SB Nation St. Louis: All Posts by Laura Astorianhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-12-19T12:49:09-06:00https://stlouis.sbnation.com/authors/laura-astorian/rss2012-12-19T12:49:09-06:002012-12-19T12:49:09-06:00Louie nominated for major mascot award
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<figcaption>Matt Zambonin/Freestyle Photo</figcaption>
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<p>In what is a sign that the lockout needs to end -- NOW -- this is the best Blues news that one could find for today.</p> <p>Hockey's pretty much nothin' doin' without the NHL around, and there's no big action to keep up with until the World Juniors begin after Christmas. This was literally the only piece of news that popped up in my Google Alert for the Blues, so I present this as evidence that the lockout is getting out of control:</p>
<p>Louie, the mascot of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>, has been nominated for the Cartoon Network Most Awesome Mascot Award. They appeared to have chosen one out of every major sports league, so to think that our Louis beat out luminaries like Iceburgh and Bailey is impressive. If that's the sort of thing you think about. <a target="_blank" href="http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=647949&cmpid=rss-News">From the Blues' press release</a> (!):</p>
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<p>ST. LOUIS – Cartoon Network announced Tuesday that Louie, the St. Louis Blues mascot, has been nominated for the Most Awesome Mascot Award.</p>
<p>Louie was nominated along with KC Wolf (Kansas City Chiefs), Lou Seal (San Francisco Giants) and Rocky (Denver Nuggets).</p>
<p>The third annual Hall of Game sports awards show will return in February 2013.</p>
<p>Airing across several Cartoon Network and Turner Broadcasting platforms, hosts Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Cannon broke the news with a special introduction featuring a brand new Hall of Game nominee’s song. Viewers can log on to <a target="_blank" href="http://hallofgame.com">HallOfGame.com</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cartoonnetwork.com">CartoonNetwork.com</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/CartoonNetwork">Facebook.com/CartoonNetwork</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://YouTube.com/user/cartoonnetwork">YouTube.com/user/CartoonNetwork</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.cartoonnetwork.com">Blog.CartoonNetwork.com</a> to see the announcement. The video will also be on <a target="_blank" href="http://cnn.com/showbiz">CNN.com/showbiz</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://hlntv.com">HLNTV.com</a>.</p>
<p>On October 10, 2007, Louie was introduced to the fans and played "When the Blues Go Marching In" on his saxophone. Louie can be seen at all home games and throughout the community doing what he loves best — meeting fans and supporting the Blues.</p>
<p>Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards show will feature icons from television, film, music and sports, as kids experience an evening of humor and fun at the most raucous and biggest sports awards show ever.</p>
<p>Last year’s event yielded 102 million votes and voting is now open for the first 10 categories at <a href="http://www.HallofGame.com">www.HallofGame.com</a>.</p>
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<p>Basically, stuff the ballot box. It's not like we have any hockey to watch, right? Also, you can find Louie on Twitter at @LouieSTLBlues. I highly suggest a follow in his direction -- his feed's really pretty entertaining. It just makes me wonder how a bear can type with those big paws...</p>
<p>Ugh. Can the lockout end now?</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/19/3784912/blues-mascot-louie-nominated-for-cartoon-network-awardLaura Astorian2012-12-18T11:01:48-06:002012-12-18T11:01:48-06:00Tarasenko, Schwartz named TSN top prospects
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<figcaption>Harry How</figcaption>
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<p>Two of the Blues' best prospects, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz, rank in TSN's annual Top 30 Affiliated Prospects List.</p> <p>Although the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> are locked out, their prospects are getting ice time. The KHL and AHL are giving some of the Blues' best quality ice time for their development; perhaps when the lockout's over we'll see both <span>Vladimir Tarasenko</span> and <span>Jaden Schwartz</span> crack the Blues' roster.</p>
<p>Tarasenko ranks third overall on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=9601">TSN's Top 30 Affiliated Prospect list</a>. TSN has looked at each player's potential as well has how well they've played this year, and so far Tarasenko has played extremely well. So far this season with SKA St. Petersburg, Tarasenko has played in 23 games and has racked up 11 goals and 14 assists, along with a +11 overall rating. He participated in last season's KHL All Star Game, and will probably participate in this year's game in Chelyabinsk on January 12th-13th.</p>
