stlbluesfan4ever

The Rangers and St. Louis have had a emotional few days and St. Louis playing through the loss of his mother, but I think the Pens kinda took the rangers for granted, but now, game 7 back in Pittsburgh will shake the Pens straight and Pens win the series. 

I know being a blues fan, everyone may think I'm being biased but I'm not, I understand that there is fault on both sides, you put your head down, someone will hit it, almost a sure thing, however, seabrook looked like he wanted to cream backes and he made sure that he led with his elbow and launched his elbow as hard as possible and it's a very reckless hit, no matter if the puck was or wasn't there, seabrook was playing the body and had no regard for the puck. and intent to injury was definely present, So, I think even though what everyone is saying that 5 or so years ago, this play may have been legal, it still didn't make it right then, we use to not wear helmets, or goalies didn't wear masks, and equipment was alot smaller, but as we evolved, we try to realize that sometimes changes have to be made for the sport to improve. Also, I find it interesting that the League is so worried about blows to the head but when they occur, they issue little or no penalties. Also, there is the simple fact of players are suppose to be responsible for their equipment, if they accidently get their stick tied up with a player in a corner and the player falls down, they don't give you a pass because the player should have tried to avoid your stick, you get a interference or tripping call, because you are responsible for your stick, so, let's pretend that seabrook didn't aim for backes' head, if you want to launch your elbow in a upward motion at someone, you need to be responsible for where it might hit someone in or near the head. I think seabrook got off easy for only three games, but we shall see what happens in the aftermath.

I know this may sound insane, and I will say without a doubt, I stand behind the trade for Miller, but, I'd have felt better if it came with a contract extention. but, now we must deal with the talk of miller wanting to go the the ducks to stay close to his wife, however, I read this article and I can't stop thinking that could Miller's looking up to CUJO, could be bringing CUJO's playoff ghost back to the note.

 

http://www.stlblueshockey.net/masking-the-problem

Goc may not be the third center that the Pens were wanting but he is a serviceable center and will help the Pens little more up the middle. However Stempniak is a dark horse, he put up pretty solid numbers as a second or third line winger with the Blues, but as the note got younger, they used Stempniak as a bargaining chip and traded him to the maple leafs for  Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. he bounced around alittle more, but he has always been a solid player but hasn't had a ton of support staff since St. louis. However Stempniak usually jumps out to big starts for each of the teams he was traded too, but, a potential line mate for Crosby or Malkin could be just what both the Pens and Lee need. I think that trade will turn out to be a turning point of the season.

for the last few seasons, all the major pubications and "experts" have made the Blues a top contender for the Cup, but this trade might actually make those predictions look real. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon of we are cup champions in waiting. any hockey fan will tell you there is still alot of games left, and the playoffs, anything can and will happen. I do however feel alittle more comfortable with our lineup than I did friday afternoon. No disrespect to Halak and elliott and everything they have done here, But, most true cup contenders have a true #1 not a 1a and 1B. Halak and Elliott did some incredible things, but, for the first time in more than a decade, the Blues have a true undisputed #1. and not to forget the incredible bump I expect from Ott. this lineup is pretty scare for all of the NHL, and now to add a true leader and a real hard hat player, this blues team just got even more scary. But, this is all on paper, everyone needs step up and do their job and keep playing. If everyone stays healthy and plays 60 mins every game. I think that the Blues are the team to beat.  LGB!!!!!

I think it's a good splash, didn't cost us too much more than what we wanted to move, and we made strong additions to the team. Definely a exciting  time to be a Blues fan. I did predict that Halak or elliott would be moved and I was afraid the team might try to take the easy route with the goalies, but I'm glad that we took the chance to do something big.

