THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: The Blackhawks acted quickly and agressively when NHL free agency opened Wednesday, most notably inking Marian Hossa to a 12-year, $64 million deal. This comes on the heels of signing top free agent defenseman Brian Campbell last year. Already stacked with players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp, have the Blackhawks now supplanted the Red Wings as the team to beat in the Central division?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
Chicago began that process even before the Marian Hossa signing. The Blackhawks were 2-2-2 against the Red Wings during the 2009-10 regular season, and even though the Wings beat the Hawks 4-games-to-1 in the Western Conference finals, two of Chicago’s losses came in overtime. Now Hossa and his 40 goals are moving to Chicago, and he’s bringing with him Tomas Kopecky, a nice young player. The Red Wings also are losing Mikael Samuelsson, who scored 19 goals last season

Chicago lost forward Martin Havlat, a big loss, and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who had a terrific season, in free agency; but if Hossa can play as well as he has, he should top the numbers of the injury-prone Havlat. And goaltender Cristobal Huet should benefit from being the definite No. 1 netminder in Chicago. If Huet can match what the aging Khabibulin did last year, the Blackhawks should be the team to beat in the Central Division next year.

TOM TIMMERMANN
Well, the last two seasons, Marian Hossa has been a good indicator of who will come in second place. I think it’s too soon to say the Hawks have passed the Wings. The Hawks have a lot of parts, but it remains to be seen if they all fit together. And as Sidney Crosby can tell you, there’s a lot of pressure that comes from the high expectations put on young superstars. I do think that Chicago is clearly the No. 2 team in the West, which makes the Central Division that much tougher for the Blues since they’ll have to play two very, very good teams a lot. Hossa hasn’t shown himself to be a savior the past two seasons — though this year the gap between the Wings and Penguins was pretty small — so I don’t know if he gets the Hawks over the Red Wings hump.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Not a chance. Detroit has won the division 8 straight years and losing Hossa isn’t going to change that much with the depth of talent they still have on that roster.

Besides, Hossa (40 goals, 31 assists, 71 points) is merely replacing Chicago’s 2008-2009 leading scorer Martin Havlat (29 goals, 48 assists, 77 points), who left for Minnesota in free agency. Hossa had 11 more goals than Havlat but had fewer points, though it should be pointed out that Hossa played in 7 fewer games than Havlat.

Oh and the Hawks lost goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, the guy that carried the load late in the season and in the playoffs. A team led by Cristobal Huet doesn’t exactly inspire me. The Blackhawks and Blues are getting closer to Detroit’s level but there is still ground to make up.

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)
In my opinion, the Chicago Blackhawks won’t supplant Detroit until they start beating the Wings in seven-game series, winning Western Conference Championships and, ultimately, the Stanley Cup. Last time I checked they have yet to do any of the three.

Obviously they have made some considerable strides over the past few seasons, they’ve spent money in free agency and have collected some impressive names, but with that being said, Detroit isn’t going anywhere in the short-term. Last time I checked Detroit just went to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals and are bringing back a loaded roster once again.

Chicago better find a goaltender or it really won’t matter who they have on their roster. Anybody believe Cristobal Huet is the answer in net? Martin Havlat was their best player in Chicago for much of the second half of the season and they replaced him with Hossa, who will receive nearly all of his salary in the first eight seasons of his 12-year deal. Chicago still has some important players to sign this season and moving into next year, and oh, by the way, the cap is expected to go down after this coming season.

I don’t get caught up in hype created by monster free agent signings, but I do recognize they are very, very talented and have a great coach. We have seen plenty of teams make a splash in free agency only to fizzle. Ask the Rangers or Philadelphia where that has gotten them?

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: The Blackhawks ousted the Canucks in the Western Conference semifinals last night with a young team that many thought was a year or two away. “I’m not saying experience is overrated, but the fact is, we’re not just a young team, we’re a good team,” said young star blueliner Duncan Keith. What can the Blues take from watching this series as they head into next year?