<p>Jaden Schwartz has also been playing very well for the Peoria Rivermen. The Rivs are in 12th place in the west and are playing at .500, but Schwartz's outplayed many of his teammates. He's second on the team with 15 points in 35 games, though he does have a terrible -13 overall rating. TSN rated him 29th overall.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/18/3780524/blues-prospects-tarasenko-schwartz-rank-tsn-top-30-affiliatedLaura Astorian2012-12-13T19:58:48-06:002012-12-13T19:58:48-06:00Ty Rattie, Jordan Binnington named to Team Canada
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<figcaption>Claus Andersen</figcaption>
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<p>Two of the Blues' highly touted prospects, forward Ty Rattie and goaltender Jordan Binnington, were named to Team Canada's World Junior final roster today.</p> <p>Sure, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> aren't on TV, but that doesn't mean that you won't be able to watch future Blues over the holidays. Team Canada released their official roster today, and <span>Ty Rattie</span> (32nd overall in 2011) and <span>Jordan Binnington</span> (88th overall in 2011) are on it. </p>
<p>The Portland Winterhawks forward, who is lighting it up in the WHL this year with 19 goals and 28 assists, was cut from Canada's roster last year. As he told his hometown newspaper airdrieecho.com, <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">"Last year hurt a lot and I was determined not to let it happen again." He had a solid camp, and is so excited that he's willing to </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">"do anything. I’ll play any of the 13 forward positions. It’s just an honour to be named to this team and I couldn’t be any happier right now."</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2012/12/11/jordan-binnington-gunning-for-no-1-job-on-team-canada-at-world-junior-camp" target="_blank">Jordan Binnington wants to gun for starting goaltende</a>r, but with Malcolm Subban also making the roster, that seems doubtful. He's still tearing up the OHL, posting a 2.31 GAA and a .930 SV% for the Owen Sound Attack.</p>
<p>The World Juniors will be played December 26th through January 8th, and every game featuring Team Canada and Team USA will air on the NHL Network.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/13/3764940/blues-prospects-ty-rattie-jordan-binnington-to-represent-team-canadaLaura Astorian2012-12-13T17:33:37-06:002012-12-13T17:33:37-06:00Pietrangelo's contract length could be CBA issue.
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<figcaption>Dilip Vishwanat</figcaption>
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<p>Alex Pietrangelo's on his last year of an entry level contract. If the new CBA limits contract deal lengths, does that mean he might not be hanging around the Blues as long as we'd all like?</p> <p>Ah, the lockout. You know that it's gone on too long when focus shifts from how long the darn thing is going to last to whether or not the new CBA (which doesn't exist yet) will impact contract terms. No one knows what the term limit will be in the new deal. Owners would like to see a limit on contracts to five years, with free agent re-signings at seven. Obviously, this is to avoid deals like <span>Zach Parise</span>, <span>Ryan Suter</span>, <span>Marian Hossa</span>, and <span>Ilya Kovalchuk</span> got. You know, deals that were sanctioned by the owners.</p>
<p>In the owners' attempt to protect themselves from themselves, the limitation to five years seems like an even handed way to do it. For the fans, though, not being sure if you have a franchise's star player locked up is more than a little concerning. Five years isn't that long in the grand scheme of things, especially for youngsters just now coming off of their entry-level deals. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/stl121213.html">Youngsters like Alex Pietrangelo</a>, who has become the cornerstone of the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a>' blue-line. About the last thing any Blues fan would like to think of is Petro heading off to a different team after five years because the money might be better elsewhere. Contract negotiations every five years might very well force the price of free agents up more often, instead of now where they're locked in at whatever pay rate they're signed to.</p>
<p>And, let's face it, it's the Blues. They're not the luckiest team when it comes to defensemen, and whenever they get a good one, they tend to like to hold on to him for a while, unless the team is owned by Bill Laurie. Then it's ok to trade off a future hall of famer and your team's captain for a bucket of parts. I digress, but the point is there. Fans have a legitimate reason to worry. The franchise doesn't have the money to throw around, although if they were to throw it at someone Pietrangelo would be the person to throw it towards. Under the new CBA, it might not be that much money anyway considering that the cap would fall. But still -- just the possibility of him walking after five years is enough to send fans rushing for a pitcher of beer. There's no doubt that Pietrangelo (as well as <span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span>, who this will apply to as well soon) are partially responsible for the team's resurgence and dominant performance last season.</p>
