THE WATERCOOLER
QUESTION: If you had to identify your top two or three areas of concern with this Blues team that need to be addressed this offseason, what would they be?
JEREMY RUTHERFORD
1. Who are the leaders in the locker room? That’s not something that management can create or go out and buy, but this team needs to discover who its leader is. With respect to Eric Brewer, I think we’re witnessing a changing of the guard in the locker room with the emergence of David Backes. Backes (along with Chris Mason) stands at his locker stall after every game, win or lose, willing to answer all questions. With the probable retirement of Keith Tkachuk and the likely departure of Paul Kariya, Backes’ leadership skills should blossom next season.
2. Finding a killer instinct. This team doesn’t have one. Even though the Blues have played well and won on the road, I don’t sense a killer instinct in those games either. They simply play better and deserve to win those games. At home, the desire to close a team out is non-existent. Again, this isn’t something that management can buy at the mall, but somewhere the Blues need to find it.
3. Finally, an area that management will be responsible for . . . signing the right free agent. The Blues will be in the market for a scoring threat, and it’s MANDATORY that JD and Co. do their homework. Five years ago, the club signed anyone with an NHL resume who would come to St. Louis because the Blues had to put a competitive team on the ice. The Blues have a good foundation now, but they need a significant piece to the puzzle . . . a goal scorer. The club can’t be afraid to take a risk, but it must be confident with its selection. The top offensive players in the market will be expensive, and if you fail to find the right player, it will handcuff the organization for years to come.
JEFF GORDON
Ideally, the Blues add three elements: 1) A real offensive defenseman to play in the Top Four, when Erik Johnson isn’t on the ice; 2) Another offensively skilled center; 3) Goaltender of the future – somebody stuck in the AHL or in a back-up role elsewhere. I like what Lars Eller will add next year on the offensive side, but Ian Cole might need time on the Peoria D before he’s ready to help. Ditto Alex Pietrangelo.
KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Scoring and goaltending, in that order. The only reason I mention goaltending is that Chris Mason remains unsigned beyond the end of this season. I’d have no problem with bringing him back and once again teaming him with Ty Conklin but as long as they don’t have a No. 1 goalie under contract that remains an area of significant need. Lots of fans ache for the “long-term answer” in goal but that’s not a top priority in my mind. Just get the best guy you can right now so you can win games.
The primary need, however, is for a frontline scorer. This team has plenty of guys who can score but they need someone who has a proven track record of doing it year in and year out. The Blues young offensive players will continue to progress, Andy McDonald will always be productive and guys like David Backes and Alex Steen will contribute as well but they need a Goal Scorer. Capital G, capital S. Someone who scores 35-40 goals as a matter of routine not just “in any given year.”
Pickings are slim on the free agent market with only Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrick Marleau fitting that description as potential UFA’s and there’s no guarantee they both make it to the market. The Blues will definitely have the cap space to add a salary of some magnitude but they may have to acquire the Goal Scorer via trade. They’ve lost something like 15 one goal games this year and a premier sniper might have helped steal a handful of those. They’d be in the playoffs right now if that were the case. The long-term future will have to take a back seat to the immediate future at some point, won’t it?
ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)
This summer will be interesting to see how successful Doug Armstrong will be in making his presence felt as the new GM of the Blues.
The biggest difference, in my opinion, between this team vs. last year when the Blues reached the playoffs is last season’s club had more players willing to sacrifice and do whatever it took to win a hockey game. This team has good guys on the roster but they could certainly use a little more character on the ice. I’ve said it over and over this year, the Blues need veteran players (not over the hill) who have a history of winning in this league. It would be nice to see a few players come on board and teach the majority of these players what it takes to win in the NHL.
If you want to focus on personnel sure they could use an elite level goal scorer, who doesn’t? When you look at the teams who compete for a Stanley Cup they rarely lack star power. Usually a winning team carries at least one superstar. I don’t see any superstars on the St. Louis Blues. Can they get one this summer? It would more likely come via trade as opposed to a big-time free agent signing. Besides that, I would look to see if I could find a true number one D-man who can not only log minutes but also run a world class power play and be counted on to shut down the opposition on a consistent basis. The Blues have numerous two’s and three’s, unfortunately I don’t see a No. 1 D-man.
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