I'll be seeing Max Gardiner play live on Saturday in Dubuque so I'll let you know if anything stands out.
Though it's definitely not a good thing that our 3rd rounder from 2010 went back to the USHL after a year in the WCHA (and de-commiting from Minnesota) and then committing to a school that will be in its first year as a Division I program. Unlike his brother, his skating has always been his knock.
Their are some really good USHL players committed to Penn St. but their best players next year will be freshman so they'll probably get trounced before moving to the Big 10 in 2013-14.
The Blues haven't had very much success with Minnesota High School kids since Oshie though they've mostly been late round flyers.
Good thing a couple of guys named Tarasenko and Schwartz make this likely miss from the 2010 draft a little more palatable.
Rattie is having a big scoring year. Before this season started he described himself as a playmaker.
The bottom line is that he's a quality forward - very good offensive instincts. I typically don't like to pigeon hole players into types like "playmaker" and "sniper" but the kid really has a good nose for the net and in terms of the Bartschi-Rattie due, he's usually the sniper and Bartschi's usually the set-up guy but both players can obviously do both.
what are the chances that both tarasenko and schwartz are on the blues next year?
Tarasenko only has to sign his ELC & he's already good enough to make the team. Russia wants him to stay in the KHL but he wants to play in the NHL. His KHL team believed he was leaving for the NHL and thus traded him for a rental return (a mediocre player and some cash) to SKA, which is the top regular season team over there and one of the wealthiest. Russian fans want us to be scared he's going to be suddenly awed by short term money, but he's being used sparingly on his new team despite being one of the best players in the entire league (you don't ever want to mess up any chemistry by adding one of the best players in the entire league to one of your lines). A lot of us watch his games via streaming and those of us who do are convinced he's good enough to play. He is clearly better than Chris Stewart, for example.
Schwartz may be on the bubble to make it immediately. He's got the talent/hockey sense right now but his durability is the main issue.
His team just lost Game 1 of a best of three tonight and his season could be over as early as tomorrow. I think at this point most Blues fans assume he's leaving CC, and that is the vibe from CC as well. It's not set in stone but those are all the rumblings. The beat reporter is even leaving the door open to Schwartz being on the roster (and thus burning a year of his ELC which we all think is very unlikely) this season IF Steen can't return.
Probably what will happen is if he's turning pro they'll ask him to play with Peoria the rest of the year on an ATO and then sign him once that's done. Then they can head into their offseason planning having gotten a look at how he stacks up with the pros physically. Those are the reports to keep your eye on (if you're asking for fantasy keeper purposes as often happens) and we'll certainly be discussing it here and in the "Schwartz in a Blue Note" thread unstickied.
Tarasenko only has to sign his ELC & he's already good enough to make the team. Russia wants him to stay in the KHL but he wants to play in the NHL. His KHL team believed he was leaving for the NHL and thus traded him for a rental return (a mediocre player and some cash) to SKA, which is the top regular season team over there and one of the wealthiest. Russian fans want us to be scared he's going to be suddenly awed by short term money, but he's being used sparingly on his new team despite being one of the best players in the entire league (you don't ever want to mess up any chemistry by adding one of the best players in the entire league to one of your lines). A lot of us watch his games via streaming and those of us who do are convinced he's good enough to play. He is clearly better than Chris Stewart, for example.
Schwartz may be on the bubble to make it immediately. He's got the talent/hockey sense right now but his durability is the main issue.
His team just lost Game 1 of a best of three tonight and his season could be over as early as tomorrow. I think at this point most Blues fans assume he's leaving CC, and that is the vibe from CC as well. It's not set in stone but those are all the rumblings. The beat reporter is even leaving the door open to Schwartz being on the roster (and thus burning a year of his ELC which we all think is very unlikely) this season IF Steen can't return.
Probably what will happen is if he's turning pro they'll ask him to play with Peoria the rest of the year on an ATO and then sign him once that's done. Then they can head into their offseason planning having gotten a look at how he stacks up with the pros physically. Those are the reports to keep your eye on (if you're asking for fantasy keeper purposes as often happens) and we'll certainly be discussing it here and in the "Schwartz in a Blue Note" thread unstickied.
This sums it up perfectly. If Schwartz season is over after their series against Michigan Tech, and he reports to Peoria first, it would be interesting to see what happens if he lights it up and Steen doesn't progress.
Tarasenko only has to sign his ELC & he's already good enough to make the team. Russia wants him to stay in the KHL but he wants to play in the NHL. His KHL team believed he was leaving for the NHL and thus traded him for a rental return (a mediocre player and some cash) to SKA, which is the top regular season team over there and one of the wealthiest. Russian fans want us to be scared he's going to be suddenly awed by short term money, but he's being used sparingly on his new team despite being one of the best players in the entire league (you don't ever want to mess up any chemistry by adding one of the best players in the entire league to one of your lines). A lot of us watch his games via streaming and those of us who do are convinced he's good enough to play. He is clearly better than Chris Stewart, for example.
