Jeremy Rutherford: Now we've got some stuff to talk about. Thanks for joining me today.

ctbluesfan: Jeremy, I'm a bit frustrated with the Blues efforts in the early free agency period . I realize that there are limitations to the orgaization as a whole becase of the salary cap and the market they play in, but I thought they would at least add a few second-tier free agent forwards. When I say a few I mean two. When I saw guys like Radim Vrbata, (27 goals, 56 points), Niklas Hagman,(27 goals 41 points), Michael Ryder, (14 goals 31 points; this was a down year), and Curtis Glencross, (15 goals and 25 points in 62 games) go for minimal deals compared to their talent, (2 to 3 million dollars a year, 4 in Ryder's case)i got frustrated because I had hoped the Blues were goin to sign one of these second-tier free agent forwards to help the sagging offnse and power play. I relaize that the Blues want to build their team through the draft and through the players that they alreay have under contract, (their core players), but i had hoped the Blues would've signed one of the players I listed above. So are the Blues going to sign anyone, or are they going to enter the season with what the roster that they currently have? Are they looking for center help and not wing help, (the players I listed above were wings)? Fill me in JR what's the deal?

Thanks so much for your time

John

Jeremy Rutherford: Right now, the Blues are over $50 in payroll for next season . . . that's with David Backes' new deal. I didn't expect the Blues to sign anyone in free agency. Not because they're set at forward and the goals will come. But they've got contracts in place and young kids they want to see play. They've got spots filled, they just need production out of guys who should produce: Tkachuk, Kariya, Stempniak. At this point, a guy like Ryder would just take time away from Oshie, etc., and that would go against what the Blues are doing.

bigfootgus: JR,

I'm all for sticking with the plan and not overpaying for a player who may not make the grade ala Martin Rucinsky. But during the last week or so we have however lost 2 key players with respect to our penalty killing (R Johnson and Jamal). How will the Note counter this loss?

Jeremy Rutherford: This is the biggest question facing the Blues in the wake of the draft and free agency. Nobody is saying that Mayers and Johnson are the two best offensive weapons the Blues had. But they were terrific on the penalty kill, and now both are gone. Manny Legace must have choked on his Cheerios when he saw the Blues traded Mayers and then let Johnson walk via free agency. Besides Boyes' goal-scoring production, Legace's play in net and Erik Johnson's development, the PK was the biggest story of the season for the Blues last year. Since it doesn't look like the roster will change before training camp, they will have to find PK help from within. You'll still have Dan Hinote and Jay McClement, but the Blues are going to need it from other areas. I'd imagine Yan Stastny will get signed and be involved, and Chris Porter as well (if/when he plays with the Blues).

Hoff: Thanks for keeping this going JR through the summer, it helps me get through work on thursdays. I had a few questions on what you think the blues front office and management is thinking:

1. Why would you not secure backes last year or during the season, a young talented "power-forward" is hard to come by these days and he could have been had for cheap. I think he is getting what he deserves (3 yrs, 7.5m) and the blues also got what they deserved by procrastinating and having to match vancouvers offer.

2. Why would we not re-sign RJ?? We have many 3rd and 4th line caliber players to spare, but none as successful at blocking shots and killing penalties. You would think he would be the first guy they would lock up, or be right there with backes. With mayers, salvador and RJ gone it seems like the blues are losing their identity as a hard working, scratch for every inch kind of team. Now they're third and fourth line will be filled with underachievers who seem to take several shifts off a game(mclement, stempniak)

3. What is the idea behind picking Allen with pick number 34?? Not only was he not a top 5 goalie in North America, he really didnt have that good of stats outside of the world championships. We seem to have a few prominent prospects in the goaltending department, with bishop getting one year in the minors, he needs to get healthy and build up his strength and stamina again, but should be ready for 09-10 when legace's contract is up. There were several players like nickolas deschamps, zac dalpe, or corey trivino, who are young, promising high scoring forwards that we so desperately need to get in the system and bring up. We have already shown we really don't want to make a commitment to a FA. (no disrespect to kariya, but a FA who has 5+ more quality years left in him) so we need to start using these early middle round drafts to bring them in.

4. How the heck can detroit afford all of these players??? The blues need to take a page from their book, get a scout in sweden and pick at least 5 swedish players a year. And also sign a big FA every year on offense and defense. Thats the blueprints on how to win 4 ever so elusive stanley cups in 11 years.

Thanks

Jeremy Rutherford:
1. I don't quite understand how things weren't done sooner with the Backes contract. Backes was probably looking for something in the range of two years and $1.8-$2 million per season. The Blues had to get something done in that range before free agency opened. They didn't and they paid the price after the offer sheet from Vancouver. By paying Backes $2.5 mil per season the next three years, the Blues will pay roughly $500,000 more each season for Backes, which is $1.5 million over the course of the contract. That's money you could have spent on Ryan Johnson, if you wanted to keep him here. Especially when you see that Johnson signed a two-year deal in Vancouver and not three years.

2. To me, the Blues had a lot of third- and fourth-line grinders, but none like Ryan Johnson . . . a guy who relished his role. The Blues can still be a hard-working team, but we'll have to wait and see. Johnson was a guy that you never had to worry about.

3. I'll disagree with you here. I've heard nothing but good things about Allen. The Blues have a few young goalies, so he's got time to develop. When I spoke with Allen in Ottawa, he seemed very hungry to get to the NHL eventually. Good kid!

Jerry: JR two questions. One, I know there is no intention for the Blues to be major players in the FA market. But do you expect us to add anyone at all? And two, if we don't and our roster involve who is already here. How do you think our season would go? I am on the side of going with what we have, but don't know if that is asking too much. Thanks.

Jeremy Rutherford: I don't think the Blues will sign anyone. There could be some changes but that might happen through a trade.

If I'm the Blues, I go to camp with what I've got. I don't want to let management off the hook, but I think it's all on the players. Management has put together a good mix of highly paid skilled players (Kariya, Boyes), up-and-coming talent (Backes, Stempniak) and high draft picks (Oshie, Berglund, Johnson). I realize Oshie and Berglund will take time, as Erik Johnson did, but with everyone else on the roster, it's time to produce.