Post-Dispatch Blues beat reporter Matthew DeFranks joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss the team’s struggle and the encouraging return of Robert Thomas to practice.
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Thomas back on the ice, but Blues are still shorthanded and struggling: Net Front Presence
Thomas back on the ice, but Blues are still shorthanded and struggling: Net Front Presence
Judge OKs Cardinals and Blues broadcast plan, allows Diamond to emerge from bankruptcy
A Texas judge on Thursday approved a reorganization plan for the company that broadcasts Cardinals and Blues games that would end the firm's bankruptcy case and save local teams from broadcast limbo.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said the plan, which allows the Cardinals and Blues to continue their relationship with Diamond Sports Group, would save jobs and help fans.
"Hard-core fans are hard-core fans, and they want to see their teams play," he said at the hearing. "It's just as much a part of the American experience as anything else."
This result was not always certain, or even probable.
For 20 months, three sports leagues and various individual teams fought over what would happen to their essential broadcasting contracts as Diamond tried to find a solution to business woes stemming from the rise of television streaming and the corresponding decline of cable viewership.
Diamond eventually reached deals with the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association to continue broadcasting the current season through its Bally Sports regional networks but signaled it could drop broadcasts for baseball teams like the Cardinals if a deal couldn't be reached.
Then last week, the Cardinals announced they would stay with Diamond, via Bally — now called FanDuel Sports Network — in a multi-year deal that includes a new streaming product. FanDuel announced Wednesday that it would make games available on Amazon Prime Video for an additional cost.
Brian Herman, a lawyer for Diamond, said the company's move to a model with cable and streaming options would help preserve the company for the future.
"We are here today to reorganize this business, and we are going to reorganize this business," he said, calling their emergence from bankruptcy "nothing short of a miracle."
Diamond filed for bankruptcy in March 2023, raising questions about what would happen to the 15 NBA teams, 14 NHL teams and 14 MLB teams under its umbrella that depended on Diamond to air their games, and paid them for the right to do so.
The bankruptcy, while expected, accelerated conversations about new distribution models. The MLB, for example, beefed up its office with broadcast executives and game-planning in case of Diamond's demise, and in anticipation of launching an MLB-owned broadcast entity.
Fans and players stand for the national anthem in a sparsely-filled Busch Stadium as the Ƶ Cardinals face the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at Busch Stadium.
"Over the long term, we will reimagine our distribution model to address the changing media climate and ultimately reach an even larger number of fans," the league said in a statement at the time.
Diamond reached deals to continue broadcasting MLB, NBA and NHL games through the 2023 season.
But the ability of Diamond to emerge from bankruptcy came into question in May 2023 when Comcast abruptly dropped Bally at the beginning of the baseball season, annoying fans and angering the league.
Bally eventually restored its deal with the large cable provider, and the following year, the Cardinals and other MLB teams signed on for the 2024 season. The Blues and other NHL teams followed suit for 2024-2025.
Last month, Diamond announced that it had reached an agreement with the sports betting giant FanDuel to rename the network. The terms were not disclosed, but the deal allowed FanDuel to purchase up to 5% of equity in the company.
MLB attorneys cried foul, saying they'd been left in the dark about the deal.
Still, Judge Lopez approved it, and weeks later, the Cardinals joined FanDuel Sports Network, replacing their previous 15-year, $1.1 billion deal with Bally.
The new platform eliminates "blackouts" for local viewers found on other networks that prevent fans from watching games while they're in certain geographic areas.
The announcement didn't immediately assuage MLB attorneys or the Atlanta Braves, which filed objections to the Diamond restructuring plan. They said they had "grave concerns" Diamond would "find themselves once again in financial distress and/or bankruptcy court in the near future."
But, on Wednesday, Diamond announced a partnership with streaming giant Amazon Prime to allow subscribers access to the FanDuel network.
That same day, MLB and Braves withdrew their objections, paving the way for a largely uncontested hearing Thursday in Houston bankruptcy court.
Scores of lawyers gathered in the courtroom and online to praise the judge, accountants, attorneys, teams and Diamond employees who shepherded the company through the process.
"Today is a landmark day for Diamond," CEO David Preschlack said in a statement, "as we embark on a new path for our business."
Game Day: Kasperi Kapanen back in lineup as Blues try to end losing streak at three
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Forward Kasperi Kapanen will draw back into the Blues lineup on Thursday night against the Sabres, replacing Alexandre Texier on the fourth line.
It was Kapanen's second game back in the lineup after missing more than a week due to an upper-body injury suffered Oct. 29 in Ottawa. Kapanen played in Saturday's game against Washington before he was a healthy scratch on Tuesday vs. Boston.
Kapanen is expected to play on a line with Mathieu Joseph and Oskar Sundqvist.
