After being everyone's favorite NHL "Team On the Rise" the past couple years, the St. Louis Blues finally played up to those expectations early last year by charging out of the gate with a 9-1-2 record...
St. Louis Blues: Will Brian Elliott Win the Vezina Trophy This Year?
Dec 23, 2011
If I would have asked whether Brian Elliott was a potential Vezina Trophy winner before the season began, I would have received one of two responses: "Who’s Brian Elliott?" or "He was one of the worst goalies in the league last year, why would you even ask such a question?"
Well unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should now know who Brian Elliott is and what he has accomplished so far this season, considering his performance between the pipes is one of the biggest stories in the NHL this year.
Elliott, who was drafted by Ottawa in the ninth round (291st overall) in 2003, spent the better part of three seasons with the Senators before being traded away by the club in February, after going 13-19-8 with a 3.19 goals against average, and a .894 save percentage in his first 43 games of the season. He finished up the campaign as a backup with Colorado, where he posted even more horrific numbers—going 2-8-1 with a 3.83 goals against average and a .891 save percentage.
The struggling goaltender was released by the Avalanche in the offseason, and unsure if he would ever land a job in the NHL again, was signed by the St. Louis Blues to a one-year contract worth $600,000.
With Jaroslav Halak already a designated starter, Elliott was forced to compete fiercely in the preseason for the backup position against Ben Bishop, and after posting nearly identical statistics, the Blues went with Elliott because he edged Bishop in NHL experience. That may go down as the best managerial decision of the year.
It is a bizarre scenario which no one could have predicted, but Brian Elliott has been the best goalie in the NHL this season.
After Halak started the season off slow, Elliott took hold of the reigns and is the key reason why the Blues have had their first sustained success in years.
In 16 starts, he is 13-3-0 with a 1.52 goals against average, a .944 save percentage and four shutouts. He leads all goalies in goals against average, save percentage, win percentage (.765), is tied for the league lead in shutouts, and ranks 11th in wins despite playing at least five fewer games than everyone ahead of him.
More remarkably, he is the first goalie since Frank Brimsek in the 1938-39 season to allow no more than two goals in each of his first 11 starts, and has only allowed more than two goals on two occasions since reaching that mark.
The low-scoring St. Louis squad miraculously sits in ninth place in the league and fifth in the Western Conference, and they can thank Brian Elliott for that.
After examining his stats and understanding how the Blues’ success can almost be directly attributed to his play, there should be no question that at this point in the season, no goalie has been more valuable than Brian Elliott.
And assuming he stays on this record-setting pace, the Vezina Trophy (for most valuable goaltender) should be placed in his hands without a second thought come awards time.
He should win it, but that doesn’t mean he will win it.
Let's break this down: First off, the chances of Elliott having similar stats at season’s end are minimal to none.
Second, even if Elliott’s final numbers are phenomenal, the NHL Awards are mostly a popularity contest, and even with brilliant totals, it's rare for a player who has been somewhat anonymous for awhile—or who does not play on a powerhouse team—to pick up well-deserved hardware.
Third, Elliott and Halak are most likely going to be a tandem goaltending unit for the rest of the season, each playing around the same amount of games. The Vezina almost always goes to bonafide starters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOgAKB31Oo
Goalies are the most streaky and inconsistent players in hockey. For five games they play like superstars, the next five they play like minor leaguers.
It’s entirely possible that Brian Elliott is riding the best goaltending streak of his life, and will cool off soon and resume being a mediocre backup.
I thought that was the case seven games in, but considering he has now played 17 games and still has not cooled off, I’m becoming more optimistic that he’s a changed goalie. He may finish with respectable numbers, but to finish the season with the numbers he currently possesses would be a miracle.
If Elliott does stay on pace for the rest of the season, he would finish with a 32-7-0 record, 1.52 goals against average, .944 save percentage and nine shutouts in 41 games. He would set new single-season records in both goals against average and save percentage, and his win percentage would be one of the highest of all time.
You’d think those numbers would solidify Elliott a spot on the Vezina Trophy and possibly the Hart Trophy, but you’d be wrong.
In 2004, then unknown goalie Miikka Kiprusoff burst onto the scene by setting the record for the lowest single-season goals against average of the modern age (which still stands), and he also recorded the second-highest single-season save percentage of all-time. He finished second to Martin Brodeur in Vezina voting, not because Brodeur had better stats, but because of popularity and games played (Brodeur played 75, Kiprusoff played 38).
