season, the St. Louis Blues won't be one of them.

Despite being a large contributor to early trade rumors, St. Louis has yet to emerge as a real player in any of the rumored deals. There are many reasons for this.

The return of Kent Huskins all but assures the Blues won't add defensive depth. Goaltending? Obviously not. That leaves offense.

Averaging only 2.51 goals per game, there is no question St. Louis is lacking in the scoring department. While goal-scoring youngsters may be available—Rick Nash, Zach Parise, Bobby Ryan—can the Blues put something together that lands them the prize?

Strictly financially speaking, the Blues are not in the best situation. Barring an unforeseen miracle, there is no way the sale of the team is completed before Monday's trade deadline.

Without their owner of the future, the Blues are unlikely to take on a large contract such as Nash or Ryan. This is especially true given the fairly attractive free agent class that awaits this summer—Parise anyone?

Personnel-wise, who do the Blues really have to offer? Both prospects Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko are most likely out of the question.  

There is no reason to sell low on either Patrik Berglund—who has skated well of late—or Chris Stewart.

Both skaters have underperformed this year; that is not a question. Remember though, both guys are under 25 years of age. The potential of both has been evident in spurts in their time in St. Louis. Sustaining this level of play only comes with experience.

Ben Bishop certainly seems like an attractive asset. The AHL All-Star Game MVP is believed to be one of the top goaltenders in the minors. With both Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott firmly cemented into the Blues future plans, it looks like the 25-year-old Bishop is the odd man out.

The return the Blues could receive for Bishop is significantly diminished by his unrestricted free agency following this season. If you are another team, why give up top prospects when you can retain them and sign Bishop this offseason?

Hypothetically speaking, if the Blues were able to somehow piece together an attractive offer both player-wise and financially, would it be worth it?

My guess is no.

This team has battled its way to the fourth best point total in the league thus far. There is a healthy mix of young players and veterans.

The Blues management as well as Coach Ken Hitchcock love what the Blues have in front of them. The high praise Hitchcock gives when the team is playing well speaks volumes.

These guys have been working together since the middle of September, building chemistry that seems genuine. They enjoy being around each other off the ice and playing together on it.

So, it seems to me risk is much greater than than reward.

The team is young. If the Blues were building for one final playoff run, then perhaps a trade would make sense. On the contrary, the Blues are doing just the opposite of that. They are building for what looks to be many, many playoff runs to come.

Because of this, I don't see them doing anything drastic with a "win now" attitude. "Hitch" is ready to battle to the end with these guys. 

The trade rumors will continue to swirl as we approach Monday's deadline. It won't be a shock when the Blues sit back and watch it pass, ready to take on the final months of the season without a deadline deal.

We have come to the point in the season where the smallest of tweaks could mean a world of difference. 

The trade deadline looms, with the Stanley Cup push to follow immediately after. Teams with high hopes are now entertaining a bevy of trade offers and pickups that could make them deeper and stronger into the playoffs. 

There are only a few teams that are actually just one player away from really threatening to take the coveted prize home at the end of the season, and here they are. 

1. Los Angeles Kings

The hottest name on the market right now is Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash. ESPN's Craig Custance reports that the LA Kings could be in the market for Nash, and may have the pieces Columbus needs. (Link may be hidden behind a pay wall.)

The best part is that the Kings need a player who can get the offense rolling since LA is stagnant on the offensive side of the ice. Custance writes: 

The Kings currently average 2.10 goals per game, which is No. 30 overall in the NHL. The good news is that they're allowing only 2.07 goals per game, which is No. 3 overall...So it's no surprise that Lombardi is exploring every option to try to find a way to add a player who can help his team get to that magical three-goal mark a little more often.

It's important to note that despite their issues with consistently finding the back of the net, the Kings are second in their division, just three points shy of the pacesetter San Jose Sharks.

Nash would be the missing piece to make the Kings a true force in the West. 

2. St. Louis Blues

The latest rumor to hit the Blues is that of New York Islanders' P.A. Parenteau potentially coming to St. Louis. Rob Vollman of Hockey Prospectus thinks he would be the perfect fit in St. Louis. (Link may be hidden behind a pay wall.)

Despite the recent assertion by ESPN.com's Scott Burnside that P.A. Parenteau belongs in Long Island, he could prove to be the ideal addition to the Blues right now. The unrestricted free agent is fifth in the league with 37 assists...other options could include Tampa Bay's playoff specialist, Teddy Purcell, or tiny David Desharnais of the Montreal Canadiens.

The Blues are on the cusp, and there is no shortage of solutions out there right now. 

3. New York Rangers

We come to one of the best teams in the league, but one that still needs to add some depth to its power play. The Rangers need a gritty veteran who can shoulder some of the load in the postseason. 

