assininity

While I agree with Murray that this team is more talented offensively than the last year’s club two things stick out when comparing the two rosters.

First I think the Blues were stronger defensively last season with Bryce Salvador and Erik Johnson in the mix. Secondly Manny Legace played at a much higher level a season ago than he has shown thus far. We all know it’s hard to win in this league without strong defense and consistently good goaltending.

Like he cares.. SLS gives him more than that.

Challenged by Murray, Perron gets hungry

The puck drops at center ice and loud shrieks start to echo from the Blues' bench. David Perron is trying to psych up his teammates.

"I'm just goofing around, just yelling 'Whoooooooo!'" Perron said, adding that Blues coach Andy Murray "has been saying we've got to stay hungry and that's one way to get it going."

"Walt (Tkachuk) calls it the 'Ric Flair scream,'" said Blues forward David Backes, who has joined Perron in imitating the trademark howl of Flair, the longtime professional wrestler. "It just kind of gets your blood flowing."

Not long ago, Perron was unsure how much longer he'd be on the Blues' bench. Murray said that Perron lacked the hunger that had been a staple in his game, and he warned the 20-year-old that he could be sent to Peoria if his play didn't improve.

"David was challenged to elevate his game," Murray said. "Because if you don't play stronger and harder here, you can always go and play strong and harder in Peoria."

After netting 14 goals as a rookie last season, Perron was scoreless through his first 12 games this season. And though he registered eight assists in those 12 games, Perron was a skeleton of the player Murray thought he could be.

With all of the Blues' injuries, the probability of Perron being sent to Peoria was highly unlikely, but after receiving a citation from the coach, Perron scored two goals and had three assists against Chicago, Buffalo and Montreal. His goal-scoring might be down with just two goals this year, but Perron has 13 points in 19 games, and more importantly to Murray, his overall game has ratcheted up.

"David wasn't moving (the puck) quick enough, trying to do too much standing still, trying to beat guys one on one, not managing shifts … just not playing the kind of game you need to play," Murray said. "David is a guy that's a young talent, but he still has to play the right way, and we think he's been playing a lot harder of late."

Murray said Perron is now coming out of the corner with pucks, whereas earlier in the season he was being stripped too easily. As Murray pointed out, "If you don't win puck battles, you can't use your skill. It doesn't matter what kind of skill you have because you're never going to have the puck. He's had more puck possession now, and he's playing a lot more give-and-go hockey."

Recently, Backes has centered a line with Perron on the right wing.

"In practice, you screw around with him and it stinks to try and get the puck from him," Backes said. "I'm sure that's how other teams' defenders feel. He spins them around and makes a great pass … he's a very skilled guy, but he's added that edge to his game, which makes him very, very effective."

Said Perron: "I think the word is to be more hungry out there. I like to cycle the puck a lot, and with my linemates, they feel the same way. Stay hungry with the puck and try to make some plays."

Last year, Backes was the player whom Murray spoke with about playing in Peoria if his production didn't increase.

"It's kind of a wake-up call," Backes said. "But (Perron) is a mature young fellow that really took it upon himself. He knows what he has to do to be successful."

"It's a wake-up call, obviously," Perron said. "We talked about it, and like (Murray) told me, he's always got the option to send me down. Hopefully it won't happen."

Murray claimed that he wasn't threatening Perron, who at 19 last year was too young by rule to play in Peoria.

"I don't ever consider going to Peoria a punishment," Murray said. "We're trying to get the player to a different level. I just made sure he was aware that that was a possibility."

Now, Perron would only be likely to go to Peoria if Murray grows wary of his obnoxious bench cheer.

"He yells it out every so often and it kind of makes the guys shake their heads," Murray said. "But it seems to be effective, so we'll let him do it."

BLUENOTES

The Blues reassigned defenseman Steve Wagner to Peoria on Thursday.