Suppose I should mention who’s scouting in the building: CHI, TOR, TB, PHX, PHI, NSH, NYR, STL. Not going to read anything into it.

— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) February 9, 2012

For those who don’t know Eric Stephens is the Orange County Register beat writer. Not exactly the kind of guy to make stuff up.

Certainly the conspiracy theorists will say this is a sign that the Blues are hot on the tale of Tuomo Ruutu, Brian Allen or even Eric Staal. Maybe even Bobby Ryan!

Those with agendas much the opposite look ahead to the schedule and see Anaheim coming up on March 8th and the Hurricanes a week later on the 15th. They’ll also point out that Dave Taylor, Director of Player Personnel, lives near LA and likely takes in many Ducks (and Kings) games.

Team Yearbooks are so useful…

Honestly, reports of scouts typically don’t mean much. Teams do advance scouting quite frequently. It’s a staple of the business. A scout’s presence is just magnified in the stretch of games connecting the All Star Game and the Trade Deadline. Something must be going down if they’re there because those in the know say so.

No. Not always.

Yes, eyes are always open. Notes always taken. These guys are not fools. They don’t get where they are by being one. But going to a game to solely look at trade targets like raw meet on the slab at the corner butcher shop is not their job description. Seriously.

For those like me, who just want to see the connections, its pretty obvious in this case.

A tough stretch of games lies ahead over the next 6-8 weeks. The Blues need to be as prepared as possible. Advance scouting is a must. No games can be taken lightly in March. That said, Doug Armstrong is not the type of GM to be ill-prepared for February 27th. Two teams out of the playoff race are playing in LA and a pretty important person in terms of personnel evaluations and decisions (if you can’t tell by the man’s title…) lives near by the location.

Two birds. One stone. Makes a lot of sense.

Roman Polak might not be everyone's first choice to score, but the way things are going... who knows?!

Better late than never, am I right? Here is tonight’s Pick Goal Scorer post. Put your guess to tally the St. Louis Blues first goal in the comments below. some sort of Blues themed prize awaits the season’s best picker after Game 82.

Game Info

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at Scotiabank Place.

Opposing Netminder: Craig Anderson (Daily Faceoff)

Expected Line Combos: (Per Jeremy Rutherford)

Forwards
Jamie Langenbrunner – David Backes – T.J. Oshie
David Perron – Patrik Berglund – Matt D’Agostini
Chris Porter – Vladimir Sobotka – Chris Stewart
B.J. Crombeen – Scott Nichol – Ryan Reaves

Defensemen
Barret Jackman – Kevin Shattenkirk
Carlo Colaiacovo – Alex Pietrangelo
Kris Russell – Roman Polak

Goalie
Brian Elliott

As a few of you read yesterday, I don’t fall in to the camp that fears a trade destroying team chemistry. The benefit of addressing needs greatly outweighs the risk of making a couple of guys unhappy that their buddy was traded. It’s a business and there is the whole franchise’s future to consider.

If you too prescribe to that thought process then Monday wasn’t a good day. As one of the “best case scenario” options was taken off the presumed market when Tim Gleason signed a four year, $16 million extension with the Carolina Hurricanes. The gritty 29 year old has been physical presence on the Canes backend for several years. Most Blues fans were first exposed to the Michigan native at the 2010 Winter Olympics when he formed a solid pairing with former Blue Erik Johnson.

Gleason was the ideal type of player many visualized next to Johnson’s replacement Alex Pietrangelo. An experienced, “top 4″, type defenseman who keeps his game simple and fights hard. As a UFA he appeared to be a rental only option, but at his relative young age could have been worth a multi-year investment regardless of Barret Jackman’s decision to stay or go.

There are other prime candidates for the Blues to target, but not many. As Andy Strickland pointed out, Lubomir Vishnovsky is a veteran puck mover who can rifle the puck and help the deflated Blues power play. He has connections to the organization via Dave Taylor. However, he is not the surest of defenders. Can the Blues afford Carlo Colaiacovo or Kris Russell in the same lineup as Vishnovsky? Also, what says Anaheim goes in to a major rebuild and moves him for future assets? If any team can turn the ship around in one summer, it would be the Ducks.

