Jaden Schwartz's college season is over

[theohall]

Yes, he is eligible to play in the playoffs.

Has to do with the Blues already owning his rights. Same kind of thing is happening with Radulov and the Predators. Preds still have his rights, his KHL season is over, and talk today on the radio indicated he would be eligible for the playoffs also.

NCAA players who had been drafted and joined their teams after the NCAA season have played in playoffs that same year, also. Two names I remember doing this awhile ago were Chris Drury and Rod Brind'amour.

The trade deadline thing and playoff ineligibility applies to free agents signed after the trade deadline.

[STLADOGG]

It was his 18th birthday when he was drafted...now he is 19. What a ride for this kid.
Btw it is good to see his family have a nice thing happen to them since his sisters passing.

[WaukeeBlues]

Looks like he will play Tuesday....since Strickland is reporting he wont.

I'm not crazy about him losing a year for just a few games, but it tells me 3 things:

1. They are convinced he is NHL ready today.

2. They anticipate him playing in the playoffs.

3. They think he could be enough of a difference maker down the stretch that it's worth losing a year.

I know the CBA is up, but often times, things get grandfathered in.

I have to agree. It's really encouraging, especially those first two. It's been a long time since I remember a rookie coming in straight from the NCAA to the end of the year into the playoffs and making a marked difference but crazier things have happened. We'll see but you're right; the signs are very encouraging.

[Oz-iz-God]

I think playing him this season is ridiculous, but if they're losing a contract year anyway, may as well make it mean something. Just seems kind of insane is all to burn a contract year when the team is rolling along just fine as is... Then again, that's why I'm not Hitch, Army or JD, and watch Jaden scores the cup clinching goal.

More power to him, welcome to the fold Schwartz.

If he's as good as we hope he is, we'll have to pay him and try to extend him before that final contract year anyway.

For a guy like Stewart or Berglund, who keep teasing us with talent but haven't really established that they're worth big $$, it can be extremely helpful. And maybe Schwartz is that guy. Or maybe he's someone like Petro or Shattenkirk, guys we know we're going to want to re-sign to long-term deals well before their UFA seasons.

Besides, this really impacts how long until he's an RFA, right? Not UFA. The RFA thing can be a nuisance, but the return of multiple first rounders for him wouldn't be the end of the world if we couldn't get him due to that 'early' RFA status anyway.

Ultimately I like the message it sends to the players - we think you can win this thing and we'll spend more money tomorrow if it helps us win today. It's the best the Blues can do with the iffy ownership situation.

I'd be more excited if it were Tarasenko (I question whether Schwartz is physically capable of playing at this level, especially in the playoffs), but I'm plenty enthusiastic about this.

[sparty09]

I think Sparty09 knew this was going to happen...maybe he is Jaden...lol wow makes an exiting season even more exiting!

Ha! I assumed he was going to Peoria. I never thought he would get a baptism of fire, but it appears that he will. I don't think this is a good idea, but if they believe he's ready, then he might as well begin his NHL career now. I wish he would've gone to Peoria, but it's not up to me.

[Krigloch the Furious]

Very excited for this kid. Cant wait to see him handle the puck and make some sweet passes

[cprice12]

If you think about it, this make sense.
At the very least, you are getting him some NHL experience before the playoffs, and they may need him in the playoffs if Steen doesn't come back or if someone gets hurt.
I guess they figure it's worth burning a year of eligibility to have him to use now.
And they'll have a handful of games to see how he can play at the NHL level.

It's like making a trade.

[ajmchief1]

He is on the roster of the Blues' site. Well since we are nearly guaranteed a playoff spot, what's the harm. I couldn't even imagine he could screw anything up to the point where we wouldn't even be able to get the #1 seed. It's not like he is Eric Brewer...

[sparty09]

If you think about it, this make sense.
At the very least, you are getting him some NHL experience before the playoffs, and they may need him in the playoffs if Steen doesn't come back or if someone gets hurt.
I guess they figure it's worth burning a year of eligibility to have him to use now.
And they'll have a handful of games to see how he can play at the NHL level.

It's like making a trade.

I was thinking along those lines, too. It's nice to be in a position to make a "trade" like this without having to really sacrifice anything. They're burning a year, but this experience could be very beneficial for both parties in the long run.

[glen a richter]

If he's overmatched, I doubt Hitch would run him out there 25 minutes a night every night, so it probably couldn't hurt. Then again if one of the Chicago d-bags takes a run at him and he ends up with his first NHL concussion...

[cardsfan04]

If he's overmatched, I doubt Hitch would run him out there 25 minutes a night every night, so it probably couldn't hurt. Then again if one of the Chicago d-bags takes a run at him and he ends up with his first NHL concussion...

...the St. Patty's Day Massacre will look like a mere misunderstanding.

[F Keenan]

If he's overmatched, I doubt Hitch would run him out there 25 minutes a night every night, so it probably couldn't hurt. Then again if one of the Chicago d-bags takes a run at him and he ends up with his first NHL concussion...

