Yes, I don't trust Colaiacovo at all and you can't expect more from Huskins this year given that the injury made him start from scratch and he's not the same player he was at the start of the year. (Hopefully Cole plays Monday and Cola sits.)
Also with the prognosis on Steen not good you have to assume he's not back. I would trade Stewart for a more consisten top-six forward if that can be managed. Particularly one who isn't expert at dropping the puck terrible giveaways in the center of the ice at either blue line for scoring chances against. I would never add Rattie to Stewart to get Brown but there are other things you can add that aren't 1sts or blue-chippers.
Yes, I don't trust Colaiacovo at all and you can't expect more from Huskins this year given that the injury made him start from scratch and he's not the same player he was at the start of the year. (Hopefully Cole plays Monday and Cola sits.)
Also with the prognosis on Steen not good you have to assume he's not back. I would trade Stewart for a more consisten top-six forward if that can be managed. Particularly one who isn't expert at dropping the puck terrible giveaways in the center of the ice at either blue line for scoring chances against. I would never add Rattie to Stewart to get Brown but there are other things you can add that aren't 1sts or blue-chippers.
If Stewart lights up though, he's exactly what we need.
Yes, definitely gotta pick up a veteran LHD. Hamrlik seems like the best option at this point. I also wouldn't mind if he grabbed another top-9 forward, just because of the injuries. If everyone was healthy I wouldn't think there was a need, but the team is pretty banged up.
Yes, I don't trust Colaiacovo at all and you can't expect more from Huskins this year given that the injury made him start from scratch and he's not the same player he was at the start of the year. (Hopefully Cole plays Monday and Cola sits.)
Also with the prognosis on Steen not good you have to assume he's not back. I would trade Stewart for a more consisten top-six forward if that can be managed. Particularly one who isn't expert at dropping the puck terrible giveaways in the center of the ice at either blue line for scoring chances against. I would never add Rattie to Stewart to get Brown but there are other things you can add that aren't 1sts or blue-chippers.
Totally agree with you on this.
I still don't want to give up on Stewart. If it's a deal where it's almost a no-brainer that's different.
I think we should stand pat unless we're offered a deal that we can't refuse. This isn't the year that we should be pushing.
I agree that we shouldn't make any significant deals, but a couple smaller deals just to solidify the defense and compensate for injuries would be very beneficial. They wouldn't have to give up any significant pieces, and a longer playoff run would be a huge learning experience for the young team.
Colaiacovo is making $2.125 and Hamrlik is making $3.5 with an extra year. If we swapped the two, we may have to add for salary reasons. With how much Armstrong has stressed dollar-for-dollar trades, I think the budget is tight.
If the Blues could trade for PA Parenteau, I'd be happy. But I'm sure a lot of teams are interested in him, and the price might be high.
My answer isn't a strict yes or no. If the move improves the team, I'm for it. But I don't want Armstrong to panic and make a move for the sake of making one. If we stand pat I think this team could get by even with the injuries, but a little more help would be nice.
Yes.
We need a forward to cover for our injuries and a crease clearing D man would be nice.
Amen! Anyone notice that Colaiacovo was standing in the crease, looking down at Halak's feet, when Wheeler cruised in towards the net to take the pass and pop the puck past Halak for his second goal?
And, yes, we could use another "scoring forward", as Langenbrunner is probably 4 weeks away, and D'Agostini and Steen are longer.
Crease clearing defensemen are typically slow. We have trouble with teams that have speed. It just doesn't make that much sense to me that everyone would want a big, slow defenseman.
Crease clearing defensemen are typically slow. We have trouble with teams that have speed. It just doesn't make that much sense to me that everyone would want a big, slow defenseman.
No. We want a reasonably-sized defensibly-responsible defenceman, who is also mobile and can carry the puck. Another Polak, who is meaner and yet more physical (somewhat bigger-IF possible), and protects the crease with his life. NOT, a slow-moving sluggard (like Pilon). He doesn't have to be a giant.