Ryan Suter would be lovely, but the only way Suter is moved is to a team outside the Central Division at the very least.
Matt Carle is an interesting option, but doubtful the Flyers move him rather than sign him.

If a top 4 type cannot be added then the next best thing is adding experience to the defense. Outside of Jackman, playoff experience extends to a meager four games each for Colaiacovo and Roman Polak. If the Blues want to win a round… ok let’s just start with a playoff game, they need to address this issue.

The field is pretty thin in terms of cost in salary and trade assets compared to return. I’m looking at you Bryce Salvador, Pavel Kubina, Michael Rozsival and Johnny Oduya. One option does stand tall. About 6’7″ tall.

Hall Gill… The USS Hall Gill.

Too big and slow for Ken Hitchcock’s system? Maybe. But he performed well at the breakneck playoff pace the Penguins made it to the FInals on in 2008 and won the Cup with in 2009. He was a part of a shutdown pair with Rob Scuderi that held Alex Ovechkin at bay. He did it again to the Great 8 in 2010 with the Canadiens. He has 108 NHL playoff games on his resume with a Plus-2 rating. Leads the NHL’s top PK unit with 3:53 SHTOI/G. He’s the blueline version of Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner. Another oldie that plays the game the right way and can keep the natives much his younger settled.

Sounds great right? What’s the catch? Who is it going to cost?

Honestly, there is no way of knowing exactly. Assess where the Habs are currently. They’re slipping out of the race for 8th in the East. With turmoil behind the bench and upstairs, the view is probably set on next season and beyond. Someone ready now and will continue to grow is the price likely set. The Blues have a few of those.

Evgeny Grachev, Phil McRae, Ian Cole and Ben Bishop fit the bill.

Grachev fetched only a third for the Rangers. His value hasn’t been rebuilt to that of a playoff push addition yet.
McRae could be replaced by an incoming Vladimir Tarasenko or Jaden Schwartz, but who knows what they will bring to the NHL. Cheap depth is something Armstrong will want to hold on to.
Bishop has done nothing but raise his value all season. But Montreal has Carey Price for the long haul to consider. Surely someone of Gill’s stature can fetch more than a backup.

Would the Blues move Cole to acquire Gill?

At first glance it feels like an overpayment. A former first round pick, who is still developing, to rent an aging player presumably past his prime with league’s preferred play style the opposite of his game. Yet players like Jackman have done well even with less than outstanding mobility. Furthermore, has Cole displayed at the NHL level that indicates he’s ready to take the next step in his development? What says management is on the same page as fans regarding Cole’s potential and likelihood of reaching it? Sell high before the “potential tag” falls off? What says Gill is just a rental. What says he doesn’t see a Cup competitor and sign on for another year to provide cheap, veteran depth?

For all the reasons to hold on to number 23, there are reasons to get what they can while they can. If it means taking a risk to sure up weak links, go for it. Detroit isn’t going to be shy about adding for the run, the Blues shouldn’t be either.

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What say you? Are there better options? Who are they and why? Let it all out in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Team chemistry is certainly very important and is a primary contributing factor the Blues’ current success. Such a statement meets little resistance among fans and media alike. Yet, the favorite question of the former lurks in the quiet corners of St. Louis, waiting for an opportunity boisterously jump out like Louie the pantless bear.

Do the Blues need to make a trade?

An argument can be made that personnel upgrades are needed before the NHL Trade Deadline on February 27th. The finishing scoring opportunities is in short supply (20th in Goals For/Game). Both special teams units continue to dwell in the bottom half as does the team’s face-off winning percentage (28th PP, 19th PK). The experienced depth on defense is thinner than desired (After Ian Cole, the abyss).

