Actual towel.

 

Amazing. You know, I thought that Towel Guy was the only one who threw towels. I guess he's a trend starter, because Saturday's Blues were throwing towels left and right. The 5-2 loss against the Islanders was quite possibly the worst game of hockey that I have watched since the 2006 Blues decided to suck so hard they drained the Mississippi. There was no passion. No drive. No actual will to even play. I don't know if it's because they're still reeling from the trades of Boyes, Brewer, and Winchester - or if they took that as ownership's sign of surrender, so they followed that same path. There was a time at the end of the game when the camera cut to TJ Oshie, usually the team's emotional heart out there on the ice. He looked bored. I've never seen him look bored. It was indicative of the entire team in that game.

These guys are out of the playoffs, yes, but they have personal pride and point sheets to play for. More importantly, they have fans that have supported them through these rebuilding fits and starts. Fans that they salute after every win. You know what? Salute them after every loss, too, because we're putting up with them while they skate around like zombies and allow the Islanders to undress them.

Very rarely will I ever negatively compare the Blues to the Thrashers, but during the past three seasons, even 2007-2008 when they never had a prayer, I never, ever saw the Thrashers play totally devoid of emotion like I saw the Blues do Saturday. At the very least, Boulton, Slater, and Thorburn always supplied some spring to their step that crept up to the higher lines. I turned off the Blues game numb, maybe more so than they were. It was an effort to drag myself to the Thrashers game.

Honestly, I'm glad I made the decision to go to the game Saturday night. I actually got to watch an NHL team play hockey. Jeremy Rutherford had a game summary in the Post-Dispatch that ended with a quote from David Backes: "Everything is wrong. It's not very enjoyable to be here every day." You feel that way, David? You, who the fans have already annointed the next captain? Then stand up in the room, motivate these guys to finish with a shred of dignity, and fix it. It's no fun when you lose, but it's a hell of a lot more fun than getting steamrolled. The Blues didn't lose Saturday. They got steamrolled.

I love the Cardinals. You wear that bird on a bat on your chest, and you have a pass from me for life. Albert Pujols, Tom Pagnozzi, Yadier Molina, Jack Clark, Ozzie Smith, Terry Pendelton, Willie McGee, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Brian Jordan; I don't care who you are. You represent St. Louis baseball, and you're fine with me. 

But I live and die St. Louis Blues hockey, and this season is killing me. What are my most prized posessions, in order? Brett Hull's autograph, Brendan Shanahan's autograph, Curtis Joseph's autograph, and a puck from the first season that they introduced that trumpet logo. To watch a team make it to the playoffs 25 or so years in a row, and then only make it once in the past six... to watch a team go from great potential to mediocrity back to a youth movement that has been felled by injuries and circumstance? I feel like someone's kicking me in the gut.

The way to make me feel better? Oh, gee, I don't know. Move to Atlanta, wait seven horrible years with only NHL94 to get me through, and then start going to Thrashers games. I have two tickets from the first game that they played here in Atlanta - the home opener of 1999. I have a program; I have the commemorative magazine. For God's sake, I own a Patrick Stefan jersey. Being away from St. Louis, and loving the sport as much as I do, I couldn't not pull for the scrappy Thrashers, and I still feel the same way. The Blues are my guys, but the Thrashers are like the little brother team that you want to do well, because they deserve it. Both teams do - they try, they fight, they kick, they play their asses off, and then whoomp.

Done.

The Blues and Thrashers aren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but it's dangerously close. It's another season that's over in April; another season without playoffs. Yet another one without a Cup, and one for both teams surrounded by ownership issues. Atlanta's fighting to stay put; the Blues'd like an investor to allow them to sign someone for a decent salary. It's frustrating. And it'll probably repeat next year - or at least that's how fans of the two teams feel, because we're conditioned to feel that way.

It's ok. I'll be in my seat at Philips next year. I'll spend money on Center Ice to watch the Blues. I'll be keeping track of my God awful law that I'm sure will continue just to spite me. One of these years, fellas, though, you're going to have to give me a cookie. One of you will recognize that I've been a loyal fan for eleven seasons in a region where many say that hockey can't exist - and there are thousands of people like me who feel the exact same way. We want you to win; we want Atlanta to be the hockey hotbed that we know it can be.

The other of you will have to come to realize that you've made me a pariah in my hometown. The Cardinals - they're my first sports love. They have been since I was five years old. But you, Blues?  You are, without a doubt, my favorite sports team. I want you to succeed more than baseball, more than the hometown kings of St. Louis. How about you give it a real solid go, then?

I have faith that you can do it. Next season. 

Peace out, Brad. Thanks for your couple years of high-production, the fact that you tried to be a plus player, and the fact that you enjoyed being in STL. It's appreciated.

Some folks on St. Louis Game Time noticed that The Whipping Children of the Blues were being traded away for picks today - does that equal a fire sale? Well, when you trade roster guys for calling up AHLers, yes. Here's the run-down:

• Eric Brewer to the Lightning for a 3rd rounder and Brock Beukeboom... a pick and a twice concussed prospect two years out.
• Brad Boyes to the Sabres for a 2nd rounder... a former 42 goal scorer who won't crack 20 this year, if he cracks 15. Blues fans will be saddened by the departure of the Brad Boyes drinking game, where you take a drink every time he shoots wide or high of the net. That alcohol was the only thing helping us cope with the season.
• Brad Winchester to the Ducks for a 3rd rounder... Winny's been scoring well this year for him, but it's a bit of a fluke. Most noted for concussing his own teammates and being effective on the PK. He'll fit in with the Ducks' typical gritty offense.