For Texier, it will be the second time this season as a healthy scratch. The Blues acquired him over the summer from Columbus for a fourth-round pick and signed him to a two-year extension worth $2.1 million a year.
Brandon Saad will return to the second line with Brayden Schenn and Dylan Holloway after previously skating on the fourth line and playing less than nine minutes on Tuesday.
Jordan Binnington will start in goal for the Blues.
Former Blues forward Tage Thompson will not play for Buffalo due to a lower-body injury.
Projected Blues lineup at Buffalo on Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Jake Neighbours - Pavel Buchnevich - Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad - Brayden Schenn - Dylan Holloway
Alexey Toropchenko - Radek Faksa - Nathan Walker
Mathieu Joseph - Oskar Sundqvist - Kasperi Kapanen
Ryan Suter - Colton Parayko
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Justin Faulk
Scott Perunovich - Matthew Kessel
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer
Scratches: Alexandre Texier, Zack Bolduc, Leo Loof.
Injured reserve: Nick Leddy (lower-body), Robert Thomas (fractured ankle), Philip Broberg (lower-body), Torey Krug (ankle surgery).
The Ƶ Blues, who play at Buffalo on Thursday, have struggled in numerous games of late, especially due to a lack of scoring and intensity.
Thomas, three weeks into a six-week timeline until reevaluation for a fractured ankle, skated for the first time with the Blues, who are on a three-game losing streak.
Loof practiced with the Blues in Maryland Heights on Wednesday morning as the seventh defenseman.
Cardinals and Blues games will soon be available on Prime Video, too
Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network, announced a deal Wednesday that will make the network available on the Prime Video streaming service.
FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, which airs Blues, Cardinals and Ƶ University games, is among the 16 regional sports networks that will now be available as an add-on subscription via for customers living within each team’s designated geographic area.
Fans will be able to watch games as well as pre- and postgame shows directly through Prime Video.
FanDuel Sports Network, which was known as Bally Sports until a recent name change, has struggled with distribution in recent years, leaving many fans in the dark.
The move comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that Diamond and the Cardinals reached a new multi-year rights deal that keeps the Redbirds on FanDuel Sports and offers direct-to-consumer streaming, cutting out the middle man.
This new deal won’t necessarily be the most cost-competitive option vs. purchasing access as consumers would still need to subscribe to Prime Video then pay the yet-to-be determined price for the FanDuel add-on.
Prime Video is included as part of the , which costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually. Prime Video is also available for $8.99/month as a standalone without a Prime membership.
“Partnering with Prime Video, one of the largest streaming destinations in the U.S., and making FanDuel Sports Network available as part of their add-on subscriptions, creates a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our reach and better connect with viewers,” David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, said in a statement.
No details on when FanDuel would be available on Prime Video were released Wednesday, nor were financial details of the agreement.
Amazon reportedly to invest in Diamond Sports earlier this year.
Diamond has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since March 2023, a result of dwindling cable viewership over the years.
A final hearing on Diamond’s bankruptcy reorganization plan is scheduled for Thursday. The company said in a financial filing last year that it had debt of $8.67 billion.
In a continuing expansion of its consumer offerings, Diamond announced on Tuesday that it will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games beginning Dec. 5.
Viewers will have the option to buy a single Blues game for $6.99, in addition to monthly and season pass subscription plans.
FanDuel Sports Network is also available in Ƶ on Spectrum, U-verse TV, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FanDuel takes over Diamond Sports' sponsorship packages, renaming Bally Sports RSNs to FanDuel, while Shaq partners with DraftKings. More updates inside!
Hochman: OK, Blues, just who are you this season? Time to ‘meet pressure with pressure.’
Blues goalie Joel Hofer fails to block a shot by Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain, not pictured, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, as Logan Cooley watches the finish in the third period of a game at Enterprise Center.
The Blues are at a crossroads.
Sure, you can tell me that they’re only 16 games into the season.
And that there will be both ups and downs during a retool.
And that Robert Thomas is injured (along with three high-paid defensemen).
But the Blues are at a crossroads.
They need to decide, right now, who they want to be. If they truly yearn to be good, they need to then change things immediately. They need to become a serious hockey team. They need to play 60 hard minutes (or at least more than 40). They need to decisively get into their offensive-zone offense. They need to be hard and strong in front of the net. And they all need to play like their 5-foot-9 teammate Nathan Walker — intensely, fearlessly and proudly (he has 21 hits in the past four games).
But if they’re not willing to do that stuff — and do it consistently — then this season will spiral fast. The Blues (7-9-0) just aren’t talented enough or deep enough to take periods off.
