Nyght: What do you think the chances are that the Blues resign McDonald after the season?

Do you think that it may be necessary to drop some payroll from a player such as Kariya, Tkachuk or Legace to be able to do so?

Jeremy Rutherford: The Blues will try to re-sign McDonald. I don't know how the injury will factor into that. He should be able to play a couple of months after he returns sometime in January. The thinking is that McDonald will be in the $4 million neighborhood (per year), but that also may change because of the injury.

Kariya has one more year on his contract at $6 million. Tkachuk and Legace are both in the final year of their deals. Tkachuk probably won't be back and Legace is still up in the air.

djm448: After a pretty significant trade this week, do you see the Blues still active on the trade block in the near future? And if so, for what/who?

Jeremy Rutherford:
We knew that the Blues were looking for a d-man and they got him. I don't see much happening until the deadline. The mission now is to get guys back from injury. If the Blues can keep up their current pace, without guys like Kariya, Berglund, Oshie and McDonald, perhaps they could put themselves into a contending position when those guys return.

Iowa: I believe the Stempniak trade is truly a "wait-see", it's possible that the two Leafs players could finally play like the number one draft picks they were with a fresh look, but one thing disturbs me for the future, where is the scoring going to come from?

Will there be cap room to sign a big time scorer when Tkachuk and Kariya are gone? I can't imagine next years draft making a difference that soon. We simply don't seem to have enough firepower to get rid of one of the few offensive threats we had, even Lee Stempniak.

Jeremy Rutherford:
If Tkachuk doesn't come back, that will free up about $4 million. The Blues are paying McDonald $3.3 million now, so if they re-sign him for (let's say) $4 million a year, that's not a big jump. The Bluse will look for scoring from Boyes, Oshie, Berglund, etc., and whomever they replace Tkachuk with.

Jeffa: Now that we know Steen and Cola will be playing tonight, who do you expect their line-mates are?

Perron-Steen-Boyes?

Cola-Jackman?

Jeremy Rutherford: For Steen, my first guess would have been third or fourth line left wing because that's what he was playing in Toronto. But this was a big trade for the Blues and maybe they want to see if Steen can rise up with his new team and play on a top line. Steen can play wing or center, so maybe it allows the Blues to put Tkachuk back at wing.

The Blues like the combinations of Polak-Brewer, Jackman-Woywitka, so Colaiacovo will probably play with Jay McKee.

shanrah2001: JR,

Do the Blues envision Ian Cole putting on the Blue Note next year? He appears to be developing into a fine player for Notre Dame. However, I wonder if there's any room for him on the backline? Also, do you think Palushaj will have a shot at the roster next year? Thanks...

Jeremy Rutherford:
It will be tough for Cole to break into the Blues' lineup next year, although the reports on him are good. Perhaps he turns pro, starts the year in Peoria and gets a chance at some time.

Regarding Palushaj, Red Berenson, who coaches at Michigan, recently told Chris Kerber that Palushaj was one of the Wolverines' top players. He's got seven goals and 20 points in 14 games at Michigan this year.