DT: JR,

Did Eeej skip class the day they went over keeping hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times or do they only teach that kind of stuff to upperclassmen at the University of Minnesota?

So JD and LP have to pursue Matt Schneider now, right? I know some folks are going to say Schneider would take a roster spot from a youngster. But wouldn't this move be about simply staying afloat in the West? Your thoughts? Thanks for the good work!

go blues

Jeremy Rutherford:
We might as well start off with a question about EJ's accident. I realize there will be plenty of them.

The injury is very disappointing for the Blues. They not only lose their top young defensemen, but now they have to consider finding a replacement. Obviously not a good start to the season. I've been told that they have "sniffed" around Mathieu Schneider, but I don't know if that will go anywhere. He's awful expense, but the Blues will have to make a move no doubt. The blue-line as it looks no is too young to go through an entire season.

tcohen: Hey J-R,

Seeing that alcohol has played a major role in several Cardinals baseball problems in recent years, do we know if Erik Johnson (at 20 years old) was drinking during the team bonding exercise at the golf course? That would seem to be relevant and important information for this story.

Jeremy Rutherford: At this point, I can only leave that up to people to decide. I don't have any evidence to support that, other than emails I've received from folks who say they no what happened. The truth will surface one way or another.

One argument can be made that what these guys do on their own time is up to them. But others are making the argument that season-ticket holders pay a lot of hard-earned money to watch these guys play and they deserve to know the truth.

OpenNet: I keep hearing the Blues are considering a move to the Sprint Center in KC. Is this really a possibility? What is their current lease status at Scottrade Center?

Jeremy Rutherford: I'd have to double-check, but I believe the Blues are locked in St. Louis through the 2010-11 season. Dave Checketts has said numerous times, even off the record, that St. Louis is a very viable market and he wants the team to remain here.

That doesn't mean something better won't come along down the road. The Sprint Center is a great facility, but remember the Blues don't have any problems with their current facility. Also, St. Louis is an established market. Who knows if the NHL could survive in KC. I know it was a Monday night, it was a preseason game and not all the stars were on the ice, but the attendance at the game in KC was near 12,000. It was the only game they'll see all season, so you might have expected more folks.

AlwaysAFan: Do you think the Blues are really poised to be a factor in the playoffs. I've been wondering about this even before the Erik Johnson debacle...How can a golf cart be that dangerous??? Are the Blues hopes dashed???

Jeremy Rutherford: I don't think they're a playoff team heading into the season. There are too many question marks regarding scoring and the power play. With the offseason moves, you now have to question how effective the penalty kill unit will be. And with Johnson going down, the defense has some up and comers, but they're just too young on the blue-line to counted on. Imagine if Brewer, McKee or Jackman were injured . . . the Blues would be in trouble.

leroy warren: I have not seen anything in the paper on online about the AHL game played between the Blues and Stars tuesday afternoon. What happened in that game? who looked good and who disappointed?

Jeremy Rutherford: I have to admit . . . I was too busy tracking down the Erik Johnson story to watch much of the AHL game. The little part that I watched, I noticed a lot from Charles Linglet. I talked to some Peoria folks afterwards, and they agreed Linglet looks a lot better this season. He's lost some weight and his speed has picked up as a result. For a guy who's got the skill, he's finally got the conditioning to turn himself into a player. I'm sure fans will get a glimpse of him this year in St. Louis.