These holes are legitimate concerns with this group. They are tangible roadblocks to continued success in a downhill sprint to game 82. We’re about to see how big the holes are with 11 of the next 13 games (13 games in 17 days) against teams in their conference’s top 8 or within 5 points of 8th place before the deadline. Sadly, this February gauntlet is only a precursor to the March from hell. The schedule tilts heavily towards road games. Keeping the Blues away from the friendly confines that they’ve padded their place in the standings with the leagues best home record. They will play only 5 games out of 15 games at Scottrade Center. Only 3 between March 1st and the 27th are in St. Louis.

Doug Armstrong cannot be fearful in making changes if they are determined to be needed. February will expose the requirements to make March a survivable ordeal. An even break over the two months ensures a desperately needed playoff run. Not only from a fan confidence perspective, but also from a new ownership and financial perspective. His means may be constricted, but he cannot stand back if concerns turn in to problems. It’s not in his MO to do so.

The NHL is a business and everyone involved with the team knows this. The players know this as well. Should a deal come, they have to keep moving forward. If they cannot, then important lessons have been learned for the summer ahead. For every argument that any trade would destroy what’s been built (recalling the Garth Butcher trade), there is a counter argument that it could show the organizations commitment to winning and motivate others to be better.

It is in that line of thinking that an arbitrary moratorium on trades to preserve chemistry cannot be entertained. Flexibility to tweak the lineup by adding depth or condensing strength is critical to any team amidst a playoff push. This may be the Blues first foray in to the upper levels of the Western Conference standings, but its not Armstrong’s first stretch run rodeo. If moves have to be made, then they have to be made. Worries about chemistry be damned.

- – -

What say you? Too dangerous to risk it? Too much to lose if they don’t and bottom out? Put your two cents in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

It’s time for the 2012 NHL All Star Game. Brian Elliott may be the lone St. Louis Blues representative, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be much to talk about. Indoor pond hockey does have its high points. Consider this post an open thread to share your thoughts on the game in general, Ells’ performance or just share your hate on the Hawks’ and Wings’ contingents in Ottawa.

Are you with Team Alfie or Team Chara?

Check out Blues “backup” goalie Brian Elliott talking to Brian Duff of NHL Network before the All Star Game.

He may want to take that comment back about playing with mini-sticks with Corey Perry… On a serious note, it’s awesome to hear he got a few of them signed for charity purposes. Hope to hear about that soon Ells.

S/T to @Rinkrat for the link via Twitter.

Tonight an equally tough opponents is on the docket. The Pittsburgh Penguins. Who is the first to bury one behind the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions?

Game Info

Location: St. Louis
Opposing Netminder: Marc-Andre Fluery

Expected Blues Lines & Pairings:
Perron – Backes – Oshie
Sobotka – Berglund – D’Agostini
Langenbrunner – Arnott – Stewart
Reaves – Nichol – Crombeen

Colaiacovo – Pietrangelo
Jackman – Shattenkirk
Russell – Polak

Put your selections name in a comment below. I’ll keep a running total til the end of the season and the winner will get something cool (TBD & announced later).

Game Info

Location: @ Detroit
Opposing Netminder: Jimmy Howard

Expected Blues Lines & Pairings:
Perron – Backes – Oshie
Sobotka – Berglund – D’Agostini
Langenbrunner – Arnott – Stewart
Porter – Nichol – Crombeen

Colaiacovo – Pietrangelo
Jackman – Shattenkirk
Russell – Polak

Laying on the ice to stretch is one thing, but the Inglorious Captain cannot let him troops relax the night (and two points) away.

It’s been a while since the Blues and Sabres squared off in St. Louis. The last time was on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 the Blues fell 5-3 to the Buffalo based hockey club. It was the first game of what would become Andy Murray‘s final home stand. Just a few days and two more losses later he was replaced by Davis Payne. Former Blues forward Jochten Hecht scored. Local boy Chris Butler had two assists for the visitors in his first game NHL game “home”.

What types of random hockey trivia come from tonight’s game is unknown. However, I do have a few random thoughts heading in to the festivities.

