Jeremy Rutherford: Ok, we just landed in Detroit. Erik is sitting next to me and we're ready to go.

David D: Erik, thanks for taking time to answer questions. The growth that you have made in your game this year is readily apparent. As you really are not that far removed from your youth hockey days, can you say what was the major area of improvement in your game that elevated you to the top tier at youth level. Did you see major improvements in skating, hands development or just purely in physical growth. Good luck in your career with the Blues, I look forward to you wearing the "C" for the Blues!!!

Jeremy Rutherford: No problem. I would probably say that my skating was the biggest improvement from my youth hockey days to the time leading up to myself being drafted. I became a lot more explosive and powerful in my strides and I think that had a lot to do with the strength training that I had at the US National Team in Ann Arbor.

Tom: Hey Erik,
thanks for doing this. It's really a pleasure watching you play and progress.
I appreciate your hitting, but would like to see a more physical presence in front of the net. And no fights your rookie year? Even Ben Bishop has had a pro fight already. Don't you need to show the league you'll stand up for yourself?

Jeremy Rutherford:
As far as in front of the net, the only physical necessity you need is purely boxing out opposing players. As far as fighting goes, it's something that when it happens, it happens . . . I'm not someone that will go around looking for a fight, but if it comes to standing up for your teammates, or being challenged, then I would definitely be willing.

Eland Siddle: Best experience in St. Louis so far?

Jeremy Rutherford: I would say probably the way the community and fan base has accepted me, and how well I have been treated in St. Louis in general. And being a part of such a great hockey franchise like the Blues.

Adam: Please play for the Blues until you get gray hair and have won many Stanley Cups.

Jeremy Rutherford:
I hope so.

Jeff Quirin: JR thanks as always.

EJ, thanks for taking the time out for the chat. You are really growing in to a fan favorite, I hope my daughters first game next year involves an EJ goal :)


1. Who was the easiest "big name" player to take off the puck/strip? Its ok to embarass someone....even if its was Boyes in practice ;)

2. When making a length of the ice carry in to the offensive zone, are you looking to just get in and make a pass hoping a lane opens up for someone? Are you looking to just get it deep for some possession play? Are you wanting to shoot? Or is it really just what they give you/you can take?

3. real quick...after a year on the Blueline Im thinking youve got a good feel for the team. Do you think we need another offensiveminded defensemen on the Blueline to give the team a good 1-2 offensive threat back there?

Jeremy Rutherford:
1)There's nothing easy about anything in this league, so I couldn't pick out one player for that.

2)You take what's given. Either you're looking for a shot, or passing lane develops. If you end up getting possession in our team's offensive zone, then our forwards will be able to go to work.

3)With the D we have back there now, they're all capable of being offensive. As far as getting another defensemen, that decision does not rest with me.

Hammer: Who buys you beer on the team?

Jeremy Rutherford: One more year and I'll tell you.

Joe B: A lot has been made about fellow rookie David Perron's lack of ice time. Do you think it was easier for you to get acclimated to the NHL by playing consistently and getting consistent minutes? Do you think your play would be where its at now if you had spent weeks at a time in the press box or only played a few shifts per game?

Jeremy Rutherford: I think David was in a different situation than I was. When you think about it, he is just barely removed from Midget hockey. The organization did what they thought was best with him. In my opinion, that will make him a better player in the future.

I think being eased into it early on was a way of making the transition to the NHL much easier. I think I earned the coaches' trust and by getting that, I received increased minutes and my play took off from there.

B.Jacobs: I think Barrett Jackman is terrible and not worth the money the Blues are paying him. Takes stupid penalties all the time and seems like he is on the ice when the other team scores. What's your opinion. Thankyou.

Jeremy Rutherford: I think Barret is a tremendous hockey player and is a big reason why I think I am having such good success as of late.

Will Bereswill: I'd like to know the most important thing Erik has learned by living with the MacInnis'.

Jeremy Rutherford: How to cook an omelette.

I Love Lamp: Yooo Erik, Love your play this year & its been one of the few bright spots watching you progress as the season went on & as your minutes increased, & looking forward to many more years of you in the Bluenote. My question is..you dont seem to be as physical of a presence on the blueline & dont appear to have an attitude or "mean streak" on the ice to go along with your outstanding skills & potential that we Blues fans love...Is that something that you're harnessing for now while you adjust to the NHL & feel your way around? Or are you just not that type of defensemen

Jeremy Rutherford:
You can't be physical all the time. Some plays call for making the big hit and some plays, you just might need good stick position and not necessarily need to use your body.

I think "a mean streak" means different things. It could mean being a big hitter or being intense in puck battles. Not just being a goon on the ice.

Toaster Stredow: Hey Erik, I would like to know who, in your opinion, is the toughest forward to defend in the NHL. I know everytime I watch Pavel Datsyuk I think "I would hate to defend that man." Is he your choice?

Thanks in advance for the answer, the opinion of a defeneseman of your caliber is greatly valued.

