Blues players lament trade of Salvador
I know a lot of you are scratching your heads about the trade of Bryce Salvador to New Jersey for feisty forward - and St. Louisan - Cam Janssen. I’m going to hold off judgement until this afternoon when we talk to JD and find out the details of the Blues’ efforts to re-sign Salvador and what was available on the trade market.
In the meantime, Salvador is going to a playoff contender and the Blues are getting a player who really wants to be here. I’ve been told that Janssen was stoked when he heard the news that he was coming home to St. Louis. He is regarded as the first St. Louisan to make it to the NHL (not counting Pat LaFontaine, who left when he was 5).
Here’s what Blues players had to say this morning about the trade:
Eric Brewer
On the trade:
“It’s a real tough loss . . . huge loss. We’ve played together for two years and got along on and off the ice. Just a real great guy, great teammate, great family guy. We lost a good family today.”
On being reminded that the NHL is a business:
“It’s part of it. Most of us have been traded at some point. You have to deal with it and just kind of know that that’s the existence we’re in. Just kind of carry on and we’ve got games to win.”
On Cam Janssen:
“I don’t really know much about him to be honest with you. I know he’s a real physical up-and-down winger.”
On missing Salvador:
“He’s been here for a long time. He’s done a lot of good things for the team. He’s done a lot of good things off the ice here as well. I really enjoyed the three years that we played together and the two years as partners.”
Keith Tkachuk
On losing Salvador:
“It’s one of those things that you knew they were going to make a move with someone. Unfortunately, it was the classiest person I’ve ever played with . . . Bryce Salvador. He’s a guy that you never had to worry about. He’s going to put it on the line every time he steps on the ice. I think Jersey is getting a solid player and a solid person. I played with him for a long time now and you won’t find a nicer person than Bryce Salvador. I think he’ll fit well with the NJ organization. They’re going to be very pleased with the guy they’re getting.”
On Cam Janssen:
“I don’t know much about him, but I know he’s the type of guy that leaves it on the ice every single time he steps on it. He’ll stick up for his teammates. He’s built a good reputation in the National Hockey League. He’ll do whatever it takes to stay in the lineup.”
On moving forward:
“We traded Bryce, but we know what we have to do. We have to go out and try to win a hockey game tonight and get back into it.”
Jamal Mayers
On hearing about the trade of his close friend, Salvador:
“I think you’re just shocked originally. Disappointed that they couldn’t get something done, but I certainly understand the business. I’m happy for him. He’s going to a great team. He’s going to get opportunities. It’s all positive for him.”
On what the two talked about:
“I told him I’ll be text-messaging and keeping in touch. Just asked him if April needed anything to let me know. He’ll be on a plane this afternoon. That’s how it works.”
On being happy that Salvador is going to a playoff team:
“Yeah, I mean, glad he’s going to the East so I don’t have to play against him. I’m happy for him.”
D.J. King
On Cam Janssen:
“He’s a local boy, so when I come down here early in August, I see him at the rink. I played against him in the Memorial Cup a few years ago. That’s about it. I talked to him a few times. Obviously I know what style of player he is. He’s the same style player as me. Just gets in the forecheck and bangs around. He’s a tough guy too.”
On fighting Janssen in the past:
“I think I’ve fought him four times in my career so far. He’s always up for a good battle, that’s for sure.”
On how he fared against Janssen:
“Pretty well I guess. They’re all good battles. I’m not going to say I beat him up, but they were good fights. He’s one tough customer.”
On King and Janssen possibly being in the lineup together:
“We’ll have to wait and see what happens. I’m not sure if he’s healthy right now. We both can’t change our games. I’m sure it’s going to be the same thing out there. Just go around and bang and bang. We’re both the same style player, so I’m sure (like with) Chase and Twist . . . it’s going to be the same thing.”
On his thoughts about having two enforcers:
“I think it’s going to probably bring a lot more out of both of us because we’re both going to be competing for a spot in the lineup every night. We’ve both got the same role pretty much and they’re probably only going to put one of us in there. It’s going to create competition between both of us and we’re going to work that much harder. It’s not that I was comfortable already, but just knowing that fact – there’s two of us here – we’ve got to work that much harder.”
