St. Louis Blues Sticking With Jake Allen

COMMENTARY | St. Louis Blues’ head coach Ken Hitchcock has officially said that he is putting his trust in the young backup goaltender, Jake Allen, over Brian Elliott, the seasoned netminder. This is Allen’s first season as a regular back-up goaltender with the St. Louis Blues. At just 24 years old, Allen is showing that he does not buckle under pressure. Is this a wise move for the St. Louis Blues?

Experience

Brian Elliott has playoff experience, with that experience comes maturity and the ability to handle the pressures of a strong playoff run. Even though the Blues have been shaky at best during the playoffs the past couple of seasons, the goaltenders have gained valuable experience playing in the high intensity games. Allen has only had a taste of that intensity whereas Elliott has been thrown off the deep end and immersed in it.

Brian Elliott

Elliott is hungry for the chance to prove himself, as is Allen. But both are essentially backup goaltenders trying to be worthy of the number one position. Elliott has played in the NHL longer, but his mentality seems to still be stuck in the roll of backup. When he was given the number one spot at the beginning of the year, it was speculated that he would not be able to handle the everyday duty required for his new elevated position. He was out to prove them wrong and even ended his vacation early to appear in the All-Star game when he got the last minute call.

Jake Allen

Allen is just as hungry to prove that he deserves to be in the NHL. His role as the backup to Elliott, and for a short time during Elliott’s injury to Martin Brodeur, has given him time to grow and learn. Does he have the maturity, stamina and ability to carry a team that tends to fizzle in the first round of the playoffs? I think that given more time and conditioning Allen would be the best choice over Elliott. Right now, with Elliott wavering and having difficulty stopping the puck, I think Allen is right for the end of season games. Will he wear out early in the play offs and not be able to deliver?

I’m sure these are all the questions running through the coaching staff’s minds as they determine the best course of action. Should they stay with the backup who may not be able to deliver in the long run or go with the goaltender who earned the number one spot only to begin to fray as the playoffs approach? Blues fans are divided. There are those who believe that Elliott can rebound and carry the weight of the team. But then there are others who remember Elliott’s playoff flops and are pinning their hopes on the young Allen.

Either way, Hitchcock has stated that he is sticking with Jake Allen for game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Will that decision be a mistake since the Blues do not know yet who their opponent will be, we will have to sit back and watch it all unfold. 

Paul Statsny "Coming Home" To St. Louis

COMMENTARY | It took me a little while to comment on the signing of Paul Statsny simply because of the overwhelming emails that I received regarding this event. Then other more noteworthy, at least in my mind, things were occurring in the Blues organization. Notably the trade of Roman Polak and the defection of Vladimir Sobotka.

When the St. Louis Blues were able to sign free agent Paul Statsny, it seemed that Armstrong may be able to redeem himself slightly from the horrible signings and trades that he has made in recent years. Then Armstrong started droning on and on about Statsny and insinuating that he was the missing link to the success of the Blues.

While the campaign following Statsny's signing was cute -- Statney is "coming home" to St. Louis -- it was just a little redundant and over-rated. I enjoy watching this guy play just as much as the next fan, however, by placing the pressures of great play-off hockey on his shoulders before he even steps on the ice for the Blues was a little ridiculous.

Statsny needs to get to St. Louis, meet his new coaches and teammates and get comfortable with them before any claims of grandeur should be touted throughout the city. Armstrong is a general manager who is known for making dumb and confusing trades, just look at the Perron/Paajarvi trade, the Halak-Stewart/Miller-Ott trade and the Polak/Gunnarsson trade.

Do I think Statsny will fit into the line-up and be an asset for the Blues? That is what many of my readers have been asking me. My answer to that is this: Statsny is a smart player and he will adjust to head coach Ken Hitchcock's style of play. Within the coarse of the year, yes, Statsny will be an asset for the Blues. Is he the play-off messiah that Armstrong seems to be seeking? The answer is no. To win in the playoffs it takes a cohesive team full of players who will give more of themselves for the good of the team, not for the spotlight and fame that it will bring them.

If the Blues hope to be successful this year, Hitchcock has his work cut out for him as the team has become disjointed since the infamous trade for Ryan Miller. I wish the best for Statsny and his family as they come to St. Louis and make a home. 

Vladimir Sobotka Defects To The KHL

COMMENTARY July 11, 2014 | The St. Louis Blues have had numerous changes this off-season. One of the biggest surprises for fans was the re-signing of Steve Ott and the “elephant in the room”, Vladimir Sobotka opting to sign with a team in the KHL. While this is still not actually confirmed at this time by either the Blues, Sobotka or his agent, it is alleged that he will be making a name for himself in Omsk for the next three seasons (and probably beyond).

