My hockeyless night wasn't a good one. It forced me to do something I haven't done since late September. Shave. I shaved my head and shaved my beard off. Damn you NHL for not having a game on TV last night! I went from looking like a terrorist to a member of a boy band in about 5 minutes.

whoa, wait - aryan nations has boy bands?

Nice transition Killer. 

So I'm reading everything I can find about STL's front office lately to see what Stillman and Armstrong are going to do to avert the mini-apocalypse I was worried might come to STL because of contract situations.  Anyway, I came across and interesting article.

I found out some great news, the Ditch can accomodate an entire NHL roster.

Here's the headline:

 

'Hitch' wants to pull Blues out of a ditch

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hock
ey/hitch-wants-to-pull-blues-out-of
-a-ditch/article_e7c64e1a-396d-54c1
-991e-27e5fd7c0b28.html

Good luck Hitch.    Blues and Blues fans are welcome as long as they want. 

“My job is to get them out of the ditch,” Hitchcock said. “And you don’t get them out of the ditch with a bunch of criticism and a bunch of conflict. My job is to get them back up and running and feeling good about themselves.”

Pssst, hey Armstrong and Stillman.   I think Hitchcock was sending you a message, money, certainty, and contracts make players feel good.

considering his comments to the media after the Blues' most recent loss to the wings, i find this:

“And you don’t get them out of the ditch with a bunch of criticism and a bunch of conflict. My job is to get them back up and running and feeling good about themselves.”

to be either a remarkable change of view, or else a steaming pile of BS. i'm just not sure which it is.

i can think of 2 possible explanations for this. one is that his bosses jumped on his ass after what he said the other night. the second is that he thinks it's a good plan to play good cop/bad cop singlehandedly. if it's the latter, i disagree.

i can think of 2 possible explanations for this. one is that his bosses jumped on his ass after what he said the other night. the second is that he thinks it's a good plan to play good cop/bad cop singlehandedly. if it's the latter, i disagree.

That question is one that I'm trying to figure out the answer to.  

Somebody panicked or is panicking.    Not sure who is pulling in which direction.    We know Hitchcock has a history of losing patience with young players too.    The roster moves are very curious too, I'm not sure what is Armstrong and what it Hitchcock.     I think Armstrong is intervening on the ice because of the roster, he just received a 5 year extension.     I'm not going to be shocked if the two are bumping heads, Hitchcock knows he has no leverage.     

Anyway, I'll have much more to say about what's going on in STL the next few weeks.     I'm not worried about them getting back on track this year but next year is looking more interesting for them by the day. 

or else a steaming pile of BS.

Since Hitchcock is a veteran coach, this would be my first guess. 

I have to get my passport photo done in the next few days so that also played a part in shaving.

According to Capgeek the Blues have the lowest payroll in the NHL cap wise. And usual the cap floor is 20 million below the cap max, but this year they are using 20 million off of nexts years cap. The Blues are 21 million under this years max. I wouldn't mind the Penguins targeting Chris Stewart of the Blues. He was a healthy scratch acouple times last year (regular season and playoff) and could be a Kunitz type winger for either the Malkin line or put Kuntiz back with Malkin/Neal and reunit on of if the the best line in the NHL last year or put Stewart with Crosby/Dupuis. I would be willing to give up Tyler Kennedy and a 2nd or 3rd round pick for Stewart. Both Kennedy and Stewart are RFA's after the season. The Blues have a few contract due a raise next sason (Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk) so maybe they are willing to move some money in preparation.

PHI needs room and STL probably needs another veteran winger since it might be unlikely that they can keep McDonald.   Stillman still seems to be a cheap-azz.    Briere would be perfect for STL (salary) if he would waive his NTC.      Keeping Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo may be a big problem in STL.     Briere seems to be a buyout candidate as well, so waiving his NMC doesn't seem likely since he could make more on the market as an UFA. 

Throw that in the pile of useless trade speculation. 

According to Capgeek the Blues have the lowest payroll in the NHL cap wise.

They've been incredibly cheap for years.  People go off on TB (pre-Vinik), Dal, Nas, or FLA, or CLB, when it's been owners like the ones in STL that have been dragging the league down far worse than any of those franchises given the market they're in.    

There's still hope for Stillman, he hasn't even had a year yet. 

I have to get my passport photo done in the next few days so that also played a part in shaving.

i would've gone with the Great Continental Divide look... but that's just me.

a mohawk, frank? is the Great Humongous hiring a replacement for his second in command?

whoa, wait - aryan nations has boy bands?

sure they do......

Bay City Bakers
Backstreet Crosses
New kids on the chopping block
The Monkey killers
NYSGestapo
Boyz to Mengele
Boy's from Brazil
Take That Europe
The Josef Brothers

Wait a minute killer. First you looked like a terrorist, now youre disguised as a boy band. Then getting your passport. Next I suppose youre going to Islamabad just because you heard the weather was nice there this time of year. Hmmmmm habib?

Killer is going to get detained.   Used to have a beard, now trying to blend in with another hostile group, overseas travel, a name like "killer", and a bird of prey as a avatar.    The old "honeymoon" excuse...I'm sure they'll buy that too. 

Good luck at customs coming back.

 Maybe Pual can work on Fedotenko's and Shelley's extensions.    Rinaldo and Sestitio need contracts too



no he can't, and no they don't 

....yes they do

do you rally want that, cutter? i know you love olde tyme hockey, and i'll give you Rinaldo as an energy dude, but Sestito?

oh, and expect big changes from the Flyers tonight. Harry Zolnierczyk is coming up for Couturier. problem solved.


pick him up in case there are any fantasy gurus out there