Jeremy Rutherford: I hope everybody is doing as well as the AIG executives . . . let's get rolling!

ccfan22nips: JR, I was thinking of scenarios of how the blues could spend their excess cash this offseason.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

take maybe 4-4.5 mil a year for one of them??

we already have defense up and coming so why not spend it on offense?

what do you think?

Hoff

Jeremy Rutherford: Both are making $3.75 this year. They're having pretty good years, so they might command the kind of money Andy McDonald fetched . . . $4.7 million.

I suppose the question is, even if the Blues went after one of the Sedin's, would they separate? They've been up front about how they enjoy playing together.

Dan in San Antonio: JR,

A quick question about karma. I'm concerned that Bernie Miklasz has written two Blues columns this month. This is more than double his usual attention paid to the Blues, and I'm worried that it will stall their playoff push. I'm I just being overly superstitious, or is this a real concern? I'm thinking the locker room may be worried about it also.

Jeremy Rutherford:
Bernie has led off his Saturday bits with the Blues several times and he's written plenty of blogs about the team. For folks who don't live in St. Louis, he also has many interviews with Blues personnel on his radio show. He's a guy that is stretched beyond belief, and personally, I don't kow how he covers as much as he does. The guy is amazing.

But yes, those in the locker room are worried ;)

Sam Alton: JR- thanks for all the hockey coverage and let me say right off the bat how much I admire this young, tenacious team and its coach. I have 2 questions: (1) A couple of weeks ago, when the Blues were on a road-trip for some very important games, including the away Detroit game, I ran into the Blues' Captain, Eric Brewer, twice. Very nice guy, talked about the Blues and the big games. He was walking and moving just fine. I've been hard on Brewer and his play and/or lack of passion in the past. I'm wondering- why the Captain of the team is not traveling with the team when basically every game is a playoff game? If it's family, I understand. If it's not, it makes no sense to me. He's the leader of the team. Shouldn't he be around? Second question: If the Blues win against Edmonton, at least for right now, they clinch a playoff spot. An unbelievable hockey story. Yet, they can't break the Post-Dispatch front page with stories of basketball and baseball. Last I heard, baseball season had not started. How do the Blues not make front page? Is the story of other batters "protecting" Albert Pujols or NCAA women's basketball really that more important than the Blues march toward a playoff spot? Thanks.

Jeremy Rutherford:
You're never going to see an injured player go on the road trips. There's really no reason for it. As neat as it may sound, no injured player (even a captain) is going to walk into the locker room before a game, and deliver a passionate speech.

The injured guys typically remove themselves from the picture so they're not a distraction. With that said, Brewer has been at the home games, and I've witnessed him offering encouragement to the players. But there's no reason for him to be traveling.

Regarding the Blues' coverage in the Post, I don't make those decisions. I will say that my bosses have a lot of information to get into a small space, and they make very tough decisions every day.

Rodimus Prime: Is there any feeling from the Blues that they might keep playign McDonald on the wing in hopes of "getting bigger down the middle". As in going with Berglund, Backes, Steen, and McClement as your 4 Centers?

Whats your impression/thoughts on Backes playing Center vs Backes playing wing? In terms of what he has done this year and what we could see in the future.

Thanks JR! Let's go Blues!

Jeremy Rutherford:
It appears that the Blues center next season will be McDonald, Berglund, Backes and McClement. I really see McDonald playing in the middle when the season starts. He's more comfortable there and he's mentioned that to the coaching staff.

If the Blues don't bring Keith Tkachuk back, I can see Backes playing center because of his size and his versatility. He can handle center, but I think he's better on the wing. He gets in on the forecheck and he crashes the net more because he doesn't have to worry about his defensive responsibity as much.