Since the epic Oct. 24 win at Toronto, the Blues are 2-6. And it’s not simply that they’ve lost six of the eight — it’s how they lost them. It includes two 8-1 losses. TWO!
And in the most recent game, the Blues blew a 2-0 lead in the third period to lose 3-2 in regulation (“Whenever you play safe, safe is death,” Ƶ coach Drew Bannister said of the Blues’ final 20 minutes).
There was also the Utah game, in which a late Jordan Kyrou turnover led to the winning goal. And there was also the Philadelphia game, in which a late Jordan Kyrou turnover led to the winning goal.
This is on everyone. Bannister. The high-priced Kyrou. The captain Brayden Schenn. The veterans. The everyone. If you’ve got a blue note on, you’ve got to be better.
The Blues practiced Wednesday in town before taking off for a three-game trip at Buffalo, Boston and Carolina. After practice, I asked Bannister about the team being at a crossroads and searching for an identity.
Blues coach Drew Bannister speaks with the media on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, after practice. (Video courtesy Ƶ Blues)
“Yeah, I think this is a good opportunity,” he said. “I mean, when you’re down like this, I think you really find out a lot about your team. And what I know about this group is that they’re a resilient bunch, and they’re going to keep pushing. ... Now it’s just focusing on the highs and lows — whether it’s wins and losses or in the game. And just playing with more of an even keel and pushing through the tough times. ...
“I think it’s just having that mindset for 60 minutes and the willingness to play in tight games — and be able to win those games. When we get pushed, we’ve got to be able to push back, you know? Meet pressure with pressure. And I think that’s something that we’ve got to push through ourselves and find that extra level when we need it.”
Of course, having a hurt No. 18 hurts the Blues in, like, 18 different ways. Thomas is so good and so influential. And, simply, his injury means some guys are bumped up to a higher line. And on the blue line, the injuries to the blossoming Philip Broberg, the veteran Nick Leddy and even the fan-favorite Torey Krug means Ƶ has lesser players playing bigger minutes. A team that is retooling isn’t going to have the strong depth of a team such as division foes Dallas or Winnipeg.
OK, all that said: You can’t lose the way the Blues have been losing.
Again.
Eight.
To.
One.
Twice!
And the second 8-1 loss was a Saturday night home game. Those fans paid a lot of money and sure didn’t see a lot of effort.
After practice, I also asked Jake Neighbours about the crossroads and identity. Is now a time to determine just who the Blues are as a team?
“Yeah, for sure,” said the forward, who has six points in 16 games. “When you go through lows like this, it really brings you close together as a team. And you know, I think we know what kind of team we are in here — and know what we’re capable of. And for whatever reason, we haven’t been able to find that lately. But I think the diagram’s there, it’s just about kind of following it, and doing the things right. And I think if we do that consistently every day, even in practice, we’re going to start to trend up.”
I wanted to hear from one more guy on this: Kyrou. The uber-talented forward has made some poor decisions on ice this year, but he also has a team-high 14 points in 16 games.
Is this a moment in which the Blues need to decide who they are as a team?
“I mean, we know who we are,” Kyrou said. “We know how we can play and how we’re our best. And we’ve just kind of got to put that together for 60 minutes.”
Well, they’ve got 60 minutes Thursday in Buffalo to begin proving it.
Yes, it’s just Game 17.
But the Blues haven’t been at a crossroads of this magnitude since ... to master the guitar.
Robert Thomas back at Blues practice, but no update on his return to Ƶ lineup
Blues center Robert Thomas watches the puck in the first period of a game on Tuesday against the Jets at Enterprise Center. Thomas was hit by a puck in the third period of the game, fracturing his ankle.
When the Blues practiced on Wednesday morning, hope arrived wearing a light blue non-contact jersey.
Robert Thomas was on the ice.
Thomas, three weeks into a six-week timeline until reevaluation for a fractured ankle, skated for the first time with the Blues, who carry a three-game losing streak into a three-game road trip through Buffalo, Boston and Carolina. Blues coach Drew Bannister said Thomas would travel with the team.
“He wants to be with the team,” Bannister said. “He wants to get out on the ice, and I think the guys were excited to see him, maybe a little bit surprised, too, that he was out on the ice with us. I thought he looked good, and obviously, there’s no timeline with his injury, but it’s good to see him out on the ice with us.”
Bannister said Thomas skated on his own previously before joining the Blues on Wednesday morning. He has not played since Oct. 22 against Winnipeg, when he blocked a Neal Pionk shot that fractured the ankle. Ƶ has gone 3-6-0 in the nine games without Thomas available.
If Thomas misses the entire six-week period initially forecast last month, that could mean a return for the Dec. 5 game in Calgary.
“He feels real good about where he is right now,” Bannister said. “Maybe better than expected. Again, there’s no timetable for him, but I think it’s a good sign to see him on the ice and wanting to be around the team and being able to practice with us.”
