2012 NHL Trade Deadline: Blues Make No Moves Other Than Bishop Trade

Raise your hand if you actually believed that the Blues would make a major trade today. Come on, raise them high.

Now slap yourselves in the foreheads with them. The Blues have an unstable ownership situation right now, with the sale to Tom Stillman’s ownership group incomplete. They have three key forwards out in Alex Steen, Matt D’Agostini, and Jamie Langenbrunner, that, when they return, will be like getting players from a trade without making one.

Did you honestly believe that the Blues were going to go for depth defensemen when their defense is, generally, perfectly fine. There’s no point in messing with something that works via adding small cogs that add minimal impact.

Teams shouldn’t make trades just to make trades, and GM Doug Armstrong is aware of that. This quote from Norm Sanders is exactly what you want to hear from a GM come the trade deadline:

Armstrong: “We were actively looking to see if there was an area to improve our depth and we couldn’t do it.”#stlblues

— Norm Sanders (@NormSanders) February 27, 2012

If your team isn’t doing substantial things to improve itself, then at least it didn’t do anything major to shoot itself in the foot. With the Blues’ questionable ownership situation, this was the best that fans could hope for.

Could having some sort of ownership stability help? Of course. It could have gotten the Blues that one scoring threat that’d be so grand to have. Are the Blues doomed without it? No, and hopefully this summer they’ll be able to be stable enough to snag one.

Patience is a virtue.

2012 NHL Trade Deadline: Blues Trade Ben Bishop To Ottawa Senators For Draft Pick

As mentioned yesterday, the Ottawa Senators were kicking the tires on the Blues current AHL goaltender Ben Bishop. Sunday, a trade came to fruition. The Sens are sending a draft pick (round not mentioned yet) back to the Blues for Bishop. Starting goaltender Craig Anderson is injured, and back-up goaltender Alex Auld is not what the Sens need if they're working on heading to the playoffs.

Binghamton Senators starter Robin Lehner is up backing up Auld, and the former Calder Cup MVP looks to be the one left out in the rain by the Sens' acquisition of Bishop. Bishop isn't going to be playing at the AHL level; he has to play 30 minutes in 17 games to be a RFA at the end of this season, and the Senators wouldn't want someone who was planning on going UFA at the end of this season. Lehner should be sent back to the Baby Sens, while Bishop gets to see some serious time with the big club until Anderson gets back.

Auld is also a potential question. Does he get traded off to another club? Does he get waived and sent down to the Baby Sens upon the return of Anderson? The Senators are now carrying three goaltenders, one of whom is currently injured.

Chances are that the draft pick sent to the Blues could be as high as a second rounder. The Sens wouldn't ship off that high of a pick if they weren't planning to be able to use Bishop in an NHL position.

2012 NHL Trade Deadline Blues Rumors: Ben Bishop Being Looked At By Senators, Per Andy Strickland

From Andy Strickland at True Hockey comes this mildly surprising report: Ben Bishop’s tires are being kicked by the Ottawa Senators.

There are a lot of teams who would love to (or who really need to) solidify their goaltending right now, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets. Some teams, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, might like to get some solidity in net at backup. Others are looking at goalies with a “just in case”/“why not?” kind of mindset. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending has slipped in recent weeks, hampering their press to return to the playoffs.

The Ottawa Senators are in the same boat as the Leafs. Both of their goalies have subpar stats. Alex Auld has a 3.28 GAA and a .883 SV% in the 13 games that he’s played for the team. Starter Craig Anderson, acquired last year from the Colorado Avalanche at the deadline for current Blues netminder Brian Elliott, has played in 56 of the club’s games and has a .913 SV% and a 2.85 GAA.

The team needs consistency in net if they want to make sure that they’re back in the playoffs come April. Anderson is currently hurt, so their AHL starter Robin Lehner has been recalled for right now. Lehner led the Binghamton Senators to the Calder Cup last season, and is a quality prospect.

Ben Bishop was the MVP of this year’s AHL All-Star game and is the top goalie in the league right now. Unless he plays 30 minutes in 1730 games this season (which probably isn’t going to happen) he will be a UFA at the close of the year.

2012 NHL Trade Deadline Blues Rumors: Calm Down. Kris Russell Concussion Doesn't Mean A Deadline Deal

Injuries and the Blues go together like peas and carrots, Maalox and Taco Bell, or Albert Pujols and money. It should come as a minimal surprise that the Blues wound up another man down after Thursday nght’s win over the Nashville Predators. Kris Russell suffered a mighty hit at the hands of Colin Wilson that seemed to rattle him (video via @spectr17, my usual video man)"

NBC Pro Hockey Talk’s Mike Halford wonders what Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong will do now, or if this will have any impact on the team’s moves at the trade deadline. Without time before Monday to fully evaluate the injury (Russell stayed at home while the Blues jetted off to Winnipeg), it’d be unwise for Armstrong to make a rash move. Also, the Blues called up Ian Cole again, and Cole is more than NHL ready.

This unfortunate injury is just that — unfortunate. Add Russell to the Blues’ list of walking wounded if you will, but just because they have a defenseman hurt doesn’t mean that they need to add one by Monday afternoon.

2012 NHL Trade Deadline Blues Rumors: Blues May Be Interested In Roman Hamrlik

Another puck moving defenseman has been linked to the Blues, one that has even more experience than recent Philadelphia Flyers acquisition Pavel Kubina. According to Katie Carrera of the Washington Post, the Capitals are still trying to figure out if they’re buyers or sellers, but are willing to part with one of their defensemen. Who might that one be? Roman Hamrlik.

One team that could possibly be a fit is St. Louis, which is in need of a veteran defenseman and recently lost some leadership with Jamie Langenbrunner (broken foot) out of the lineup. The Blues have had officials at recent Capitals games, both home and away.