In 2003, another relatively unknown goalkeeper at the time, Marty Turco, had a monster of a season, which saw him set the record for the lowest goals against average of the modern era, and the second highest save percentage of all-time (which were both surpassed the next year by Kiprusoff).
He never took home a Vezina that year. Brodeur did, because he was well-known and he played nearly 20 more games.
In 1999, a little goalie named Ron Tugnutt had one of the best single-season goaltending performances in NHL history. He went 22-10-8 with a 1.79 goals against average and a .925 save percentage in 43 games.
That was the same year in which Dominik Hasek had one of his most dominant seasons and was looking for his fifth Vezina. Hasek had a better save percentage than Tugnutt, but his goals against average was worse, so it should have been a close race.
Hasek won the Vezina with 73 votes while Tugnutt finished in fifth place with 13.
No matter how well a goalie performs in a season, he will almost never win the Vezina Trophy unless he plays at least 75 percent of his team’s games and has been well-known for a few years prior.
There have been a few exceptions to this rule (Billy Smith, Jim Carey, Ron Hextall), but since 1996, no one has won based purely on skill. Popularity and games played have been the unofficial deciding factors for Vezina winners for the past 15 years.
Brian Elliott may set records, he may rewrite the history books, he may lead the Blues to a President’s Trophy, and he may even lead them to a Stanley Cup.
But as long as he’s competing against Tim Thomas, Henrik Lundqvist or Roberto Luongo, and only playing half of his team’s games, a Vezina Trophy may just be the toughest thing to procure.
St. Louis Blues: The Team's Christmas Wishlist for Santa
Dec 21, 2011
I'm going out on a limb here, but given he lives in the icy North Pole, Santa Claus probably likes his hockey.
You know who else is loving their hockey right now? Blues fans.
The Blues have been spectacular this season. Sporting the best defensive game and goaltending in the league, St.Louis looks like a legitimate contender for the rest of the season and for the playoffs.
Although Blues hockey is flourishing right now, there is still room for improvement. Since Christmas is just days away, let's take a look at St. Louis' wish list for Santa Claus.
1. Some kind of power play
Without a doubt, the Blues power play needs to be improved. If you can even find it.
With a man advantage St. Louis is scoring just 11 percent of the time. That's good for dead last in the NHL,and at times this season, it has fallen as low as eight percent.
Don't understand how awful that is? The best power play is Vancouver's at 26.1 percent.
2. Please find Chris Stewart
Technically Chris Stewart isn't missing. But the Chris Stewart that St. Louis expected to see after getting him from Colorado last February is nowhere to be found.
After joining the Blues near the deadline, Stewart put up 23 points in just 26 games. He looked like the offensive star the team needed.
Watching him play this season, one wouldn't believe he put up those numbers. 29 games into the season, the winger has just four goals and 11 total points.
If he can pick that scoring habit back up, the Blues offense would improve drastically.
3. A healthy Andy McDonald
Yes, Blues fans. Andy McDonald is still in the organization. You wouldn't know it considering he has had trouble staying on the ice. Concussions have been the veteran center's kryptonite.
After suffering a hit to the head three games into the season, McDonald has been gone. If somehow he could recover and come back this season, it would provide an incredible boost for St. Louis.
McDonald is one of the club's best playmakers, and plays need to be made as soon as possible.
4. A Predator drop-off
If the playoffs started today, only one team in the Central Division would be out. That would be Columbus, and it is safe to say their season is done.
Realistically, Chicago and Detroit aren't going to struggle and are locks to see playoff hockey. So Nashville is the key to a continued successful season for St. Louis.
If Nashville struggles, I'm willing to guarantee the Blues see the playoffs. If they do not, St. Louis will battle three Central teams for a playoff spot and things will get more difficult.
A slump could spell bad news for the Blues in the second half of the season, especially with teams like San Jose, Phoenix and Los Angeles trying to sneak into the postseason.
5. Santa, be a Blues fan
It's simple. If the Blues see these wishes come true, we could be looking at a magical year for the club.
Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting in January. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.
After finishing the 2010-11 season ranked 10th in the league in goals per game, nobody could predict that the St. Louis Blues would be struggling to find the back of the net this year, especially since most of their top tier scorers have been healthy...
