We've known it all along...

Thank you Versus for stating the obvious...

Blues & Canucks Working on a Deal?

Sources all over are talking about the Blues and Vancouver Canucks working on a deal. Many think that Vancouver is still interested in David Backes, who they tried to sign in the past as a free agent. The talk is: Backes for highly-touted goaltending prospect Cory Schneider.

The Blues will most likely lose Chris Mason to free agency this summer and Ben Bishop has fallen off the map. John Davidson recently took a trip to scout the Manitoba Moose, Vancouver's farm team. Also, Backes was held out of the lineup suspiciously in Ottawa.

Other speculations include Jay McClement or Paul Kariya being dealt, while others think that Vancouver may be looking for a defenseman. The Blues recently took their most solid performing defenseman, Mike Weaver, out of the lineup two games in a row to showcase Darryl Sydor. Others say it may be Carlo Colaiacovo being dealt; he is a free-agent-to-be as well this summer.

So there is a list of names that may not be wearing the note much longer. But it seems like the only name that crops up as a possible blue-newcomer is Cory Schneider, who is the real deal, but will be 36 before Roberto Luongo's contract is up. It makes since for the Canucks to move Schneider.

Some think the blues should be going after a sniper like Iyla Kovalchuk, but it seems that is just wishful thinking for Blues fans. They would have to dump some salary and give up some top prospects. I wouldn't mind giving up some of these prospects who haven't developed fast enough if it means getting one of the top snipers in all of the league. Kovalchuk certainly has the best shot in the whole league and is a proven goal scorer. Why keep around a prospect that MAY be a top player some day, when you can get a guy who IS a top five player today?

Will Johnson Ever Grow?

I know that Erik Johnson is "developing" as a defenseman and he is technically only in his second year, but does it seem like he has not grown at all in the NHL? After watching him give away a puck with a blind pass in his own end to seal the deal on a 4-2 Columbus Bluejackets win thus ending a four game winning streak for the note, I had to speak up. I've been keeping relatively calm about Erik Johnson's "development" or lack there of. But that giveaway hurt, and it is not an isolated incident. Watch how many times he rims the puck around the boards instead of being a heads-up* defenseman that is patient enough to find an open teammate. Count how many times he gives away a Blues' possession with a fling of the puck. Stuff like this would be easy to shake off if he were contributing offensively or a physical force on the blueline, but he's not. And those were the two specific things that EJ was advertised as being coming into the league...as the number one overall pick I might add.

Speaking of guys who are heads-up defensemen, does anyone else feel as if Darryl Sydor should be playing on a nightly basis? I thought maybe it was an Andy Murray thing, but he has yet to crack the lineup consistently under Davis Payne. This guy has been to three Stanly Cups and won two; end of argument. After the outstanding play of Mike Weaver and Roman Polak, and the surprisingly consistent play of Barret Jackman this season, Sydor would be my next choice on the blueline, and by a wide margin.

*A player in hockey who keeps their head up to make plays.

Backes takes on Canada (Blaim Canada)

Good story about the whole "Backes vs. Team Canada" theory:
A little patriotic irony behind Backes' fighting spree


Pierre Lebrun lists some potential fights Backes may have with upcoming opponents. My guess: Ryan Getzlaf for his cheap shot on Jackman that cost the Blues at least a point.