<p>Will fans tolerate having to wait five years for Pietrangelo to become a UFA before getting him to a longer term contract? Not that they have a choice in the matter, but no one wants to see a potential for one of the best defensemen in the game to scoot out of the city. He just bought a house here -- wouldn't it be better if he lived in it instead of just holding on to it for retirement? Everyone, including Pietrangelo, would prefer that. Of course, everyone'd prefer the CBA just get agreed on, too, and that's not happening any time soon.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/13/3764490/cba-alex-pietrangelo-contract-st-louis-blues-five-yearLaura Astorian2012-12-08T12:13:05-06:002012-12-08T12:13:05-06:00David Backes disappointed in recent CBA talks
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<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The talks between owners and players fell apart yet again, even without Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr being present. Blues captain David Backes has been a vital part of the talks on the players' side, and is unhappy with how things ended up.</p> <p>There have been few players as obvious on the front lines of the NHLPA as <span>David Backes</span>. Sure, <span>Sidney Crosby's</span> been getting a lot of the attention recently as a possible savior, along with <a class="sbn-auto-link vt-p" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> owner Ron Burkle. <span>Ryan Miller's</span> even gotten a share of attention for alleged shouts in the direction of <a class="sbn-auto-link vt-p" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> owner Jeremy Jacobs. But right there at the table has been the captain of the <a class="sbn-auto-link vt-p" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>. </p>
<p>Backes has been a solid and dependable interview regarding the talks, and as he mentioned to <a class="vt-p" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/backes-spells-out-players-position-in-nhl-talks/article_94d8e547-1982-5d8a-8b2b-f20c86a32fb7.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>, he's unhappy with how they ended up:</p>
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<p>"I mean start at 8 and leaving at midnight was an early night. They were long days. It was very promising, as there were no leaks going out. We had a willing partner ... making real progress."</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>"It’s a kick in the groin where we went from Thursday at 3 until Thursday at 10 p.m," Backes said. "But I was optimistic and I guess I still am. Ebbs and flows, I guess. We’ll all see where it goes."</p>
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<p>Backes was in attendance the first couple days of talks, and felt very much that the two sides were coming together towards an agreement. But, as we've all found, getting a good feeling about the CBA talks is a very bad idea. Regardless of how well things seem to be going, there's always a way for them to get off-track, as we saw Thursday night in press conferences where Donald Fehr reiterated Backes' hope of progress and Gary Bettman go apoplectic over such a notion.</p>
<p>Neither side is headed up by anyone particularly likable -- Bettman and Fehr are two very divisive characters. But for the players and the owners to be this close again right before they throw their hands up, well, it's maddening. I agree with Backes -- it's bizarre that they're not playing hockey. At the same time, it's about par for the course. </p>
<p>Backes' frustration is echoed by NHLPA executive and former player <span>Mathieu Schneider</span>, who <a class="vt-p" href="http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/49009-NHLPA-exec-Mathieu-Schneider-The-conclusion-I-keep-coming-to-is-somehow-the-owners-do-not-want-to-deal-with-Don.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thn_daily_20121208" target="_blank">gave a tremendous interview to The Hockey News' radio show</a>. If you would like to understand the concessions given by the players and the pushback from the owners, that's the place to go. As it stands, it's amazing that Backes' claim of the contract lengths being this week's straw that broke the camel's back could be the reason for the hold up. I'm not discounting Backes (I believe him 110%), but the owners, via their teams' general managers, are the ones who have been signing players to absurd and cap circumventing deals. I'm pretty sure that what a lot of the owners are pushing for are measures to protect the collective whole from a few guys who ruined the spirit of the last CBA. That's well and good, but you have to use a little common sense here, which has obviously been in short supply thus far.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/8/3743798/david-backes-nhl-nhlpa-cba-talks-negiotaitions-bluesLaura Astorian2012-12-08T08:59:14-06:002012-12-08T08:59:14-06:00Ryan Reaves signs with Orlando Solar Bears
