John: Hey Gordo:
Simple question, why are the Rams letting Chillar go?

Jeff Gordon: The team was 3-13. Upgrades are needed. Chillar did some things well, but, again, the team was 3-13.

Bill: Jeff, back in October, I was very confident about the Blues future. Now, not so much. We need a playmaking center badly, it's almost unfair to put criticism on the front line scorers because you basically got 6 wingers on the top 2 lines. We really need a top line center and a decent #2 Center as well. Kinda like the old Oates and Zezel combo we once had. But how the heck are they going to come up with that? Plus we need an offensive defensemen very badly as well. I'm not sure it was worth spending that kind of money on Barrett Jackman when we definitely need to go out in free agency and address these other needs. (I won't even get into the goaltending picture) Plus I wasn't happy with Larry Pleau's answer on the day of the trade for Janssen when he defended opting for Janssen over a 3rd round draft choice for Salvador. He said it takes 4 or 5 years to see that player versus getting someone like Janssen who can play right now. First off the Blues are all about getting picks and continuing to build for the future ( and this yr's draft is deep ) and then he goes and makes a comment like that? I could tolerate his comment if it was a guy who could muster 15 goals, but for Janssen? Just cause he's a St Louis kid? Give me a break. Someone should tell Larry about the Scott Cooper experiment..........Bad Trade and a bad answer by Pleau. Jeff, what about the center icemen, what do you think the Blues can do to address this? thanks

Jeff Gordon: Berglund will be one of the cornerstones at center, but perhaps in 2010. So there IS a need there. Re-signing Jackman was an iffy call, given his play this year. But spending $3 million plus on Salvador would have been iffy too, given all the young D the team has. As for Janssen, I'll take him instead of a third-round pick. Why wait three or four years for that payoff? The Blues have plenty of prospects coming.

That's it for now. Sleet storm forces dad to go rescue kid from school . . . .

See you next week.