I'm up in the air if we should make any move before the deadline, I think we are pretty solid, but we do seem to be lacking something, so I think a minor trade or at least  a minor star for another minor star might be ok. However, I can say with pretty good confidence, that Jake Allen is the future of this team, the strong development of Allen is what led to the trading of Bishop and Berra in the past few seasons, who both at the current time are starting goaltenders in the NHL,and Bishop is having a season worth Vezina consideration,  Which has to say alot about the Blues having strong confidence and strong desire to see Jake allen be the Blues' future Franchise goalie. I wouldn't be surprised and would actually expect to see Halak or Elliott moved to add assets, since both Keepers are UFAs and Allen's contract next season is one way. Though Miller would be quite a impressive mentor to Allen and help the Blues ease Allen into the #1 job over time, I have a feeling that trading one of our current goalies and keeping and resigning the other to split time with Allen is a much cheaper and more realistic option. But, I do think some young star power could add the secondary scoring that the blues are lacking and need to compete long term as Stanley cup contenders. maybe not at the deadline, but in the offseason , I think the Blues shouldn't close the door on trying to sign Thomas Vanek, everyone thinks he's too much and he already plans to go to the Wild, but I think the Blues are alittle closer to being a cup contender than the Wild are at this time, and that could go far in his decision where to sign.

Heading into the Olympic break, the Note is tied for best record in the central, but hold the tie breaker over the hawks, with three games in hand, and three points out of the best record in the league, So, we all hear the rumors, but other than the Blues recent few games blowing late leads to pull out the victory in shootout or at least getting one of the two points. Do the Blues really need to make a move to be true cup contenders, or are they better off to build on the young core's confidence and feel we have the parts but just need to get them playing at higher level. 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/article_79069dd8-416e-57c2-ba93-152c5f08506c.html#.UoaEr0wCSYA.twitter

The Blues have placed veteran Chris Porter on waivers for a period that ends on Saturday.

Any NHL team can claim Porter, who has 129 games, 10 goals and 24 points of NHL experience. The 29-year old left winger got the short end of the roster stick this season when the Blues signed free agent Brenden Morrow.

Porter played well for the Blues down the stretch last season. When Scott Nichol was injured, Porter moved from the wing to center the fourth line and the “CPR Line” of Adam Cracknell, Porter and Ryan Reaves was impacting during a six game playoff loss to Los Angeles.

Both Porter and Cracknell were rewarded with one-way NHL contracts after the season ended. But as the new season approached, the Blues took an opportunity to add experienced depth by signing Morrow.

 

Porter wound up with the Chicago Wolves, the team's American Hockey League affiliate. He recently joined the Blues for two games, but returned to Chicago when Morrow came off injured reserve. Porter has no goals and five assists in eight games for Chicago.

The Blues are up against the leagues' salary cap. If Porter is claimed, his two-year deal and $675,000 cap hit comes off the books. But general manager Doug Armstrong emphasized there is more to Porter's situation than budget keeping. He believes Porter belongs in the NHL and deserves the opportunity elsewhere if it's out there.

“He played well while he was here,” Armstrong said of Porter's recent contribution. “And he played very well for us last season. He's done everything we have asked of him and we believe he's an NHL player. We're not an organization that wants to hold a player down and deny him that opportunity if it's there.”

 

Is it just me, or does it seem like the Blues are trying to get someone to take Chris Porter's 2 year $675,000 contract off their hands to free up salary room.

 “He played well while he was here,” Armstrong said of Porter's recent contribution. “And he played very well for us last season. He's done everything we have asked of him and we believe he's an NHL player. We're not an organization that wants to hold a player down and deny him that opportunity if it's there.”

 

doesn't that sound like a sales pitch. and As much as I usually like to give Armstrong the benefit of the doubt, I think letting a promising young player just walk away, for free at that, just to add another "veteran" to the mix, a veteran who is only signed here for this season and who could easily walk away for more money or with recent injury issues the last few seasons for morrow, is completely insane. I think porter has a much promising and more successful future than Morrow, and to keep opening him for waivers is a waste of organization depth and a very short minded decision, I don't think morrow can bring anything to the table worth throwing talent away just to hope he stays healthy and give us a short term boost. we shouldn't make decisions for the blues future based on middle aged players' past glory days.

Definely a big momentum bump for the note, never bought into the hype and didn't get caught in the awe of the Penguin. Even though Sid and company looked little more intimidated by the note than the latter, mental mistakes, 4 or 5 offsides which could have been big odd man rushes, and Pens seemed little off, still quite a talented effort by both sides, and the Blues took advantage of the chances and got 2 big points. hope we can keep it going tuesday against the Yotes.