Many are reporting that the Blues were simply outbid by Omsk and lost out because they could not afford to meet the 4 million a year deal that Sobotka inked in the KHL. This was not the only reason that Sobotka has chosen to defect to Russia and the KHL. There were internal issues at play and Sobotka was in talks with the Blues since at least February of this year for a contract extension.

Sobotka was feeling out of sorts when injuries kept him out of the Winter Olympics. He was able to use the Winter Olympics as a time of recuperation in the Caribbean with Roman Polak and his family. When he came back after the break, he fit back into the line-up and made things happen on the ice.

Then the Miller/Ott – Halak/Stewart trade occurred and the Blues locker room was thrown into turmoil. Changes happened quickly and the team had to adjust to losing two important members of the team, they had to welcome into their close-knit family two new members. There was much hype surrounding the trade and expectations ran high.

Fast-forward to the Blues play-off flop and the major disappointment that the Blues organization had to face. They lost two keystone players who were rocks in the locker room and gained a sub-par forward in Ott and a narcissistic goaltender in Miller.

Throughout all of this the Blues and Sobotka’s agent have been volleying offers and demands back and forth with no satisfactory agreement in sight. The Blues thought, according to general manager, Doug Armstrong, that they were close to a deal with Sobotka. But they failed to understand that while Sobotka liked playing in St. Louis, he is an emotional person. He may seem calm, cool and quiet when you meet him in person, but he has let his emotions rule his mind in the past.

Sobotka wth Roman Polak (courtesy of Instagram)

Sobotka was angered and devastated when he was traded to St. Louis in 2010 and wanted desperately to go back to Boston, as he stated over social media many times the first few months he was in St. Louis. He lost a good friend and fellow European player when Jaroslav Halak was traded. But the final nail in the contract coffin was when his great friend, Roman Polak, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While the Blues made a qualifying offer for Sobotka and are now headed to arbitration, Sobotka chose to go outside the NHL and give the proverbial finger to the Blues organization and its fans. The Blues will retain rights to Sobotka and if he decides to come back to the NHL, the Blues will hold his contract. The big question going through my mind is this: if Sobotka returns to the NHL after his contract is up in the KHL, will St. Louis fans forgive him and accept him back into their hearts as a treasured player?

Vladimir Sobotka is an amazing player; I have even in the past called him an elite player. He will flourish in the KHL and while we will miss him here in the NHL, especially the St. Louis Blues fans. I truly believe that his decision to leave the NHL for the KHL was a combination of being overly emotional and an inflated sense of self-worth. The Blues made a solid offer to Sobotka, several offers in reality. Sobotka seems to think that he is worth more than the $3 million per year top offer given by the Blues and it seems that the KHL also thought so, giving him $4 million per year.

Best of luck to you, Vladimir, it has been great watching you grow as a player these past years while in St. Louis. I hope that you do decide to return to the NHL as you are a fun player to watch and analyze.

St Louis Makes Another Bone-headed Move: Roman Polak is headed to Toronto Maple Leafs

St. Louis Blues General Manager, Doug Armstrong, is at it again. He is wheeling and dealing to the ultimate detriment of the team as a whole. The man should really be muzzled and stuffed in a closet when he gets on these power trips.

NHL draft in Philadelphia, PA has been going smoothly. The Blues have an opportunity to bring in some very talented players in the system. Then a deal comes across that involves Blues defenseman, Roman Polak and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, Carl Gunnarsson plus a draft pick. Of course power-hungry Armstrong jumped at the opportunity to once again look like a grade A ass.  

That said, Polak is on his way to the Maple Leafs and we get the pleasure of watching another sub-par defenseman flounder in front of the net. I will agree with the Polak critics that his post-season was less than stellar, but pick a Blues’ player who did not fumble and fall on their face during the Chicago Blackhawks series. Polak is a solid player and I have been a proponent of his since he came to the Blues.

Unfortunately, Armstong’s bone-headed deal to move Polak out is one of his best “worst-ever” trades. I place this one right up there with the Miller/Ott – Halak/Stewart trade and the Perron - Paajarvi trade.

Polak will be missed my many Blues fans and there will be a huge hole in the Blues defense as well as in the locker room next season due to this trade. I personally wish Roman and his family the very best in their new city. He is closing this chapter of his career and embarking on a new venture. Show them what you are made of and make Armstong regret his hasty decision.

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.

St. Louis Blues Trade Their Soul for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott

It came as no real surprise that the Blues dealt for Ryan Miller. It has been rumored for months now that they were flirting with him and hoped to bring him to St. Louis. In my previous article published on Yahoo Sports, Jaroslav Halak for Ryan Miller: Are the St. Louis Blues Trying to Deal? I laid out the problems with such a trade. It is true that Halak had a lackluster performance during the Olympics for his home country of Slovokia. However, Halak has a rapport with the team and the fans; he has been a shining star in the past and has the potential. Miller is getting older, has a diva personality and has had an attitude with his failing team.

