Hey, I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I'm full of shit. This story in the PD seems to indicate that "sometimes" includes now.
Before Saturday's 5-2 victory over Columbus, Alex Steen was perhaps best known by Blues fans for his highlight-reel assist on one of B.J. Crombeen's three goals on Dec. 8.
Most of what Steen does as a third-line, checking-line winger goes unnoticed, but he showed again with two assists Saturday that he possesses uncanny vision. He scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal late in Saturday's game, but his pinpoint passes with the game still on the line defined his performance against the Blue Jackets.
Steen set up the Blues' first goal with a backhanded pass to Brad Boyes, who moved the puck quickly to Brad Winchester for a power-play goal. In the third period, Steen sent a cross-ice feed to T.J. Oshie in the slot and Oshie rifled a shot for another power-play goal....
Colaiacovo, meanwhile, had earned the reputation of being injury prone during his time in Toronto, and when he was led off the ice by teammates following his crash into the boards Friday in Carolina, many feared he had suffered another concussion.
The Blues called up defenseman Steve Wagner from Peoria Friday night, but after Wagner arrived Saturday at Scottrade Center, Colaiacovo was cleared to play and Wagner was returned to Peoria.
Colaiacovo had a stiff neck, according to the team, but he was in the lineup against Columbus and assisted on the game-winning goal by Keith Tkachuk.
In 20 games with the Blues, Steen has three goals and eight assists for 11 points. Colaiacovo, a puck-moving defenseman, has one goal and six assists for seven points.
Meanwhile, the player the Blues sent to Toronto, Lee Stempniak, has three goals and five assists in 18 games. Stempniak had scored only one goal in his first 14 games and was moved to the fourth line.
Listening to the game against Columbus I also heard Kelly Chase exclaim that Steen was the best player on the ice on either side.
And what exactly had I said before? Well....
What really sucks is we get nothing back except multiple bodies. (The way Blues players are shattering into tiny pieces these days that isn't entirely a bad thing.) Neither Steen or Colaiacovo offer much upside; they are what they are, although Colaiacovo does have some offensive skill.
At best this move feels like the Blues treading water. At worst we seem to be slipping under the water.
OK, OK...color me stupid.
What I hadn't counted on was exactly how suffocating the atmosphere as a Maple Leaf can be. Getting out from under the microscope in Toronto has obviously been beneficial for both Steen and Colaiacovo, and they have both contributed since their arrival. Colaiacovo has been an important player for a defensive corps decimated by injury, and Steen seems to offer the scoring depth this team has been lacking for years. (Stempniak is a good point maker as long as he is on one of the top two lines. Steen looks like he can provide some offense wherever he is placed.)
I still like Lee for his scrappy play, but he will always be a streaky player. Hopefully, the Toronto scribes wont rip him to shreds when he hits those periodic slow patches.
Back in St. Louis, however, it is hard not to see important pieces of an eventual turnaround in Alex and Carlo. Lets get Andy McDonald back in the lineup and see where we wind up, shall we?
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