LET'S GO BLUES!!!!

http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=687277

The St. Louis Blues have agreed to an affiliation with the St. Charles Chill of the Central Hockey League. The Chill will join the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League as a source for prospect development for the Blues.

“We’re excited and humbled to be part of the Blues organization,” said Jamie Rivers, former Blues defenseman and Chill GM and Head Coach. “I know personally that they’re a first-class organization and I am thrilled to be part of it again. We will support the Blues’ hockey operations to the best of our abilities and we look forward to working with them.”

Starting this season, the Blues can assign current players and prospects to the Chill, the only CHL affiliate for St. Louis. Players on the Chill roster can also be called upon to play for both the Blues and the Chicago Wolves.

“It’s great for us to be able to keep an eye on our prospects right in our own backyard,” said Tim Taylor, Director of Player Development for the Blues. “We look forward to working with the Chill in their inaugural season and continuing to grow with them as an organization.”

The St. Charles Chill will begin their inaugural season in the Central Hockey League on Saturday, October 19. For more information on the St. Charles Chill, visit www.StCharlesChill.com or call (636) 724-SHOT (7468).

 

Well, I really don't think a decision should be made about either Halak or elliott right now, but, I know it's on everyone's mind and trade rumors are going crazy right now. Jake Allen is close, and I think he could fill in just fine, but the long haul, I think he has more seasoning to do, and since he isn't really getting much playing time in chicago, getting Allen up here just as a back up might be doing him more good than split time with the wolves. But, I think, especially after last night's game against the sharks, I think we really need to make sure we're backing the right horse before making any huge decisions. I was more wondering if this was all a ploy to run both elliott and Halak's stock up in the trade market, than actual preparation of changing course, but, time will tell. 

The Blues play their 5th game of the season tonight, and brian elliott hasn't even had a sniff at the net yet, even though there is a chance he could start thursday or friday as the Blues have back to back game for the first time this season, however, in recent days, Elliott seems to have become the hottest trade commodity on multiple rumor sites, and many "experts" already have elliott linked to edmonton and the New York Rangers in a back up role, even Jeremy Rutherford of the Post Dispatch, is cited in saying that the elliott rumors have "substance" So, many people think the best elliott will fetch is a third or fourth round pick, and cutting his 1.8 million contract would give the note a little more room to wiggle from the cap. Also, it would give them a chance to promote Allen and get him regular time with the Blues goalie coach Corey Hirsch and regular time practicing with the big club instead of splitting time in chicago with Matt Climie, who was the Wolves starting goalie last season before the Blues sold the Rivermen. All signs point to the Blues wanting to rally around Halak as their number one and if Halak can stay healthy, the odds are very good he will be wearing the Bluenote on his chest next season, but, I also see Halak as a much bigger cap hit next season, as with most likely Allen as his backup, there would be a much clearer label on Halak and he can demand more money as the clear #1 to go along his more proven playoff record. I though the Blues Might keep elliott so they could have a pretty reliable goalie at a cheaper price and groom Allen along and if elliott stumbled at all, Allen could step right in. and Halak might fetch more in a trade, But, Halak's actions this offseason staying in St. louis to train instead of going home, and his recent hot start could be Halak starting to secure the top spot. So, Is this just more smoke and mirrors to try to push Elliott's value up as halak's value continues to grow with his hot start, or is elliott really on his way out in the near future, and what do you think the Blues should or can actually get in return for elliott. 

LET'S GO BLUES!!!!!

Even though most of St. louis' eyes will be on the cardinals as they will be a few blocks away hosting the pittsburgh pirates in a decisive game 5 playoff game, the Blues have a very huge game of their own, playing their biggest divisional rival in the the chicago blackhawks. though my attention will be split alittle, I'm definely bleeding Blue.

LET'S GO BLUES!!!!!

