Andrew Sampson: Hi Jeremy

Your write up on Paul Kariya mentioned player physicals are on September 12th. Since that is a Saturday, do the Blues have something in the works for Sunday, September 13th?

Jeremy Rutherford: The Blues are scheduled to be on the ice Sept. 13.

staed: JR,
What can we realistically expect from Erik Johnson this year? There's no questioning his talent and determination, but after missing all of last season, is he really ready to be a top contributor? From my point of view, he would be poised to be a top D-man this year IF he had played all of last season and continued to develop and build on his rookie season. With only one full season in the NHL and basically a full season away from the game, is it realistic to anoint him the Power Play quarterback and lean on him so heavily? He's in great shape, he's big, he's got talent, but is he really ready to be a star on a playoff team like the Blues after only one season in the league?

Secondly, what do you expect from Kariya this year? From what we've read, the hip surgeries were total successes and he feels faster than he has in a few seasons. Personally, I'd take his numbers from '07 but do you see his offensive production improving now that the lingering hip issues have apparently been cleared up?

Jeremy Rutherford:
On Johnson, he'll round into form quickly. He's been skating all summer and appears to be in great shape. Will he have some rust? Of course. But when you're playing every day, it won't take long to knock off. Yes, he will be manning the point on the No. 1 power-play unit.

On Kariya, the Blues would probably like to see more offense than what he put up in 2007 (16 goals, 65 points) . . . something in the neighborhood of 22-25 goals and 75-80 points would be nice. I mentioned in an article the other day that Marian Gaborik, who had the same surgery, played the last 17 regular-season games last year for Minnesota and had 23 points.

cbleedsblue: What's up with the Lampman issue and the KHL? Was he really under contract with a supposed "out clause" and the KHL just kind of took it away to cause tension?

Hope this doesn't cause a rift between the NHL and the Blues.

Jeremy Rutherford:
I'm not aware of the language in Lampman's Russian contract. I've heard that North American players typically have "out" clauses in their Russian deals, but when they try to apply it, they are rebuffed by their Russian teams.

This won't cause a stir between the Blues and NHL. It will continue the rift between the NHL and the KHL.

Rodimus Prime: Which do you see as a more likely outcome of training camp? Eller starting the season in St Louis or in Peoria. Has the team given you any reason to lean one way or the other? If it is St Louis, how do the roster spots shake out?

Jeremy Rutherford:

Likely Peoria. The Blues have only said that if he plays well, he'll be on the team. But what else are they going to say? They're are simply too many forwards with one-way contracts to think that Eller will be on the opening-day roster.

LW: Kariya, McDonald, Steen, Winchester, King
C: Backes, Berglund, Tkachuk, McClement, Stastny
RW: Boyes, Oshie, Perron, Crombeen, Janssen

Jarmo Rules: JR,

Can you explain what the players go through the day of a game? Morning stake, meetings, what the players tend to do?

Thanks!

Jeremy Rutherford:
On a typical game day, players get to the rink around 7:30 or 8 a.m. They usually have specific meetings . . . power play, penalty kill . . . and then meet as a whole team.

They have a morning skate from about 10 to 10:30 for home games and 11 to 11:30 for road games. Afterwards, if it's a home game, they go out to eat in groups of 4-5, or head home. On the road, they eat at the hotel.

Most of them take a nap and then they return to the rink about 4 or 5 p.m. for a 7:30 game.

That's the basis jist of the day. Some players spend more time at the rink than others, taping sticks or watching film.