The St. Louis Blues have to make a trade. The Detroit Red Wings are worse than Nyjer Morgan. A corner back the Rams should sign, and some NBA news. Daily. Grind. Sports.

The Blues need to add a playmaker, and soon. The time is now for GM Doug Armstrong to acquire a scorer.
Look at what the Cardinals did when they traded a “prospect” in Colby Rasmus. They had a chance to make a run and they added the necessary parts to make it happen–and it did.

Trade Bait
Patrik Berglund
10 goals, 8 assists, +3
It’s an incredible risk because of Berglund’s potential, but when a team has a chance to win, a gamble can pay huge dividends.

Chris Stewart
10 goals, 9 assists, +3
Stewart had 15 goals in 26 games with St. Louis last season after being dealt from Colorado. In 45 games, he has 10 goals. Not productive on the PP and he took a really stupid penalty last night attacking Brad Stuart and earning a game misconduct. The penalty led to 3 unanswered Detroit goals.

Ben Bishop
17-12, 6 shutouts, 2.36 GAA, .926 save percentage (Peoria)
Tallest goalie in the history of the NHL. Bishop has legit potential. He works hard, and is a great teammate. With Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliot, and Jake Allen, the likelihood of Bishop staying is unrealistic. Bishop will most likely become a unrestricted free agent at the end of this year, and the Blues would prefer to get something in return for the former 85th overall draft pick.

For who?

Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
22 goals, 17 assists, -8
Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
19 goals, 12 assists, -4
Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
15 goals, 24 assists, -3
Vicent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning
18 goals, 20 assists, +1

Wild Card: Would the Oilers trade any of their young talent for a goalie? Draft picks?

The Blues won’t go anywhere with a 13.7% PP that ranks 26th in the league. Not in June when it counts. When does an assistant coach/power play coordinator become a casualty? Something has to change because the Blues are 8-10-3 on the road.

Quick take from the DET loss
1. Screw Detroit. They are the Tom Brady’s of the NHL. Protected. It’s just a joke. How does Brad Stuart not get a elbowing penalty when he elbowed Alex Pietrangelo? How does Carlo Colaiacovo get a penalty for clearing the puck? When is Brendan Shannahan going to fine a Red Wing player? Or is that against the buddy code?
3. It’s one game. It’s January 24th. Detroit is 0-2 at the Scottrade Center.
4. The Blues need to bounce back tonight against Pittsburgh. Ken Hitchcock’s comment about “getting a real good test” has come to fruition.

NFL RUMBLINGS

NIKE becomes the NFL’s exclusive maker of licensed on-field apparel after the Super Bowl. How crazy will NIKE get in the designs? “We plan on changing the NFL jersey dramatically just like we’ve done with the college programs” says Charlie Denson, Nike Brand president.

The Rams should pursue free agent CB Cortland Finnegan. Jeff Fisher drafted Finnegan in the 7th round out of Samford in 2006. Finnegan is notorious for his borderline nasty style of play. He is the prototypical Jeff Fisher player. He baited Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson into a fight, which resulted in Johnson’s expulsion.

Finnegan would bring some intensity, animosity, and toughness to a laissez-faire secondary. He had 75 tackles as a corner back. He is 28 years old and the Rams need him.

Dennis Allen is leading candidate to be Oakland’s new head coach. Allen was the Broncos defensive coordinator last season.

Ben Roethlisberger is not happy with the Steelers decision to not retain OC Bruce Arians. Arians became more pass happy in the past couple seasons, and owner Art Rooney wants the Pittsburgh offense to revert back to the old-school run the ball down-your-throat scheme. Hard to ever argue with what Art Rooney II wants to do.

NBA

I bought into the New York Knicks. Carmelo homer? Yes. But the front-court of Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire was supposed to be king’s court. The Knicks have dropped 6 in a row, and there are rumors they want to do some serious dealing.

Here is why Tim Duncan is a future Hall of Famer:

Aches and Pains
Derrick Rose admits his foot could linger all season. He has missed five games with “turf toe”. Scary for Bulls fans.

Dirk Nowitzki is out indefinitely with what the team is calling “strength and conditioning issues”.
Let’s just be honest–Nowitzki has a sore knee. He missed 9 games a season ago, a stretch in which Dallas went 2-7. They need their Dirk.