Offseason Time Killer: Most Obscure Blues Players

[The Grouch]

Next question; before becoming one of the best statistical goalies in the League at the tender age of 31, this goalie spent a year as the starting goalie for the Peoria River Men. Who is he?

Are you sure that you mean the Rivermen and not the IceCats? I thought I had this one, but after checking, the player I'm thinking of played for Worcester when they were the Blues' affiliate.

 

[kimzey59]

Are you sure that you mean the Rivermen and not the IceCats? I thought I had this one, but after checking, the player I'm thinking of played for Worcester when they were the Blues' affiliate.

Mea Culpa, I did mean the Cats.
My fault for day drinking when posing the question.

 

[The Grouch]

Mea Culpa, I did mean the Cats.
My fault for day drinking when posing the question.

Dwayne Roloson?

 

[kimzey59]

Dwayne Roloson?

Correct.
Let’s allow me to sober up a bit before the next question(unless someone else wants to continue).

Edit: never mind, let’s continue. This D Man, originally drafted by the Blues, was traded to Boston in ‘96 but made his name as a top 4 D man for the Edmonton Oilers playing over 500 games for that Franchise. Who is he?

 

[EastonBlues22]

Correct.
Let’s allow me to sober up a bit before the next question(unless someone else wants to continue).

Edit: never mind, let’s continue. This D Man, originally drafted by the Blues, was traded to Boston in ‘96 but made his name as a top 4 D man for the Edmonton Oilers playing over 500 games for that Franchise. Who is he?

Staios.

Nice one.

 

[simon IC]

Chebaturkin was the worst defenceman I can ever remember with the Blues.
Shishkanov, what a waste of giving up our highest scorer at the trade deadline! Better to have settled for a 4th Round draft choice! He had some talent, but couldn't put things together. Gamache was a skilled string bean. He needed 5 years of rigourous weight-lifting programme, plus a severe weight-gaining programme. And then, at least, we could have seen him when he turned sideways!

Hmmmm he was pretty bad, but I bet Bill Houlder might challenge his claim to that dubious distinction.

 

[Reality Czech]

Wayne Gretzky was an obscure Blue. He played only 14 regular season games!

This is true Robb. I feel like half the fans of other teams I talk to have no recollection of Gretzky playing for the Blues. Of course, serious hockey fans know but a lot of casual fans don't even know it happened. Maybe add Hawerchuk to this list. I bet many hockey fans don't recall he played one year here.

Wish I could come up with a better answer but you guys have covered all of the ones I could come up with, and a whole lot more.

 

[bluesXwinXtheXcup]

How about Lubos Bartecko?

Part of the Slovak line:
Bartecko - Handsus - Demitra

Nagy was always there too...

Back in the 90s plastic surgery wasn't the norm. A friend of the family had a DD enhancement. First night out after the surgery, she meets and eventually marries Lubos. They're still happily married.

 

[Reality Czech]

How about Lubos Bartecko?

Part of the Slovak line:
Bartecko - Handsus - Demitra

Nagy was always there too...

Back in the 90s plastic surgery wasn't the norm. A friend of the family had a DD enhancement. First night out after the surgery, she meets and eventually marries Lubos. They're still happily married.

Wow, what a story. So I guess the plastic surgery "paid off" eh?

I can't really think of Bartecko as obscure because I have seen him play for the Slovak national team so many times. I feel like he was still playing as of a couple years ago.

Will Mitch Reinke be a future answer to this question?

 

[kimzey59]

Staios.

Nice one.

Correct.

Next question; This defenseman, originally drafted by the Blues, made his name as a tough guy for the Ducks racking up over 1000 PIM's in his NHL career. Who is he?

 

[Reality Czech]

Correct.

Next question; This defenseman, originally drafted by the Blues, made his name as a tough guy for the Ducks racking up over 1000 PIM's in his NHL career. Who is he?

Good question. Had to look it up so won't spoil it.

Has anyone mentioned Valeri Bure yet?

 

[The Grouch]

Correct.

Next question; This defenseman, originally drafted by the Blues, made his name as a tough guy for the Ducks racking up over 1000 PIM's in his NHL career. Who is he?

I got this one wrong. I thought it was Robert Dirk. He checks all the boxes except for 1000 PIMs. After searching, I know what the answer is, but hopefully someone will be able to get it without searching.

 

[EastonBlues22]

That one stumped me. Never would have connected him with the Blues. Hell, he wasn't even on the short list of tough guy Ducks defensemen that came to mind.