Schwartz may be on the bubble to make it immediately. He's got the talent/hockey sense right now but his durability is the main issue.
His team just lost Game 1 of a best of three tonight and his season could be over as early as tomorrow. I think at this point most Blues fans assume he's leaving CC, and that is the vibe from CC as well. It's not set in stone but those are all the rumblings. The beat reporter is even leaving the door open to Schwartz being on the roster (and thus burning a year of his ELC which we all think is very unlikely) this season IF Steen can't return.
Probably what will happen is if he's turning pro they'll ask him to play with Peoria the rest of the year on an ATO and then sign him once that's done. Then they can head into their offseason planning having gotten a look at how he stacks up with the pros physically. Those are the reports to keep your eye on (if you're asking for fantasy keeper purposes as often happens) and we'll certainly be discussing it here and in the "Schwartz in a Blue Note" thread unstickied.
thanks alot for the info. I knew what was going on with him in russia and really hope he comes over. from waht ive seem of him(limited) he seems like a dynamic player who could step right in and play on the second line and provide some good production. Also, i love the college game and really like schwartz's game. i think he will be a good nhl player just didn't know if there were spots available for both of them next year. really like these two prospects and the blues. havin two ELCs may be good as the blues will need to make some serious increases in cash to oshie, berglund, and pietrangelo in the upcoming years
reading all of this makes me wonder where we would be right now without JD and doug armstrong, the vision of not just one cup, but multiple, is finally coming to fruition
reading all of this makes me wonder where we would be right now without JD and doug armstrong, the vision of not just one cup, but multiple, is finally coming to fruition
i literally thought of LeBron and the Heat when i read that lol
thanks alot for the info. I knew what was going on with him in russia and really hope he comes over. from waht ive seem of him(limited) he seems like a dynamic player who could step right in and play on the second line and provide some good production. Also, i love the college game and really like schwartz's game. i think he will be a good nhl player just didn't know if there were spots available for both of them next year. really like these two prospects and the blues. havin two ELCs may be good as the blues will need to make some serious increases in cash to oshie, berglund, and pietrangelo in the upcoming years
Long-term, it makes sense that Schwartz replaces McDonald, whose contract expires at the end of next season when he'll be 36. McDonald is fantastic when in the lineup. In fact, he's the leading PPG player on the Blues throughout his 4-year contract, he's just missed so many games with concussions and a broken leg.
Pietrangelo will get a serious, serious contract. He may be the one guy they lock up for a long, long time. He's the franchise.
Berglund will need to do more to get a raise from where he is now. He potentially could. He also might kind of remain a 2d/3d line tweener center who will have a useful NHL career but never get to a scoring level that our media does no favors in making seem realistic (I'm talking about John Kelly and Darren Pang last year and this year comparing him to the Sedins).
Oshie will get a raise. But he's probably going to come in at a number under Backes' contract. His playoff performance this year may help determine whether he's around 3.75M or potentially higher with a clutchier performance. He's not imminently UFA as Backes was about to be, but whatever his next deal is will take him into his UFA years so that will have some impact on the amount. He makes 2.35M now, so we're not talking about some bank-breaking raise no matter what number it is.
The Blues have 7.5M tied up in Arnott, Langenbrunner and Colaiacovo, and even if Arnott returns I think the other two returning is unlikely, especially Colaiacovo. Langenbrunner will probably be replaced on the roster by Tarasenko. Steen, Backes, Polak, Russell, Jackman (who's UFA and would likely stay at the same amount), Berglund (barring huge leap forward) are all under stable deals. D'Agostini, Sobotka, Crombeen, Reaves are all on deals for next year at cheap rates. Cole won't get a huge amount in his first post-ELC deal when it expires at the end of next year, it'll be a continuation from where he is now. Shattenkirk will get a raise but not a crazy raise. The reality is the Blues are in a really good spot with their budget going forward, and if they can get some playoff revenue and a stable ownership group they can have even more flexibility.
i literally thought of LeBron and the Heat when i read that lol
i dont remember who he said it to, but i remember JD saying that he wouldn't be happy with just one cup, and his goal was to build an organization that would win multiple cups, not 5,not 6, not 7......
reading all of this makes me wonder where we would be right now without JD and doug armstrong, the vision of not just one cup, but multiple, is finally coming to fruition
I think you got to put Jarmo in there with them, great drafting.
Long-term, it makes sense that Schwartz replaces McDonald, whose contract expires at the end of next season when he'll be 36. McDonald is fantastic when in the lineup. In fact, he's the leading PPG player on the Blues throughout his 4-year contract, he's just missed so many games with concussions and a broken leg.
Pietrangelo will get a serious, serious contract. He may be the one guy they lock up for a long, long time. He's the franchise.
Berglund will need to do more to get a raise from where he is now. He potentially could. He also might kind of remain a 2d/3d line tweener center who will have a useful NHL career but never get to a scoring level that our media does no favors in making seem realistic (I'm talking about John Kelly and Darren Pang last year and this year comparing him to the Sedins).
