Blues Make Meatballs out of Swedish Elite Team

What?  Like that pun has never been used before.

Anyway, in the final game of the pre-season, the Blues completely dismantled the Linkopings HC 6-0.  You could tell it was going to be a blow out when Carlo Colaiacovo got a tally.  The Blues used all three of their goaltenders (Mason, Conklin, and Bishop, in that order) and each had a solid shut out period of play.  This leaves the Blues with an impressive 5-1-1 record, good for first in the Central and second overall (although the first place Maple Leafs played 2 more games than we did and lost 3, wheras we only lost one).  Hopefully this season has gotten off on a good foot.

Of concern to people, and probably not just Blues fans, is the Compuserve NHL Premiere, which has turned into a marathon of showing Europe just how wonderful the NHL is (and apparently by letting NHL teams lose to European teams, like the Blackhawks and Panthers have done so far).  Of course, a marathon of showing a vast chunk of America how great hockey is would probably be a better use of resources, but I digress.

Oh, right – the concern.  These four teams: Blues, Blackhawks, Red Wings, and Panthers – they’ve all been asked to add games to their preseason against unfamiliar clubs that really don’t accurately showcase how the team plays against other teams (definitely hopefully not accurately for Florida’s sake).  So, other than PR, what’s the point?  Because I would really love to see David Perron laid out by some huge Swedish guy only to be out the first 3 weeks of the year.  For an exhibition game.  Against a non-NHL opponent.  You can see where the concern comes in.

The two games against the Wings count, but is it really necessary for them to count in Sweden?  What is up with the jet lag factor?  Yes, I know that the Blues’ first official home game isn’t until the 8th against Atlanta (of all teams), but this is depriving Blues season ticket holders of a home game, and thanks to the NHL’s weird TV broadcast schedule, the second game isn’t on TV.  For people with Dish, Comcast, and everything but DirecTV, Friday’s game will be televised at 3:00 Eastern.

There is a lot of justifiable excitement over having our team chosen to exhibit to another continent just what the NHL is all about.  This is the most publicity that St. Louis has gotten in Sweden in… well… ever (witness the lack of Ikea).  It was a nice tip of the cap from the League at recognizing our young talent.  Our end of the year finish was icing on that cake, and showed the league that they made the right decision.

But in exchange for those bragging rights, what do we give up?  Sean over on St. Louis Game Time wrote something the other that was spot on with the concerns people have.  Look at the records of the teams that went last season, other than Pittsburgh.  Look at what happened to the coaches of those teams.   Sean raises some legit points.

I’m somewhere in the middle of all of this.  Yes, I worry for what effect it can have on the team, but I also am really proud of yet another accomplishment of our young team.  What are your opinions?  Leave ‘em in the comments.

Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Surprsie, Surprise…The Washington Capitals Draft a Swede
Rising Blues
Blues Leave Sweden With Four Points
Wings Will Begin ‘09-’10 Season In Sweden
St Louis Blues
Linus Omark: Sweden’s Next Sensation

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