What is Patrik Berglund worth to the St. Louis Blues? Ryan Lambert took that subject on Friday, focusing on Bergy’s use on the Blues both pre-Hitchcock and during Hitch’s tenure in St. Louis.
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Berglund’s usage declined under Hitchcock, but Lambert shows that it is for a reason. He noted that while Berglund was often used to break in young high-impact players, but himself never succeeded in moving up in the hierarchy. Lambert writes:
"Apart from Stastny, who likewise found himself playing away from top competition last year despite the dollar value of his contract, it looks like Berglund’s being used to shepherd along kids with high ceilings. Schwartz, Tarasenko, and Jaskin are all considered to be pretty high-level prospects (well, not so much Tarasenko any more, given his coming-out party last year), and these are kids you want to put in a position to succeed; which is why Berglund, who clearly has some offensive skill, seems like a decent guy to put with them. He doesn’t do so well himself against top competition, and if he can get the puck to these high-test talents, or bury chances they give him, then all the better; goals count just as much when scored against grinders as they do against first- and second-line players.But with all that having been said, it’s tough to find evidence that Berglund has a significant positive influence on his linemates’ ability to either score or prevent goals even against these weaker players."
You can read the rest at Puck Daddy.
Remember when the Blues shelled Malcolm Subban in goal? Yeah, he does, too. [The Hockey News]
All 82 St. Louis Blues games will be available somewhere on television. [St. Louis Blues]
Some Flyers fans/bloggers have launched an online campaign to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins. Is this ridiculous? Yes. Is it a joke? Double yes. Is it enraging Pittsburgh Penguins fans? Triple yes.
The site reads:
"Please help us purchase the worst franchise in the NHL so we can try to make it better by doing things like:– Painting the entire inside of the arena Orange and Black– Putting a giant photo of Claude Giroux on the outside of the building, facing the highway– Repainting the parking lots stripes orange, with a Flyers logo in each spot– Using colored thread to impose a beach ball in the net behind Fleury– Make a wall of fame in the concourse with photos of our top donators"
Hopefully some Penguins fans can raise a bit more than $200. [The Score]
The trade deadline has been announced! Feb. 28, 2016 is going to be hell for bloggers and journalists everywhere. And maybe some athletes as well. [The Hockey News]
Guess who’s the new outreach and marketing director for the CWHL? You got it! Sasky Stewart, who has, on occasion, appeared on a Steve Dangle podcast or two. [Twitter]
We leave you with this phenomenal press conference, called by Henrik Lundqvist.
Next: St. Louis Blues Ice Girls Deserve Better
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