Vladimir Sobotka Returns to St. Louis Blues Lineup

COMMENTARY | The St. Louis Blues have been without one of their elite forwards since before the Olympic break. Vladimir Sobotka is a power forward who motivates his team with his tenacity and finesse on the ice. While the Blues have been still winning hockey games, there has been a hole on the team for the past six weeks.

Sobotka was injured during the January 31^st game against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was placed on injured reserve and not only missed 12 games with the Blues; he also missed the opportunity to represent his beloved Czech Republic in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Sobotka proved that he was truly missed during his injury with his exceptional performance against the Edmonton Oilers on March 13, 2014. While he is a scrappy player, he also is a smart player. His ability to read the play and find his way into the right place at the right time is uncanny. The Blues, during the Oilers game, are showing that they are serious in their hunt for Lord Stanley’s cup.

Having Sobotka back on the bench and ice has lit a fire within the hearts’ of his teammates. The veterans and the newbies are showing exceptional calm and talent. It will be fun to watch the Blues as they finish the regular season and then head into the grind of the playoffs.

Welcome back, Sobotka. St. Louis fans have missed your electrifying presence on the ice. 

Halak’s Trade Journey: St. Louis to Buffalo to Washington

I have made it no secret that I am a champion of Jaroslav Halak. When he joined the St. Louis Blues I was excited to see what he could do. Since then he has grown as a goaltender and gave so much of himself to St. Louis and her fans. He began Halak’s Heroes which invited children who are battling cancer and other diseases that are life-threatening to attend a Blues game with their families in a penthouse suite. The suite was donated by Camp Rainbow, Friends of Kids with Cancer, H.I.S. K.I.D.S., Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation and The National Children’s Cancer Society.  Halak’s tenure in a St. Louis Blue’s sweater ended abruptly when he was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Buffalo Sabres with teammate Chris Stewart for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott. 

Four days later, after reporting to Buffalo, he is on the move again to the Washington Capitals. I was disappointed when Halak left St. Louis. But I was heartbroken that he would not be making a play-off run to prove himself to his new team and fans. Now, if the Capitals can pull it together and gain momentum coming into the home stretch, Halak just might have a chance to play in the play-offs. I wondered why the Capitals were in the market for a goaltender when they desperately needed defense. Halak is a goaltender who relies heavily on his defense for the first period until his nerves settle down and he gets into a groove. Hopefully, head coach Adam Oates and his coaching staff can shape a productive offense and a well-disciplined defense to help Halak in his quest for a Stanley Cup.

Has Halak found a new city to call home? For the remainder of the 2013-2014 season it would seem so. I will remain a fan and a supporter of Jaroslav Halak and wish him much success with his new team. St. Louis has lost an amazing asset and Buffalo never gave him a chance. It will be wonderful to see him settle in and shine while with the Capitals.