Adrian Dater
ST. LOUIS – I’m already on record saying I believe Jack Johnson should get the job of filling in for the injured Sam Girard, who will be out the rest of the playoffs with a broken sternum. But Jared Bednar said today that he might put Ryan Murray or Kurtis MacDermid in there instead. So, we’ll have to wait and see who’s in for Game 4 tomorrow night here.
For me, Johnson brings the best of all elements not only to replace Girard, but for how Game 4 might be played. Johnson is big, physical and tough. The Avs, uh, might need some of that element in Game 4, with this entire city up in arms over Jordan Binnington being lost for the series to a knee injury after a collision that involved Public Enemy No. 1 here, Nazem Kadri.
Johnson isn’t an offensive D-man anymore, but he still has a good slapper and he can skate with the puck when needed. He played 74 games for the Avs in the regular season and he played very well. I don’t care whatever convoluted, manufactured analytics stat, or whatever chart that looks like a Jackson Pollock painting, you want to throw at me. He played very well and greatly contributed to a team that had the best record in the Western Conference.
I’m told that, as of Sunday night, Jared Bednar truly is still pondering who should replace Girard for Game 4. Nothing is decided.
It’s possible that he would want the more offensive-minded Murray in for the more offensive-minded Girard, to replace more of that element. Or, he might want the hulking, badass MacDermid to be in there for a Game 4 that has the potential to get really violent and out of hand.
Or, maybe Bednar will take a page out of Craig Berube’s book and play seven D-men and 11 forwards? That wouldn’t shock me, though the chance of that is probably small. I think Bednar thinks one of the edges his team already has is that he has 12 forwards and the Blues only have played 11 in games so far.
Believe me, I would love to see Big Mac out there. But yeah, I know this is a very big playoff game and, yeah, I know that Big Mac isn’t as good a pure hockey player as others I just mentioned.
That’s why I just think Jack Johnson most deserves this. He makes the most sense. Am I wrong? Tell me why in our robust comments section. I know nobody will be shy.
Having a great time here in St. Louis, by the way. Wanna join me in a dip at the hotel pool?
But seriously, I like my hotel. And, most of you who know me by now know I don’t give a bleep about fancy lodgings and other accouterments. Just give me a firm mattress (check), running water (check) and a working TV (check) and I’m fine. I even have a little fridge here, plus a coffee maker (makes only one cup at a time, but hey).
I’ve stayed in some of the fanciest hotels in the world, and I always thought it was wasted money. OK, sure, I mean, a swanky room is nice and it’s not like I hate(d) it.
So, this trip so far has been both fine, and I’ve been very judicious with your Avs Travel Tip Jar money. Speaking of that, I have more people to give shouts out in thanks to here for recent donations. They are:
Justin Leblanc, Gary Merdick, Eric Stocking, Ted Grycel, Richard Pickowitz, Grace Cooke, David Kline, Jason Bednar, Ed Kellogg, Michael Miller, Scott Madore, Stephen Herman, Michael Bubnack and Kenneth Carson.
You guys and gals all rock. The Tip Jar is always open (link here) and it all goes to Avs travel, every cent. Well, not every cent. I set aside 5% of every dollar and use it to buy food for the Thornton Food Bank, all in your names. I also make a hefty contribution on top of that too. I take the Tip Jar very seriously and don’t use it for anything else, honest.
I know some of you have questions from time to time on how I operate this site, pay for it, etc. etc. Most of it comes from your subscription dollars. But I make ancillary revenues too (network ad revenue from clicks, some sponsored content, sponsorship from SuperBook and a couple other things). I pay Terry and Kelsey too, and I pay my share of web hosting costs and also for a subscription to AP, because I want quality photos on the site taken on the scene by pros. I enjoy being my own boss now, not a corporate widget with layers of bureaucracy above me. I may not be filthy rich, but I call my own shots now and I will take that over the alleged safety and security of more corporate journalism life (it’s not any safer, trust me) . All thanks to you, though. You’re the real bosses.
Thanks as always folks. On to Game 4…