JR
I have no problem with Janssen as a player but I don’t see how this fits for the Blues at this point in time.
JD said he brings a lot of grit and toughness to the Blues. That’s all well and good, but we have plenty of guys who bring grit but no offense. See: DJ King, Dan Hinote, Ryan Johnson and Jamal Mayers.
This is an absolutely terrible move. I would have rather had another fourth round pick.
He was our 4th or 5th best defenseman on a team that is currently 12th in the standings. Let’s not criticize for making a minor move. JD knows what he is doing!!
I have to echo the other comments on this board—this trade just makes NO sense–its like they just wanted to make a trade to say they had—more penalty minutes, no more goals, less defense, possibly still injured so might be a goon without the goods—-worst trade i’ve seen in a long while here!!!
I am sorry to see Salvador go. I have really liked the moves up to the ones today. Resigning Jackman and letting Salvador go? Not good moves, Barret is a goon, I can’t count the number of times he has turned the puck over in our zone, or hung his partner out to dry with a bad pass. Then you resign him to good money and say you can’t sign Salvador. Now you have traded Backman for a 4th rounder, what getting a used puckbag for Salvador wasn’t enough, now you take a late round draft pick in a down draft year for a top 4 defenseman. That is 2 top 4 defenseman gone from a team. Great choice. I guess that we can pray that the draft picks really pan out as we are gettin rid of good quality, defenseman at such a strong pace, that scoring 1 goal a game while giving up 2 just wasn’t acceptable, instead, we are going to give up 4 goals a game with rookies or even worse, Matt Walker in the lineup. Defense has been a strong point this year, I understand that we have depth, WE NEED SCORING. 2 goals in 3 games, thanks for downgrading when you had assets to upgrade……
The way most of you are talking it appears that JD and LP will be in the bread line soon…so, you can take all your expertise and apply for the job…I am sure you will make all the right moves, all the time…geez…
Re: #14
I have to disagree with you on the Backman comment. #4 defenseman? 3rd line defenseman on any team. Not happy with a 4th but he needed to go and I don’t think you could have gotten much more than that from anyone.
I would have rather seen JD sign Salvadore to 2 years/5 mil and see whether we could have gotten a power forward who can score for Jackman. We need more bodies in front of the net.
im sorry, but i think having the additional energy guy will help. You look at the disparity between home and away and the team has no energy on the road. You get a legitimate energy line to fire up the other three, we may be able to score more than 1 goal per game away from scottrade. You look at the three ’scoring’ lines and on paper, they should be scoring. There is plenty of talent, and at home they seem to find the net alot more often than home, maybe its the fans, maybe its attitude, but if they want any chance of playing through april, they need to step up the away game, and maybe another enforcer will get the job done. Plus look how excited he seems to be to play for the blues, this kids work ethic should inspire the rest of em to take their game up a notch.
To Dan, won’t is it about Mayers that you and other don’t like? He is a hard working player who makes fair money for a vetern of his caliber: Great PK guy, leader on AND off the ice and willing to stick up for his teamates.
But back to the trades. As I have posted several other places I am not happy with the Salvador for Janssen trade at all. Yea, he may be a local product, but who cares really? We have enough ‘enforcer/gritt’ guys with Mayers, Hinote and King. We didn’t need a fourth.
if we would have got at least a 4th or even a 5th rounder for Salvador and Janssen, then it would be so bad, but come on. This is one of the worst trades in recent Blues history, imho.
This was destined when they resigned Jackman. I thought it was a bad move yesterday when they did it. I know he’s younger, but Jackman can’t carry Salvador’s skates in the defensive end. I’m surprised they were able to get
I’ll have to agree with Ken. We were not burning it up here and there’s plenty of depth on the d-line. With the glut of defensemen on the trade market, Salvador’s value probably wasn’t as good as some here would like. Getting an explosive banger with charisma makes sense in that it brings home a hometown guy and it gives a jolt to this team which has looked lackluster of late.
Good job JD. Keep working the angles!