ESPN's Timo Seppa has the answer to help out captain Ryan Callahan. (Link may be hidden behind pay wall.)

Shane Doan is the player that Callahan should wish to be in 10 years. The 35-year-old Coyotes' captain is in the top 25 with 145 hits...Though not quite the power-play specialist that teammate Ray Whitney has been...Doan is no slouch, either, having averaged 10-plus power-play goals per season since the lockout. Doan could help the Rangers on many levels and just might be the missing piece to a championship squad.

 

This is the final push, and we are only a few days away from the trade deadline that will bring all of the madness to a halt. 

This leaves a small window for the powerful to get deeper, for what should be a long playoff haul. Injuries and mental breakdowns have to be taken into account as contenders make sure not to leave any stone unturned. 

Follow @gabezal.

It has been well documented this season that the St. Louis Blues do not score very many goals.

It appeared the team was on the right track last week when they scored three times in four consecutive games, but Tuesday night St. Louis fans were once again reminded of the team's offensive woes in the Blues' 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

There has been much speculation that the Blues will be active at the trade deadline, as they search for a big-time goal scorer who can make the Blues an even more serious Stanley Cup contender.

Before the Blues go crazy at the trade deadline and make a big deal, however, there is one player who should get a chance.

While he may not be the player he once was, he is a former 50-goal scorer who could give the Blues the offensive spark they need to win a Stanley Cup. That player is Jonathan Cheechoo.

At first thought, this does not seem like the best idea.

Cheechoo has only scored 16 goals this year for the Blues' minor league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. He is considered past his prime and is definitely not the same player who scored 165 goals in six seasons with the San Jose Sharks.

Many would consider this to be a risky move.

On the contrary, I do not see any risk in this move. If things do not work out for five or six games, then St. Louis sends Cheechoo back down to Peoria to finish his season with the Rivermen.

If things do work out, however, the rewards could be spectacular.

Cheechoo could provide the Blues with the offense they have been missing. He may not be incredible, but right now the Blues are getting very little production out of their right-wing spot, so the expectations will not be too high for him.

Instead of making a potentially catastrophic blockbuster deal for Rick Nash or some other All-Star-type player, give Cheechoo a shot. Cheechoo might realize that this is his final shot in the NHL and be motivated to do something amazing for the Blues.

It's so often unknown how players will react when everything is on the line for them. Just look at players like Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin. You never know what will happen until you give a guy a chance.

It is time for the St. Louis Blues to call up Jonathan Cheechoo to the NHL. He could be the missing piece to the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup puzzle.

Over a 26-game span with St. Louis last season, Kevin Shattenkirk managed to impress his teammates and coaching staff with his play. In 2011-12, the Blues’ blueliner has been even better.

It was one of the biggest trades of the 2010-11 campaign, a deal, almost one year ago, that saw the swap of four former first-rounders. Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and a conditional second-round pick, came to the Blues for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a conditional first-round pick.

For Shattenkirk, the 14th overall selection of the Avalanche in 2007, the change in uniforms and cities proved to be an ideal move.

In his first game with St. Louis, a home debut at the Scottrade Center, he recorded an assist in a 9-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Not a bad way to kickstart his career with the Blues.

“It’s really fun how tight-knit we are, how loose things are in the dressing room,” offered Shattenkirk, who had 17 points with St. Louis in 2010-11, after 26 points in 46 games with Colorado. “It was apparent right from the start that was the atmosphere. As a new guy coming in, it was just what you would hope for,” he told NHLPA.com.

His comfort level has translated into an even more impressive showing in 2011-12, a season in which the Blues have recovered from a slow start to become one of the Western Conference’s most consistent clubs.

The former standout at Boston University, who helped the Terriers win the National Championship 4-3 against the RedHawks of Miami University, assisting on the overtime, game-winning goal, is proud of the reputation the Blues have earned around the league.

Flattery, in this instance, takes the form of dislike.

“If I’m texting with some of the guys I know around the league, a lot of them will say that they hate to play us because we are a hard-working team,” said Shattenkirk, who was named as co-captain, along with Brian Strait, of Boston University for the 2009–10 season.

He then became sole captain of the Terriers, and the first junior sole captain since 1961–62, after Strait turned professional. “That’s something you appreciate hearing because that’s what we’ve strived to be as a team.”

Shattenkirk is also proud of how he and his teammates responded to their difficult start to the season.

“The last thing you want to do, especially with how close things always are in each conference, is fall out of touch early,” said the native of Greenwich, Connecticut. “When (coach) Ken Hitchcock came in, things started to change and we didn’t give up hope.”

While they find themselves sitting in a comfortable playoff position, Shattenkirk, who won silver with Team USA at the 2007 IIHF Under 18 Championships in Finland, is keeping a level-headed approach as the intensity picks up leading into the post-season.

