Jeremy Rutherford:
I was at the morning skate today briefly before heading to a meeting. Trent Whitfield, as you may know, has been called up under emergency conditions. Jay McClement is hobbling after taking a shot off the knee Tuesday in Calgary, but I'm expecting him to play. I believe Jeff Woywitka will be a healthy scratch and Mike Weaver will be in the lineup tonight.

Let's get chattin . . .

Bill: JR: Thanks for taking the time to do these chats.

Questions about Murray:

Has the team started tuning him out?
Is he the right coach to lead this team next season?
Do you feel Andy is better suited for a veteran team or a younger team like we have?

Thanks

Jeremy Rutherford:
As a team, I don't think they have tuned out Andy Murray. There may be individuals who have done so, but I don't know that with any team in the NHL, you'll have 23 players on board.

Murray will be the coach next year, and I don't know why he shouldn't be. He's done a remarkable job with the depleted lineup. If fans believe he's the wrong coach because it's a young roster, I would tell them that the young players have no problem with Murray, to my knowledge. Sure there aree daily quirks, but as I said, nothing that wouldn't be happening on several other teams.

Brian: Does Blues Mgmt. regret not letting Pietrangelo stay up to get more ice time against stronger competition?

Jeremy Rutherford: I don't think so. Looking back, Pietrangelo was not ready to play in the NHL. When I was of the belief that he should stay with the Blues, I compared the situation to David Perron's situation last year. But truth be told, Perron (even with the maturity issues) was more ready than Pietrangelo. Pietrangelo has a lot to work on, but he should be in camp next year with another shot to make the team.

Brad: I have watched the Blues faithfully for many years and attend games whenever I get back home to MO or can see them near me on the road JR. This seems to be the most immature, unguided team the Blues have ever put out. I had high hopes for this season and really felt we could be a contender. I know we have a lot of injuries and 'excuses'. BUT I personally feel that Murray has lost this team and has no chance of building a winning culture here. The only players who were Blues win the team was playoff contender pre-lockout is Tkachuk and Jackman. Everyone else has been traded or retired or left via FA. The young kids need a coach who has won in the NHL. I know Murray is a great coach and when he came in I thought it was a good fit and a step up from Kitchen. But it has been two years now and besides the end of Murrays first year here, we just having seen the team respond in a consistent winning way. And the high amount of injuries that he had in LA to key players seems to have followed him here as well.

I know he has one more year on his contract, but if we don't start to instill a winning culture NOW its going to be even harder to turn this team around even when it is healthy and the stockpile of high draft picks are mature enough and have developed the leadership to WIN. I know the question is WHO could come in right now and replace and do a better job. WHY not look as San Jose and many NFL teams do for a top assistant coach under a winning team? Surely Detroit, the Ducks, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, etc have a top notch assistant waiting and ready to lead a team like the Blues to the promised land!

THanks for enduring my long post and your coverage of the Blues JR.

Frustrated Blues fan in Florida.

Brad

Jeremy Rutherford:
I don't want to come across as somebody who thinks that Andy Murray is the end-all, be-all coach . . . or that no other coach can lead this team.

But I don't believe there's an assistant in the league (or head coach for that matter) who could have a better record with a roster that doesn't have Paul Kariya, etc., etc.

A lot of people had expectations for this season to be better. But the Blues had expectations of having their injured players on the ice. Everyone I talk to around the league has NO idea how the Blues are still holding up through all the injuries.

Rodimus Prime: Happy game day JR!

Seen a few message board posts recently talking about possible prospects who can make the team on 09-10. Sonne, McRae are the two specifically mentioned that I am curious about. I take it both will be at Developmental Camp, but do either have a chance of making the roster when we have at most 2 top 9 forward positions to fill? Would they be AHL eligible or would they have to return to Jrs?

IF McDonald doesnt re-sign before the end of the season, do you see the Blues pursuing him less because being on the open market may raise his value higher than we are willing to pay? Should that happen, is the team prepared to go with Berglund and Oshie/Backes as #1 and #2 or is it possible the Blues purse Comrie, Connolly, etc?

Thanks JR! Lets Go Blues!

Jeremy Rutherford:
Sonne and McRae need more time to develop.

According to Jarmo Kekalaine, the Blues assistant GM and director of amateur scouting, McRae will have one more year of junior eligibility after this season.

The Blues have to sign Brett Sonne before June 1st. He would likely go to Peoria if they can sign him.