...the St. Paddy's Day Massacre will look like a mere misunderstanding.

FTFY

(Sorry, I'm Irish and it's one of my pet peeves. Patty is short for Patricia. Paddy is short for Patrick.)

[cardsfan04]

If he's overmatched, I doubt Hitch would run him out there 25 minutes a night every night, so it probably couldn't hurt. Then again if one of the Chicago d-bags takes a run at him and he ends up with his first NHL concussion...

...the St. Paddy's Day Massacre will look like a mere misunderstanding.

FTFY

(Sorry, I'm Irish and it's one of my pet peeves. Patty is short for Patricia. Paddy is short for Patrick.)

ahhhh, my bad. stuff like that annoys the hell out of me too

[theohall]

Reasons to add Schwartz now.... (stolen from this blog)

The first is that it sure seems like Matt D'Agosini and Alex Steen aren't coming back soon. The Blues could use some depth up front and it wasn't coming in the form of T.J. Hensick or Adam Cracknell. And while Jamie Langenbrunner has played a key role this season, he's not the answer for making the offense better in the playoffs. Schwartz brings some flexibility to the roster with his ability to play wing or center. He's speedy and a playmaker first, scorer second. He's not overly big at 5 feet, 10 inches, but that's not a concern unless he's on a checking line. You think he would be an interesting linemate with T.J. Oshie and David Backes? Or maybe he takes Andy McDonald's spot and No. 10 teams up with Oshie and Backes. There's suddenly some flexibility Ken Hithcock didn't have on Sunday in Columbus.

Some things to consider about their decision:

They have dominated Eastern Conference opponents to the tune of 13-1-1.
The Red Wings are starting to feel their age with the number of injuries on the roster (Hint: Lidstrom is old).
Chicago has real questions in goal and sure looked vulnerable last week in St. Louis.
They won the season series with Vancouver 2-1-1.
They swept the San Jose Sharks.
Goaltending, one of the most crucial ingredients for playoff success, has been excellent.
The Blues are playing their best hockey of the year right now.

Obviously regular season success doesn't equate to postseason results, but it's promising. All of a sudden, the big picture shows the Blues are in the catbird seat. The only team to consistently give the Blues fits in the conference has been Nashville, a team the Blues have a decent chance of avoiding at least in the first round. No one is going to anoint them a favorite to win the conference. At least not today. It'll be interesting what national analysts say about the Blues the first week of April.

[cprice12]

This shit is starting to get real.
The Blues making a move "for the now" and not the future.
Folks outside St. Louis talking about the Blues being legitimate cup contenders and actually having the type of game and finally the goaltending needed to excel in the playoffs.

It's getting very real. Gettin' legitimately excited for the first time in about 8-9 years...no more of the cautious optimism...this is full blown optimism. Playoff hockey will be back in St. Louis, and we're finally expected to actually do something.

Holy shit.

[STLADOGG]

Not sure if anyone has said this yet buuuuttttt.........ITS LIKE MAKING A TRADE!!!!! lol

[cprice12]

Not sure if anyone has said this yet buuuuttttt.........ITS LIKE MAKING A TRADE!!!!! lol

Late to the party my friend.
viewtopic.php?p=586786#p586786

[STLADOGG]

Not sure if anyone has said this yet buuuuttttt.........ITS LIKE MAKING A TRADE!!!!! lol

Late to the party my friend.
viewtopic.php?p=586786#p586786

Well I guess I'll add without trading anyone away!! lol

[northwest dave]

This shit is starting to get real.
The Blues making a move "for the now" and not the future.
Folks outside St. Louis talking about the Blues being legitimate cup contenders and actually having the type of game and finally the goaltending needed to excel in the playoffs.

It's getting very real. Gettin' legitimately excited for the first time in about 8-9 years...no more of the cautious optimism...this is full blown optimism. Playoff hockey will be back in St. Louis, and we're finally expected to actually do something.

Holy shit.

Kind of crazy isn't it?

[cprice12]

This shit is starting to get real.
The Blues making a move "for the now" and not the future.
Folks outside St. Louis talking about the Blues being legitimate cup contenders and actually having the type of game and finally the goaltending needed to excel in the playoffs.

It's getting very real. Gettin' legitimately excited for the first time in about 8-9 years...no more of the cautious optimism...this is full blown optimism. Playoff hockey will be back in St. Louis, and we're finally expected to actually do something.

Holy shit.

Kind of crazy isn't it?

Very.
I have missed this feeling so much. It's hard to describe. It's like when you walk into your old grade school that you haven't been to in like 20 years, but it smells the same. That smell only exists there and nowhere else. That scent causes a ton of memories to come rushing back and you remember what it felt like to be a student there again. Very weird...but very cool.
It's kind of like that.
It just seems like it's been so long. Hopefully this starts another 25 year run of those kinds of feelings...only with a few cups sprinkled in along the way this time.