No. We want a reasonably-sized defensibly-responsible defenceman, who is also mobile and can carry the puck. Another Polak, who is meaner and yet more physical (somewhat bigger-IF possible), and protects the crease with his life. NOT, a slow-moving sluggard (like Pilon). He doesn't have to be a giant.
Crease clearing defensemen are typically slow. We have trouble with teams that have speed. It just doesn't make that much sense to me that everyone would want a big, slow defenseman.
It's not their speed that kills us, it's their ability to pull our D men out of position and exploit the slot(especially against Colaiacovo and Russell).
A Crease Clearer kills most of those 1-time shots by either blocking the shot or eliminating the rebound.
Furthermore, most of the goals Halak and Elliott give up are coming off rebounds. Having somebody patrol the crease goes a long way to getting rid of that problem.
Colaiacovo is making $2.125 and Hamrlik is making $3.5 with an extra year. If we swapped the two, we may have to add for salary reasons. With how much Armstrong has stressed dollar-for-dollar trades, I think the budget is tight.
If the Blues could trade for PA Parenteau, I'd be happy. But I'm sure a lot of teams are interested in him, and the price might be high.
My answer isn't a strict yes or no. If the move improves the team, I'm for it. But I don't want Armstrong to panic and make a move for the sake of making one. If we stand pat I think this team could get by even with the injuries, but a little more help would be nice.
Do you REALLY believe that The Blues can't absorb 1/4 season of $1-1.5 million in additional salary to help assure a playoff position? That would be maybe $260-275,000.
I doubt that not being able to send back $1 million in annual salary would kill a possible deal.
It's not their speed that kills us, it's their ability to pull our D men out of position and exploit the slot(especially against Colaiacovo and Russell).
A Crease Clearer kills most of those 1-time shots by either blocking the shot or eliminating the rebound.
Furthermore, most of the goals Halak and Elliott give up are coming off rebounds. Having somebody patrol the crease goes a long way to getting rid of that problem.
Most of the crease clearers that are available will be big and slow. There really won't be a Polak available IMO. When we are playing a team with speed, they will blow right by some of those defensemen, like Hamrlik for example. We need someone who can defend against speed more than anything.
No. We want a reasonably-sized defensibly-responsible defenceman, who is also mobile and can carry the puck. Another Polak, who is meaner and yet more physical (somewhat bigger-IF possible), and protects the crease with his life. NOT, a slow-moving sluggard (like Pilon). He doesn't have to be a giant.
I disagree.
I want that "physical monster" who's going to make players think twice about entering the slot and maims people who venture into Halak's crease.
We have plenty of puck moving ability in Pie, Shatt's and Russell, we need that beast back there to punish players who are trying to get into position for 1-timers in the slot.
A guy like Bryan Allen would be a perfect addition to this blueline.
The Blues should make a trade for either of those 2 needs, or both, IF they can improve the team both for the short and long term (e.g. by not giving up any of their high-quality youth (Cole, Rattie, Tarasenko, Schwartz, Oshie, Berglund, Perron, Backes, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Steen). If they CAN'T find such a trade, then stand pat, and hope for the injured players to return soon.
Most of the crease clearers that are available will be big and slow. There really won't be a Polak available IMO. When we are playing a team with speed, they will blow right by some of those defensemen, like Hamrlik for example. We need someone who can defend against speed more than anything.
1) The Blues defend against speed on the outside as well as any team in the league. The problem with the Blues defense is that we are vulnerable to cross passing in the defensive zone, specifically 1-timers in the slot. The defense against that is positioning and reach, not speed and quickness.
2) I haven't seen this problem with speed that you are talking about.
What I see with the Blues defense is a complete inability to defend against bad rebounds.
It's not speed plays that kill us, it's "power" moves from down low. Colaiacovo in particular is getting physically manhandled most nights. A "big slow crease clearer" isn't going to get plowed over like Franzen did to Colaiacovo a few games ago.
I tried to leave my first message as that, but it was too short. With all of our forwards coming back for the playoffs (c'mon Steen) I don't see us needing more help up front, and unless some great deal comes along (e.g. Visnovsky for a fifth) I don't think we should pursue anything outside of that top 2 left-side d-man.