Trying not to look too far ahead isn’t always easy.

“It’s tough, especially if you are playing well,” admitted the defenseman, who recently celebrated his 23rd birthday. “Things fluctuate so quickly. One game, you’ve moved up to the top part of the West and a few games later, you find yourselves dropping several spots. The way we’ve looked at it is to roll with the punches. I think the only way to look at it is game-to-game.”

Shattenkirk, who stands 5’11” and weighs 195 pounds, was able to ruminate about his game plan for the second half of the season during the All-Star break.

“I’d like to contribute more to our power play,” he noted. “I think that’s something we all want to do better. Capitalizing on the man advantage can play a big part in the outcome of a game. It’s something I thought about when we had a few days off.”

He also had some time to reflect on his first full season in St. Louis.

“I feel lucky to have this opportunity,” said Shattenkirk. “We’ve brought in new guys who have fit in perfectly. The chemistry is great.

"When you look at the quality people and players we have, it’s a great situation. (Teammate and fellow defenceman) Barret Jackman is someone who has been in the league for a while and if I need to talk about something or ask advice, he’s fantastic. I can say that about all the guys.”

And there’s plenty that can be said about the significant contributions Kevin Shattenkirk brings to the Blues.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

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What a year the Blues are having. After starting out the season 6-7, the team has stormed back with a 23-6-7 record since Ken Hitchcock took the helm. The Blues have the lowest allowed shots per game, and the fourth best point percentage. All of these statistics are a huge improvement for the team. However, the team needs to keep working in order to stay the course for the playoffs, and needs to be active in order to have a chance at Lord Stanley's Cup.

Right now, the Blues have an average age of 27, which is 17th in the NHL. So while age is not the largest factor, playoff experience is.

Before signing Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott, the majority of Blues skaters had only played in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Blues were swept by the Vancouver Canucks in the opening round.  Adding Langenbrunner and Arnott was a huge step for the Blues, as their veteran leadership has helped the team vastly this season. However, the Blues need to do more.

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla is a player that the Blues should target at the deadline, and could actually pull off. Iginla is the class act of the NHL, and deserves to have a shot at the Cup at least one time before he retires. The Flames are not the team to get him there.

The Blues have the pieces that the Flames need, but it would be a hefty price. Iginla would come to the Blues if they offered Chris Stewart or Vladimir Sobotka, Ben Bishop or Jake Allen, and then some draft picks. Personally, I would welcome the trade.

Stewart is a gritty player that fits into the Blues system well, but it seems that he is not the player the Blues traded for. He is streaky and inconsistent. Sobotka is another gritty player that is strong on his feet. He is an energizer that the Flames could use after losing Iginla. 

Miikka Kiprusoff is not the goalie he used to be. He is still good, but in a few years the Flames need someone who can take over. Bishop or Allen are two goalies that are going to play extremely well at the NHL level. However, the Blues will need to get rid of one of them with the depth they already have up front. 

Iginla would be a great piece for the Blues to utilize. He is the pure goal scorer that the Blues have been lacking all year. Currently ranking  27th on the power play, the Blues need to score some goals, and Iginla would instantly help. He would also be able to be the goal scorer on a line with Matt D'Agostini and Patrik Berglund. This would be a combination of both grit and finesse.

The biggest upside with Iginla is the intangible experience. Iginla is respected no matter where he goes, and he would have the ability to be the undisputed locker room leader. Iginla's experience, seasonal and playoffs, would pay dividends and would push the team deep into the playoffs.

Zach Parise

Parise is another player that the Blues could target that is a pure goal scorer. They could attract the Devils with the same offer that they could give the Flames.

Martin Brodeur is not the same goaltender that he was in the late 1990s/early 2000s, and they need someone to take his place fast. Jake Allen or Ben Bishop would fill that void. This need would allow the Blues to make an offer where they would lose less, which would make this deal more attractive than the Iginla trade.

Parise would come into the Blues system as a left winger, which is the thinnest position on the team. If Sobotka would leave, then David Perron could move down to the second line with Berglund and D'Agostini, which would also keep him at his natural position. Parise would make the David Backes and T.J. Oshie line even more lethal, possibly even the top line in the NHL.

Parise would not have the type of experience that Iginla has. Parise is a lead-by-example leader, much like David Backes is. The tandem would make the overall team play much higher, but it would be up to Langenbrunner and Arnott to carry the veteran leadership role.

Get Healthy

Possibly the best move the Blues could make would come from the player's front. They need to get Andy McDonald and Alex Steen back into the lineup.

Andy McDonald would instantly add playoff experience to the team. He was on the Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks in 2007. With all of the concussion problems McDonald has dealt with, this may be his last legitimate chance to win a Cup. That drive would make him even more dangerous on the ice.

