Free David Perron!
Here we go again…
Yes, for some it’s a tired subject.
I’m tired of yapping about it, actually.
But I press on, anyway …
When the Blues won at Montreal on Tuesday night, rookie David Perron played only 5 minutes 55 seconds over 10 shifts.
The purpose of the game is to win, and the Blues did that … and of course I realize that. Perhaps that should be the focus; the Blues won — so who cares about an individual player’s ice time?
Sorry, I can’t fully accept that.
At this stage of the season, with the playoffs out of reach for The Note in 2008, the priorities should be rearranged.
The Blues didn’t have to keep Perron at the NHL level this season. But once that decision was made, to place him in St. Louis, then it makes sense to use him, especially now.
And it’s not as if by playing Perron the Blues will sentence themselves to additional losses.
Perron, 19, has been an eye-opening presence on the ice. Perron hasn’t scored a goal for a while, but he’s a dangerous and opportunistic player. The puck seems to find him, and he seems to find the open spaces. His skill level is glaring.
So to make the best use of the remaining games on the schedule, the Blues should be playing the kid as much as possible, to speed him up on the learning curve and get him the exposure and experience he needs to be a more meaningful contributor for the 2008-2009 season.
Rookie defenseman Erik Johnson, 19, clearly has improved through additional minutes. In his first 47 games, Johnson clocked 20 minutes in a game only four times. But he’s now played 20 or more minutes in 10 of the last 13 games. And EJ’s skills are expanding. We can see that on a daily basis.
(Sidebar: Johnson has been compared to the great Scott Stevens. As a rookie, Stevens had 9 goals 16 assists for 25 points. Johnson so far has 4-24-28).
In radio, TV, print and online interviews, members of Blues management constantly pitch the youth movement, and use the youth movement in their request for patience.
Now I’m starting to wonder if they are using the youth movement as a protective shield to insulate themselves from criticism.
The credibility of that marketing strategy is undermined when we see a kid like Perron playing only 5 minutes 55 seconds in a late-season game at Montreal, in a situation that’s made-to-order for expediting the development of a key piece of the franchise.
And more prospects are coming.
We’re told that T.J. Oshie is on the way, and that Patrik Berglund is on the way, and that Lars Eller is on the way….
Well, on the way to what?
A seat on the Blues bench?
A chair in the press box at Scottrade Center?
Thanks for reading.
–B
Here we go again…
Yes Bernie, Erik Johnson is doing well with lots of extra minutes.
After a full year of college hockey and no coaching or teammate issues.
Erik has earned his minutes through his on AND off the ice actions. By all accounts he is far more mature than Perron is portrayed. Perron will get his minutes when he gets his head on straight, as has been intimated many times.
Bernie, I couldn’t agree more…Perron should be getting more ice time, and in as many different situations as possible. I’ve heard his own teammates say that he has the most skill level of any player on the team - including guys like Karyia, Boyes, Tkachuk, and Johnson. The Blues have a youth movement, but it’s going in the opposite direction of what we thought.
I heard that Perron in some way disrespected Tkachuk which has caused an issue with Murray and that has led to less ice time. Can that be verified or discounted by anyone on the PD staff? Otherwise Perron should be playing plain and simple. Murray should be able to handle a players ego and ice time out of him at the sametime. Isn’t that what good coaches do? It could not of been easy to coach Hull, but many did and reaped the benefits.
Bernie,
I agree and I’ve been a diehard fan since the early 90s. This is the first time since then we’ve had a couple homegrown rookies on the team that are or could be franchise players. That gets me excited. As a fan, I want the team’s first priority to be to win and make the playoffs. Second priority should be to entertain the fans. Since goal #1 is not happening this season, management needs to realize that goal #2 should happen so the fans will keep watching and buying tickets. I for one would rather watch Johnson, Perron, Statsny, Backes, etc, even if they do make mistakes, than watch Rucinsky do figure eights, Tkachuk go offside 800 more times, Walker get skated around again, or any other of the lazy vets that are taking up space on this team.
I commend JD and Co for bringing some excitement back to the Scottrade Center, but I fear they are dangerously close to blowing their goodwill with fans with recent events.
As for the comment that Perron showed up Tkachuk at practice - please. Reports say that he threw up his hands because a teammate missed a pass. Pull the kid aside, tell him not to do it again, thank him for his enthusiasm and that’s that. The Blues need a dynamic offensive player, there is no reason to try to change him or his personality. Tkachuk is on his way out and if he’s that sensitive, tough.
Bernie,
I respect you greatly on the Cards and Rams. Sometimes you make me scratch my head on the Blues.