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<p>With the lockout not ending any time soon, seeing as how both sides couldn't agree to what fast food joint to grab breakfast at let alone agree on the terms of the new CBA, more NHL players are signing with European and minor-league North American teams. Blues enforcer Ryan Reaves has decided to join his former teammate B.J. Crombeen in Orlando.</p>
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<p>Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL sign <a class="vt-p" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23stlblues">#stlblues</a> enforcer Ryan Reeves. It will be interesting to see who drops the gloves with him <a class="vt-p" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23couldbebad">#couldbebad</a></p>
— Andy Zilch (@Andy_Zilch) <a class="vt-p" data-datetime="2012-12-07T23:53:40+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Andy_Zilch/status/277199226310627329">December 7, 2012</a>
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<p>One would hope an ECHL guy'd know better than to pull that, but you never can tell. There's always going to be one player somewhere who feels the need to try to prove his worth to his team by getting pounded into the ice.</p>
<p>The Solar Bears are 9-10-2 and are in last place in their division. I'm not going to think for a second that Reaves can help turn that around, but his addition'll make going to games a little more entertaining for middle-Florida hockey fans. They're also the Minnesota Wild and Houston Aeros' ECHL affiliate, which absolutely blows my mind, <a class="vt-p" href="http://s4f7deb6575150.img.gostorego.com/802754/cdn/media/s4/f7/de/b6/57/51/50/Images/001_home_jersey.jpg" target="_blank">considering how colorful their jerseys are</a>.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/8/3743246/blues-enforcer-ryan-reaves-signs-with-echls-orlando-solar-bearsLaura Astorian2012-12-07T12:00:46-06:002012-12-07T12:00:46-06:00Want to see some hockey? Of course you do.
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<img alt="Jaden Schwartz would love to welcome you to Peoria." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DgWNaxCLR9VjB6ILHpkunTJMFUs=/9x0:591x388/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4587673/gyi0060882017.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jaden Schwartz would love to welcome you to Peoria. | Harry How</figcaption>
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<p>This lockout doesn't seem like it's ever going to end, but the fine folks at the Illinois Office of Tourism are giving Blues fans a chance to catch up on their favorite sport.</p> <p>This lockout's rough, isn't it? There's about absolutely no chance that we will be watching games before the start of the New Year, and barely even more of a chance that we'll see it before next October. Fans really are missing the Blues and NHL-quality hockey, but that doesn't mean that other levels of the sport aren't fun to go to. Hockey is hockey, and it actually is fun to watch prospects develop and young kids try to catch scouts' eyes.</p>
<p>It just so happens that the state of Illinois has quite a few of these minor league hockey teams to watch. The ability levels range all over the place, but with the lockout forcing NHL-caliber young talent into the AHL, you stand a chance of seeing some pretty quality stuff. The state's Office of Tourism would love to give you a chance to go catch a game, and there's no shortage of teams to choose from. Witness the teams:</p>
<ul style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Rockford Ice Hogs (NHL <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> affiliate)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Peoria Rivermen (NHL <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> affiliate)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Chicago Wolves (NHL <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a> affiliate)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Quad-City Mallards</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Bloomington Blaze</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Danville Dashers</li>
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<p>So whether you want to go catch some minor league stuff or some almost major league hockey, you're covered. The Office of Tourism is offering a $50 gas card as well as four tickets to a game of your choice. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyIllinois">All you have to do is enter on their Facebook page before midnight tonight</a>, and you could be treated to an evening of puck.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/12/7/3740410/illinois-office-of-tourism-hockey-contest-peoria-rivermenLaura Astorian2012-12-03T08:01:05-06:002012-12-03T08:01:05-06:00Is Chris Pronger's career over?