Jeremy Rutherford:
Pavel Datsyuk is one guy because he's so good with the puck. Another guy would be Jarome Iginla.

Dragonblue12: Thanks to Jeremy and Erik for taking our questions today.

My question for Erik is about the off-season plans.

Since you are about to wrap up your rookie season in the NHL, what kind of off-season training do you intend on doing, and when does that start for you? By the way, I saw you got yourself set up with some Twins season tickets. What did you think about the Santana deal? Personally, I think you guys got hosed.

Jeremy Rutherford:
I plan to go home a little bit after the season ends. As far as training goes, I will get a program from Nelson Ayotte and work out and skate at home.

I got a 20-game ticket plan for the Twins, so that should be fun. They traded Santana for future assets. If you compared that trade to hockey, think like four first-round prospects who would pave the way for the Blues to rebuild. The Twins are rebuilding and that's what they did.

HSVBlues: Erik,

Who do you feel most comfortable pairing with on the blueline? Also, who do you feel has helped you the most in your development this season?

Thanks!

-HSVBlues

Jeremy Rutherford:

I'm comfortable playing with any of our defensemen because they are all terrific hockey players. Off the ice, Al MacInnis and Jay McKee . . . on the ice, there's too many people to name.

HockeyHooligan: JR thanks for the chats and especially todays with EJ!

Erik- With only 6 games left, what are your plans for the off-season? I'd love to see you throw out the 1st pitch at a Cards game.

Thanks and you've been playing great all year!!

Jeremy Rutherford:
Just hang out and train to win a Cup next season. As far as throwing out the first pitch, just get it set up and I'll be there.

Jason: Erik,

What part of your game would you like to work on during your off season regimen?

Jeremy Rutherford: Most of your game on the ice, you work on in-season. In the offseason, it's all about becoming a better athlete in the gym and improving your endurance.

Lets Go Blues: Obviously it's not your decision, but what would you think about sharing the point with Brian Rolston next season? Seeing as your from Minnesota, I'm sure you've seen him play a lot the past few years. Any insight as to how well he would fit on the Blues roster?

Also, if Al evicts you after the season, I have a couple of extra bedrooms you can live in next season.

Jeremy Rutherford:
Rolston is obviously a very good hockey player. But those decisions lie with management.

I'm game. What do your sisters look like? :)

Jason: Erik,

Do you plan on suiting up for the U.S. at the World Championships again this year?

Jeremy Rutherford: I sure hope so.

JasonU: What are your thoughts on your first year in St. Louis? Has anyone clocked your slap shot yet? If so how fast? In what areas of your game will you work on for next season? Thanks for being here and welcome to STL.

Jeremy Rutherford:
The last time I clocked my shot, it was 55 mph as a Pee-Wee. It's probably still somewhere around there.

Max: Erik, first off I just want to tell you how awesome it has been watching you play this year, the future looks really bright for you and this club. I am a 20 year old college student at SLU, and I remember watching your first NHL game on T.V. and just wondering what was going through your head, where you excited, nervous, overwhelmed? As I said i am 20 years old as well, and have been playing hockey for as long as I can remember (to the best of my ability.....), but regardless I can't even imagine that type of experience and i was wondering what it was like. Oh and also another question, being a "kid" like me, what do you do around town when your are not playing hockey? Because I for one am a huge fan and would love to hang out anytime.....

Jeremy Rutherford:

My first game, it was a really fun experience. It was in Phoenix and actually I got an assist, which was pretty cool. I felt pretty calm for the most part. I thought it was probably one of the cooler things I've done in my life.

scott haselius: Hi EJ what has been the hardest thing for you to adjust to this year with the team and the game itself. Whats it like to live with Al. Thanks and keep up the great work,
you have been even better than I expected and I was expecting a lot.

Jeremy Rutherford:
The hardest thing to adjust to is being consistent on a nightly basis. You can go from having a tremendous game one night to being a bag of pucks the second. For me, I've tried to mentally prepare myself before games by visualizing the good things I've done in previous games to try to implement those in the following games. Thanks for the kind words!

Brian: Erik,
What has been the biggest surprise for you playing in the NHL - both on the ice and off the ice?

Jeremy Rutherford:
Probably on the ice, the biggest surprise is that no team is a slouch and there are no easy games. Even if a team is at the bottom of the standings, there are no guarantees. Every team comes to play every night.

Justin: EJ,

My question is about being a rookie playing for Andy Murray. Complaints were heard from Blues fans earlier in the year about you sitting in the press box or not playing much in key situations. Now that you are seeing an increased role, do you feel like Murray's "tough-love" approach (if you can call it that) has been beneficial to your development, or do you feel like you would have progressed just as well being put into these key situations earlier in the year? I personally have been frustrated watching his handling of you and subsequently David Perron, but I'm not the one on the ice. Thanks.

Jeremy Rutherford:

To be honest, it was not an easy thing to go through that at the beginning of the year, especially when I was coming back from my injury. I remember some days when I was so upset about not playing that it would just eat at me all day. But in the long run, I think it really helped me out.

