Blues Cut Roster Down to 41 | Goaltending, Grachev and Pairings Storyline Updates
Brian Elliott & Evgeny Grachev - ©2011 TSNPhotography
We all knew it was coming. The St. Louis Blues announced their first major round of cuts Saturday. Sending four to back to juniors and eight to the Peoria Rivermen. Dropping the roster in camp to 41 players.
Heading back to the juniors are forwards Stephen MacAulay, Ty Rattie, Ryan Tesink and Yannick Veilleux. They join forward Cody Beach , defenseman Brock Beukeboom and goalie Jordan Binnington who were returned to their respective clubs on Thursday. Injured defenseman Joel Edmundson was the first to be cut last Sunday.
Heading three hours north to Rivermen Training Camp, which starts Monday, are Stefen Della Rovere, Brennan Evans, Jake Gannon, Derek Nesbitt, Chase Polacek, Tyler Shattock, David Shields and Brett Sonne.
No real surprises on the list. Save possibly for Della Rovere who agitating physical role is one the Blues need more of. An extended look at camp could have been granted.
Now five games in to the eight game preseason the predicted storylines are evolving. Some are just developing. Here’s the lowdown.
- Both Brian Elliott and Ben Bishop performed well in their first start. Further clouding the picture as to who will back up Jaroslav Halak on October 8th. Elliott may have opened the door for Bishop with his outing in Dallas Saturday night. Allowing three goals on 26 shots against. As St. Louis Post Dispatch beat writer Jeremy Rutherford said, “he wasn’t as sharp as in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Tampa Bay.” Bishop is slated to get at least one more start.
- The Evgeny Grachev dilemma. There is no doubt that the Blues brass wants players to do well and make the coaching staff’s job of picking 23 skaters an absolute nightmare. Depth is what the Blues have been missing for six years and it appears they finally have a legitimate replenishment source. But this also challenges the philosophy of the organization.
Do they reward youth outright and roll a more skilled lineup or do is a young man’s mettle tested and those who have paid their dues take priority?
Grachev has played well enough to make the team. Hands down. End of story. If you need proof beyond my POV, read Gallagher’s over at Gametime. Performance and production be what they may, he is still in that early stage in his professional career. Keep in mind that GM Doug Armstrong and head coach Davis Payne said at the “August Media Summit” that they prefer those types of players playing everyday in the minors rather than sitting in the press box in St. Louis.
Has Grachev played well enough to overcome that dynamic? No. Why?
Another critical point from that August meeting was the idea of team toughness. Not just in that one 2 minutes a night MOAB. But in terms of gritty, sandpaper players who can hold their own in the less glamorous aspects of the game and bring some skill and know-how to the lineup. Sure, Grachev has a big body and through out exhibition play he has proven willing to use it, but in a Patrick Berglund type of way. Not in a BJ Crombeen type of way. An important distinction to make.
That is why he his battle has been against Phil McRae, Brett Sterling, TJ Hensick and Jonathan Cheechoo for the right to be the first recalled instead of Crombeen, Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves.
If not for the acquisitions of Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott, Grachev makes the club out of camp with his performance. But the Blues have added tough veterans who still have some talent left in their aging bodies. There is nothing wrong with playing in the AHL every day to stay in top form and coming down at the first sign of trouble.
- The Carlo Colaiacovo and Roman Polak pairing hasn’t been good enough. More so due to the choppy play of Cola than Polak. Carlo has not looked good in terms of possessing the puck and holding the zone. Hockey gods love Carlo. He is a great person, but just not cut out for top two pairing minutes for a playoff contender.
- Finding a partner for Alex Pietrangelo? This blogger doesn’t know. Petro hasn’t played in either home preseason game.
The Blues are off Sunday and head back to the Mills for two public practices on Monday (10 am) and Tuesday (10:15 am).The next preseason game is Tuesday in Minnesota at 7 pm Central.
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Thanks for reading.
As always you’re welcome to foll me on Twitter: @JTQ_1.
