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| St.Louis Blues Info GM: Lenny J. Smits Email: [email protected] ICQ: #1374344 |
| Latest Rumours: Blues looking to add offense on defense? According to a report out of Washington,DC. the Capitals and the Blues are negotiating a trade that could see star defenseman Sergei Gonchar come to the Blues in exchange the Caps are asking for Oleg Tverdovsky, Brendan Morrison and a 1st round draft pick. GM Smits is willing to move Morrison but Tverdovsky is a key to the Blues offense, unfortunately Gonchar is not worth all that. Blues Interested in Hitchcock? Rumours out of LA have former head coach Ken Hitchcock talking with Blues GM Lenny Smits for a potential position within the Blues organization. Hitchcock is without a job after the disolvement of the LA Kings franchise along with the Minnesota Wild. Lack of attendance and poor management decisions are the blame, although it seemed LA Kings GM Mike Eckert was turning things around, he had signed Hitchcock to a long term deal as head coach, traded for star Alexei Yashin and signed free agent Keith Tkachuk. The team was going in the right direction but it appeared that the free-spending GM was spending money that was not there. |
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| Transactions May 10/03- Blues trade F Milan Hejduk to Carolina Hurricanes for Catalan Foabon and D Oleg Tverdovsky June 6/03- Blues trade G Alexei Volkov, F Darcy Tucker, F Paul Veyon to Bruins for F Mats Sundin, F Matt Zultek and D Donald Choukalos June 11/03- Blues trade F Saku Koivu, F Jeff Halpern, D Aki Bergman, D Philippe Boucher, F Bud Dewsbury, F Vlad Orszagh to NY Rangers for F Thomas Grond, F Shane Doan, D Ben Clymer and F Manny Malhotra June 17/03- Blues trade F Kyle Calder and F Vladimir Opytov to NY Rangers for F Jan Hlavac June 19/03- Blues trade F Daniel Taborsky, G Casey Anderton, F Matt Zultek and D Bryan Muir to NY Rangers for F Ray Whitney, D Brendan Witt and F Dominic Moore(prosp) July 9th/03- Blues trade D Ben Clymer and F Vaclav Novotny to Columbus BlueJackets for D Rob Blake and $2,000,000 cash July 21/03- Blues trade F Mikka Elomo, F Brian Rolston and F Yannick Lehoux to Buffalo Sabres for F Michael Peca, F Miroslav Satan and D Kimmo Timonen September 19/03- Blues announce the hiring of Ron Low as the new Head Coach October 15/03- Blues and G- Curtis Joseph (UFA-IV) agree to a 3 yr deal worth $8.5 Million plus incentives November 1/03- Blues trade F-Oleg Kvasha, D-Kimmo Timonen and 4th-2004 to Minnesota for F-Todd Bertuzzi, F-Jason Allison and D-Brad Lukowich |
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| Sept.19th 2003- The St.Louis Blues have announced the hiring of Ron Low as their new head coach, taking over for interim head coach Bob Gainey who filled in for fired coach Joel Quennville. Low was signed to a 3 year contract worth $500,000 per year. Low was selected after months of interviews with other candidates including Ken Hitchcock(LAK), Pat Burns(NYR) and Larry Robinson. Low was excited to come to the Blues "Wow, this organization has the talent to win it all and I can't wait to get started" said Low. stay tuned for details... |
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| Unrestricted Free Agent goaltender Curtis Joseph has confirmed that he has just signed a 3 year deal with the St.Louis Blues to remain as their number 1 goalie. The deal worth $8.5 Million plus incentives came as other teams bolstered their goaltending situations "Tampa got Marty (Brodeur) and the Leafs got (Chris)Osgood so we had to step up to the plate and solidify our area of need, Curtis will do whatever he can to help us win" said GM Smits. Joseph immediately released a statement "I am happy to return to a team with a desire to win, I think I can help achieve their goals" CuJo's statement said. |
| CuJo returns... |
| Nov.1/03 Blockbuster Deal Between Blues and NorthStars |
| The St.Louis Blues have just confirmed a trade between the Blues and the Minnesota NorthStars (formerly Columbus). GM Lenny Smits announced at a press conference today that the Blues have traded Oleg Kvasha (center), Kimmo Timonen (defense) and a 4th round selection 2004 to the NorthStars for Todd Bertuzzi (right wing), Jason Allison (center) and Brad Lukowich (defense). While it was known that Smits was shopping the lanky centerman Kvasha, it was speculated that his destination would eventually be Boston but while GM Griffee was away on business Shawn Hammack, the GM of Minnesota called and talks were initiated. The negotiations took place over 2 days until eventually Hammack and Smits agreed on the package. The key to the deal for Smits was re-acquiring a power-forward after Keith Tkachuk left for free agency, enter Todd Bertuzzi. This hulking forward is hard to move once he sets himself up in the slot and that is exactly what the Blues needed last year. Bertuzzi brings size, skill and determination, which is something the Blues lacked in the post-season last year "Todd brings alot to the table, but I'd be lieing if I said I didn't admire his size and skill" said Smits. Along with Bertuzzi comes Jason Allison, a center with some offensive flare and can lay the body but he really needs to step it up here in St.Louis because there are a few centers waiting to play, like Brendan Morrison who was upset when he heard the Blues filled Kvasha's spot with another center "I thought once they dealt Oleg that I'd have a shot at that position but I guess they feel I can't help them right now but I will prove them wrong someday" said Morrison. Smits was sad to say good-bye to Kvasha because he knows the potential is there but with the offer that came from Minnesota he couldn't hold off "Oleg is a tough kid who plays tough but the time is now for this team and Oleg was not showing immediate signs of progress...Bertuzzi and Allison are proven veterans and they'll step in nicely...we gave up future for the chance to win now" said Smits. As for Brad Lukowich, he's a stay-at-home defenseman that will clear the puck out and clear the front of the net, something Curtis Joseph will learn to appreciate. |
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| Jason Allison |
| Todd Bertuzzi |
| Brad Lukowich |