Recently, Coach Hitchcock has made it clear that Halak could start the first six games for the Blues, due to the light schedule to start the season. A 2-0 start and becoming the franchise"s all time leader in shutouts, is definely big pluses for Halak in the long term. However, with both Halak and Elliott about to become UFA's at the end of the season and Jake Allen is scheduled to become a one way contract next season, Could the Blues be trying to test Halak as the Number 1 job and make sure he can hold up physically and the long haul of the season with all the pressure, or could they be playing saleman, and trying to showcase Halak and see if we can raise his stock and move him. Though I know that the blues just assigned jordan binnington back to the OHL with the current log jam in Chicago, and the only way to keep everyone developing, they need to be regularly playing, so, if Allen does well in chicago, could the blues be looking to move elliott or halak to bring Allen up and then get Binnington to chicago, or do you think that Halak and elliott will be a season long battle and we will just try to see does best (or cost effective) and then Allen will most likely fit in as the backup for the note.

LET'S GO BLUES!!!!!

LET'S GO BLUES!!!!!!

I definely think Sherio will need to work something out, the Pens really don't have the Cap room to just sign a expensive free agent like Bryzgalov, Dipetro or any other  nhl ready goalies, also, Sherio has to play a very dangerous game of who's he really trying to replace, Vokoun or Fleury. because if you're only trying to replace vokoun and you just want to spell Fleury every so often, then you need to figure out who's expendiable to trade and wouldn't hurt the long term plans and still get you help. However, the whole reason the Pens brought Vokoun in was the fact that they were worried about overplaying Fleury, so what are their plans now, and how is Fleury going to respond when he needs to carry this team in net all by himself, Fleury is going to need to return to past glory real quick with no real relief in sight, because if not, since fleury is already under the microscope, the Pens may find themselves in deep trouble in goal, and may need to replace two goalies instead of just one, and that will cost them alot more, and definely put the Pen's long term development in a big slow down mode. I hope Fleury can do it, but I'm nervous about the stress all this is going to cost him and how he reacts.

I'm glad Porter cleared, but I'm not as confident if he needs to clear waivers again, but, I doubt that we wouldn't bring him back at some point this season, so the chance probably will come up again. we really need to be careful not to lose a great depth player for nothing. like I said Like Morrow and all, but I'm not willing to start losing pieces for the future just to have a good players for a few seasons, or at least only one season unless we get him to resign, which I fear that players like Roy and Morrow might have big seasons here and raise their stock and then go somewhere else for the big bucks and we will be left with little or nothing because we screwed around with our younger players while trying to keep the new Vets in the lineup for this season.

As much as I agree with the extra need for accountability on offense, I think the Blues need to make sure they take accountability as a team, on paper, we have one of  if not the toughest D core to face in the league, which should help halak and elliott and maybe Allen later this season, however, everyone still needs to be doing their job, and for elliott and halak, this is a contract year, so they need to make sure they aren't only playing for bigger paycheck, they are playing for the other 21 players they share the ice with. Too many times, we have made excuses for either the youth is still learning, or tough injuries, or veterans missing a step. every team faces these same issues but still need to fight though them and from the exception of almost 10 teams, they have all raised Lord Stanley's Cup. Every member of the Blues have the ability to play at a higher level, but, instead of focusing on why we can't do it or didn't do it, everyone needs to focus on what am I doing to make this team better and the best it can be. If they do that, we will have a parade down market street with lord Stanley's Cup in hand. 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/blues-stress-accountability-on-offense/article_53a1401c-227d-53c3-91b5-296103d13360.html

 

As players spread out for the summer, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong and head coach Ken Hitchcock convened in St. Louis. Offseason evaluations are normal procedure in the NHL, but the main topic on the agenda was more perplexing than your typical postseason reflection.

The Blues wanted to know why they struggled to score more goals.

The club netted just 10 goals in a six-game playoff loss to Los Angeles, an average of 1.67 per game, which was the second-lowest clip among the 16 postseason teams. After taking a two-games-to-none lead in the series, the Blues were blanked on 30 shots in a 1-0 Game 3 loss, shifting the momentum to the Kings, who went on to win four straight.

“You have to score goals in this game … you have to score goals to win,” Armstrong said. “When I look back at last season, was that just an anomaly or why did all of our good offensive players go in a slump at the same time?”

The Blues ranked No. 17 in the NHL during the regular season, averaging 2.58 goals per game, but the playoffs had Armstrong and Hitchcock mystified.

“We brainstormed at the end of the year. … Can you change here? Can you do this?” Hitchcock said. “The discussion was, ‘Is it about tweaking or is it about more accountability?’ The decision at the end of the day was more accountability.”