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Slightly OT, but Shawn ****ing Belle

Not obscure as most of us know of him because he was like one of like two (exaggerating slightly, but not by much) 2003 1st rounders to not pan out. I wasn’t really old enough to follow the draft/scouting then so maybe it was a good pick at the time, but still, what could’ve been lol.

 

[simon IC]

Correct.

Next question; This defenseman, originally drafted by the Blues, made his name as a tough guy for the Ducks racking up over 1000 PIM's in his NHL career. Who is he?

Not Shawn Antoski? we gave up the 1st round pick that Vancouver used to select him, but we didn't actually draft him.

 

[simon IC]

Correct.

Next question; This defenseman, originally drafted by the Blues, made his name as a tough guy for the Ducks racking up over 1000 PIM's in his NHL career. Who is he?

Oh jeez, of course! He skated next to Scott Stevens as a rookie, who admired his poise. Good one! (EDIT: OMG, that trade was in retrospect, one of the worst trades EVER made by the Blues! )

 

[kimzey59]

Not Shawn Antoski? we gave up the 1st round pick that Vancouver used to select him, but we didn't actually draft him.

Honestly, I didn't think this one would be such a stumper.

Since nobody has posted the name yet, here's a few more hints: he was drafted in the 1st round and your mention of Bill Houlder gave me the idea for this question.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Correct.

Next question; This defenseman, originally drafted by the Blues, made his name as a tough guy for the Ducks racking up over 1000 PIM's in his NHL career. Who is he?

Who is Jason Marshall?

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Who many Blues wore the gawdy teal California Golden Seals jersey?

 

[Robb_K]

Slightly OT, but Shawn ****ing Belle

Not obscure as most of us know of him because he was like one of like two (exaggerating slightly, but not by much) 2003 1st rounders to not pan out. I wasn’t really old enough to follow the draft/scouting then so maybe it was a good pick at the time, but still, what could’ve been lol.

Belle was big, and a good skater. But he had had very little hockey experience on a remotely high level. He was mobile, fast and big. Those were good attributes for a defenceman to have. But, he was a boom/bust gamble. At best, he would be a project that would have to come along slowly to make up the experience he had missed. He had zero hockey sense. There were better players left on the board. In retrospect, The Blues should have made a safer pick. It was a weak draft year, and because there weren't any players left that looked very promising, they took the gamble, hoping that Belle would pick up the game quickly, and learn to use his big frame to punish opponent forwards, while using his speed and mobility to help his team on offence. It Didn't happen. Belle washed out with 3 teams.

 

[BlueDream]

That one stumped me. Never would have connected him with the Blues. Hell, he wasn't even on the short list of tough guy Ducks defensemen that came to mind.

Exact same for me.

I had to look it up, and while I was in the process of that, I don't think I ever realized that the Blues drafted Mike Grier.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Slightly OT, but Shawn ****ing Belle

Not obscure as most of us know of him because he was like one of like two (exaggerating slightly, but not by much) 2003 1st rounders to not pan out. I wasn’t really old enough to follow the draft/scouting then so maybe it was a good pick at the time, but still, what could’ve been lol.

One of Jarmo’s first, and most egregious draft flubs

 

[Reality Czech]

Exact same for me.

I had to look it up, and while I was in the process of that, I don't think I ever realized that the Blues drafted Mike Grier.

Yep, I clearly recall Keenan shipping him out as a pretty exciting prospect with Cujo during the Keenan purge. Ah well....

 

[kimzey59]

Who is Jason Marshall?

We have a winner.
Jason Marshall was drafted 9th overall by the Blues and played 2 games for us in 91-92 scoring a goal and notching 4 PIM's.

Admittedly I was going to do Grier next, but since that one got spoiled how about this one:
This Defenseman was originally drafted by the Blues and spent parts of 2 seasons with the Blues; but is much better known for his Coaching Career having served as Head Coach for 3 different Franchises with 2 appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals(no wins). Who is he?

 

[Oberyn]

We have a winner.
Jason Marshall was drafted 9th overall by the Blues and played 2 games for us in 91-92 scoring a goal and notching 4 PIM's.

Admittedly I was going to do Grier next, but since that one got spoiled how about this one:
This Defenseman was originally drafted by the Blues and spent parts of 2 seasons with the Blues; but is much better known for his Coaching Career having served as Head Coach for 3 different Franchises with 2 appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals(no wins). Who is he?

Alain Vigneault