BERNIE MIKLASZ:
The Blues need more good players, period. The Blackhawks are ahead of them in the developmental cycle, and this is a reminder that the Blues are still playing catch-up. And let’s not forget that Chicago has more resources and was able to supplement an exceptional youth movement by investing heavily in a couple of free agents. The Blues are on track. Chicago is just farther along. (Bernie has more on this in his blog this morning.)

DAN O’NEILL:
There is a discernible difference between the Blues and Blackhawks in terms of talent, especially on the backline, especially where it impacts offensive transition. The Blues simply did not have defenseman of Duncan Keith’s abilities this season, to use him as an example. The Blackhawks are a step ahead in that regard, but the Blues are getting there.
With their corps of young players, with a talent upgrade on defense, the Blues could be doing what the Blackhawks are doing by next season. Keep in mind St. Louis was 4-1-1 during the regular season against Chicago
So it’s a good news/bad news proposition. The good news is, the Blues can be inspired by what the Blackhawks have accomplished, the bad news is they have to get past the Blackhawks in the years ahead to win a Stanley Cup.

TOM TIMMERMANN:
Add to this that the Penguins were awfully young when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 and it shows that youth can go some place in the NHL. I think there’s a difference in that the Blues have youngsters who can score goals while the Penguins and Blackhawks have youngsters who can score more goals. Really good puck moving defensemen are good only when they have players to move the puck too. So there’s reason for Blues fans to be optimistic for next season; turnarounds can come quickly, but it’s also no guarantee. The Blues’ rookies aren’t Crosby, Malkin and Fleury; are they Kane and Toews? We’ll see. But it’s also worth remembering that there exists a team called the Detroit Red Wings. I wouldn’t discount the importance of experience just yet.

JEREMY RUTHERFORD:
Other than learning how to put traffic in front of Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, the Blues won’t learn anything from Chicago’s playoff win over Vancouver they didn’t already know, nor will it give them any more confidence they can win with a young team.
Yes, the Blues and ‘Hawks have been pathetic in recent years. Yes, they have been on similar paths, rebuilding through the draft. Yes, this is the year that both teams believed they could emerge. For those reasons, the teams are rightfully linked together.
But for this season anyway, any other comparisons should be thrown out the window. The Blackhawks didn’t deal with the number of key injuries the Blues dealt with this season. The ‘Hawks had their share of injuries, but nothing like the Blues losing Paul Kariya, Andy McDonald, T.J. Oshie, Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson. If you take Martin Havlat, Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, Brent Seabrook and Brian Campbell out the Blackhawks’ lineup, they’re not playing in the Western Conference Finals. Even if the Blues had everyone healthy this season, they’re probably not as good as the Blackhawks, but they’re not far off.
Also, keep in mind that the Blues and Blackhawks are both young, but Chicago’s Patrick Kane (No. 1 overall pick in 2007) and Jonathan Toews (No. 3 in 2006) are the cream of the crop. If it weren’t for Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, Kane and Toews would be the face of the NHL. You can’t compare them to guys like Oshie (No. 24 in 2005), Patrik Berglund (No. 25 in 2006) or David Perron (No. 26 in 2007). You can compare Erik Johnson (No. 1 in 2006), but let Johnson get back on the ice.
With Johnson and with the rest of their full deck, the Blues can compete with the Blackhawks.

JEFF GORDON:

The big lesson is to stay the course. The Blackhawks stayed with their young skilled forwards and finally got the payoff. The Blues should resist any temptation to deal any of their high-end kids. These guys melded nicely during a months-long run toward the playoffs. Next spring, Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshe and David Perron will all be better prepared to step up in postseason play. They other key for Chicago was their strong corps of offensive defensemen. That is an element the Blues lacked with Erik Johnson and Eric Brewer and Alex Pietrangelo still developing. The lack of a viable point threat undermined their power play against Vancouver. Expect a different story next spring.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: The Blues are in Phoenix tonight to play a game that is hugely important to this team’s playoff hopes. What are the keys to success for the Blues tonight?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
1. Relax: There’s a lot on the line, but the Blues have shown this season that when they’re playing composed, they can be really good.

2. Bury your chances: The Blues had 26 shots on goal Saturday in Dallas, but misfired on 23 more shots. It’s been a problem all season. If you don’t put the puck on net, you can’t score. And if the Blues fail to build on leads, as they did in Dallas, it will come back to bite them.

