The Home Stretch

The post ASG rush begins tonight. Like a million other people, I thought I would give my opinions on the Blues players as we look forward. I will grade each player based on my expectations at the begining of the season.

Paul Kariya - B
I didn't know quite what to expect but I knew he had been a point per game player. He has been that and he has made others around him better, which makes him exceed my expectations. But at only 12 goals and horrible power play, for which he holds some responsibility, means he doesn't get the A.

Brad Boyes - A
I expected Brad to score 25+/- goals on the season. He has well exceeded those expectations, scoring 29 goals to this date. But he is just a sniper, not a playmaker and his lack of assists bears that out.

Keith Tkachuk - C
I expected a 20+ season from him with some rough play. Guess what. He is on pace to score 20+ goals and plays a good checking and defensive game.

Andy McDonald - C
I am kind of punting this decision. Andy was a midseason acquisition. He has played well but the team has not. Do the Blues miss Doug Weight?

Lee Stempniak - D
I am a little disappointed in The General. I expected a 25+/- goal season from him with a little more playmaking ability than Brad Boyes. He is on pace to score less than 20 goals. That might be a result of Lee playing on the third line most of the season with only about a third of the year on the second line. But those are excuses. If you are a good player, you need to produce.

David Perron - B
David is the sixth leading scorer on a bad offensive team. He should score between 15 and 20 goals and double that number of points. A good start to a, hopefully, long career.

Erik Johnson - C
His good performance hasn't surprised me. He plays a solid game but isn't yet dominant (I don't know if he will get there). His 13 assists is a little better than I expected but not enough to bump up to a B.

Jamal Mayers - C
Jamal plays a great game. Is very good on the checking line and is stellar on the penalty kill. This is what I have come to expect from him.

David Backes - C
He is what he is. This is only his first full year (though he is not a rookie) but I think he has fulfilled his potential. A mediocre third line player. What Jeff calls a 'plumber'.

Eric Brewer - D
It's not that he has played badly. It's just that he hasn't played well every single game. I have, long ago, given up on him being a dominant defensemen. But he should play better and more consistently. Offensively, he has fewer points than Erik Johnson. I expect more.

Jay McClement - D
He hasn't played any worse than Backes but I thought that he would play better than him. I was hopeful that he would be put on the checking line with RJ and Jamal and that he would shine. He hasn't. He is falling into the category of plumber.

Christian Backman - D
One goal, nine assists, minus two. He is bigger than I assumed at the start of the season (6'4"). Someone needs to sit him down and show him Eric Brewer or Erik Johnson make a rush. I don't think I've ever seen him do that. He needs to be more aggressive in all aspects of his game.

Martin Rucinsky - D
He's injured. Never a good start. I assumed 10+ goals and adds some speed to a third line. Has three goals so far. A plumber with a little extra speed.

Ryan Johnson - B
He is filling the role that I expect but he is doing it better than I thought he would. He and Jamal are a joy to watch because they are so good at what they do. He's a keeper.

Bryce Salvador - B
Bryce is a stay at home defensemen and he plays that role well. I have been expecting the increased speed of the league to negate his abilities. That hasn't happened and his play has bordered between good and great. (In the defensive zone, he provides no offense.)

Steve Wagner - B
Back in the lineup tonight. Moves the puck well. Skates well. I would like to see more aggression when he checks because he is bigger than he plays (6'2", 200 lbs.).

Dan Hinote - C
Another plumber. Not much else to say.

Jay McKee - B
He's not injured; that's a good start. Signed to be a core defensive defensemen and a 'shot-blocker'. He plays well, will check forwards. He can skate a little and pass a little.

Barrett Jackman - C
Plays bigger than he is. No offensive contribution. A tough grinder and can throw down but I see him chase a little bit and perhaps too aggressive and takes penalties. His +/- rating is alarming.

Mike Johnson - D
Hurt plumber.

DJ King - B
Wasn't expecting too much from him. He is overmatched most shifts but not all. He is the Blues' heavy. The two goals just about guaranteed his above expectation rating.

Matt Walker - C
I have been pulling for him since the first couple of games when he looked real good out there. He has come back down to earth. He is not a top 4 defenseman but is not a liability. He is very physical but gets nervous when he is carrying the puck and tends to get rid of it immediately instead of looking for the best play.

I did look at the goalies but quite a bit has been said about them already. There were eight positives and six negatives. One nice surprise and no big let downs. What is now glaring is the lack of a shutdown defenseman. Will Erik Johnson be that? When will he be that? Paul Kariya is the only All Star caliber forward the Blues have. Their top line of PK-AM-BB is good, not great, and can be physically manhandled. There is no stable second line from game to game or even shift to shift. I think this is a big detriment. I favor the PerWaltNiak line and think Lee Stempniak has been wronged by playing on the third line most of the season. There are five forwards (those deemed 'plumbers') I would punt from the team to try and cycle in young players and establish a third scoring line. I really like the JM-RJ-DJK checking line. Perhaps McClement can be dropped to that line and cycle in DJK game to game.