Jeremy Rutherford: Sorry I'm late guys and girls . . . I was downtown attending a ceremony in which Mayor Slay gave boxer Devon Alexander a key to the city . . . back to hockey.

Thomas: Hi JR, I like these Live Discussions on the Blues' keep up the good work. I do have question or three.
1) I've been one of those die hard Blues fan for a very long time and I don't remember he Blues trading for prospect Anthony Nigro, the 155th-overall selection in last year's NHL Entry Draft. Do you think he has a chance to make it on Opening Day Roster?
2) With so many prospects in the Blues organization and different leagues is there any way to find out where they all are playing?
3) The Blues have drafted two Russian player and what I've read about them they are very skilled players do you see them ever playing here in the NHL?

Jeremy Rutherford: 1) Nigro is a nice prospect, but he won't be on the roster.

2) I don't know that there's one place you can find all of that information. During the season, the Blues put out a prospects' sheet with their team, league and stats. I try to post those stats on my blog, but again, that's during the season.

3) I've heard from a few places that Sergei Andronov, this year's draft pick, that he wants to play in the NHL.

Ryan: JR, what do you make of Yan Stastny's future with the Blues? IMO, he doesn't really seem to fit. He's a decent grinder and always seems to do very well with the Rivermen but he's definitely expendable. Would a team even be interested in trading for him (and his one-way contract) or picking him off from waivers or are the Blues more or less stuck with him? What are the chances the Blues end up paying Stastny his NHL salary to play in the AHL?

Jeremy Rutherford: I've written before that Yan Stastny will need to be very impressive in training camp. I think he's a good player who could have a role on this team. Unfortunately for Stastny, with the skill the Blues have on their top lines, guys like Crombeen and Winchester are pushed down to the third and fourth lines. That doesn't leave a lot of breathing room.

Stastny does have a one-way contract this year, but the Blues don't want to pay Stastny $500,000 to play in Peoria this year. Again, he has a chance to show what he's worth in camp, particularly on the penalty kill, where he's been successful. Remember, the Blues have lost Dan Hinote, who was a big part of the PK.

Ryan: JR, last week you made note regarding Eller that he wouldn't be competing with guys like Winchester, Steen, McClement, Crombeen, King and Janssen. I beg to differ. While he won't necessarily be competing for the same spot in the lineup with most of those guys, he could very well be competing for a roster spot with them. It's not the same thing. Instead of the 13th and 14th forwards both being grinders (say King and Janssen) the Blues could keep a spare for the scoring lines (Eller) and a spare for the checking lines (lets say, King).

Eller doesn't have as easy of a route to the NHL as Berglund and Oshie did a year ago but if he proves himself ready, I'd be willing to bet the Blues find a roster spot for him, even if that means moving a couple of the marginal grinder guys. Besides, it really will only take one injury anyway (something that is bound to happen sooner or later) and Eller all of a sudder has a spot.

Jeremy Rutherford:
I understand your point, but I'm sticking to what I wrote.

Eller will make the opening-day roster if one of two things happen. 1) He is UNBELIEVABLE in camp and there's NO way you can send him down. 2) There's injuries.

The Blues want Eller to play significant minutes on the top lines, and that can ONLY happen in Peoria. Why would they put him in the press box in St. Louis as a spare when he can be playing in Peoria?

Also, what are they going to do with Winchester, Crombeen, King, etc? Those guys are on one-way contracts. Eller is on a two-way contract, meaning they can pay him less to play in Peoria. Eller will be in St. Louis soon enough, but it won't be in a swap for grinding forward.

Mark: Hey JR, have you heard how the KHL is disputing the Blues signing of Bryce Lampman? Apparently they are claiming he is still under contract as he only fulfilled one year of a two year contract while the assumption is that the Blues/Lampman are under the assumption his contract was either for one year or that he had an out clause. What do you make of this? Have you heard anything from the Blues regarding the situation?

This whole NHL/KHL situation where the two leagues keep poaching each other's players is just a mess don't you think?

Jeremy Rutherford: John Davidson told me that the Blues did do their homework on Lampman before signing him, and to their knowledge he is not under contract in Russia.

When I spoke with Davidson about this, he was ticked that the KHL would make an issue of this after the Blues did their homework.

You're right, not having a legitimate transfer agreement with Russia is ridiculous, and until there is one in place, this back-and-forth posturing will continue.