Allow me to give you background: he was the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first overall pick… ever. He was drafted first overall in the 1992 NHL Draft, and has since played with the , Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, and Montreal Canadiens. The 37 year old is a power play specialist, which would be a great piece for the Blues to have and is a big-time shotblocker.

He was recently a healthy scratch in Washington’s blowout loss Wednesday to the Ottawa Senators due to the fact that he hasn’t been defensive enough. That coaching move by Dale Hunter didn’t end too well. Hamrlik’s veteran leadership would be nice for the Blues to have, but with Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk, as well as Carlo Colaiacovo, there might not be any room on the blueline for him. Would the Blues be willing to break up one of the best defensive units in the NHL for someone nearing retirement age?

Blues Put Jamie Langenbrunner On Injured Reserve; Does This Create A Need For A Trade Acquisition?

Blues alternate captain Jamie Langenbrunner's been put on long-term injured reserve for a broken foot that he sustained in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.This is a major issue, because it's yet another top forward down with injury at a time in the season where the final push is getting underway. Langenbrunner has four goals and 14 assists, and while that might not seem like a huge amount of firepower gone, the Blues need all of the offense that they can get.

Right now, the Blues are short Langenbrunner, Matt D'Agostini (9-9-18; concussion), and Alex Steen (13-11-24; concussion). No one seems to have any idea when D'Agostini and Steen are coming back, such is the nature of concussions. There's a very real chance that the three forwards won't be ready to return until the start of the playoffs or shortly afterward. For a team that's looking like it'll be skipping the links for the first time in April since 2009, having an intact fowards corps that is used to playing together is necessary for playoff success. Is the absence of three of the Blues' most important forwards cause enough to get general manager Doug Armstrong to make a move?

Probably not. The Blues have been operating down at least two forwards almost all season, and if one extra one has been out temporarily, Chris Porter has been a pretty capable plug-in. Langenbrunner, while contributing offensively, is easily temporarily replaced by Porter, who has four goals and two assists so far on the season.

Sorry to those of you who were looking for your opening for trade suggestions and scenarios. It seems that for right now the Blues have you covered.

Blues Trade Rumors 2012: Pavel Kubina Perhaps Not The Best Fit, St. Louis Must Be Careful With Additions

Earlier this week, Vincent Blase of BlueNoteZone.com reported that Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina would be willing to waive his no trade clause in a deal involving the St. Louis Blues, but perhaps he is not what the team is looking for after all. Kubina is still on the market, but St. Louis AM 590 radio host and founder of TrueHockey.com, Andy Strickland, thinks Kubina does not fit team needs, and that the Blues would only make a deal for a defenseman with a left-handed shot.

The Blues may still make a move prior to the NHL trade deadline, but Sean Gallagher of SB Nation's Blues blog, St. Louis Game Time, thinks GM Doug Armstrong needs to be very discerning in who he adds to the mix:

The St. Louis Blues are in a spot where they have to be considered buyers. But when a team is playing well and is near the top of the whole NHL in points, messing with team chemistry is a dangerous proposition. Adding a new personality to the locker room has to be done carefully, plus the Blues roster is already pretty deep - it'll be hard to find a guy to bring in who comes in and justifiably bumps another guy up to the press box. The depth lines don't need tweaking and the goaltending and defense would be hard to improve. The only move that makes sense is some sort of impact offensive player and there just aren't that many of them out there available.

My wish list for the Blues? If they don't stand pat and do decide to make a move, do something like general manager Doug Armstrong always seems to do: make a move no one sees coming for a player no one thought was available. I won't be so presumptive as to tell the general manager what to do or who to go get, I'll just leave it as is: I trust his judgment.

The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 27.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Blues be sure to visit St. Louis Game Time. Visit SB Nation NHL for more news and notes around the league.

Ben Bishop Called Up While Jaroslav Halak Has Flu; Is This Audition Time?

Ben Bishop has been pretty up front about his situation with the Blues. After Brian Elliott was signed to his two year, $3.6 million contract, the writing was pretty clearly on the wall: Bishop wasn't going to get his chance in St. Louis, and more than likely would be shopped around at the trade deadline. The AHL all-star MVP goaltender is more than ready for a shot at the NHL level, but unless something happens long-term to Jaroslav Halak or Elliott, his big chance in the big leagues will come with a different organization.

Bishop has been realistic about his situation, telling Post-Dispatch reporter Jeremy Rutherford that he understood the team's decision:

"My situation, I'm playing well (in Peoria), so I've just got to keep it up and focus on my team down here. There's obviously some writing on the wall, but at the same time, you never know what can happen."

2012 NHL Trade Deadline Blues Rumors: Pavel Kubina Puts Blues On NTC List

According to Vincent Blase of BlueNoteZone.com, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman and current trade pawn Pavel Kubina would be willing to waive his no trade clause to be sent to St. Louis. Kubina’s a defensive defenseman who averages nearly 20 minutes a night, and with the Lightning so far outside of the playoff picture Kubina’s also one of their top chances for rebuild picks.

Bringing Kubina to St. Louis seems to jibe with Elliotte Friedman’s statement that the Blues will be looking to add to defensive depth at the deadline, but the question here is why? The defense is one of the top in the league currently, and if worse comes to worse, the Blues have Ian Cole in the minors to call up.

I can’t see the Blues dealing away youth and/or picks for an elder statesman that would be a good addition to a borderline playoff team. The Blues selling off assets would be to improve something that doesn’t need to be fixed.

St. Louis Blues 2012 NHL Trade Deadline Coverage

Will the Blues be unloading any underperforming forwards? Do they really need an upgrade at defense? Or, more likely, are a few smaller moves on the horizon?