T.J. Oshie going to arbitration

Former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie looks like he will be going to salary arbitration this Friday if he is unable to agree to a new contract with the St. Louis Blues. Oshie is coming off a career year (19g-35a-54pts) where he tied for the team lead in points with former Minnesota State University Mankato Maverick David Backes (24g-30a-54pts).

Jeremy Rutherford, stltoday.com --- In a sign that the Blues aren't expecting to reach a contract extension with forward T.J. Oshie before Friday's arbitration case, general manager Doug Armstrong is headed to Toronto on Tuesday three days in advance of the hearing.

"We're going to Toronto to work with our counsel on preparing for the case," Armstrong said Monday.

Oshie was one of 16 restricted free agents who filed for salary arbitration July 5, but since then seven players, including the Blues' David Perron, have re-signed extensions with their current club.

The Blues and Oshie's agent, Matt Oates, could still reach a resolution before Friday's hearing, but are now down to just three days of potential negotiations before an arbitrator hears the case.

In a text message to the Post-Dispatch on Monday, Oates indicated that he was gearing up for Friday's hearing but added that he was "open and looking to continue talking."

With the Wild picking up Ryan Suter and Zach Parise - some fans have suggest to me that the Minnesota Wild should go after T.J. Oshie and try to sign him to a contract.

While I do think that Oshie would look really good in a Wild uniform, I don't know if the Wild could afford to lose a bunch of draft picks if they signed Oshie to an offer sheet. It would be counter productive - based on how good the Wild have drafted lately. The Wild are also up against the cap with the signings of Parise and Suter. I also don't see the Blues wanting to lose Oshie, who is one of the faces of their organization.

Oshie to file for Arbitration

Former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie is going to file for Salary Arbitration, according to Andy Strickland Oshie is still a restricted free agent so he really isn’t able to rest the free agent market as of yet.

Andy Strickland, TrueHockey.com --- Sources close to Blues forward T.J. Oshie tell me he will file for arbitration before today’s 5:00 eastern deadline.

This is often nothing more than simple protocol to protect a player’s rights. Oshie, who tied Captain David Backes for the team lead in scoring, enjoyed career highs last season in goals, assists, points, penalty minutes, and games played. His 19:31 minutes per game were second among Blues forwards while leading the way with 1:48 per game shorthanded. He also averaged over 2:00 per game on the power play.

Considering Oshie’s versatility it’s hard to put a number on his actual value. He does much more than what you find on the scoresheet and head Coach Ken Hitchcock has referred to him as one of the better defensive forwards in the NHL today. With that being said he’s also among the Blues more talented offensive players as well.

Classic Hartnell tweet to Oshie and Kristo

Check out this twitter exchange between T.J. Oshie and Scott Hartnell, that's definitively funny in my book.

Related articles

• VIDEO: T.J. Oshie's Assist Sets Up David Backes' Goal, Blues' 2-0 Lead (sbnation.com)

Oshie shows off his offensive moves

Wow! This was one of "the" highlights from last night play in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check out the unbelievable moves by former Fighting Sioux forwawd T.J. Oshie as he assisted on a goal by former MSU Maverick David Backes. The Blues beat the Sharks 3-0 to even their series 1-1.

Related articles

• VIDEO: T.J. Oshie's Assist Sets Up David Backes' Goal, Blues' 2-0 Lead (sbnation.com)

T.J. Oshie scores his 10th of the season.

Former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie scored his 10th goal of the season for the St. Louis Blues.Oshie has points in four of his last five games for the Blues (3g-2a—5pts). Oshie is currently tied for the team lead in scoring with Alexander Steen,

Tuesday Morning Links

Image via WikipediaFighting Sioux defensive recruit Jordan Schmaltz who is expected to go high in next summer's NHL entry draft, is Ryan Clark's, (the beat writer for the Fargo Force from the Fargo Forum), top defensive recruit to watch in the USHL this season.

Ryan S. Clarke Slightly Chilled --- 1. Jordan Schmaltz, Sioux City: Eh, he’s bum. Really, he’s actually the truth and might be the most high-profile player heading into the league this season. Schmaltz is arguably the USHL’s most gifted offensive defenseman and he certainly showed why last season. When Sioux City was looking to edge into the playoffs, Schmaltz went all T-800 series and basically said, “Come with me if you want to live” by scoring 12 points in his last 13 games. That includes a 10-game point streak he used to end the season. In all, Schmaltz scored 44 points (13 goals and 31 assists) in just 59 games. Very few players could control a game last season like Schmaltz and there’s a good chance that it could be that way this year. Some have wondered if the 6-2, 175-pound North Dakota will come out a bit more defensive-minded this year. If Schmaltz is able to do that along with having another electric year on offense, it could be an amazing season for the Wisconsin native.

This season could prove to be a big for former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie. Jeremy Ruthorford the Blues beat writer from St Louis Today interviewed former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie.

Now armed with a one-year, $2.35 contract extension, Oshie says he's healthy and ready to begin the 2011-12 season. Here's my conversation with T.J. Oshie...

JR: Congratulations on your contract. What was that process like for you?

TJO: "It was tough. The first time for me. I was kind of just sitting back, trying to take it all in ... take it slow. It came down to the wire (before the start of restricted free agency). They threw out a number that we were really comfortable with and felt like it was best for both sides."

JR: Some Blues fans were hoping that you would signing a long-term deal. Why only one year?

TJO: "It's a chance for me to prove that I can go away for a summer, have a good summer on my own, working out and training. I was doing all of (Blues strength coach Nelson Ayotte's) stuff, but I just wanted to prove to them after everything that happened (an unexcused absence at practice, leading to a two-game suspension), that I've matured and have grown up. I'm just ready to step in and hopefully play as good

There has been increasing chatter that there is a possibility that Notre Dame might be joining the Big Ten along with the University of Texas. This might also explain why the Fighting Irish have not joined the NCHC  or Hockey East. It also might explain why BGSU and WMU haven't accepted the WCHA's bid for membership as well. 

Larry Phillips;Telegraph-Forum ---- In the Internet community, when Purple Book Cat talks, folks listen. On Thursday, the anonymous PBC started a thread revealing at a Wednesday night meeting, Notre Dame and Texas jointly presented the Big Ten Conference a proposal for terms of entry into the league. Such terms came after lengthy discussions involving both schools over the past several months.

Interestingly, the top priority for both institutions was to get the Big Ten to back off its mandate of a 9-game conference schedule beginning later this decade and maintain the current 8-game slate. This would allow Texas and Notre Dame to continue traditional rivalries, with Oklahoma and USC, respectively.

Former Sioux T.J. Oshie and St Louis Blues agree on contract extension

Image via WikipediaFormer Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie has agreed to a one year deal with the St Louis Blues. T.J. Oshie would have been a restricted free agent if he had not signed a contract extension. Last season Oshie (12g-22a-34pts) missed 31 games with an ankle injury.

St Louis Today --- the Blues have agreed to a one-year contract extension.

The deal will pay Oshie $2.35 million for the 2011-12 season.

"We're excited to have T.J. in the fold for another season," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a statement. "His energy and versatility make him an integral part of our club."

By agreeing to the deal today, Oshie will not become a restricted free agent tomorrow at 11 a.m., avoiding the possibility of the forward receiving an offer sheet from other teams.

In April, Oshie wrapped up his third season with the Blues, in which he has 44 goals and 121 points in 182 games. Last year, while missing 31 games because of a broken ankle, Oshie totaled 12 goals and 34 points in 49 games and had a plus-minus rating of plus-10.