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Tonight is an important test of the team’s killer instinct. For all the things that have gone wrong in Buffalo this season, there are no easy assignments. On any given night, at any given rink, any team can beat another. The Sabres come to town hungry and in desperate need of points to stay relevant in the Eastern Conference race to the top 8. For them being on the road is about the worst place to try to claw their way back having lost a franchise record 11 straight away from their friendly confines. As Tomas Vanek said, “It’s embarrassing”. When key players feel that way, you can tell they’ve hit or are just about to hit rock bottom. Once they do, the only way to go is up. Such movement means their victory.

If this Blues team is for real and has finally arrived at the potential so many have been waiting for, then there can be no let down tonight. No easing off the gas. Pour it on and prevent this contest from becoming a trap tilt. Where the effort is mailed in and a team with nothing to lose gains it all. There is likely no team who wants to knock out the starting goalie and run it down the Blues’ throats than the Sabres. The confidence boost and rediscovery of lost mojo from beating one of the stingiest squads in the league is their goal. The pressure is on. Can’t let the gloves dip down.

Speaking of the pressure to succeed, Blues fans best be careful what they wish for relating to payroll. When Terry Pegula bought the Sabres last year the parades down their main streets were already being prepared. A longtime fan of the team (and the sport) comes home to empty his deep pockets in to a dried up budget. In a weak free agent market they spent and spent and spent some more. Going from the basement to the penthouse in terms of personnel salary.

The grass hasn’t been greener on the other side of the cap hit fence. Descending down the standings to a team sliding off the playoff bubble. Whether its chemistry or philosophy changes, something relating to the increase in payroll has adversely affected their record. So when praying to the hockey gods that the Taylor Family brings their checkbook to Tom Stillman‘s ownership group, temper your excitement. More is not always better.

Alex Steen still isn’t ready to play and will not tonight. I’m not worried. For all the worrywarts concerned that the Blues aren’t scoring and they need to address the problem… and Steen would help fix the problem… stop worrying. All the convincing needed is in the team’s record. Steen’s last game was on December 27th vs. Detroit. Since that time the Blues are 7-1-2 in his absence. They had a stretch of four straight games from January 1st through the 10th where they scored three goals or more. Overall they’ve scored 22 goals or a 2.2 per game pace. They have given up 13 goals (1.3 per game) and more than two goals only twice in that span.

Translation: Many more times than not the ability to win the game will be within their scoring capacity.

As far as Steen’s health and fitness levels go, missing the remaining three games leading to the All Star Game gives him a ton of time to rest before the schedule gets nasty in February and March. The Blues play last on Tuesday the 24th before the ASG and their next game after is on February 3rd. A total of nine days between games. We’ll all be grateful in a month or so when his legs are fresher than a few others.

Please, be kind to Brad Boyes. Yes, the guy lost his scoring tough and left the Blues with an albatross of a contract. Yes, he wasn’t willing to grind and battle. No, he didn’t posses an Energizer Bunny inspired motor that St. Louisans love. What he did do was score 76 goals and record 137 points in 162 games in his first two full seasons with the Note. He was a key figure in the late season push to make the 2009 playoffs. He was not traded for Chris Pronger. There is no reason for the Eric Brewer treatment. Thank him for his service and leave it at that.

Lay off Patrik Berglund. It’s clear that many out there still hold on, with a sliver of hope, that the big Swed will still turn out to be the next Zetterberg, Sundin or Forsberg. He is just isn’t. However, that belief in a future rapidly fading away has lead to much criticism. What he has proven to be, at least under Ken Hitchcock, is a fairly reliable two way center who can score 20 goals and post a 40+ point season. His skating has improved and his more physical than he has ever really been throughout his career. When you look at that he has the 5th most shifts per game of the Blues forwards (at least he was a few days ago when last I checked) and look at the team’s record, it’s an indication that he really isn’t a problem. That his current style of play is a positive. The points will come if he continues down the path he is on. But the most important stats are wins and losses. Right now he’s a part of more “Ws” than “Ls”. That’s all that matters at the end of the day.

Sticktap to Sean Leahy of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog.