Ryan in Grand Forks: JR, thanks for all the info you post on a regular basis. Your insight is much appreciated.

A few questions about potential fixes for our current Blue line issue... First, I have heard that Jay Bouwmeester is on the outs in Florida. I realize that he would be expensive to get, but was wondering if the Blues are investigating the cost there.
Second, besides Bouwmeester, the only other d-man with a good offensive upside that i have heard rumors about has been Colaiacovo out of Toronto. His price would be a bit less, but the up-side is much more in question than with 'meester. Have you heard any rumblings beyond these two that the Blues may be interested in?

Last question, If the season ends with us having a high draft pick, do you think we will see Andy McDonald in the 'Note next season? I know that we have some high dollar contracts that would be hard to move (Brewer, Mckee, Jackman, and all the others that the forums are screaming to trade), but for the future of the team, it seems that keeping McDonald, Kariya, and a few vetrans around would make a lot of sense. I'm also a fan of seeing fan favorites retire as Blues. I think the positive PR would do a great deal for any St. Louis sports team.

Thanks for your time!

Jeremy Rutherford:
I've heard the Bouwmeester rumors for a couple of years now. My guess would be that the Blues have spoken with Florida in the past, but nothing was ever serious. The price would be pretty steep, but he would obviously be a big addition. He has 27 goals and 52 assists the past two years.

I've also read Colaiacovo's name mentioned as a possibility, but as you mentioned, I don't know how much he would add. As we've seen, the Blues need a puck-mover.

The Blues are definitely interested in re-signing McDonald, but with a good season, he could ask for $4 million plus. Keith Tkachuk's $4.5 million will be off the books next year, so the Blues should have the room, but they won't overpay for McDonald.

Ryan in Grand Forks: JR:

Any truth to the Blues being interested bidders in the Pronger FA rumor (if he isn't signed by the end of the season)?

Jeremy Rutherford:
There's as much interest as any team would have with Pronger, but I haven't heard of any significant clamoring to bring him back. Pronger is probably going to sign his last contract, and although he might not be the same player he was two or three years ago, he probably won't come as cheap as he did last time.

Sam Alton: JR- thanks for all the great hockey coverage.

Every year since we got Brewer, I find myself asking the same questions: why does he get so much ice time, why is he the Captain, why don't the Blues do whatever is necessary to move him and get something in return, why is he so afraid to throw/receive a hit?

Every year, it seems I get the same answer: you can't understand what goes on behind the scenes, players/coaches respect him and obviously they see/know more than the fans, and I'm not picking up on the great little things Brewer does on the ice.

This year, as I watch intently, I see a player that, again, shies away from hits, coughs up the puck in our end, is a minus 10 and shows no real leadership skills that I can see. In the article today, he is quoted as saying he "has had a number of real good games" and the transition game is fine? What??!?!!? Is he delusional? This is the Captain? PLEASE make me understand why he gets so much ice, why he wears the C and why he is still HERE!?!?!!?!?!?!?

Thanks.

Jeremy Rutherford:
I can't disagree with you. It has been the same message for the last couple of years, and as the beatwriter, I've been a part of delivering that message. There are things behind the scenes that Brewer does do very well, but at some point, that doesn't matter. He is among the Blues' top paid guys and as the annointed captain, he needs to perform well. Brewer played very well for about a half a season (the second half of 2006-07), but he hasn't matched that level. He's not a bad defenseman, but not great. Take the captain controversy away for a minute . . . who do the Blues have that could play 25 minutes a game? Really no one on the roster could log those minutes and do better. No one in Peoria could do it. After re-signing him last year, which happened after a good stretch of hockey for him, the Blues can only hope now that he somehow gets it together.

Reis: Is Paul Kariya returning tonight?

Jeremy Rutherford: Kariya should return Friday against Chicago.

BRG: Jeremy,

Thanks, once again, for sharing your expertise with us Blues fans!

In the stats for last Saturday's game at L.A., Jay McKee was a minus "-3" because he was on the ice for 3 power play goals by the Kings; but, according to the stats sheet, he was not on the ice during any of the Blues goals. So, why was he given a "0" plus/minus for the game?

Bruce in MA

Jeremy Rutherford:
I wasn't at that particular game, but I remember looking at the stat sheet. His plus-minus should have been even that night . . . power-play goals don't count toward plus-minus and he was not on the ice for any of the Blues' goals.