St. Louis Blues Monday Matchups: Scottie Upshall vs Steve Ott

Our first Monday Matchup pitted two players with similar styles, similar contract situations and similar leadership. Why break from that? Let’s look at which player of Steve Ott and Scottie Upshall takes the win for the St. Louis Blues.

In our inaugural Monday Matchup, we saw David Backes go up against Troy Brouwer. While it was a tough call and could have gone either way, the money situation gave the slight edge to the newcomer, Brouwer.

This week, we move to the fourth line. The St. Louis Blues have unrestricted free agents in Scottie Upshall and Steve Ott.

In a similar storyline to the Backes/Brouwer match, both players make around the same amount of money, one player has a bit more history with the Blues than the other and their production is similar.

Time of Service

The gap here isn’t nearly what it was between Brouwer and Backes, but Ott gets the nod in this category. Ott was brought in in 2014 in a pre-deadline deal that brought he and Ryan Miller to the Blues and sent Chris Stewart, Jaroslav Halak, a prospect and a 2015 pick.

Upshall came to the Blues in the fall of 2015 on a professional tryout. Upshall signed a one year contract in early October after being brought in for a look during training camp after playing 63 games with the Florida Panthers the prior season.

Stats

Based on what we know from their time with the Blues, you would figure Upshall has the huge edge here. Not so. It’s actually almost a wash.

Upshall has the edge in career goals and Ott has the edge in career assists and points.

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Upshall averages 11 goals per season, if you don’t count his first two seasons when he played single digit games, and almost 23 points in that same span.

Ott averaged 8 goals per season and 22 points. Now, you do have to take into account that Ott was injured most of the year in Dallas in 2006-07 and played limited games in his rookie year. His averages go up to 9 and 25 if you take out those two seasons and make the comparison mathematically equal.

Playoff Performances

This one is, again, a mishmash. Upshall has the clear edge for production. In only four playoff years, he has more points than Ott does in eight. However, these aren’t guys you’re looking to for goals come the postseason.

In terms of providing ice-time, both do that quite well. Interestingly, the players found themselves in different spots coming to St. Louis. Ott had only seen double-digit ice time once in the playoffs before coming to the Blues. However, that was due to the Blues using him in more of a third line role.

The opposite was true for Upshall. He averaged double-digit minutes until coming to St. Louis. That was because he was used in a more prominent role than the fourth line spot the Blues utilized.

Intangibles

Both players kind of wash themselves out here as well. Ott returned three-fourths of the way into the 2015-16 season after suffering a double-hamstring tear. Some players would never get over it and yet he returned in the same season.

Upshall only missed three games in the Blues playoff run. Some were due to lineup changes and some due to injury. After the season ended, we found out he had suffered a broken thumb. Upshall gutted through it and competed in the final game of the year in true playoff fashion.

Overview

These players are perhaps more similar than Backes and Brouwer were. However, they may be more different as well.

They offer similar point production, but different styles on the ice. Ott is more likely to stir the pot and attempt to get under someone’s skin. Upshall, at least visually, is more quiet and businesslike.

Both are fourth line players, but Upshall played a pivotal role on the Blues penalty killing unit. That is not to say Ott cannot play on that unit, but Upshall formed a good partnership with Kyle Brodziak and were some of the top penalty killers in the league.

Ott said he has unfinished business and would like to return to the Blues. Very little has come out of the Upshall camp.

That said, it may come down to dollars and cents (and sense). While after the season, Fox Sports claimed Ott only cost the Blues $925,000 (either a clerical error on their part or a trick of the Long Term Injured Reserve on the cap hit), he was actually paid $2.6 million. Upshall had a much more modest hit of $700.000.

Even if the Blues give Upshall a raise, it is not likely to get up to $1 million. So, the question would be how much Ott is willing to take to stay.

Ott is a great personality in the locker room, with the fans and in the media. He’s one of those veterans you need and want in your locker room, but at the right cost. Upshall may not provide the same vocal leadership, but he gives it his all on the ice and has proven a valuable asset on special teams.

Ott’s feistiness can be replaced by Ryan Reaves, who is already on the roster. His minutes might be better suited to free agents brought in for less money or younger players coming through the ranks.

Ott’s story is one that makes it hard to think about him not being on the team. He’d be a great team ambassador or maybe even coach. In the scheme of things though, Upshall gets the nod here.

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Upshall is a year younger, likely to command less money, proven a steadier player in the role he’s been given and takes far fewer penalties. Upshall only missed playoff time due to wanting ain increase in speed or injury. Ott was taken out of the playoffs for taking dumb penalties.

If Ott takes a paycut, there could easily be a scenario where both of these players could stay. If forced to choose though, this is the second week in a row that the less tenured player in St. Louis gets chosen.

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