Bluenotes 2-16-11: Ownership Concerns | Honoring #7 | Tarasenko News

A daily dose of news and views from around St. Louis Blues nation

-

Halak Injury?

Jeremy Rutherford Tweeted that Jaroslav Halak left practice early and was asking for trainer Ray Barlie. Both went in to the locker room.

Lou Korac reported a little later that Halak came out and signed autographs.

Then a little later both say he is day to day with an upper body issue (again). Should be ok to head to Buffalo.

Catastrophe averted is sounds like. Though concerning that this is the second “upper body injury” in practice this month.

With Pujols Situation “Closed” it’s Time to Start Digging in to the Blues Ownership Issue

St. Louis is “Baseball Heaven” and Albert Pujols is the resident deity. It’s completely understandable that his contract and deadline for an extension is big news. Leading the big hitters in the media to keep their eyes on Number 5.

The Blues are sitting with one butt cheek off the playoff bubble and the financial constraints of an ownership group in transition have adversely effected daily operations. As to say injuries had debilitated the Note and they can’t afford to call in reinforcements. Nor could they afford to supplement a lineup that missed the cut off a season ago.

Managing owner Dave Checketts has been pretty transparent with the process. However, his most recent expected resolution date/time period, is coming to a pass. Originally, what fans and the MSM have called “soft deadlines”, of end of year 2010 and the Board of Governors meetings at the All Start Game have come and gone with little fan fare. As the duration for resolution lengthens, the discussion seems more infrequent.

Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

I’m not asking for Chris Kerber, Norm Sanders, Rutherford, Korac, Doug Vaughn, Rene Knott, Jeff Gordon, Steve Savard, or another traditional sports media member to fabricate information or speculate on “who could be replacing Towerbrook”.

However, shouldn’t someone be asking, “why is it taking so long?”, “why do you keep saying by a given date and the deadline passes?”. The organization is virtually reeling at the end of its five year re-build. They’ve hit the ceiling and can’t break through. Ownership and lack of ability to reasonably increase payroll is a key cause of the hold up.

The situation is understandable. Cardinals news and analysis brings in the hits, page views and subscriptions that bring in revenue. Fans crave and consume it. Fans that also spend their dollars at Blues games. Money they’ve dumped in to a product that has many feel has largely failed to deliver where it counts. Wins and playoff appearances. Further instability is going largely unchecked.

As a season ticket holder I want to know where my investment is going. Right now, it’s rather up in the air. I don’t have an audience with the Blues, nor does the entire STH population. We don’t have a rep to talk to the front office and get answers. What we do have is the media. Albert hasn’t signed and won’t anytime soon. Let sleeping dogs lie. Please direct some questioning to the Blues.

Honor the 7s

The Blues announced Monday afternoon that on March 7th, 2011 the organization will honor the four most prominent wearers of No. 7. They are Red Berenson, Garry Unger, Joe Mullen and Keith Tkachuk.

Walter is the only one who I personally remember. Mullen was in town in my lifetime, but when he left in 1986, I was three years old.

This doesn’t sound like a retirement of number, like Brett Hull’s No. 16, but more like Bob Plager’s No. 5 and Doug Wickenheiser’s No. 14.

Kudos to the Blues for recognizing the wonderful players who have worn the lucky number.

Standings Watch

After Tuesday night’s action the Blues are still in 13th place with 59 points. Now 3points ahead of 14th place Colorado and 2behind 12th place Columbus.

They are 7 points back of 8th place Calgary and 9 points behind 4th place Anaheim.

For those scoreboard watching nightly, the schedule for Wednesday has LA taking on Columbus, Minnesota in Chicago, Calgary at Dallas in four point swing games. Anaheim is taking on Washington at home and Pittsburgh is in Colorado.

Tarasenko News

According to reports on HC Sibir’s website, their General Manager had the following to say regrading Blues 2010 draft pick, Vladimir Tarasenko (stick tap to Alex Seren Rosso for the info):

In Russian:
Что касается Вовы, у нас с ним формально тоже контракт на сезон 2011-2012, а дальше уже все будет зависеть от его желания – поехать в НХЛ или остаться у нас. Мы очень хотим, чтобы он остался в «Сибири» и считаем это правильным. Но Владимир будет принимать решение самостоятельно.

In English:
Regarding Vladimir, formally he has a contract for the 11-12 season, but it’s depends on his wishes, if he wants to go to the NHL or to stay home. We want him to stay and we think it’d be the right thing, but Vladimir will decide himself.