03.20.2008 12:02 am

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

38 comments

Comments are closed.

Blog Comments: Rules of the Road

Hey Bernie,
Sorry to be late in chiming in, but there were a couple things about the Montreal game that would seem to justify Perron’s limited icetime. The Blues hadn’t won in a long, long time and so even though everyone would agree that playing the kids is important, it is also very important for JD and AM to create what AM calls “a winning atmosphere.” After the string of road losses , winning in Montreal was big for this team. Coaches always shorten the bench in close games (Perron’s linemates also had short nights) and play the players who will give them the best chance to win. I don’t remember if Perron missed an assignment when he earned his minus (a goal against at even strength) but maybe AM saw somthing in his play that gave him doubts about his chances for success in a relatively important, close game. Furthermore, there were a string of penalty kills in the second and third periods, and Perron doesn’t have the discipline or instincts for self-sacrifice that are necessary for PK. There is no doubt that Perron is an extremely gifted young man, and I bet even AM would have been a little surprised at his low icetime that night (Perron had 12-13 minutes against both the Senators and the Blackhawks in subsequent games). But playing Perron just to play him doesn’t make sense either. Can we offer a little respect and deference to the serious hockey guys (AM and JD) who see Perron play every day?

— tom.labarge

2:24 pm March 25th, 2008

Perron is young. He’ll earn his ice time. As fans, we need to have some trust in the folks that are running this operation, and stop trying to be a back seat coach/GM. Erik Johnson is a level about Perron. Perron’s talent is raw and needs some coaching. Erik’s talent and maturity is NHL ready and getting stronger with every game.

The Post Dispatch thinks it covers St. Louis Sports with major league talent, but here we go with another worn-out, donut munching blow hard who has long worn out his credibility. How can someone who only goes to Blues games on free food day, actually be taken seriously?

There’s only one talented, thorough, passionate, hockey writer at this paper, and it certainly isn’t this guy. It’s awfully easy to spout off negativity in your columns, but should the Blues actually take advice from someone whose primary sports interest is in football? Would you want a florist to overhaul your engine?

The Post needs to get some fresh talent. Draft some energetic, raw talent that has passion for this team. Put the ragged, lazy veterans out to pasture.

— Think|

10:26 pm March 27th, 2008

Slot machines…

Slot machine…

— Slot machines

6:35 pm April 24th, 2008

Poker Online…

Online Poker…

— Poker Online

7:07 pm April 25th, 2008

Online Poker Sites…

Online Poker Sites
Casino Games
Play Poker
Online Gambling
Keno
Free Slots
Top Online Casinos…