Optional Skate Blues

In this, first of its kind, postseason postgame breakdown, Eric and Mike talk about the Blues continued dominance of the Minnesota Wild.  

On this week's episode of OSB, Eric and Mike talk about the most excited matchup outside of Blues vs. Wild, the NCAA AZ Coyotes, the keys to the Blues Wild matchup, and much more.  

On episode of Optional Skate Blues, Mike and Eric talk about how much giving someone the middle finger is worth, how "independent" an independent review by the NHLPA could be, the possibility of Vegas being on the outside of the playoffs, and just how great this year's Blues team is.  

In this much anticipated episode of OSB, Eric and Mike talk very early 40s and get into general state of Saint Louis Blues hockey at the moment and talk about some of the surprise contenders and surprise duds of the 2021-2022 season.  Take us back, won't you?  This episode is unofficially brought to you by Discreetz.  Discreetz has no knowledge of their unofficially sponsoring this episode of Optional Skate Blues.  What is more true is that Optional Skate Blues wants to sponsor Discreetz.  Mike and I each would like to offer a (number) 2 dollar bill for our unofficial sponsorship.  When you think, "What smells like someone shit in a garden?" think Discreetz.  Discreetz is the original green fart rag and dollar store clear tape sulfur smell eliminator.  Don't settle for the competition's white fart rag and staples when you can get the comfort of a green fart rag and the sensation of common tape on your b-hole.  Discreetz, ask for it by name.  No need to be...Discreetz...about it.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0863KGMHG?pd_rd_i=B0863KGMHG&pd_rd_w=sFKLw&pf_rd_p=7672bfb7-93b0-4322-b745-2104db09c4df&pd_rd_wg=yZXbl&pf_rd_r=HVTF7025RWM3D76Z3F0X&pd_rd_r=72ad4749-7b68-4206-aa76-71193a68d01e

Around the NHL, Eric and Mike discuss the impact of rescheduled games, COIVD testing basically only being done when crossing the US/Canada boarder, and Evander Kane's need for a life coach.  In STL hockey, we discuss if there is, or should be, a goalie controversy here in STL, Pronger's jersey retirement, and more.If you want to order Girl Scout Cookies from Eric's oldest daughter check out her cookie page: https://DigitalCookie.GirlScouts.org/scout/savannah29782 Sales end 1/26, get your cookie fix quick!

Eric and Mike break down their trip to the Winter Classic!  NYE in frozen Minneapolis, a grudge match with a SpongeBob rollercoaster,  a chance meeting with John Hamm, and more!  They talk a bit about what Jordan Kyrou could possibly be and start discussing what, if anything, might be done at this year's trade deadline.  Check out the artwork by S. Preston Art + Designs! 

On this week's episode, around the NHL Mike and Eric talk about the pause in play, withdrawing NHLers from the Olympics, and Arizona being deadbeat renters.  With Blues news, we talk about if anyone would have predicted this type of output from Tarasenko, which Blues would have been on an Olympic Team, and give a Winter Classic preview.

On this episode, Mike and Eric break down parts of their annual Hockey Road Trip, talk about how Omnicron is wreaking havoc on the NHL season and endangering the Olympics and All-Star Games, front office shake-ups, and break down the weeks that were in St. Louis Blues hockey.  

After a month away, Eric and Mike return for an episode looking at a larger sample size from our St. Louis Blues while dipping our toes in the water from a month's worth of news and notes around the NHL.  Spoiler, there both biting and glove throwing are discussed.  

Before taking a dive around the NHL and the Blues games against Colorado and Chicago, Eric and Mike talk about the Blackhawks Sexual Assualt Resolution and Akim Aliu's attempt to put racism in the NHL under a similar microscope and why, to date, it's been unsuccessful.  We wrap much lighter with Eric being his own Hot Garbage and Mike calling out people who give trash candy for Halloween.  

Around the NHL, Eric & Mike breakdown the fallout from the Blackhawks Sexual Assault Investigation, talk Evander Kane's future in hockey, early surprises around the NHL, and if we prefer the early ESPN or TNT broadcasts. For our St. Louis Blues, Mike and Eric break down forwards, defense, and goaltending from during the Blues 5-0 start.  We break down who's doing the early heavy lifting and how we could get even more production in the coming weeks.  

LET'S GO BLUES!!!Sorry for my (Eric's) audio for the first part of the show, my mic wasn't picking up the audio, the computer speakers were.  This week, Mike and Eric talk news around the league focusing on Carey Price focusing on mental health, extensions for Coach Cooper, more 8 year deals to above average, but not elite talent.  We also touch on Central Division superlatives and, ultimately talk BLUES HOCKEY!

In this week's episode of OSB Mike and Eric talk Vancouver's RFAs signed and the lone RFA out there (cough, Brady Tkachuk...cough cough), Evander Kane's alleged falsification of proof of COVID vaccination, and Robin Lenher putting mental health front and center again...for 36 hours.  After around the league talk we quickly talk Blues preseason line combinations before getting into superlatives for every division other than the Central.  

In this episode of OSB, Eric talks about hosting a "Go Away" Party for Zach Sanford...without Zach knowing or being invited to attend.  Eric and Mike also talk about new front office additions of Ken Hitchcock and Peter Chiarelli, Robert Thomas twinning Jordan Kyrou's bridge deal,  Armstrong's 5 year extension, Tarasenko wearing the Bluenote again (for now) and much more.  Around the NHL, we talk Evander Kane gambling conspiracy theories, Kirill getting Kash in Minnesota, Rule 59, and much more.  

On this week's second episode of OSB, Eric and Mike discuss Bozak's team friendly deal, who could push for a job on the blue line, and take a deeper dive into Robert Thomas' next contract.  Around the NHL we discuss everything from the "pending homeless" Arizona Coyotes and the eventual massive Spirit Halloween store to occupy Gila Arena, who's better Lundquist or Fleury, and a quick pop culture conversation about who should be the next host of Jeopardy.  

In this week's episode of OSB, Mike and Eric discuss the completely sane and logical signing of Parayko in a year of insane and illogical 8 year d-man signings, 44 raising to the rafters, 42 retiring a member of the Blues, Winter Classic sweaters and much more.  

Mike and Eric talk about the new deals for Barbie, Kyrou, Sanford and Dakota Johnson.  Also discussed is what is holding up a Tarasenko trade and a Thomas signing.  Around the league we talk about allegations of Pete Rose style gambling by Evander Kane, Minnesota and what it will take to sign Kaprizov, NHL GMs throwing around more crazy money and term  at defensemen, and more.  

In this episode of OSB, Eric and Mike talk about the addition of Pavel Buchnevich and the losses of Dunn, Schwartz, Hoffman while Blues fans remain in limbo with Tarasenko and Bozak.  We talk about teams that have made the biggest gains and the teams that have had the biggest losses this offseason, Marc-Andre Fleury's trade to Chicago, Edmonton's GM's moves being clinically bi-polar and much more! 

Mike and Eric talk about the Lightning going back to back, what constitutes a dynasty in a flat cap era, trade season opens, farewell NBC, and Tarasenko wants out, does Landeskog want in?