Nikitin goes back down

[glen a richter]

http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=545217

Who will replace him? I didn't think he was ready at all.

[dmiles2186]

Good. He needs seasoning. I assume Strachan will get ample playing time now.

[philco_3]

Good. He needs seasoning. I assume Strachan will get ample playing time now.

Nah most likely Cam will get more playing time now...

We NeEdZ the Polak bAcKs

[ViPeRx007]

Good. He needs seasoning. I assume Strachan will get ample playing time now.

We NeEdZ the Polak bAcKs

...and Perron, and Oshie...We apparently suck without these guys for some reason.

[gaijin]

I'm beginning to get concerned that without Polak in our lineup, our defense is really that bad.

I mean, really? Without POLAK we're hosed? How bad ARE the rest of our D-Men?

[WaukeeBlues]

I'm beginning to get concerned that without Polak in our lineup, our defense is really that bad.

I mean, really? Without POLAK we're hosed? How bad ARE the rest of our D-Men?

No, they're not. The Blues aren't getting blown out of any buildings really (minus the offensive aberration of the Hawks game-for both teams), and we sure as hell aren't scoring enough either.

[joosforjihad]

No, they're not. The Blues aren't getting blown out of any buildings really (minus the offensive aberration of the Hawks game-for both teams), and we sure as hell aren't scoring enough either.

I think you're forgetting the 5 game losing streak the middle of last month.

[stlbluz]

The Blues have recalled defenseman Ian Cole from Peoria.

[cprice12]

The Blues defense isn't the issue. Except for a few stupid games here and there where everything was going in, they've been good enough to win almost every night.
The issue is, and has been for the last half dozen years...offense.

This team struggled to score goals last season, didn't acquire any help in the offseason...and now you take away their top two forwards this year in Perron and Oshie because of injury?

Forget about it.

This organization F'd up by not acquiring more offense in the offseason. And now that we've gotten hit with some major injuries to key forwards, we're in even worse shape because we didn't pick up anyone.

We'll be better once Perron and Oshie get back, but Oshie is going to be out for a long time yet...and there is no telling when Perron will play again.

[theohall]

Ian Cole looked a crap-ton better than Nikitin ever looked, from what I've seen the past 3 weeks. Confident with the puck, not turning it over, making good outlet passes up ice - not always going behind the net to the veteran partner, hitting opponents near the blueline to break up entries, keeping the puck in the offensive zone, pinching when he should and staying home when he should. I don't recall seeing much of any of that from Nikitin.

Heck, Brewer could learn about the hitting thing and Jackman could learn the passing thing from this kid. At least, I think Jackman could learn. Who knows after his ridiculous turnovers tonight? Blues were fortunate not to surrender goals after some of Jackman's horrendous turnovers.