The entire details of the trade have not been released by the Blues but we know who is being kicked to the curb by the Blues. Halak along with Chris Stewart, William Carrier, a first round pick and a third round pick were all dealt to the Buffalo Sabres for a prima donna goalie and a mediocre forward. The Blues are not looking long-term here. They have thrown away a great prospect in Carrier and two fan favorites who could pull a rabbit out of their hats when push came to shove. Essentially, the soul of the team has taken a beating here and it is going to take a little bit of work for them to rebound and become a cohesive unit again.

Stewart has not been shining lately, that much I will give them. But take a long hard look at the rest of the team as well. No one has been giving stellar performances as of late. Maybe it is the hope of management to upset the team and its fans enough to light a fire under them and strive towards becoming the team they were before the Olympics interjected.

I fully understand that it is a business, but I cannot help wondering what exactly they are hoping to achieve with this trade. Will it do more harm than good? The Blues have spent an entire season working and bonding together. Stewart pushed forth and became the big brother to the younger players as well the support of his line. Halak had earned the respect of his teammates through the years that he has played here in St. Louis.

Miller and Ott will join the Blues in Phoenix this Sunday, March 2^nd. It begins a new chapter for the Blues. One that will be interesting to watch play out. How many tantrums will Miller have before the end of the season? Will Ott step up his game and become an asset, not a hindrance.  Will Ken Hitchcock be able to pull the closeness of the team back together and give the players the sense of security they need to play hard for their organization and their city? All of these questions will eventually be answered and I for one will be watching closely to see what disruptions this causes and how they are addressed. It has been a long time since St. Louis has had to deal with a diva goaltender. Are the fans up to the task of worshipping at Miller’s feet? I am admittedly not a fan of Miller or Ott, but I will learn to accept them among the team and will not be overly prejudice against them. I will be waiting with bated breath as the answers to my questions unfold within the next several weeks.

As for Halak and Stewart, it has been a pleasure to watch them grow as players and ambassadors of the sport that they love. We have shared in their triumphs and heartbreaks. As they exit from the Blues, they take with them a piece of St. Louis. I, for one, wish them both nothing but the best and know that with their skills both on and off the ice, they will flourish. They are also embarking on a new chapter in their careers and I cannot wait to watch them in action against the teams in the East.

St. Louis Blues’ David Backes Uses Sochi Stray Dogs as Publicity Stunt

COMMENTARY | St. Louis Blues captain David Backes did not bring home a medal from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He did however, bring back two stray dogs. While this would have been a touching story of a big, bad hockey player showing his softer side, to me it seems more like a publicity stunt to promote his new organization, Athletes for Animals. I am an animal lover, I will gladly admit. Dogs are my weak spot and their soulful eyes will get me every time. However, there are millions of strays and shelter dogs here in the United States. 

American shelter dog awaiting a home.

My question to Backes and his wife, Kelly, is why bring back two stray dogs from another country only to place them in a shelter to be adopted out? Are there not enough unwanted and unloved animals crowding our shelters already? The fact that this story has been featured on local news stations in St. Louis, Fox 2 News and KSDK News seemed to cover the story extensively, did nothing to highlight the problem in American shelters or the stray population on U.S. soil which should be a top priority for the ambassador for Athletes for Animals. This story even went national when it was covered by the National Hockey League Player Association among other national websites. Backes proudly stated that these two dogs will be housed for 30 days at Five Acres Animal Shelter in St. Charles, MO and then would be put up for adoption. Really? Two stray dogs were brought through all the red tape and government paperwork in Russia to be placed in a shelter here in the middle of the United States. What about the millions of American stray dogs? Now these dogs will be competing with the animals already in the shelter for a loving family to take them home. 

There are other such stories floating around about Olympic athletes bringing stray dogs out of Sochi, Russia. It may be that those animals are also being placed in shelters and therefore taking up precious space that American strays are in dire need of. If the athletes had been so touched by the situation of stray and mistreated animals in another country, they should have come home to their respective countries and saved a life there instead of adding to the population of shelters and essentially the problems of stray animals in their country. In shelters and animal control facilities around the United States animals are euthanized daily because they are unable to find a home.

In the Jefferson County Missouri Animal Control Shelter every animal housed there is euthanized on Thursday morning. This is true even if the animal is picked up Wednesday evening. Why are our professional athletes, the ones that children idolize, not looking closer to home and realizing that the same problems that they saw while in Sochi, Russia are right in their own back yards. I would have been more impressed with Backes and his wife had they raised awareness about animal control facilities such as the one in Jefferson County and put a plan in action to help the animals there who are not even given a chance at life. They are put in a large, dark trailer and gassed until they die. Where are Athletes for Animals in that situation and so many others just like it across the United States?