You are willing to go to bat for Perron, which alot of fans are and I get that. However, you fail to acknowledge that he came straight from the OHL. This season he had to learn the fundementals of the NHL game (which is very different from OHL and even the AHL to an extent). He needed to learn how to condition his smaller body for the 82+game beating he will endure for the next 15 years. He needed to learn how to act as an adult. He is not Sidney Crosby who could walk in to this league and dominate, hence why he needed to be brought along at a slower pace.
He has produced at right about a point every other game rate. So had he played the full 82 and kept the pace, he would have 35-45 points, instead of pacing for 25 total. Would that make that much of a difference in our chances for the playoffs? An additional 5-8 goals from DP do not get us in when we need to score at least 30-40 more as a team to get in.
With that said, you are right…at this point in time. He should be seeing more than 6 minutes on the ice, he should be at 12-13 from now till the end. Your blog makes it seem like he is a 60-70 point rookie being held back by the coaching staff, when that is not the case. Every player has a different adjustment period, EJ was quicker, probably due to College play, the same may go for Oshie next year. However, if you think Berglund and Eller will walk in and get 15 minutes, it wont happen. There is an adjustment period and learning of NHL fundementals they must have. Could they get more time, sure, but just like how Andy has done it till now, he evaluates the kids on a case by case basis…the best way to do it.
The comment about the Youth movement being a cover up…I find that to be a low blow you are above. The Blues are not the Cardinals cash cow. Ownership and management have no reason to sit behind a ‘youth movement” to make cash when the organization overall is pretty low on it. I know you are for accountability, but I just think you could have done a better job holding the front office accountable in this instance.
Bernie,
Your are a tool when it comes to hockey. Yes not to long ago one of your counterarts wrote that Perron was a cocky egomaniac. Sure let give that one some more ice time. Last time I heard Murray makes his players earn their ice time through On and Off the ice actions. It was wrote that Perron was berating the Vets and smashing his stick on the ice when plays didn’t go his way. Sounds like a guy I want playing for the Blues now.
It seems that Murray is a tough nosed coach how only asks of his players what he is willing to give as well. Perron does not fit into that mold. YET. He should be a great player in the future, but the youngster is still very wet behing the ears and needs to learn that it is a priviledge to work in the NHL, not a right.
So, once you go coach a team and at this point I’ll settle for a Pee Wee hockey team. Let the Blues and their onwership continue the road they hace choosen. Meanwhile you can go back to Krispy Creme the light just came on.
well im as die hard as it gets….im 26, season tickett holder….yada yada…..well first you all need to cut bern some slack….he at least covers the blues…..hard to say that about alot of the others….so now for this dilemma….PERRON should play….and he needs to play with other that are skilled…..but this season to ME is a wash so on to next year…..this is my proposed lineup….THIS IS NOT INCLUDING THE TASTY STAMKOS WHO I DREAM WE DRAFT!!!
boyes berglund perron
tkachuck oshie backes
kariya mcdonald stempniak
mcClement johnson mayers
BOX: kinger and cam CALLUP: stastny
Brewer Wagner
Jackman Johnson
McKee Woywitka
BOX: POLAK
now this changes if we draft stamkos or beach who will make it immediatly……also id love to go after a few guys FA…..Naslund and hedican….this would make it happen…..i also would love to comment on our current problems:
thachuck i think is a cancer in the locker room cause weight is gone and he is arrogant to rookie snipers who realize he not good anymore….kariya was a flop (wish not cause i was hoping for a 90pt season) hope stemps can get going next year….and coaching….wamsley needs to GO….he is not helping our youth gain confidence…he put too much in their heads which cause them to focus on other shit too much…..let em play ( like duncan with reyes on the cards) bennet isnt helping much, bring in someone else….maybe a former player….scott young….he has lots of knowledge in this type of new NHL…..then in 09 we can be thankful….we will have our youth movement full circle with thachuck out, kariya last year or gone, mckee…..and the likes of full years under the rooks and then ellers and hjarlmasson…..look out CUP!!!
Perron most likely insisted that Tkachuk start actually earning his salary for the first time since he put the Note. Perron is the future and Tkachuk won’t even be a memory for most once he’s gone. If Murray can’t handle that he can go to.
As for the comment on Wamsley needing to be gone, he’s the goalie coach. If you can’t recognize the positive effect Wamsley has had on Manny and his positioning, you really need to do some serious re-thinking on the subject. The goaltending is the one aspect of this team that you can’t complain about and Wamsley deserves much of the credit.
Couldn’t agree more Bernie. The kid needs to play. That’s the only way he’s going to learn and improve. Geez! Nobody else can score. Why not let him loose with the puck? He seemed to be doing just fine before Murray sent him to the dog house.
Thanks to those of you who are capable of expressing an intelligent and civil opinion, even if we disagree. The Internet, unfortunately is a haven for the mindless and the gutless, so I especially appreciate those of you who have some manners.
–B