Alex Steen was the leading scorer on the Blues before he suffered a concussion. The left winger would be put on the top line, much like Parise, and would be the goal scorer too. While he may not have the pure talent of goal scoring, he wouldn't need to learn the system like Parise or Iginla would have to. Plus, the Blues wouldn't have to give anything up to have them back in the lineup. So the best trade deadline move that the Blues could make may not be trading for anyone.

The Central Division is the best division that the NHL has seen in a long time. The Blues, much like their playing style, are grinding it out while waiting for the chance to capitalize. If the Blues make a move at the deadline, it will be for someone who will make an immediate impact and will be able to help carry the team deep into the playoffs.

Historians watch out. The Blues could have their first cup by June. At least, that's all fans can hope for.   

In early November, the St. Louis Blues were a club with playoff aspirations, but were also sitting on a 6-7 record and decided to make a major move.  Ousted was head coach Davis Payne, and he was replaced with coaching veteran Ken Hitchcock.  Since that point, the Blues have climbed to the near the top of the Western Conference (and overall NHL) standings. 

This has been a drastic improvement over what Blues fans have come to expect over the better part of the last decade.  Since the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 NHL season, the Blues have only qualified for the postseason one time.

Before the lockout, the Blues had been a playoff team for 25 consecutive seasons.  Fans in St. Louis had been accustomed to hockey after early April, but the Blues clubs since the lockout have been nothing short of disappointing. 

As the NHL is set to resume after its annual All-Star break, the Blues finally find themselves in line to be invited to the after-party once again.  However, the second half of the season will do the Blues no favors. 

After taking advantage of a home-game heavy schedule before the break, the club now finds itself with 20 of its last 33 games on the road, including three games in Chicago and another west-coast swing.  While the club leads the league in home wins (21), they are also a sub-.500 team on the road (8-10-3). 

Currently, the Blues have a 10 point cushion over the 8th place Minnesota Wild, so there is a little margin for error.  However, playing .500 hockey the rest of the way will put the Blues' point total in the upper 90s.

Remember last year when the 8th seed Chicago Blackhawks needed all 97 of their points to qualify for the playoffs (Dallas was 9th with 95 points).  In the days of 3 point games, getting to 90 points is no longer the near playoff-qualifier it used to be.  How can the Blues keep the pace, you say?

KEEPING THE INTENSITY

Coach Hitchcock came to town with promises of playing a five-man, 200 foot game.  And boy has he delivered on that promise.  However, the team now needs to reset itself after the break and keep that intensity.  With a deep lineup, fresh legs should always be available for that energy required to play Hitch's game and earn a "road warrior" mentality for the balance of the season.

GETTING HEALTHY

Two of the club's pre-break weaknesses were converting power plays and performing in shoot-outs.  If forwards Andy McDonald and Alex Steen can return from their concussions sooner rather than later, both areas should pick up immediately.

Neither will most likely be available for the Feb. 3rd game against the Kings, but hopefully the wait won't be much longer (McDonald recently shed the red non-contact jersey in practice).  With things bound to tighten up in the playoff race, the Blues cannot continue to squander games and points in these areas.

BEING SMART SHOPPERS

If McDonald or Steen are slow in their recovery process, the club might need to look outside the current roster for help. Adding a scoring forward or perhaps a veteran defenseman could be at the top of the wish list.

While the former would probably require talent from the top three lines, the latter might be had for G Ben Bishop, who is having a stellar year in Peoria and is only being held down by the even better play of goalies Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott with the big club.

Of course, top-flight prospects Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko are off-limits and could be making an NHL impact next season.

PROTECTING THE CAGE

Speaking of Halak and Elliott, they have been a huge part of the Blues' success to this point.  Keeping that potent one-two punch will be invaluable to getting into the playoffs.

In 2010, the Blues got off to a hot start behind the play of newly-acquired Halak.  However, when his play faltered a bit, the club got caught in a downward spiral with no reliable assistance coming off the bench.

Now with Elliott in the mix, the Blues can afford to bridge the gap if one of the goalies hits the same inconsistent patch. 

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ALL

Without a bona fide "sniper" on the team, the Blues have relied on scoring from all lines this season.

After a slow start, Chris Stewart has gotten back on track.  David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund are all in double-digits for goals.  Veteran additions Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner are chipping in.  Even young defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk are in the top six point-getters for the club.

However, there has been a lack of production from David Perron after his return from injury this year.  If the club can get him on track, and can get back Steen and McDonald ASAP, the Blues could see consistent scoring from all four lines.

Obviously, the second half won't be a cakewalk with their remaining schedule, but the Blues have put themselves in a position to qualify for the playoffs with their strong first half.  If the club can hit the keys above, fans in St. Louis can get excited for a thrilling postseason rather than just being happy to get there.