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<p>Chris Pronger's long and storied NHL career appears to have fallen victim to a rampant problem in the NHL today. No, not the lockout -- concussions. Here's a look back at his career with the Blues.</p> <p><span>Chris Pronger's</span> a lot of things. To some people, he's a dirty player, capable of a skate-stomp. To others, he's the consummate smart-ass, stealing pucks and giving great post-game interviews. To <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Blues</a> fans he's the gift of the <span>Brendan Shanahan</span> trade to the Hartford Whalers, and the painful reminder of what could have been had it not been for Bill Laurie and his fire-sale mentality.</p>
<p>Pronger made up half of one of the greatest defensive pairings in the game with Al MacInnis, captaining the Blues to their only Presidents Trophy in 1999-2000. Unfortunately for Blues fans, the owner at the time, Laurie, was more interested in bringing basketball to St. Louis (note: he failed) than he was in owning a hockey team. To make the Blues more desirable to own -- or, as reality would have it, just cheaper to own -- he sold off expensive contracts. Chris Pronger was traded away in 2005, just before the first post-lockout season began, for <span>Eric Brewer</span>, <span>Jeff Woywitka</span>, and <span>Doug Lynch</span>. Brewer eventually took over for the captain he was traded for, and such was the vitriol that some Blues fans abhorred him for no reason other than that trade until he was traded to the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>.</p>
<p>That is how great the respect is for Pronger in St. Louis. When you have fans disliking a guy you were traded for six years after that trade went down, that's some sort of loyalty. It was pretty heartbreaking for fans here to see Pronger lead the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Edmonton Oilers</a> to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006, and then to watch him win the Cup with the <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Anaheim Ducks</a> in 2007 was even rougher. Wherever Pronger went after St. Louis, it was as though he was destined to lead that team to whatever greatness he should have lead the Blues. It was very bittersweet to watch him in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals against the <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Chicago Blackhawks</a>, doing what he does best.</p>
<p>Sadly, that last sentence might just as well "doing what he did best," because it looks like Pronger's career is over. Nineteen years after he was drafted second overall by the Hartford Whalers, Pronger and his family have moved back to St. Louis. They didn't do this to bide time while the lockout was going on. No, instead, according to Sam Carchidi of Philly.com, Pronger probably has moved back <a target="_blank" href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20121202_Inside_the_Flyers___Catching_up_with_the_Flyers_during_the_lockout.html" class="vt-p">as a sign of a career ended too soon by injury</a>.</p>
<p>Pronger was concussed in 2011 following a hit with <span>Martin Hanzal</span>. It was initially believed that Pronger could eventually work back from the post-concussion syndrome and eye injury to captain the <a href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Flyers</a> this season, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Much like Al MacInnis, whose eye injury in 2003 and the following lockout forced his retirement, Pronger's career appears to be over.</p>
<p>The player who once gave his captaincy over to MacInnis permanently upon return from his broken arm, the guy who got under Blackhawks fans' skin, the player whose booming hits and shots electrified Blues fans may very well be done with his career. It's sad to see any career end this way, but for folks in St. Louis, it's especially disheartening. We always like to crow about how former athletes like to return here for retirement, regardless of if they finished their career here. This time, though, it just doesn't seem right. Maybe if his career ended on his own terms, but not this way.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2012/12/3/3719448/chris-pronger-concussions-blues-flyersLaura Astorian2012-11-28T14:49:46-06:002012-11-28T14:49:46-06:00Blues least valuable NHL team, as per Forbes
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<figcaption>Dilip Vishwanat</figcaption>
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<p>Forbes' annual "Business of Hockey" team valuation report is out, and the Blues didn't fare too well on it. Is this really something fans need to get worked up about? Maybe.</p> <p>Hey, did you know that the <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> are the most valuable team in the NHL? Well, now you know, thanks to Forbes' "The Business of Hockey" team valuation report. Apparently mediocrity sells, because the Leafs are worth about a billion dollars. Success and finishing second in the Western Conference? Having tons of sell-outs? Being Central Division Champions? Not so lucrative.</p>
<p>According to Forbes' report, the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">St. Louis Blues</a> are <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2012/11/28/nhl-team-values-2012-maple-leafs-first-hockey-team-worth-1-billion/" target="_blank">the least valuable team in the entire NHL</a>. In contrast to the Maple Leafs' $1 billion price tag, the Blues come in at just $130 million. Forbes had to look at the<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/5/9/3009703/st-louis-blues-sale-tom-stillman" class="vt-p"> recent sale of the Blues, which happened back in May</a>, and which included the Peoria Rivermen, the lease of the Scottrade Arena, and part ownership of the Peabody Opera House. There you go, instant valuation!</p>
