THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: What would be better for the St. Louis Blues: They finish strong this season and make a playoff push or they stay on their current pace and get a shot in the draft at one of the game’s top two prospects — Canadian forward John Tavares or Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
This is a very difficult question because if the Blues went into 2009-10 with Erik Johnson, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and Jonathan Tavares (who I believe they would take No. 1 overall), it would be the best young nucleus in the NHL. However, I’ve always been a believer that winning games is what’s most important, and the draft order will fall how it falls. Here’s the bottom line in my book: Next year isn’t Year 2 of the Checketts/Davidson regime . . . it’ll be Year 4. If the Blues don’t sniff the playoffs soon, they risk losing fans who may never be around to see Tavares wear the Bluenote. You saw what having Erik Johnson meant this season . . . nothing. Johnson is a tremendously talented player and will be a cornerstone defenseman for years to come, but a fluky injury ended his season, and without him, the Blues are wallowing in mediocrity. As good as Tavares and Hedman are and will be, I’ll take the victories.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Given the blitz of injuries, I don’t see the Blues as a viable playoff contender, which is just as well, because they’d be a one-and-done entry with a quick expiration date in the postseason. So bring on the kids. In fact, the Blues should do everything they can to accumulate more draft picks by trading marketable veterans.

JEFF GORDON
Blues season ticket holders don’t want to hear this. Neither does ultra-competitive coach Andy Murray. But this is the truth: The top two picks in the 2009 draft offer extraordinary promise. Either prospect would greatly advance the Blues’ cause. Since the Blues are unlikely to climb into the Western Conference’s top eight this season — given the long-term loss of Erik Johnson, Eric Brewer and Pauk Kariya — the lottery looms as a phenomenal opportunity. I would never encourage a professional sports team to tank, but . . .

TOM TIMMERMANN
Enough waiting until next year. The Blues haven’t gone to the playoffs since 2004, haven’t won a series since 2002. No one in the NHL goes four years without making the playoffs (well, maybe the Blackhawks) and if the Blues do that, there will be increasingly fewer reasons to be a Blues fan. The Blues need to throw a lifeline to their beleaguered fans by making the playoffs. Of course, I don’t think it’s an option; unless the ice at Scottrade comes from Lourdes, I don’t see them getting back in the playoff picture this season.

DAN O’NEILL
I think, with still more than half of the 2008-2009 schedule remaining, the Blues should definitely make a concerted effort to stay a losing course. If at all possible, they should try to get a few more key players hurt, maybe Brad Boyes could play a round of golf with Erik Johnson, perhaps Keith Tkachuk could slip on a piece of carpet. At the same time, coach Andy Murray should make it clear to his present roster that his new system will be based on glaring mistakes and half-baked effort. Call it the “Twilight Zone Trap.” What’s more, the marketing team should get on board and adjust the Blues’ sales pitch from “We’ll Do Whatever It Takes” to “We Won’t Do Squat,” or “We’ll Do Whatever It Takes To Lose,” or “We’ll Tank It Everytime.” Maybe they even could feature “Towel Man” in some ads and use the theme, “That’s Right, We’re Throwing In The Towel.” Or maybe they could just contact the NHL office and inform the league that they would like to forfeit 55 percent of their remaining schedule. Unconventional, yes, but hey, whatever it takes.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

HELP ME UNDERSTAND: The Los Angeles Dodgers have offered a one-year contract to all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hoffman made $7.5 million last season with the Padres and San Diego reportedly made him a one-year, $4 million offer earlier before withdrawing it in November. The Dodgers’ offer, according to the Times, reportedly exceeds $4 million. The report also states the Milwaukee Brewers are in pursuit of Hoffman, who is expected to make a decision this week.

Hoffman, 41, may not be the stud he once was, but he did convert 30 of 34 save opportunities last season. With the Cardinals’ glaring need at the position, wouldn’t a one-year offer in that range offer high upside with little risk? It’s a head-scratcher, along the lines of the Cardinals not taking a chance on starting pitcher Brad Penny, who landed with the Red Sox on a one-year, $5 million deal. But with Hoffman it’s even worse, as he could end up closing for an NL Central competitor.

To steal a line from a valued colleague: The Cards don’t seem to really be looking for low-hanging fruit … they want to pick it up off the ground.

BC BRINGS HAMMER DOWN ON COACH: After meeting with the New York Jets yesterday about their head coaching position, Boston College football coach Jeff Jagozinski will be fired today according to a report in the Boston Globe. While apparently there was no specific language in his contract barring him from seeking other jobs, upon his hiring BC officials had made it clear to Jagozinski that they wanted a coach for more than just two or three years. Jagodzinski had just completed his second 10-win season with BC and has three years remaining on his contract.

Wow, I guess Boston College meant business. On one hand, I question the severity of such actions when someone is just trying to improve his/her lot in life. On the other hand, I admire BC for sticking to its guns and making a statement that winning doesn’t mean everything. But more than anything I just like to see it when things go Bad in Beantown.

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THINGS TO PONDER

CUBS’ BRADLEY IS THE BOMB: Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey writes today that, “What became finally and conclusively apparent in the 2008 postseason was that the cute, happy, aw-shucks Cubs thing doesn’t work. … Now comes Milton Bradley, who is so un-Cublike he probably wears White Sox boxers under his pants. … The Cubs aren’t bringing him to town to be a leader. They’re bringing him to provide another left-handed bat and light a fire. Light a fire, pull the pin of a grenade — it’s the same thing, isn’t it?

How a company that recently filed for bankruptcy keeps adding payroll is unclear to me, but the Cubs have clearly shown they want to be the Beast to Beat in the National League.

HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno are both expected to announce later today that they will enter the NFL draft, according to ESPN. Stafford, a junior, and Moreno, a redshirt sophomore, led the SEC in passing and rushing this season, respectively. Some draftniks believe Stafford could be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft and Moreno is expected to be the first or second running back selected.

And people around here think Mizzou underachieved this year. How did a Georgia team led by that kind of talent go 9-3 and end up playing in the Capitol One Bowl? And before you say it’s because of all the talent in the SEC, let me point out that one of those losses came at HOME against ACC opponent Georgia Tech.

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STAT OF THE DAY

5 — Number of times Keith Tkachuk has been named to the NHL All-Star team after getting the nod today. Tkachuk, who became the seventh U.S.-born player to reach 1,000 points earlier this season, was also a member of the All-Star team in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2004.