St. Louis Blues: Top Prospect Proving to Be NHL-Ready
Dec 18, 2011
This season has been a fantastic one for the St. Louis Blues.
After a poor start, head coach Davis Payne was replaced by the seasoned Ken Hitchcock. Hitchcock has turned the team around with his defensive-minded strategy and the Blues are currently tied for fifth place in the Western Conference.
Forward T.J. Oshie looks like he is finally coming into his own and is heading the offensive attack of St. Louis. Oshie has five points in his last five games going into Sunday night's matchup against Columbus.
Oshie and Alex Steen's 21 points are good for the team lead. However, it is not just Oshie's emergence that has Blues fans excited.
Young D-men Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk are playing lights-out hockey and a complete "200-foot game," which is what coach Hitchcock has stressed the importance of from day one.
With these young guns playing well, the Blues are enjoying success and could certainly continue to do so for years to come.
Enter Vladimir Tarasenko.
The St. Louis roster is full of young players who have the potential to light the lamp on a consistent basis. Tarasenko, arguably the Blues top prospect, could be bringing the same by next October.
Drafted 16th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the 20-year-old Russian is looking like a superstar in Russia's KHL for Novosibirsk Siber.
In 31 games this year, the forward has 16 goals and 31 total points. On two occasions, Tarasenko had a hat trick night.
Known for having a quick snap-shot and great speed, the young skater is also renowned for his leadership and team-oriented qualities. Last January, he captained Team Russia to the gold medal in the World Junior Championships.
With the assumed addition of Tarasenko next season, the Blues would have an even better nucleus of young talent on the forecheck.
However, St. Louis will need to re-sign Oshie, Chris Stewart and David Perron to allow the core to continue to grow and improve.
Regardless of what happens, Tarasenko should be dawning a Blues sweater come October 2012. On a team with no legitimate superstar, the opportunity could be huge for the organization's top prospect.
Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting in January. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.
St. Louis Blues: Keith Tkachuk Inducted, Cemented as Blues Great
Dec 13, 2011
After 19 illustrious NHL seasons, Keith Tkachuk is getting the recognition he deserves.
Along with greats Gary Suter, Chris Chelios, Mike Emrick and Ed Snider, the man nicknamed "Walt" has been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Tkachuk ranks third in goals (538) and fifth in points (1,065) all-time among American-born hockey players. His 2,219 penalty minutes have him fourth on the same list of gritty skaters.
His charge-the-net style of play surfaced when Tkachuk broke into the league at just 19. In the 1991-1992 season, the center scored just three goals and eight points with the Winnipeg Jets.
In 1996, the Jets relocated and became the Phoenix Coyotes. During his first season in Phoenix, Walt lit the lamp 52 times, which would remain his career record for a single-season goal mark.
In 640 games with Winnipeg/Phoenix, the captain scored 323 times and left with 300 assists.
After being embarrassed by the San Jose Sharks in the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the St Louis Blues had a desire to add physical prowess to their squad. For three players (Ladislav Nagy, Michael Handzus and Jeff Taffe) along with a first-round pick, Keith Tkachuk was shipped to the Gateway City.
Added to a line featuring Scott Mellanby and the late Pavol Demitra, Tkachuk fit right in with the Blues, scoring six goals in the final twelve games of the regular season. He then helped St. Louis reach the 2001 Western Conference Finals, where the club fell to the Colorado Avalanche in just five games.
The next five seasons, Tkachuk remained an integral part of the Blues hockey team and helped take them to the playoffs in 2002, 2003 and 2004. However, he was never able to play more than 10 games in those postseason appearances.
In February of 2007, the Blues traded Tkachuk to the Atlanta Thrashers, where he played just 17 games for the club. In return, St. Louis acquired Glen Metropolit and three future draft picks.
That summer, Tkachuk was shipped back to the Blues for what would be his final three seasons.
In nine seasons with St. Louis, Walt played in 542 games, scored 208 goals and 427 overall points dawning the note on the sweater.
What Keith Tkachuk means to the St. Louis Blues organization is indescribable.
To a franchise that has never hoisted the Stanley Cup in its 44 years of existence, seeing Tkachuk inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame gives the Blues something great to look back on.