3. Hope for a good game from Chris Mason: Mason was not at his best Saturday in Dallas, and while there were plenty of other problems that night, goaltending was a big issue. Mason has been spectacular since taking over the No. 1 job, and the Blues need him to play that way for three more games to have a chance at the postseason.

DAN O’NEILL
The No. 1 key is for Chris Mason to be their best player. Mason was not especially sharp in Dallas, which was the reason the Blues got one point instead of two. In addition, the Blues’ power play has to be effective and it would help if shooters hit the net once in a while. The team missed the net almost as often as they hit in Dallas.

JEFF GORDON
Keep the puck in the offensive zone! Chris Mason has looked more human in goal and the makeshift Blues defense has made some huge mistakes. By sustaining offensive pressure, the Blues will get a chance to build a lead, earn power plays and exploit their man advantage. They need to take charge in this game and get the Coyotes chasing them around. This game means everything to the Blues and nothing to Phoenix. So the Blues must dictate play from the first shift on.

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)
It may sound too simple but it my opinion it comes down to playing hard. Sometimes the best and most effective game is a simple one.

If the Blues don’t get their bodies involved, they will be in trouble. It costs them an extra point in Dallas and they can’t afford not to be involved in the game physically tonight. The Blues must play physical and finish checks. They need to tighten up their game defensively as well — St. Louis was way too sloppy in their own end last Saturday and that’s not a recipe for success especially on the road.

Chris Mason may not have stood on his head against Dallas but he wasn’t the reason they lost. He gave the Blues a chance to win and I expect him to do the same against Phoenix. His team didn’t give him much help in front of him.

The Blues better not overlook this Coyotes team, which brings a lot of skill to the table and plays very hard. They’ve beaten some good teams at home recently, including a decisive victory over Vancouver, and they are hardly a pushover. This team was in the playoffs just a few months ago before going on a horrific slide. They have a very strong goaltender who has the ability to make 50 saves on a given night when he’s on. It will certainly help if the Blues can hit the net tonight after shooting either high or wide more than 20 times in their previous game.

The bottom line is you don’t make it into the playoffs by losing to the Phoenix Coyotes in a must-win situation.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Desperation and concentration.

The Blues played like a desperate team in Detroit but somehow didn’t in Dallas, where the Stars were the ones with the extra jump in their step. The Blues have to be 1-point better than Nashville over the final three games to get in the playoffs so I don’t think motivation should be a problem.

The team, as a whole, needs to concentrate a little more than they did in Dallas as well. Too many excellent scoring opportunities given up to a team that was already all but out of the playoffs. Gotta play it a little tighter in the defensive zone starting tonight too — they’ve allowed 12 goals in the last three games.

The Blues have Phoenix tonight, Columbus Friday and Colorado Sunday. Nashville has Chicago tonight, Detroit Thursday and Minnesota on Friday to close out their season. If the Blues can just play their game three more times they should get in.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: After flat-lining Wednesday against the Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues bounced back with a huge 5-4 win over the Wings in Detroit last night to move into the eighth and final playoff spot. Though they play three out of their last four on the road, only Columbus (whom the Blues play at home) is a playoff-caliber team. Given their opponents and their entire surge since the calendar hit 2009, I say the Blues make the playoffs. What say you?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
Yes, the Blues will make the playoffs. With four games left in the regular season, they control their own destiny in the eighth spot. Win all four and you’re in, or go 3-1 and you’re more than likely in.

It comes down to three teams — Anaheim, the Blues and Nashville — fighting for the 7th and 8th spots in the West. Of those three, Nashville has a game in-hand, but that game is tonight in Chicago. The Blues can tell you that’s no guarantee.

The Blues appear to have the most favorable schedule among the three. A look at the schedules:

• Anaheim: at San Jose, vs. San Jose, vs. Dallas, at Phoenix . . . 7-6-1 vs. remaining opponents
• Blues: at Dallas, at Phoenix, vs. Columbus, at Colorado . . . 12-2 vs. remaining opponents
• Nashville: at Chicago, vs. Columbus, vs. Chicago, at Detroit, at Minnesota . . . 10-6-1 against remaining opponents

Three of the Blues’ opponents — Dallas, Phoenix and Colorado — are out of the playoff picture. And the Blues are coming off back-to-back wins over Columbus. Nothing is certain, but for the first time in several months, the Blues aren’t chasing anybody and they will decide if they make the playoffs.

