St. Louis Blues: Some Love for Andy Murray
The new season wasn’t more than two, three weeks old before some fans began yelping for the dismissal of Blues coach Andy Murray.
There’s a long sheet of schedule ahead of the Blues, and I’m not bashful about getting on coaches and managers, but I can’t imagine why anyone would rip Murray right now.
Murray’s forward lines have been shredded by injuries, but his players continue to battle like crazy.
Tuesday night in Nashville, the Blues gutted out a 1-0 shootout win over the old tormentors, the Predators. Goaltender Chris Mason was ridiculously good for the third consecutive appearance. He stopped 47 shots in three periods + overtime, then smothered two more in the shootout. In his last three games (two starts), Mason has allowed two goals on 102 shots to raise his season save percentage to .927. Mason struggled after being sidelined for surgery to remove his appendix, but he’s clearly sharpened into form. It’s been years since the Blues received this kind of stellar play from their No. 2 goalie.
Since Friday, the Blues have defeated Anaheim, Minnesota and Nashville in tough, grinding, low-scoring contests.
Tuesday night, Murray didn’t have these forwards available because of injury:
Andy McDonald
Paul Kariya
Patrik Berglund
T.J. Oshie
Dan Hinote
Also, The Note was down another regular because of the deal that sent Lee Stempniak to Toronto. The two players obtained by the Blues — center Alex Steen and defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo — are on the way, but weren’t in Tuesday’s lineup.
To fill the voids, Murray plugged in the Peoria platoon … guys who are stepping in, and stepping up, with so many regulars on IR.
Cam Paddock played 11 minutes over 16 shifts.
Chris Porter played 10 minutes over 14 shifts.
Steve Regier played 15 minutes over 19 shifts.
Brad Winchester played 14 minutes over 20 shifts.
B.J. Crombeen played 12 minutes over 16 shifts.
Young veteran Yan Stastny continued to see increased ice time, with 15 minutes over 22 shifts.
Those are the forwards. We should also mention semi-regular defenseman Jeff Woywitka, who logged 21:45 of ice time in this one. That’s the most Woywitka has played in a game since joining the Blues in 2005.
And somehow (Mason being the No. 1 reason) the Blues defeated the Predators. The Blues were outplayed, no question. As they should have been, given the talent deficit. Nashville was the superior team and Mason prevented the predictable outcome. But the Blues won on the road in what has been a brutally tough building for them. And the Blues never stopped competing. The fierce OT penalty kill by Jay McKee, Eric Brewer and Jay McClement was inspirational.
Murray is getting the boys to play like maniacs. He’s taking a terribly thin roster and stretching out, making excellent use of his personnel by going with short, high-energy shifts. The coach clearly has asked more of his players during this time of adversity, and they’ve responded to him. That’s quality leadership.
My point is this: if we’re going to dog Murray for his flaws (real and perceived), then it’s only fair to give the coach a bunch of credit when the Blues overachieve.
And while a 9-8-2 record on the season is no cause for a parade on Clark Avenue, it’s more than satisfactory for a team that’s been ravaged by injuries. Given the circumstances, it’s highly commendable.
One more thing before I close …
I’m scratching my head at some of the criticism of the Stempniak deal.
I understand the risk involved, and I pointed that out in Tuesday’s column.
I also understand that Colaiacovo comes here with some baggage; in Toronto he was at times portrayed as a head case, and someone who didn’t always work to get into the best possible shape. But he also has skill. We’ll see what he does with this fresh start. He’s a fairly mobile defenseman who can move the puck, and that attribute fills a true need.
(BTW … in Toronto, at least one prominent hockey columnist reacted to the trade by blasting the Maple Leafs).
Here’s what I don’t understand: when, exactly, did Stempniak become Mike Bossy, Jarri Kurri … or even Dino Ciccarelli? I must have missed that, so please fill me in.
I know Stempniak had 27 goals two seasons ago, and sure, he could find that touch again. But in his last 97 games as a Blue, STempniak scored 16 goals despite being given the team’s third-highest total of ice time on the power play.
Critics of this trade give the thumbs down because they believe the Blues have exchanged a sniper (Stempniak) for a grinder (Steen).
I guess I’m a little perplexed by that interpretation for several reasons:
* In 233 NHL games, Stempniak has 57 goals.
In 253 games, Steen has 50 goals.
Or, if you want to break it down this way, Stempniak scores 0.24 goals per game … and Steen scores 0.20 goals per game. Am I missing something? Where’s the big difference?
* Stempniak and Steen broke into the NHL the same season, 2005-2006. Up until the time of the trade, Stempniak had logged about 230 minutes more than Steen on the power play. And despite the huge gap in ice time given to each player on the power play, they had the same number of PP goals, 16. Hmmm…
* Steen is also more versatile. Stempniak wasn’t used much as a penalty killer; as a Blue he had about 85 minutes, total, with the team playing shorthanded. As a Maple Leaf, Steen logged 659 minutes as a penalty killer.
* This season Steen had two goals for the Leafs compared to Stempniak’s three goals for the Blues. And Steen was a checking-line center who ranked No. 2 on Toronto on penaty-kill minutes. This season Steen’s role was dramatically different than the one Stempniak enjoyed in St. Louis; unlike Stempniak, Steen wasn’t given much of an opportunity to skate on an offensive-oriented line. And he had one fewer goal than Stempniak. Big deal.
* Steen had more goals than Stempniak last season, 15-13.