What does this all mean? Fire sale? Not making the playoffs? Stockpiling picks for a trade at the draft?  Duh. The chances of making the playoffs are dwindling, especially with the teams ahead of the Blues winning. The West might be a logjam, but injuries have taken their toll on the Blues this year. Unless a miracle happens, they're not playoffin'.

Hell, for all intents and purposes, the season's over, right? Here's a palate cleanser with Big Buff. Focus on the shoes. Oh, and his laugh. Totally not what you would ever expect.

Love this guy.

 

From my good bud @ChadATL on Twitter comes this outstanding graphical representation of the Thrashers' season:

 

These two players were once part of the Blues organization. One, the team's first overall pick in 2006 and futurue #1 defenseman; the other, some guy off of waivers. Here, they reminiscnce. 

Erik Johnson said that he was going to make Doug Armstrong regret the day that they traded Erik Johnson (third person his, not mine). He managed to do so by scoring go-ahead goal in tonight's game. The last team the Avs beat before their 11 game streak started? The Blues. They have a seven game winning streak going against St. Louis. They were (part) of the reason that STL missed the playoffs last season, and they're (part) of the reason that they'll miss them this year, barring another miracle run. To add salt in the wound, St. Louis native Paul Stastny scored the game winner.

That being said, Chris Stewart has three goals - one more tonight, and Kevin Shattenkirk has two assists - another one tonight. They're scoring a-go-go. Shame the rest of the team, aside from the Steen-Berglund-Oshie line, seems to want to play one period a game.

Does this mean more trades? Sell the farm? Who knows. The Blues were in 13th place when they made a trade to add firepower just like they were in 13th place when they made a trade to sell the team's best and most useful defenseman for a third round pick and a guy who's been knocked loopy twice.

Will there be a time when I sit down to watch a game and expect one of my two teams to win? Check back next season. Power of positive thought can kiss it. 

Apparently that trade worked out ok for St. Louis, who just got done drubbing the Ducks (and their two back-up goaltenders) to the tune of 9-3. A few players wound up with two goals: Andy McDonald, TJ Oshie, one of the new guys, Chris Stewart - one with the helo of the other new guy, Kevin Shattenkirk (David Backes, Carlo Colaiacovo and Alex Steen added the other three). This is the photo of the night (from St. Louis Game Time user spectr17):

I like this trade because I'll never hear about golf carts again.

Avalanche fans aren't happy about losing Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk. Blues fans aren't happy about losing Jay McClement and Erik Johnson. So, are we caling this a wash, here?

I'm actually kind of all-right. Not only does it streamline my following of the Stewart Bros (and my bud AverageJoe gave me a killer tag for my site - "The Official Site Of The Stewart Parents"), but it also gives the Blues scoring punch coupled with a player that no one wants to play against - and that we'll never have to play against again. Chris Stewart has 30 points in 36 games this year - he missed a few weeks after breaking his hand in a fight. He's a tenacious power-forward who can crash the net, score, irritate the opposition, and if he  winds up on a line with David Backes and TJ Oshie, will drive EVERYONE insane.

The EJ part of the trade surprises me. I do think that the golf cart accident hurt his development a bit and he's been under-playing, especially defensively, but the Blues just re-signed him to some huge contract, so it seemed like the had a little faith in taking time for his development. Granted, that faith was for two years, so maybe the patience just wasn't there. Upshot is that STL saves a ton of dough in getting a younger 1st rounder who still has 2 years left in an entry level contract. Also, the Blues get a scoring D man who actually has been scoring. Shattenkirk, a 14th overall pick from the 2007 draft, has been having an excellent rookie season. He has seven goals and 19 assists so far this season in comparison to Johnson's 5-14-19.

I think that the Blues got the better end of this deal depending on the development of Johnson. If he continues to stall out, and Shattenkirk keeps playing the way that he has been, STL wins. If not, well, there're always decent D men on the market, right?  At least the forwards'll be impossible, or at least unpleasant, to play against, and the Blues got Colorado's 2006 and 2007 first round draft picks who have been playing like first round draft picks. Other than emotional attachment and some shock, there's not a whole lot to complain about here.

Forget Arthur Blank. Chris Ciovacco wants other community businesspeople and civic officials to step up and give the Thrashers and their fans a reason to not research the weather in Quebec City. His site, ArthurBlankBuyTheThrashers.com, has been expanded to include pleas to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Georgia governor Nathan Deal. The tactic? Business and taxes, something that any good politician responds well to. Lost tax dollars? For a  city hurting for income? I'm pretty sure that Mayor Reed's ear could be bent. His open letter is eloquent and extremely convincing, and the perfect start to a grass-roots campaign to get the Thrashers to stay put in Atlanta. He has been interviewed on 11Alive news, and was on CBS 46 yesterday evening as well.

Local businesses such as Coca-Cola, Georgia Power, and Home Depot would have a serious marketing benefit from purchasing shares in the Thrashers. Businesses and resturaunts around Philips Arena, including within the CNN Center, would be negatively impacted if they lost the forty two regular season and three pre-season Thrashers games a year. No matter how you look at it, it goes back to tax dollars in the coifers of the city and the state. There's a legit reason to keep hockey in Atlanta, and Ciovacco's expressed this very convincingly and eloquently.