Few of the Blues’ faithful could argue after the forwards made hitting the broad side of a barn look impossible in the LA series. They had 101 missed shots in the six games, or 16.8 per game.

In a round in which the Kings had only two more regulation goals and moved on with a four-games-to-two victory, any one of the Blues’ misfires could have changed the club’s fortune. But was there more to the scoring woes than simply not converting the team’s chances?

Much of Hitchcock’s 17-year coaching career has been based on playing a “200-foot game.” His name is often associated with tight checking and defense, never confused with instant offense.

Some past players have quietly criticized the system, saying that it doesn’t allow them to use their creative talents. Some fans bemoan the fact that despite drafting several skilled forwards, finding a 30-goal scorer on the roster is a challenge.

Blues captain David Backes, who laid out 158 hits last season but lit the lamp only six times, said that focusing on Hitchcock’s style as the root of the silent nights is a “false notion.”

“There’s no handcuffs,” Backes said. “It’s playing winning hockey. If there’s a play to be made, make it. But if there’s not, don’t force it. I don’t think that’s defensive minded. I think it’s smart. When we’ve got guys buying into that system, we’ve had a ton of success.

“What maybe is craved is the 3-on-1 tic-tac-toe, backdoor tap-in (goals). But you’ve got to ask yourself, ‘Would you trade four pretty goals a night and lose 6-4 and be out of the playoff race in February?’ That’s not appealing to anyone in this room. We’re willing to sacrifice a couple of those pretty goals to make the right play, which helps us win games and be hunting into April, May and June.”

Chris Stewart, who led the Blues with 18 goals in 48 games last season, added that the Western Conference isn’t the landscape for an open system.

“There’s not many guys that you can just tic-tac-toe around,” Stewart said. “You look at the San Jose’s, the LA’s, us … we’re big hockey teams. You try to tic-tac-toe around David Backes and you’re going to get blown up, you know what I mean.

“There’s definitely a time and a place when you have a chance to showcase your skill, and that time will come, but if we think we’re just going to stickhandle our way to the Stanley Cup, I don’t think that’s going to be the answer.”

The Blues may not have overhauled their offensive operation this summer, but while the team’s brass decided that accountability weighed more heavily than tweaking the system, there will be some recognizable differences for those paying close attention.

“We’d like to get more creative in the offensive zone,” Armstrong said. “That’s certainly the responsibility of Ken and the coaches, along with the players, to come up with the blueprint to do that. We’ve given them the overview of what we want and now they have to come up with the blueprint on how to get it done.”

In training camp, the club worked on drills in which every skater on the ice was used to help create scoring. The dump-and-chase will still be relied on at times, but with a blue line that boasts three potential 40-point players in Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester, the instruction was to get involved.

“What I’m trying to create here, without giving away trade secrets, one of the things we didn’t do enough last year is use our second wave,” Hitchcock said. “We’re trying to create more offense from our second wave. It means the forwards have to hang onto the puck longer at times to allow more people to join the rush. We’re trying to create second-wave attacks more than we ever have here.”

Instead of driving into a cluster, the first Blues to enter the offensive zone are cutting and turning their back to the opposition and feeding the trailers. To Hitchcock, it doesn’t matter if that player is a forward or a defensemen; in that situation, they’re one and the same.

“You’re not a positional player, you’re a number,” he said. “I’m trying to create numbers rather than name positions. So just because you’re a defenseman, if you’re up in the rush, you act as a forward to a certain level. It’s attacks based on numbers and not positions. It’s wanting to create more offense off late-arriving people, taking advantage of our mobility on the back end to create a numerical advantage in the offensive zone.”

Stewart said that players like Hitchcock’s decision to give them more leeway.

“He’s a smart coach and he’s successful for a reason,” Stewart said. “If you don’t get the job done two years in a row, everybody is going to change as a whole. He took it upon himself to come up with a little bit of a different (strategy). Our focus has been trying to get over the blue line with possession and not just dump it in for no reason.

“Hockey now is a possession game, and when you have it, I don’t think there’s any need to give it up. Hold onto it and make that next best play … give the puck to the guy who has the best opportunity to make something happen. There’s obviously a time and a place. We’re not going to be up 3-2, trying to dangle or anything like that.”

