Over the weekend the Blues acquired left-shot defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks, and he was ready to go and in uniform for The Note’s games against Dallas (Saturday) and the NY Rangers (Sunday) mostly teaming with defenseman Colton Parayko.
In this video I explain why this was a smart and obvious move by Blues hockey commander Doug Armstrong. It’s a short-term, low-risk addition that was affordable and helpful. And this Blues were overloading Parayko, Justin Faulk, Ryan Suter with playing-time minutes. The same can be said of the share of minutes being taken by Philip Broberg. In a long and physically exhausting season, it will help the Blues to distribute the minutes among more defensemen.
On top of that, the Blues have significantly reduced their goals allowed since Jim Montgomery became coach on Nov. 25, and Armstrong is doing the right thing to reinforce an existing strength and keep this D-group strong. Thanks for checking out the video.
24 Comments
I'm not a big fan of trading for Dmen in the middle of the season if you can avoid it. Given how fast the NHL is now, Dmen have very little time to even think about where their D-partner is. They've got to know where their partner is going to be before they even touch the puck, so chemistry is really the highest priority. Without that, you'll be forechecked into oblivion (like the Blues were in Dallas on Saturday). It took Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester about a year until they got on the same page. I'm still bullish on Perunovich. I think he's a 2nd-pair Dman now with room for improvement. I think the Fowler trade is fine, but it wasn't necessary when we've got Perunovich. What this probably does now is it stunts Perunovich's progress, since that now means we've got Parayko, Suter, Faulk, and Fowler who will never be scratched, no matter how poorly any of them play. This is not a good move for the future, in my opinion.
I don't see a problem with this deal at all. Shore up the D short & medium term for 4M per? Personally, I can see turning a (hopefully recovered) Nick Leddy into picks & prospects at the deadline. Army keeps making the kind of deals that allow a team to rebuild on the fly.
Thank you Bernie for talking about the Blues. I’d love for one of these to be posted every 3-4 days. You know we love the Note
To many armchair GMs that think they know better than Armstrong! This was a great trade!
Fowler is not Leddy or Krug. He's one of the best defenseman in the league if you ask me –top 20, but he's been playing for the Ducks. If you've watched him over the years like I have, you'd realize he's going to be another solid piece on our defense.
Go blues!
The cantankerous minority are always the loudest.
Bernie, have you heard about the rumors of the blues trading Brandon Saad? wonder if you had any thoughts on that as well. Thanks as always!
I think Fowler is exactly what we need, I think we are seeing the side effects of a history of bad decisions on defense starting with Alex P onward. We just have people now expecting the worst.
Fowler gives me more confidence than Leddy
Bernie BlueSky is woke liberal BS!! Lots of hate their towards American people. I realize you are a disgusting liberal but I forgive you.
Bernie Perunovich played well last night according to Rivers. He's also the best PP QB on the team so I don't get the treatment either. He could have took Fowlers minutes. I feel like he's getting screwed.
Hi Bernie, the Blues are not a big priority for me any longer. Was a season ticket holder up until the year we got Gretzky. I love Gretsky! What I didn't love was the attempt to hijack fans into paying 50% higher prices the following year in an effort to "keep Gretsky". Burned me so bad that I didn't go to a Blues game again until last year. The Blues are finally turning the corner again w Coach. Fowler will be a large part of that IMO. He's gonna be the common sense factor in many ways. If the Blues make the playoffs, look to Folwler to be leading the way! Thanks Bernie, you've no idea how much I look forward to your show every day!
I dont think Broberg has played a FULL NHL season? Extra support if he tires a little.
What up Bernie
I don't follow the blues as many do. I turn on the games when on too see a few minutes and the score.
I hope they get things turned around to make a playoff run🎉🎉
Go Blues!
Giving him his silver stick at the winter classic will be fun
Great insights. I think the Fowler move was excellent.
I beg to differ about the Blue's Doug Armstrong and the brain trust being shy on mobile defensemen v. bangers. And nobody should mistake Parayko, Bouwmeester or Pietrangelo as physical forces in the league. All of them are lengthy and great skater, but bangers they are not, but after the Stanley Cup run the Blues went small and mobile vs. bigger and bangie'er. There first move was to trade Edmundson for Faulk. I love Faulk's game but he's not the physical force that Edmundson was when he was with the Blues. Then they signed Torey Krug another small mobile defensemen, a player that can't move anybody from in the front of the net, to a ridiculous contract that burnt the Blues BADLY when he invoked his no-trade claues costing the Blues a player like Sanheim. If we don't sign Krug, we might still have Petro in St. Louis. I don't blame Krug either – the press in Philly would've torn his play and his ridiculous contract apart. Leddy is another mobile non-physical defenseman that the Blues traded for losing Jake Walman in that deal – if you remember correctly. The problem I have with Perunovich is that he's kind of fragile, and doesn't hold up well against NHL competition – he has 2 goals in 92 NHL games for a mobile offensive defenseman – he sure doesn't offense much and his mobile ain't exactly cutting on the ice either. I think he's a dud and the Blues should move on from him.
Cam Fowler can still play and he's good pick-up, and he can hold the fort until the Blues get some of their younger prospect to NHL level.
Bernie, do you think the Blue could acquire a legit second line center? I love Schenner, but the Blues could use an upgrade at the center position. If they could swing a deal and bring in somebody this year to center the second line, this team goes from a bubble team to a legit playoff contender. Schenner being a third line center would just make this team a lot more competitive, me thinks.
Thanks Bernie
Perunovich needs to be given a chance to run the 1st PP unit, and for something like 20 games in a row. Plus the Blues need to be willing to sit Suter occasionally. He's old for crying out loud. He will be sharper and contribute more if he isn't worn down. He might not like it, but it would be best for the team.
Army does it again.
Good unassuming trade will help the team. Young D men have yet to assert themselves like our young forwards.
I wish Scotty P would get more PP time and get a string of games. He looked good earlier in the season when he was playing consistently.
Short term on Fowler, and Sutter will be gone after this year. Loof, Kessel, Lindstien, Tucker, Scotty P, (I’m sure I missed some guys). A lot of younger D men close, and won’t all make it, or stay in the organization.
Kids weren’t quite ready yet, so Army made a smart move, Leddy clearly not back anytime soon, veteran can eat some minutes.
All in all, smart solid move, Army is always working, unlike the GM that works a few blocks down Market street.
LGB!!
Love the videos and, for what it’s worth, I can never hear enough about the hats!
Perunovich has run out of time here Bernie. He is lucky he got a 1 year deal here. If Broberg happened sooner I don’t think perunovich would have gotten a contract
1981 Rochester Red Wings – participants in the longest professional baseball game ever played. 33 innings, lost to Pawtucket. Love the hat.