Dustin: Erik,

I spend some time in Minneapolis and gained an understanding of what people who live there think of hockey.

What was it like growing up in a true hockey town, and than playing for the hometown Gophers?

Thanks in advance.

Jeremy Rutherford:
It's a great place to play hockey, especially at Mariucci Arena. The atmosphere is great, the fan base is tremendous and the Gophers are a favorite every year to win it all. It was awesome growing up in Minnesota because it was just hockey, hockey, hockey and there's nothing better than that.

Texas Hockey: You have such a powerfull skating stride. Can you briefly list the types of excercises on and off ice that you did as a youngster to build power into your great skating technique. Did you use skate wieghts?

Jeremy Rutherford: I really didn't do a lot of exercises directed just toward my skating. I just played a lot of hockey. As I got older (15, 16), strength training became more important. Exercises like front squats, dead lifts and a lot of stretching I think really boosted my skating stride and power.

Buzz: Erik,
Thanks for taking our questions. What do you consider to be your greatest strength and your greatest weakness at this early point in your career?

Jeremy Rutherford:

I don't like to think about my strengths because it can make you forget your weaknesses, and in my opinion, you shouldn't just work on fixing your weaknesses, but working on your strengths just as much as your weaknesses. You have to focus on every aspect of your game and not just the things that you are "weak" in.

Springdogg: Right now, what team do you think will win the cup?

Who has the oddest pre game ritual and what is it?

How is David Perron's english coming?

Jeremy Rutherford:
I think a team from the West will win again, but there are some very good teams in the East as well. If I had to pick, I would say the Sharks, Ducks or Wings.

I won't get into it, but Paul Kariya . . .

His English has been fine the whole season.

Brent: Erik,

How would you describe the overall attitude of the team during practices, long road trips, and on the ice through the recent performance struggles?

Thank you.

Jeremy Rutherford:
We have such a good group of guys on the team. Everybody gets along really well and we have a lot of fun. Practice is uptempo and intense. The road trips can get a little long at times, but the guys have a great time. On the ice, there's winning and there's misery. Losing is the worst thing in the world. After games when we lose, there's no worse feeling in the room.

WiSioux: Erik, Do you still follow college hockey at all? If so, who do you think will make the Frozen Four this year?

Jeremy Rutherford: I've checked the scores every weekend and still follow it really close. My Gophers are making a late run at it, and if they beat BC this weekend, I think they will make it to the Frozen Four. They are getting hot at the right time. It's too tough to say who will win it all.

Kevin G.: Who has the best looking wife on the team, and are you planning to pull a Shanahan on said wife?

Jeremy Rutherford:
You don't go there.

Scott: First off Congrats on your first full year.
What I want to know is we always here about these pranks rookies get on them, whats a good story one of your teamates have done to you this year?

Jeremy Rutherford:
Thank you. Nothing has been pulled on me as of yet, but now I said that and it probably will.

woodstown@excite.com: EJ-

Where's an up and coming superstar hang out in St. Louis?

Also, any truth to the rumor that you have Al talked into ending his retirement?

Best-

Marty

Jeremy Rutherford: I don't know about the superstar part, but thanks. I like to hang out in the Clayton area and Central West End . . . Wash Avenue isn't a bad spot either.

Al talks me into retirement after every game. Kidding!

Gary Z.: Hello Erik,
How's your love life? Does Al allow you to bring girls home?
If so, I've got 3 beautiful daughters that I'm trying to set up for life (22,20,18). You're a young strappin' lad that would make any father-in-law proud.

GO BLUES! See you Saturday night. Won't you please pound on the midget Kane for us.

Jeremy Rutherford: Bring them by Saturday night and I'll say Hi. (Ha, ha)

I've known Kaner for a long time, and if I can catch him, I will.

Andy: Hey Erik,

What was your biggest "splurge" when you signed you Pro contract and got to St. Louis? Did you get that Range Rover you wanted?

Jeremy Rutherford: I got the Range, but I'm looking to sell right now. Talk to JR if you're interested.

Taylor C: Your spot on Inside the NHL was fantastic...pretty hilarious for Blues fans, and hockey fans in general...

I was wondering how the atmosphere/friendships between some of you younger guys(Boyes, Stemper, Backes, Perron etc...) are? It seems like the truly great teams are all very closely knitted.

You were a fun player to watch at the beginning of the year and now you are truly dazzling to watch...thank you for your time and fantastic play this year...

Jeremy Rutherford:
Thanks. It was a good time. Like I said earlier, all the guys get along really well. It's not just the younger guys that hang out. There's a good mix between the veterans and young guys too. I'm really close with some of the young guys, but really close with some of the veterans as well.

Jeremy Rutherford:
I would like to thank Erik for joining us today. Very good questions and some insightful answers from the Blues' No. 1 draft pick.

Here's one final word from EJ:

"Thanks for the questions, guys. I got to all of them that I could. It's a beautitful, rainy day here in the Motor City . . . SHOCKER! But I'm off for a nap and dinner to get ready for the game tomorrow. Thanks again. Go BLUES!