Oshie will get a raise. But he's probably going to come in at a number under Backes' contract. His playoff performance this year may help determine whether he's around 3.75M or potentially higher with a clutchier performance. He's not imminently UFA as Backes was about to be, but whatever his next deal is will take him into his UFA years so that will have some impact on the amount. He makes 2.35M now, so we're not talking about some bank-breaking raise no matter what number it is.
The Blues have 7.5M tied up in Arnott, Langenbrunner and Colaiacovo, and even if Arnott returns I think the other two returning is unlikely, especially Colaiacovo. Langenbrunner will probably be replaced on the roster by Tarasenko. Steen, Backes, Polak, Russell, Jackman (who's UFA and would likely stay at the same amount), Berglund (barring huge leap forward) are all under stable deals. D'Agostini, Sobotka, Crombeen, Reaves are all on deals for next year at cheap rates. Cole won't get a huge amount in his first post-ELC deal when it expires at the end of next year, it'll be a continuation from where he is now. Shattenkirk will get a raise but not a crazy raise. The reality is the Blues are in a really good spot with their budget going forward, and if they can get some playoff revenue and a stable ownership group they can have even more flexibility.
very thorough. thanks for the info. i feel like the blues are one of the teams that is best built to win now and also the future
Apparently Allen was strong Friday and it sounds like he's playing well again today.
Rivermen up 3-0 early in the second in Abbotsford.
Yeah, it is great to see him playing strong after we traded Bishop. If he has a big season next year, the season after should be interesting to see what they do.
do you think that schwartz may get a game on the blues now. CC just lost in the quarters of the wcha tournament and will not make the ncaa tournament. would be good for him to sign now and start playing in peoria. any chance he gets one game with the blues?
Any thoughts on who might be joining Peoria next year?
Karpowich, Buekeboom, Hakanpaa, Schwartz, Beach, Wannstrom?
Karpowich should be Peoria's backup goalie, Beukeboom should sign with Peoria. Schwartz might stay in college, or, more likely, sign with The Blues, but it remains to be seen if he'll make The Blues' NHL roster out of camp. I hope to see him play for peoria starting next week. If I remember correctly, Hakanpaa is signed for one more year with his Finnish team. I'd like to see Wännström sign with The Blues to play in Peoria, but, I suspect that he'll stay in Sweden next season. Beach might play with Peoria (no real knowledge on this, though).
Karpowich should be Peoria's backup goalie, Beukeboom should sign with Peoria. Schwartz might stay in college, or, more likely, sign with The Blues, but it remains to be seen if he'll make The Blues' NHL roster out of camp. I hope to see him play for peoria starting next week. If I remember correctly, Hakanpaa is signed for one more year with his Finnish team. I'd like to see Wännström sign with The Blues to play in Peoria, but, I suspect that he'll stay in Sweden next season. Beach might play with Peoria (no real knowledge on this, though).
Yes. I remember now that they signed him to retain his rights. I meant that I'd like to see him agree to come play for Peoria next season. But, I believe he is one more year away.
I do like the idea of A Hakanpaa-Eronen pairing. I think Nikitin taught us the importance of having good communication skills between defensive partners, those two playing together before potentially coming to Peoria can only be positive. Their skillsets seem to complement each other too as well, at least on paper. Also, I trust Jarmos eye for talent, he seems to have assembled a Jokerit team with a ton of the young, elite finish talent in sm-liiga.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robb_K
If I remember correctly, Hakanpaa is signed for one more year with his Finnish team.
Hakanpää signed a two year deal Espoo Blues in 2010 so he's free to move. He's still considered a bit raw so signing him to a 3 year ELC with him playing the first year in Finland (possibly with Jokerit) would allow him to develop one more year before crossing over the pond. Eronen and Hakanpää could make good pairing, Eronen doesn't have to be signed until next year, so that's more year of development guaranteed. Kekäläinen does indeed have an eye for talent, there's plenty of good defensive prospects coming out of Jokerit juniors, hopefully next season the coaching in the SM-liiga team is up to the task (hasn't been the case this season exactly).
Hakanpää signed a two year deal Espoo Blues in 2010 so he's free to move. He's still considered a bit raw so signing him to a 3 year ELC with him playing the first year in Finland (possibly with Jokerit) would allow him to develop one more year before crossing over the pond. Eronen and Hakanpää could make good pairing, Eronen doesn't have to be signed until next year, so that's more year of development guaranteed. Kekäläinen does indeed have an eye for talent, there's plenty of good defensive prospects coming out of Jokerit juniors, hopefully next season the coaching in the SM-liiga team is up to the task (hasn't been the case this season exactly).
Thanks for the info - any word on how serious Hakanpaa's injury is?
He is signed by the Blues but is being loaned out to his SEL team. Like Lehtera, he's signed to retain his rights while he develops in Europe. I'm pretty sure the plan is for him to be loaned out again next season but I don't think that's been made official yet.
