Lawarence Marmie: Hey Gordo,

How great is it going to be to see lovie smith fail once again this season- especially after the Bears spent all that time and money getting him those weapons? Unfortunately, they went after all offensive players and must not have been looking at the stats that show the defense has plummeted since they got rid of Rivera and let lovie and babich take over the show.

Jeff Gordon: Ah, but now teams will have to play catch-up -- just as they did during Lovie's big year in St. Louis. You watch, the scheme will be gold now.

5on5: So Jeff.....is Ty (pool or pond?) Conklin the only roster addition Blues fans can expect to see prior to the start of the season? I thought for sure the Blues brass would add a puck moving dman who could compliment EJ on the #1 PP unit but as all key UFA dmen have left the building it looks like it ain't gonna happen. I sure hope they stay away from multi year contracts w/potential cap disasters like Zubov and Schneider......if these over the hill and often injured guys are the only answer to our small market budget then use 4 forwards on the PP and take our chances. I guess a trade is always possible but I would hate to give up any key assets for a dman unless it would be a cornerstone type of guy. Have the Blues commented on this subject? Are they concerned?

GO BLUES!!

Jeff Gordon: If the Cards add a guy, it will for short money -- so that means it will be an older guy. I don't mind either Zubov or Schneider on a bonus-laden deal for a year or two.

Johnson will run the power play. Pietrangelo is a candidate to help as well. He still has a lot to prove, but the talent is there. Brewer is a second-unit guy and he may not make it back from that injury. I'd like to see Junland to get a look, but he didn't impress the coaches last year.

leroy warren: Gordo

Is there a limit as to how many players the Blues can have under contract? By my count they are up to 48 under contract now.

Jeff Gordon: The limit is 90 players on the reserve list and 50 players under contract. But a junior-age kid like Pietrangelo does not count against the 50 until he plays more than 10 games in a season for the Note.

goblues0917: AARON PALUSHAJ didnt seem to get the high praise like the other prospects did at camp. What happened? Is he going to be playing in the AHL this year or Michigan and do you think his game will translate to the NHL?

However it was very nice to see some good notes on McRae and Eller!

Jeff Gordon: He got banged up. And he got sick. His reviews a Peoria last spring were mixed, but the organization believed he wore down. He needs to get heftier for that reason.

But he is a high-skill guy.

ramcat: Hi Jeff;

Wondered if you knew whether the Rams had anyone at the Jeremy Jarmon pro day last week? From what I read about him, he seems to have some very strong attributes, and could possibly be a 4th round pick effectively, that eventually mans the opposite side from Long. I think the Rams need to do what they can in instances like these, to seize the opportunity of the draft advantage they have. Particularly with Spags having such a competitive advantage in his work with the defenses, and defensive players.

Jeff Gordon: Interesting case there. He lost collegiate eligibility for using a banned substance, but his reputation is pretty good. He had 17.5 sacks in three seasons, so he offers potential long-term pass rushing ability. He would cost the Rams a 2010 pick via the supplemental draft, but this will be a "need" position next year.

He is the top player in the supplemental draft, so the Rams will have to consider this move.