Backes, Brodeur, and Tarasenko: Where Are The St. Louis Blues?

If you missed editor Kate Cimini’s appearance on Allan Mitchell’s show, The Lowdown with Lowetide on TSN 1260 Edmonton to discuss the Blues-Oilers matchup tonight, here is the (mostly) full text below.

ETA: You can listen to the show here.

A.M. The Blues have the no. 1 offense in the west, and the top ranked power play. Is it luck, personnel, or is Ken Hitchcock finally letting the offense run?

K.C.: Most likely a combination of the three – Muller has put together two power play units and both do a fantastic job maintaining pressure in the offensive zone. He definitely deserves a lot of credit for figuring out the best way around each team’s PK, and Hitchcock has been quick to point out the multi-dimensionality of their players. The Blues have got strong all-around players, and I think that is one reason the power play is doing so very well.

However, I’m of the opinion that good play starts with good defense.

Shattenkirk in particular has stepped his game up a level this season, and that is a huge contributor to the effectiveness of the power play. I’d also like to remind everyone that he was selected for the NHL All-Star game next weekend based on his improved play.

A.M.: We knew about Tarasenko and Schwartz, but not about Jori Lehtera. Is he sustaining early momentum, and is that line running together?

K.C.: Lehtera really has emerged as an important part of that line. Lehtera and Tarasenko have great chemistry, having played together in the KHL for 2 seasons, and frankly, I think it was just a matter of time for him to get his feet under him. He’s still new to the team, this is only his first season with them, but as he gets more used to his line and the Blues’ style of play, he’s producing more and, yes, sustaining that pressure well.

Dec 29, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) and St. Louis Blues center Jori Lehtera (12) chase the puck during the second period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

A.M.: How has Martin Brodeur been for the Blues?

K.C.: Better than expected, honestly. I can’t speak to how he is in the room, and Jake Allen’s performance dipping almost exactly when Brodeur came on doesn’t speak to any real positive mentoring, but, then again, we weren’t really expecting Brodeur to mentor. There’s a lot of speculation about a landing spot for Brodeur, assuming they only wanted to hold on to him while Elliott was on IR, but now that Elliott’s back on the active roster, Allen and Brodeur are playing for their jobs.

A.M.: I think Jake Allen needs to be better in order for St. Louis to trust him going into the playoffs. Do you agree?

K.C.: I do, and I think Allen is aware of that as well. He certainly showed improved play over Carolina, but one game doesn’t a season make. He’s got two wins and one game that went to a shootout out of the past five games he’s played, and a .901 sv%, which is lower than his average year. I’d love to see more out of him, and I think he’s capable of it – and let’s not forget, it’s only been about a month of sub-par play.

I don’t think the Blues should sell him down the river, considering that Brodeur has only a few years left at best, and sending Allen to the AHL means he has to clear waivers. I can think of at least one team that would probably love him as a backup.

A.M.: Scoring, offensive-wise, the Blues have been on fire, David Backes in particular. Is he finally healthy, is everything going well for him?

K.C.: So far, so good, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed. He returned to play in October after a concussion from a hit by Stars defenseman Trevor Daley, and then again in December when he caught a puck with his face. Hopefully that’s the last of the injuries Backes will see this season.

He’s only at 27 points for 42 games played, and is on track to crack 60 in the regular season. That would be his lowest points for a regular season ever, actually, but if he keeps playing like he has the past week, he’ll cross 70 for sure. I’m hoping for 80, but I’m a glass half-full kind of gal.

A.M.: I wanted to ask you this now – I’ve got Paul Stastny on my fantasy hockey team and he’s absolutely killing me. Injured, low production – do you think he’s coming back, or he’s gotten where he’s going to be?

K.C.: You know, we’ve seen some good play out of him sporadically — against the Coyotes, for example, he played very well, but that was against the Coyotes. I think he’s on his way back – your fantasy hockey team will be okay.

A.M.: I want to make the playoffs, so if we don’t, I’ll be calling you!

K.C.: Well, you have my number!

A.M.: Do you think the Blues will be active at [the trade] deadline?

K.C.: Yes, but as to who they’ll sell off, I’m just not sure. As a friend of mine said, they have a lot of parts I like, but the whole is lacking. Tarasenko’s up for a new deal at the end of the season, and they already have $58 million committed to 16 players, so the cap is going to be an issue for them. I think it’s been projected around $70 million for next year.

I can understand the rumors going around about Oshie and Berglund. Both of them are good, consistent players, but have a relatively high cap hit for their production. Oshie’s production has shot through the roof since the rumors hit the fan, but I could see him doing very well somewhere like Boston, who want a proven winger but aren’t looking to pay much at all.