Make no mistake, the Blues will still be priding themselves on a strong defensive game.

“When I hear the words, ‘score more,’ that’s a red flag, an alarm bell, whatever, that goes off for me … because that usually becomes the license to cheat,” Hitchcock said. “You’re hanging on the wrong side of pucks, you’re leaving the zone early… you can’t win that way.

“I don’t understand when people say they sacrifice their offense to get back (defensively). I’ve always believed that that’s just a bloody excuse for not sticking with things a little bit longer. For us, we don’t want them to sacrifice any offense but we just don’t want them to cheat to think they have to score. If you play the game the right way, you’ll get all the scoring chances you need.”

The Blues’ new personnel also provides a different look.

They are moving on without Andy McDonald, who retired, and David Perron, whom they traded to Edmonton. For a team seeking scoring, the dealing away of Perron, who netted 21 goals in 57 games two years ago, is a risk. But it was needed for salary savings and to give Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko more ice time.

“We believe that Schwartz and Tarasenko are two young players that could pick up some of what David was leaving,” Armstrong said.

The Blues received Magnus Paajarvi from the Oilers and signed free agents Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy. Morrow and Roy instantly became the Blues’ Nos. 1-2 leaders in career goals with 249 and 168, respectively.

“We’ve lost two and we’ve got seven who can replace that part of the game,” Hitchcock said. “I look at Tarasenko, Schwartz, Roy, Paajarvi, Morrow. I also look at Bouwmeester and (Jordan) Leopold, who are now full-time residents on the team and add a lot in the transition. So we’ve got seven now.”

But Hitchcock acknowledges that in order for the Blues to receive the most out of their offensive parts, he has to do a better job of splitting up the minutes.

“I think more than anything, if we want to be better, we have to ‘divvy’ up the ice more collectively,” he said. “We’re going to put the onus on certain players to do more, but we’re also going to expect them to be able to do it. It allows other people to do things they’re good at with a higher level of energy.”

If that happens, first-year Dallas general manager Jim Nill, a longtime Detroit executive, says watch out for the Blues.

“In order to be successful, you’ve got to have depth and I think that’s what St. Louis has built up,” Nill said. “They might not have the marquee guy, but their overall depth is going to win them games. When they roll four lines, it’s hard to match. They’re as good a team as there is in the league.”

The Blues don’t want to change much, but they do want to score more goals. That, Hitchcock says, will come with more accountability.

“That’s what needs to take place,” Hitchcock said. “It’s very important that we let the players formulate it. Coaches can screw it up by interfering in it. Once that’s in your locker room, the players transition in and out but that level of accountability is in the room. That’s really important that that takes place here.”

 

 

 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/blues-place-porter-on-waivers/article_66c5d338-c791-5f75-acfa-0c1af9a4dfb0.html

The Blues made a move to get down to the NHL maximum 23 players Saturday, placing forward Chris Porter on waivers.

Teams now have 24 hours to put in a claim for Porter. If he's not picked up, the left winger will be assigned to the Chicago Wolves, the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate.

The move would make the Blues compliant with the league's roster limitations by Monday's deadline.

Porter, who has 10 goals and 24 points in 127 games with the Blues, was part of the productive "CPR" line last season. Prior to that, since his signing as a free agent in 2007, he's been a hard-working, dependable and versatile forward for the club. 

But the offseason signing of Maxim Lapierre and the recent addition of Brenden Morrow created a log-jam at forward, and with Morrow, particularly on left wing.

“From a players’ standpoint, it’s frustrating," Porter said this week. "It’s a little discouraging, but at the same time I understand that they’re veteran guys and they’ve played at the highest level. You understand what they’re doing, but at the same time, you feel like you’ve done enough to show that you belong here.”

The final cut needed to be a forward, as 15 remained on the roster and the Blues were set to carry 14. 

After adding Morrow, the club had 13 forwards with one-way contracts and two more — Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko — who have two-way contracts but are locks to make the opening-night roster.

Also, the Blues had as many as six players who play left wing: Alexander Steen, Brenden Morrow, Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Sobotka, Magnus Paajarvi and Porter.

