Blues owner Dave Checketts addressed the media during the second intermission of Thursday’s game against Colorado. Here’s a transcript of what Checketts told reporters:

Q: The team has sold out 16 of 22 home games, so we’re guessing you’re pretty happy with that?

DC: “I can’t say enough about the fans. The fans have been great. I’ve been thinking about that slogan, ‘Whatever it takes.’ Sometimes it takes patience. We play hard every night and we just haven’t had any breaks this year. I can’t get too frustrated because the fans have been with us . . . Both with the economy and the team performance, you have to be very gratified about the fans and their support. It’s amazing. The place is alive most every night. It’s a week night, and it’s a great crowd and they’re into the game.”

Q: Are you willing to give Andy Murray a public vote of confidence?

DC: “I don’t know who is speculating. It’s not worth your time. I don’t do that. It’s just silly. The guy is coaching his tail off. He’s effective. The guys are playing hard.”

Q: How do evaluate a season like this with so many injuries?

DC: “All you can evaluate in a season like this is effort. I know from John (Davidson) on down, everybody is working very hard and upset that our record is not better. We’ve got another half of the year and we’re going to keep going. If we had all of the guys that we were supposed to have, I believe we would be in the hunt for a playoff spot. We don’t . . . but I’m not going to sit and cry about it. I’m just going to say, ‘If we can get them all back, and our young players get a little better, then we should be right in the hunt next year.’”

Q: Are you happy with the progress of the young kids: Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie, David Perron?

DC: “Well, I thought when Berglund scored the first goal (Thursday night), and you heard it was Berglund from Perron and Oshie, I said, ‘You’re going to hear that a lot over the years.’ You’re going to hear that phrase a lot.”

Q: Is it a priority of the Blues to retain center Andy McDonald?

DC: “Oh yes. We’re in those discussions now. We very much want to keep him here. I think we’ll do whatever it takes to keep him here . . . within reason.”

Q: What amount of interest do you have in an outdoor game?

DC: “A lot. I’ve already put in a call to (NHL commissioner Gary) Bettman. I think St. Louis would be a spectacular place for the outdoor game.  I don’t totally know how the Cardinals would feel about it, but I’ve received some signals from them that they would be supportive. We have just had a preliminary conversation, but we think they’d be very supportive.”

Q: When were the talks with the Cardinals?

DC: “A few months ago.”

Q: In a best-case scenario, don’t you think an outdoor game in St. Louis would probably be a few years away if it happened?

DC: “Some people think we’d be better off to wait until Ballpark Village is built. I don’t know. We just needed to get our name in because my guess is . . . I just sense the way the wind is blowing, the NHL is thinking about Canada next year. I just wanted to get our name in.”

Q: Do you think the Blues will open the 2009-10 season in Sweden?

DC: “Yeah, I’d like to see that. I think it would be great for our kids, and I think it would be a great way to start the year, so I’m very supportive of that.”

Q: Are there any updates on those talks about playing in Sweden?

DC: “I don’t have an update.”

That was the end of the interview.

Many of you have emailed me or asked me in my Blues’ chat about the team’s ticket-sale approach. It’s been frustrating for long-time season-ticket holders to learn that the fan sitting next to them has paid much less for their ticket because of some sort of ticket promotion. Obviously the Blues are trying to fill up the building and reducing ticket prices through those promotions has been an effective way of doing that. But if season-ticket holders are frustrated, and contemplating not renewing their tickets because they can buy cheaper tickets another way, then the Blues are hurting themselves. I asked Dave Checketts about this issue and he requested to gather some facts before responding. So please stayed tuned to my Morning Skate blog for an answer soon from him.

JR