Rick Wamsley - Image courtsey Rivermen.net.

Wamsley was 17-20-1-5 in his 43 games behind the bench for the Rivermen. Accoring to the Rivermen’s site the team finished with 85 points, the most of any non AHL Playoff team.

Is it a coincidence that both Blues Goalie Coaches from the 2009-2010 have been let go? Wamsley today and Tyler Love who replaced Wamsely earlier this week?Is this a sign that the Blues are preparing for the departure of Chris Mason?

Of course I’m inferring that there is something “else” working in this scenario.

Wamsley was the coach while Mason took off during his spectacular 20008-2009 second half run. Love was brought in as Mason’s guy after the coaching shake up this season. The fact that both are now out of the organization says that the Blues are willing to move on and should Mason stay they feel that he is capable with any coach. It’s hard not to read between the lines and the possibility of a shake up to clear for a new netminder is a logical conclusion.

Of course, this could just be Doug Armstrong making his mark on the franchise. No, I don’t mean he is clearing the way for Marty Turco to come to town. What I mean is that the GM is responsible for putting bodies on the ice and the brains behind the benches. Its apparent he has some level of confidence in Payne, evident by his extension. While Wamsley has had success with Mason, he had much less success coaching in Peoria. Perhaps not taking a playoff capable team to the playoffs was a factor? There will also be an influx of youth coming to Peoria this fall. The team could add Pietrangelo, Cundari, McRae, and Allen to a line up that already could have Eller, Cole, Sonne, Strachan, Bishop and other younger players. Was Wamsely too much like Murray in his approach to younger players? I don’t know Rick to say for sure, but again…possibilities.

All you computer chair GMs out there, add goalie coach to your to do list.

In Other News – Blues and Otherwise

Chris Mason (Canada), TJ Oshie (USA), Ben Bishop (USA), and Lars Eller (Denmark) will play in the World Championships. Great experience for Oshie, Bishop and Eller.

Alex Pietrangelo’s Barrie Colts were swept by Mark Cundari’s Windsor Spitfires in the OHL playoffs.

Jonas Junland is Sweden bound, much to the dismay of some fans. My Hockey Independent blog is up now digesting the situation. Not a big loss, but the door isn’t totally shut.

Jordan Staal returns to the Pens line up tonight for Game 4 in Montreal. Bill “dad’ Guerin is out as well as Mike Rupp. Staal = Man of Steel if he can play effectively a few days after surgery on his foot to repair a tendon PK Subban’s skate cut so well. My buddy Brian Metzer at From the Point has great info on this. He reminds hockey fans that this situation is a lot like Sarge’s (Gonchar) from last season.

How about that PK Subban kid in Montreal? The kid looks three/four years more experienced than he really is. Smooth, effective and willing to work hard. Honestly, he looks to me like the Eastern Conference version of a Drew Doughtey / Erik Johnson hybrid right now. Maybe not the same skill level as those two, but similar play styles.

Sharks are up 3-0 on the Deadthings and can close out their series tonight.

The Canuckleheads and Bobby Lou are at it again. A 5-2 loss in Game Three was just not what the doctor ordered. Another Second Round choke job? Doug MacLean said it on Hockey Central last week, the Canucks lack a big time defensemen and its going to hurt them. I’m with him there. Once the Hawks get rolling the only team that can stop them is a rolling Sharks team. The only team that can stop either one of those two rolling is a Pens team rolling.

I picked the Flyers in seven. Looks like Boucher’s good luck ran out. Injuries to the Flyers don’t help either. Gotta love Carcillo complaining about a bit from Savard. I guess he wanted a clean hit to dive on? I’m sure Lapierre can help Carcillo.

Marleau to Toronto this summer? According to Hockey Central at Noon that is some random fan’s prediction that Doug MacLean was told he can bank on.

Last year (07-08) those three teams all competed for the 8 spot for quite a while with young teams. After that push how did those teams follow up in the off-season?

Chicago:
Signed Huet, Campbell, and Matt Walker.
Let Rene Bourque, Williams, and Perreault go.

Edmonton:
Traded Pitkanen for Cole.
Traded Torres for Brule.
Traded Stoll and Greene for Visnovsky.

Phoenix:
Traded Ballard, Boyton + for Jokinen.
Did not re-sign Vrbata.

Chicago upgraded, Edmonton sidegraded, and Phoenix traded away depth on the blue line for a forward (looked good at the time but didn’t replace the loss of depth = downgrade).

In my opinion the Blues are sitting between Chicago and Edmonton. The forward proved they can score. I know people complain about the scoring, but this team had two 30 goal scorers, two 20 goal scorers (would have been 3 if Andy played all year) and 6 players totaling 10-19 goals. That’s a total of 10 players scoring 10 or more goals (that’s basically the first 3 lines).

Where did the Blues struggle? Puck movement and transition. Hard for your forwards to score when you’re working twice as hard to just get it out of your end and through the neutral zone. Yes EJ is coming back and Petro should be here, but the Blues are one upgrade from take a Chicago like step.

My take is that the Blues need to take that chance and pursue Bouwmeester or a trade for an impact defenseman.

Thoughts?