And the way things are shaping up, the Blues will be playing the San Jose Sharks in the first round. Payback will be on the minds of Blues’ fans, who remember what happened in 2000 when the eighth-seeded Sharks upset the top-seeded Blues, winning the series 4-3.

Time for a role reversal.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I’ll say, “Yes,” and put them in. The Blues are in good shape. If they win all four remaining games, no one will stop them. But for purposes of discussion, suppose the Blues slip? Then it comes down to what the other contenders do. It also comes down to whether the Blues finish seventh or eighth.
Anaheim (currently 7th), has a home-and-home with San Jose, the top team in the Western Conference. That’s a big test, but San Jose has virtually locked up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and so you have to wonder about the motivation level. If the Ducks handle San Jose, then they’ll play a couple of faded horses in Dallas and Phoenix.

Nashville (9th) has a game in hand over the Blues, so that’s dangerous from the Blues’ standpoint — and that’s why tonight’s Nashville @ Chicago game is so big. The Blues need the Blackhawks to take that one. If Nashville wins at Chicago, they leap the Blues and go into 8th place, and that will cause some anxiety in the STL hockey community. But overall, Nashville has a tougher schedule than does St. Louis, with four games against playoff-bound teams (two with Chicago, one each with Columbus and Detroit).

Minnesota (10th place) is 4 points behind the Blues and the Wild also has a game in hand, so you can’t count them out.

Another question: is 6th place totally out of the question?

TOM TIMMERMANN
My original projection was that the Blues would stagger to the final four games and then win out, and make the playoffs, so I think they’ll do quite well here at the end. There are potential problems the next two games — first following up a big win and then playing the final game of a long road trip — but this team looks to have gotten over those problems. The toughest team still to play is at home and may have its playoff spot locked up by then, and then there’s the big finish in Colorado for the Blues.

My original thought was that the Blues would be facing four straight do-or-die games. Now, that may not be the case, and they actually may be able to absorb one loss. Go 3-1 in this stretch, and I think the season is another two weeks longer.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
I said they’d make the playoffs during the Blues Post-Game Show after the loss to Chicago, so there’s no way I’ll change my opinion now. The win against Detroit puts them in outstanding position.

While the Blues finish their season playing 3 out of 4 against teams who are out of the playoff picture, the Ducks play San Jose on back-to-back nights before facing Dallas and Phoenix, and Nashville plays Chicago twice, Columbus, Detroit and Minnesota.

I’m no longer concerned about Edmonton or Minnesota — being 4-points back with 4-5 games is a tough hill to climb — but I do think Anaheim is going to finish strong, capturing the 7th spot.

It looks like this comes down to the Blues and Predators for the final spot in the West and I like the Blues there. Even though they have three road games, they’re all against teams the Blues should beat.

The Preds face a Chicago team battling for home ice advantage in the first round; the Blue Jackets, who appear to be pretty solid in the 6th spot; a Red Wings team trying to get itself straightened out before the playoffs; and, a Minnesota team that may or may not be eliminated from the hunt when the two meet. Plus the Blues hold the tiebreaker over Nashville.

The Blues finish with 89-90 points, winning the 8th playoff spot and the right to face the San Jose Sharks in the 1st round.

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)
The best part for the Blues moving forward is that they control there own destiny. This is not a question that requires deep thought and statistical analysis. I do think the Blues will get in. They head into the final week of the season with a ton of confidence, as do the Anaheim Ducks and the Nashville Predators. Two of these three teams get in.

Sorry, Predators fans.

The Blues will probably need to win three of the remaining four to get there. By now most fans are aware of the opponents both Anaheim and Nashville will face from here on out. With the Ducks looking at back-to-back games against San Jose and Nashville hitting the road to battle Chicago and Detroit, you can make the case the Blues have the more favorable schedule moving forward.