A fan-favorite during his time in St. Louis, Tkachuk showed the city a style of play which was pretty unfamiliar. Tkachuk's style of crowding the net is very recognizable now with young, gritty guys like captain David Backes and Patrik Berglund doing so.
As the club continues its emergence as one of the toughest in the league, Tkachuk should be considered an inspiration. Many of the team's young guys were able to witness what Walt brought to the ice on a nightly basis, and are now implementing the same grittiness.
It is a beautiful sight and one Blues fans should look forward for years to come.
Congrats, Keith Tkachuk.
Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting in January. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.
NHL Realignment: How Will the St. Louis Blues Be Affected?
Dec 8, 2011
The talk of the National Hockey League this week has been the new realignment. If you still aren't clear on the new format, here we go.
Say goodbye to the two-conference, six-division system. Now, the NHL will feature four region-based conferences. Two conferences have eight teams and two have seven. The top four teams from each currently-nameless conference will be playoff teams. Seeds No. 1 and No. 4 will play and No. 2 and No. 3 will faceoff as well.
The top two teams will then play each other. The champion of each conference will then be just one series away from getting their chance at hoisting the Stanley Cup.
If you are unaware of the new conferences, you can check them out here.
Ultimately, the realignment isn't as radical as most have claimed. Most division rivalries remain intact, although the new conferences will serve better rivalries.
For the St. Louis Blues, the realignment is great.
Not only do the Blues look like a playoff team this season, the league has been pleasantly surprised by Winnipeg and Minnesota as well. Winnipeg has played well at their new home and are in the middle of the pack in the East. Minnesota has the most points in the league and are winning with their third and fourth goalies.
The addition of the Wild, Jets and Stars next season will be a great one for St. Louis. As the Blues' young squad progresses, matching up against similar teams like Winnipeg and Minnesota will be beneficial.
In recent history, the Blues have struggled against Dallas and are winless in two contests against them season, including a 4-0 loss early on.
Against Minnesota, St. Louis has played well. They have split the series against the Wild this season and each game has been decided by a goal.
The Blues don't play Winnipeg until February 25th.
Overall, if the Blues can continue their success for this year and beyond, they have a tough road ahead of them but it is one they can fight through. With the exception of Columbus, all of the teams that will be in Conference B could be playoff teams this season.
The realignment will challenge the St. Louis Blues more than almost any other team in the National Hockey League.
Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting in January. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.
After receiving a huge blind-side hit by Joe Thornton on November 4, 2010, St. Louis Blues forward David Perron acquired a concussion and spent 394 days out, missing 97 games dealing with its aftermath...
They have been around since 1967 and have never won a Stanley Cup. They have made the playoffs only once since the lockout, only to be swept in the first round by Vancouver ...
Blackhawks vs. Blues: David Perron Finally Laces Up the Skates Again
Now after missing 97 games due to a concussion, the Blues' star forward is ready to take the ice in front of a sellout crowd at the Scottrade Center as the Blues host the division rival Chicago Blackhawks.
"It's been a long road obviously," Perron said on Friday. "I didn't expect it to be that long obviously. I'm really excited to get back to the lineup tomorrow. Everyone has been really kind and helpful. I'm just glad to be back to 100 percent healthy now, and ready to go."
Concussions have not been taken lightly in hockey in recent years.
Star forward Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, like Perron, had his season ended with a concussion last year. Crosby returned to the Pittsburgh lineup just 12 days ago.
Another star player, Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins, had his season ended last year with a concussion. Savard will sit out all of this year as well, and could be done with his hockey career.
Perron's return for Saint Louis will be huge, as the Blues have quickly climbed the Western Conference standings under new coach Ken Hitchcock. A win tonight would propel the Blues into a three-way tie for the Central Division lead, along with rivals Detroit and Chicago.
"It's going to be awesome. The guys are playing really well," Perron said. "Our goaltending has been really good. I'll just get in there, play my game and work as hard as I can, and I think for me it's going to be to keep it simple and just take the excitement of the game and bring two points to the team."
The scene at Scottrade will be electric tonight. The Blues are quickly becoming a power in the NHL, and the addition of Perron will certainly have the team and fans fired up.
"Over the last 13 months, I went through all kinds of emotions," said Perron. "I'm ready to be turning the page obviously."
The Blues are also ready to turn the page, and the fans are hungry for a playoff contender. Perron might just be the key to taking the next step towards Saint Louis' first Stanley Cup.