* Steen has also won 52. 4 percent of his faceoffs this season, and that’s a plus for the Blues, who don’t have McDonald, their best faceoff man (at 61.4 percent). With McDonald on the shelf for a long time with a broken leg, the Blues needed to reinforce the center position. Steen should be a legit workhorse, asked to contribute heavily at both ends of the ice.
Again, I like Stempniak. But I just didn’t see Mike Gartner out there, as others apparently did.
Thanks for reading, and indulging…
-B
Hah!
You are money!
First, you take me to task because I didn’t write about facts…
Now you take me to task for spewing statistics …
Not enough facts, too many facts (stats)… hmmm… which one is it, pally? Please make up your mind.
But another good one from you.
You still haven’t addressed my points other than “He’s a younger Jamal Mayers,” (false). And instead you demanding that I stay away from writing about something. If you want that to happen, here’s an idea: get a job as my boss, then I’ll listen to you, bub. Otherwise, I’ll write about whatever I want to write about. In fact, I have now decided to go to Saturday’s game and write about the Blues — just because of you.
By the way, I watch a lot of hockey and have done so my entire life. Covered the sport for several years, and was offered the Philadelphia Flyers beat and the NY Rangers beat earlier in my career. But what turns me off about some hockey media and fans in this town is the arrogance — posers sort of like you who fancy themselves as experts and who look down on anyone who isn’t infatuated with hockey 24/7. I pay a lot of attention to the Blues, but I also cover other sports because I’m a general columnist. And when I have something to say about the Blues, I check in. Otherwise, I leave it to the posers.
Here’s the deal: it’s a simple game. So basic as to be ridiculous. No one needs to be Ken Dryden to understand it. It just isn’t profound or complicated.
And Steen’s career goal-scoring rate is close to Stempniak’s. That’s a fact. And it’s true even though Steen has spent about 6:1 on the ice killing penalties compared to Stempniak. Fact. Stat.
And I butcher all sorts of names — not just a hockey player’s.
Anyway, thanks for the chuckles. I got to get to work. Playtime is over.
Have a good one!
-B
You’re going to actually attend a game??? Another one already this season? (must resist urge to reference alerting the press box buffet personnel….)
I take it all back. You are Scotty Bowman personified.
Stats are stats and can be quoted so as to make any point. Just ask John Hadley.
Here’s my point: You show Steen and Stempniak’s numbers as nearly identical. And in Steen’s case he’s carried very similar numbers from year to year. Telling me that we know what he is and the Blues have similar players in the organization to him already. A third or fourth line center. The Blues think that he MIGHT be capable of more than that. On that, I don’t agree. I think he is what he is. Where Stempniak’s numbers come from are the result of a very solid season in which he had “top six” forward goal numbers followed by a sharp fall-off last season. It’s safe to say we’re not really sure what he is going to be exactly. I still contend at 25 it’s too early to move him.
If the Blues decided that Stempniak is expendable I think they could have done better. I love the prospect of seeing if Colaiacovo is the real deal, but I think he could have been had for a draft pick. Moving Stempniak for Steen IMO is a bad trade.
If you like comparing stats, you might see another young forward who had a real nice season a few years ago with 26-ish goals followed by a sharp fall-off and who was moved here for Dennis Wideman.
It’s only my opinion and means nothing to no one but me, but it’s a darn good opinion if I do say so myself.
And who are you kidding with this “you gotta go back to work stuff” you’re a writer !!!!!
(I kid, Bernie. This is all in good fun.)
LOL! I love it Bernie! I have followed the Blues as a ‘diehard’ for almost 10 years. I live in Jacksonville, FL and follow the Blues by watching Center Ice, TSN.ca, ESPN.com and of course STLToday.com. I think you, Gordo and JR do an excellent job of covering hockey in this town even though its not close to being the #1 sport. I just came up to Mo to spend time with the family and was able to catch the Blues OT winner vs the Ducks and wow, what a great game. YOU SHOULD go to the game on Saturday. I only wish I lived here sometimes just to catch more Blues games
I will see them when they make their SE trip in March to FL!
I will say this though: I was not happy at all when I first heard of this trade. I watch the Maple Leafs and other teams also on Center Ice reguarly when the Blues are not playing. I have not been impressed with the play of Steen or Carlo. But after thinking about it and getting over my ‘attachment’ to Stemps I thought maybe this could work out to be a steal for the Blues IF Steen turns out to be another Boyes who just needed a change of scenery and more opportunities. The thing about Stemps is that anytime a team gives up on one of their draft picks who has been one of the few bright spots for a team used to success is you will have this reaction. Stemps, Backes and McClement were the one bright spot in ‘06-07 with the “kid line”. I will miss his play and crazy ability to score from the slot. I do hope that Steen and Carlo pick up their game and prove my initial reaction wrong.
Thanks for the column Bernie and your contributions in covering the Blues!
bigbri –
Agreed, all in fun, thanks for throwing down.
There is obvious merit to your opinion, which is why I discussed the risk of the trade in Tuesday’s column. But I just think the gap between Stempniak and Steen has been overstated by some. That’s all. Wildly overstated by some of my pals in the media, who have built Stempniak up to a ridiculous level.
I wish there was a buffet in the press box. No such luck.
I’ll leave you alone now… thanks again.
-B
Bernie,
Couldn’t agree more — I don’t get the uproar over this deal. People are acting like we just dealt Pujols for a AAA outfielder with a .200 average. Stempy wasn’t working out, Steen and Cola weren’t working out… trade places and see what happens. If it doesn’t work out, it’s not like we’ve given away the gateway Arch….