Monday Musings #2

The St. Louis Blues

The Blues wrapped up their last expedition to Western Canada this week, winning two out of three games. Overall in that half of Canada the Blues finished the 09-10 season with a 5-1-0 record.

The Fourth Period reported (via the Ottawa Sun) that the Blues are going to deal Paul Kariya by the March 3rd trade deadline. I wouldn’t be so sure. If all they can get is a mid round pick, Paul is playing well and the Blues are in the hunt..they don’t have to trade him.

Speaking of dumb trade rumors (or trades in general. This has to be candidate for the worst proposed Blues trade by a non Blues fan on HF Boards.

We know officiating in the NHL can be lacking at times. Bernie Miklasz at the St. Louis Post Dispatch tells us how looking at a horrible call in Vancouver Wednesday night. Andy Strickland talked about that Thursday as well.

First there was the “Oshie’d” T-Shirt. Now we have the Inglorious Backes.

Rumors are floating around that the Pens are interested in Jackman and/or Kariya. As a diehard fan of both teams, I just don’t see that happening. Too many cap issues there for the Pens.

Around the NHL

Welcome back David Booth. He hasn’t played since October 24th when Mike Richards delivered a rather nasty head shot. Booth returned on Sunday against the New York Islanders.  Joe Corvo is also close to coming back from a really nasty leg laceration. Both are amoungst my favorite non Blues (and non Pens) players in the league. Their return should also greatly help my Keeper League team. Sadly the injury likely prevented Booth from representing the US at the Olympics. Booth registeted a power play assist and 3 shots on goal in his return. A 2-0 win over the Islanders.

Good Lord…can anyone stop the Caps? As of Thursday they had no lost since January 15th and scored fewer than 4 goals only once in that time frame. So what if Ovechkin doesn’t score? Semin will pick up the tab apparently. Varlamov, Theodore hurt? Who cares! Use Michal Neuvirth.

Eric Staal is an absolute beast of a hockey player. I need to know what they grow on that farm out in Thunder Bay that produces players like that. Staal picked up 2 Goals and 3 Assists this week while the Canes have a 4 Game winning streak going back to Sunday the 24th.

Kudos to Eric’s brother Jordan who became the youngest player in NHL history to reach 300 games played. Pensburgh takes us through history.

Apparently the Cam Janssen hit on Carey Price set off a chain of events leading to a locker room melt down in Montreal.

The Hockey News says teams should be more interested in Ponikarovsky than Stajan and they have good reasons why. See Pony in a Bluenote?

The Hawks apparently like to get freaky in Limos? I mean no offense to the girls in the pictures…but can’t Patrick Kane do better? I’ve been to Chicago, there are some very beautiful women there…maybe he just isn’t looking in the right places.

The #1 Player the Hockey News cannot wait to see in the NHL? Jason Zucker. I’m on board there, let’s just make sure it’s in a Bluenote.

Jonas Hiller inked a 4-year extension with the Anaheim Ducks. Scratch him off any free agent wish lists. Pekka Rinne is still hanging out there. Does this spell the end of JS Giguere in Anaheim? Likely so. He will likely be traded or bought-out this summer. The guy could still start somewhere and make an impact. I think teams are hoping he is bought out and they don’t have to eat that contract. I bet the Flyers would be interested.

Scott Stevens said that there is no need to change the rules regarding head shots. “I think hitting is a big part of the game and we have to be careful we don’t go too far and, you know, make the game just a finesse game, just a skating game,” Stevens said.  “I think people like the physical part of this game and we don’t want to lose that.” No offense to Mr. Stevens, who I really liked a kid growing up, but we do not need head shots. If the only hit you can make is to the head, it’s not needed. You can have plenty of big hits and big checks with out hitting a guy in the head. You’re not only risking his livelihood, but his life.

So Mario and the Pens ownership want to buy the Pirates? I am also a big baseball fan and it would be nice to see a competitve Pirates team. With the Pens future improving, hopefully the team can revive the Pirates as well. A team that has turned in to a farm club for other MLB teams. Maybe Mario can stop the Pirates run at being the KC Royals of the NL.

The Senators set a franchise record when they won their ninth game in a row Saturday. Too bad it cost them Nick Foligno for a while.

A crazy Sunday of pre-Olympic Break trading occured Sunday. Toronto swapped Hagman, Stajan, Mayers, and White for Phaneuf + parts from the Flames. Toronto sent Blake and Toskala to Anaheim for JS Giguere. Calgary later in the evening traded Jokinen and Prustto the Rangers for Kotalik + Higgins.

Pretty good game Sunday on NBC between the Wings and Pens. Crosby with the Pens lone regulation goal and the winner in the Shootout. Jimmy Howard is a heck of a goalie. Shows what patience in allowing a goalie to develop can do.