Porter and Adam Cracknell can play either side on wing and center. But based on Saturday's move, it's apparent that the club views Porter's best position is left wing and that Cracknell has the edge at center and right wing.

So with the team needing to clear one player from the roster, Porter became the odd-man out.

Any team in the Blues' position, after reaching its final decision, would have tried to make a trade, so it's assumed that general manager Doug Armstrong panned the league for a taker. Without one, the only option was to place Porter on waivers.

Waivers are nothing new to Porter. A nine-round pick by Chicago in 2003, he signed with the Blues as a free-agent in 2007. Over the last seven years, he has signed four two-way agreements with the Blues, meaning he was paid a minor-league salary when assigned to Peoria. In that span, he was sent to the minors 10 times.

But it appeared that Porter had finally caught on in the NHL, after inking his first-ever one-way, NHL contract last April — a two-year, $1.35 million deal. 

"It's rewarding for sure," Porter said at the time. "Nothing has ever come easy for a lot of guys. My situation, getting sent down, never looked at it as a bad thing. I went down, worked extremely hard to get back here, and to be rewarded with a contract, I'm extremely excited."

But six months later, the excitement has turned to disappointment.

 

I also like the addition of Morrow, I think it gives the note a little extra scoring and a nice vet presents, however, I am starting to get alittle more concerned with the expectations and the cause and effect of morrow's presents, first, there seems to be a sense that morrow is going to be a top six forward to start the season, though, I'd love to have the morrow of 5 years ago when he was a top six, I'm concerned with the extra pressure effect on his aging and sore body. I'm not saying he can't do it, I just have concerns that if he can do it on a every night basis, also, the addition of Morrow will most likely cost us a pretty talented piece of our young core, as chris porter was waved yesterday to make room, and I would be very surprised someone doesn't claim him, he's way too talented for no one to try to steal him for free. I'm hoping porter clears, but, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth if we lose a good piece of the youth for a player who will only help us for sure this season, and if we resign him only a max 5 more years down the road, and all that without saying he needs to stay healthy too. 

http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=683638&navid=DL|STL|home

St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Monday the club has signed forward Brenden Morrow to a one-year deal.

Morrow, 34, posted 11 points (six goals, five assists) and 18 penalty minutes in 29 games with Dallas last season before being acquired by Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.

Morrow went on to log 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 19 penalty minutes in his final 15 regular season games with the Penguins as well as four points (two goals, two assists) and eight penalty minutes in 14 playoff appearances.

"The Blues have been knocking on the door...I think they're a team that can push through it and I want to be a part of that," Morrow said via conference call. "It's good to be on (the Blues side) instead of having to compete against them every night."

Prior to joining Pittsburgh, Morrow spent his entire 13-year career in Dallas, where he served as the team's captain since 2006. Overall, the 6-foot, 210-pound forward has dressed in 850 career games, accumulating 542 points (249 goals and 293 assists) to go along with 1,222 penalty minutes.

In addition, Morrow has tallied 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) and 108 penalty minutes in 92 career playoff games.

"I think he just makes us a better team," Armstrong said. "He's a competitive player, he's played in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Stanley Cup Semifinals, last year went to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline and played very well there. He hurt his knee, his knee cap quite severely, and played through it. That's the type of player we want, someone that plays through injuries, has no excuses, and he's a player that's going to help our grit quota and we're going to be a tougher team to play with him in the lineup."

Internationally, the Carlyle, Saskatchewan native has skated for Team Canada on seven different occasions, most notably winning the gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He also won gold in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and 2004 World Championships, and silver in the 2005 World Championships and the 1999 World Juniors.

Morrow was originally drafted by Dallas in the first round, 25th overall, of the 1997 NHL Draft.

 

In theory, I think this is a great addition for the note, great leadership and at 34, probably still has some serious firepower, if he can stay healthy, my biggest concern is this gives the Blues 16 forwards who are on one way contracts or strong enough locks to make the club, So, some younger guy who would have played in st. louis will be sent down and make an NHL salary. I wonder who will lose their job because of Morrow, or there will be have to be a trade, but, I think this is a big chance for the note to really step up and pull away alittle bit in the new Central division.