<p>When the sale went down, some folks thought that the price was a bit low. Unfortunately, in case you missed it, the economy has been terrible since October of 2008 and any recovery has been slow. Things that are normally worth a lot of value don't sell for a lot of value during down times, ergo the price. All the smart money management and sellouts in the world isn't going to help much if you can't get full value of the team.</p>
<p>The issue here is that the team has been more than cost-conscious when it comes to signing free agents and throwing out money. The Blues are fifth from the bottom in terms of payroll, with just $53,649,999. In contrast, the top paying team, the <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/" class="sbn-auto-link vt-p">Boston Bruins</a>, has a payroll of about $15 million more than the Blues and rank fifth in terms of worth. This frugality has gotten them an operating deficit of $10 million.</p>
<p>How? Their revenue was only $89 million. What caused this in a banner year? Again, it's the economy. It's hurting people's ability to spend money on the team. It's not a matter of want, but it's a matter of ability for people.</p>
<p>Now, of course, after this lockout it'll be a matter of both for every team. Obviously no team's making money right now aside from merchandising and advertising cuts, really -- and those are going down too. Next year the Blues will have to try to make up that $10 million deficit along with losses incurred during the lockout... and I'm pretty sure that you all know where that's coming from.</p>
<p>That one big money scoring threat everyone wants? You all are going to have to wait. The Blues'll have to get stuff done the way that they did last season: grit, determination, and the Ken Hitchcock defensive system. The more prepared fans are for the reality of the next several seasons, the better. But hey, at least<a target="_blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/teams/st-louis-blues/" class="vt-p"> their wins to player cost ratio is way above the league average</a> -- so that's a sign that they're doing something right regardless of price.</p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/11/28/3702966/st-louis-blues-least-valuable-team-in-the-nhl-forbes-business-of-hockeyLaura Astorian2012-11-26T16:58:35-06:002012-11-26T16:58:35-06:00David Backes answers questions in Reddit AMA
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZMrVopgqbWqMn5EuDjtldsrdoqM=/2x38:591x431/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3959333/135931857.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Frederick Breedon</figcaption>
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<p>Blues captain David Backes, along with Kevin Westgarth and Mathieu Schneider, participated in an Ask Me Anything thread today on Reddit Hockey.</p> <p>The Reddit "Ask Me Anything," or AMA, thread is one of those chances where people and personalities can come together and ask honest questions to get honest answers. Some of them are political, some are actors, and some are sports personalities. Today <a class="sbn-auto-link vt-p" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> captain <span>David Backes</span>, along with <span>Kevin Westgarth</span> and <span>Mathieu Schneider</span>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/13tpxt/we_are_kevin_westgarth_david_backes_and_mathieu/" class="vt-p">participated in an AMA on /r/hockey</a>. There're some pretty interesting questions in there, and some outstanding replies from the three players. It's worth a read through of the thread, but here's the highlight:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>jokanee 16 points 2 hours ago</b><br> David Backes, you dismantled Team Canada with your fists prior to the 2012 Olympics. Given that you have a very particular set of skills. Skills that you have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make you a nightmare for people negotiating on the other side of the CBA...<br> Can you unleash Inglorious Backes before it's too late and get us our hockey back?!</p>
<p><b>ThePlayers[S] 25 points 2 hours ago</b></p>
<p>While the ideas that you present seem to be out there, I can neither confirm nor deny the allegations. And these skills you talk about are not very useful in a board room, let alone one fully occupied by lawyers! - DB</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Oh, I think they would be, David. It just depends on who happens to be in that boardroom when you go all Inglorious on them.</p>
<p>Seriously, though, this was a great chance for some open and honest discussion between players and fans, which is something that the players have been very good at so far this lockout. Bill Daly has been accessible to the media whenever they have questions, which he deserves credit for, but the players have been accessible to the people who really matter. </p>
<p>To be fair, <a class="vt-p" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/10/25/3550950/nhl-lockout-2012-team-executive-reddit-ama" target="_blank">an executive did an anonymous AMA a while back</a>, and it was extremely enlightening, but this was a conversational chance to shoot the breeze with some players, and it was fun to read. Fun fact: Backes studied electrical engineering at Minnesota State. It's a shame that the school won't let him finish the degree on-line; what a fun bragging point for Blues fans that their captain is an engineer. So much for that stereotype of a knuckleheaded hockey player, huh?</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/11/26/3694816/david-backes-participates-in-reddit-ama-regarding-the-lockout-randomLaura Astorian