Alex Ferrario: Hey JR,
Couple questions:
What's the latest on McDonald or Polak's return?
Any news on Oshie or McDonald?
If the Blues are buyers, who in your mind do you think we'll go for?
-Thanks

Jeremy Rutherford:
McDonald: skated Wednesday, Murray said he's day to day.
Polak: Still hobbling, stood on sidelines Wednesday and watched other injured players skate.
Oshie: Was wearing ice on his right foot Wednesday, said he hoped to play Thursday

We'll see what happens in the coming weeks, but I expect the Blues to be sellers. The organization REALLY needs to make the playoffs, but if that's not possible, they need to follow the strategy that's allowed them to stock the shelves with good young talent.

John: Thanks for the live chats...

Much of the talk I hear on Tkachuk has been on whether he will waive his no-trade clause this year. My question is more on what his plans are for next year. Maybe the Blues should be approaching him about playing at least one more year for the Bluenote instead of a trade for a draft pick. At the beginning of the year, he was on fire. But he also was playing a reduced role. With the injuries this year, he has moved back to the top and back playing center (not his greatest position). Next year, he would be a good second or a great third line winger, if he would be willing to accept the role. My lines would be (assuming no free-agent pick-ups and everyone stays):

1st line. Kariya - MacDonald - Backes
2nd line. Perron - Berglund - Oshie
3rd line. Tkachuk - Sheen - Boyes
4th line. Winchester - McClement - Crombeen

Fill in King or Janssen as needed.

Boyes has not shown enough commitment to defense (see -25 plus/minus rating) to be playing on a top line.

Thoughts?

Jeremy Rutherford: I agree that Tkachuk could be an effective third-line LEFT WINGER next season, but it depends on his plans. I think he wants to play another year or two. Does he want to win a Cup? If so, he'll probably waive his no-trade clause and go somewhere at the deadline. He could re-sign with the Blues in the offseason . . . we've seen that happen before . . . but I think the chances of him returning next year are less likely if he accepts a trade. I just don't see him coming back twice, but I could be wrong.

Boyes definitely needs to be a more all-around player, but who else do the Blues have who can score 30-40 goals to play on the top line?

Bluesier1: JR,
Did McDoanld skate with the team after they returned from Columbus, or is he still shut down? And when do you believe is the earliest we can see him dress?
Thanks

Jeremy Rutherford: He was shutdown for four days, but was on the ice Wednesday when the team returned from Columbus. I don't want to say he'll be in the lineup soon, but this is the closest I think he's been to playing since the injury.

Of course, we said that about Paul Kariya, too ;)

Xavier: Hi,

we are just 6 points out of a playoff spot, the team is playing really good, nice team effort every games, the schedule of february looks good for us, maybe theres still a shot to the playoff...

if this is the case and we somehow get in like 8 or 7, and we cause some surprises during the playoff and we go on to the conference final or stanley cup (just by exemple, you never know what can happen), do you think its possible to see Paul Kariya and Erik Johnson back to come help the team, i mean by may-june it should be possible, what do you think?

do you have any news on theses two guys, how they are going ?(especially paul, hes my favorite player)

thank you

Jeremy Rutherford:
I know Erik Johnson would NOT be ready this season . . . he's not planning on even skating until June.

As far as Paul Kariya, to my knowledge, he would NOT be ready either. The Blues have said that he's out for the season, and my guess is that they're scripting his rehab with the idea that he has many months - not weeks - to get back.

Max: What's up JR? As the year progresses, more and more it seems that next years training camp is going to be a pretty difficult one. Management is going to have to make some pretty difficult decisions, because once everyone is healthy, there are going to be a lot of players and only so many roster spots. Who do you think will be able to hold their current spot on the roster. It is obvious that some players do not even come into this conversation, but I am talking about the players who would, in any normal season without so many injuries, generally make up the third and forth line. For example, with the return of Mcdonald hopefully comign soon, what does that mean for Winchester? Next years line up for the blues will already have 6 forwards guarneteed a roster spot, like boyes, kayira, backes, oshie, berglund, perron, and (hopefully) mcdonald. But who makes up the rest of the roster? I would say that steen has assured himself a spot, same with mcclement and janseen. That leaves, really 3 spots left, will it be crombeen, winchester, paddock, any of the upcoming prospects? What is your take? Also the same problem exists on the defensive side. What do you do with strachan, i think he has played very well, or woywitka, and weaver, who i believe played awesome in the 4-2 win over colombus, and to add to that how do you make room in the d core for the return of all the injuried players plus the up and comign prospects liek petro and possiably, cole. I think the blues management has a lot of tough decesions comign up, and honestly its a good thing in my opinion. Sorry for the long question I just wanted to hear your opinion. Thanks!

Jeremy Rutherford:
This is what I know:

Every time someone, including myself, suggests that there's too much talent for too few spots on the roster, it never works out that way. It's too early to look at it like that. Take a look at this year. All the talk in training camp was about how Oshie might have to play on the third line and Polak might be a sixth defenseman. Now Oshie is playing on the top line and Polak was in the top defensive pairing before his injury.

I suggest we hold off that speculation until August and September when we know what the Blues having back.