Thomas led the Blues in scoring last season, posting a career-high 86 points and earning a trip to the All-Star Game. This season, Thomas had one goal and five assists in seven games before his injury.
It goes without saying that the Blues could really use Thomas on the ice, whenever that does end up happening.
The Ƶ power play got clicking during Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Boston, scoring twice, but it had not scored a power-play goal at home until then. Thomas led the Blues in power-play points last season and had a point on about 80% of the goals scored when he was on the ice.
Since Thomas’ injury, the Blues are 30th in the league with a 43.8% faceoff percentage. Thomas was winning 62.6% of his draws and averaging more than 22 faceoffs taken per game.
At five on five, the Blues have generated far less offense in the past nine games when Thomas has been out of the lineup. According to Natural Stat Trick, during that time and per 60 minutes at five on five, the Blues rank last in shot attempts, shots on goal and expected goals, and second-to-last in scoring chances and high-danger chances.
In the first seven games of the season, the Blues were 17th in shot attempts, 19th in shots on goal, 20th in expected goals, 12th in scoring chances and 16th in high-danger chances.
Put plainly, how much of the Blues’ recent lack of offense is related to the team missing their No. 1 center?
“Obviously, we can sit here and say Robbie is a big part of the team,” Bannister said. “Of course he is. The forward group there, we’ve had success with them, and I believe in this group. We can’t wait for Thommer to come back, we have to start winning games now with the guys that we have in our lineup. I know the guys believe in that group, and when we play to our potential and the way we need to play, we have success.”
In wins over the Maple Leafs (twice) and the Lightning, the Blues discovered that formula resides in developing a forecheck, making smart plays with the puck and defending well in their own zone. But it hasn’t been consistent for the Blues, who are 7-9-0.
When isolating Thomas’ minutes relative to the rest of the Blues, it’s clear just how important he is to the club’s success. Only one forward (minimum four games) in the NHL affects production of expected goals more than Thomas relative to his team, and that’s Connor McDavid in Edmonton. Only one forward in the NHL affects the generation of shots on goal more than Thomas, and that’s Mikael Granlund in San Jose.
Without Thomas, the Blues have asked different players to step into different roles. Pavel Buchnevich ascended to become the top-line center. Brayden Schenn moved from the wing back to the middle. Radek Faksa began the season centering the fourth line but is now receiving more ice time. Oskar Sundqvist has become an oft-used penalty killer and in FOGO (faceoff, get off) situations when there’s a right-handed draw.
The Blues could also use more production from veteran Brandon Saad (demoted to the fourth line) and offseason acquisition Alexandre Texier (skated as an extra during practice Wednesday) in order to wade through the balance of Thomas’ absence.
“Adding Thommer to that when we’re playing well, we’re a heck of a hockey team,” Bannister said. “We’ve just got to make sure that before he comes, we’ve got to make sure we take care of our own business.”
Blues' Robert Thomas returns to ice: Coach Drew Bannister updates his status
With Nick Leddy and Philip Broberg out, Blues recall Leo Loof from AHL affiliate Springfield
Blues defenseman Leo Loof, left, battles for the puck with forward Mitchell Hoelscher on the first day of Blues training camp Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
The Blues recalled defenseman Leo Loof from AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) on Wednesday morning, a reinforcement on the back end as Ƶ begins a three-game Eastern Conference road trip.
Loof practiced with the Blues on Wednesday morning in Maryland Heights as the seventh defenseman. Loof, 22, missed the first two games of the AHL season due to injury and had one assist in 11 games with the Thunderbirds.
Loof (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) was primarily playing with Hunter Skinner in Springfield, eating up some of the minutes vacated by Tyler Tucker’s injury that forced him to miss the past six games.
“With Leo, that’s kind of his M.O. is that bite to his game,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “We’ve seen that in the American League, and we’ve seen that in training camp when he was here this year. Closing quickly on guys and getting under opponents’ skin, he certainly brings that to his game.”
The recall to the NHL was the first of Loof’s career.
“I was really shocked, to be honest,” Loof said. “I couldn’t believe it. I got really excited and happy, and I’m pretty shocked. ... That’s what you dream of as a kid, for my family and everybody around me. Super-happy.”
Loof was originally a third-round pick by the Blues in 2020 out of Farjestad BK in Sweden. After he was drafted, he played one more season in Sweden, followed by two playing for Ilves in Finland’s Liiga. Loof arrived in North America last season and played 58 games with Springfield.
“I’m a hard, physical defenseman, and I think they want me to bring that and play physical, play simple (with a) good first pass,” Loof said. “It’s a different type of game here. It’s more physical, and it goes faster, smaller ice. I think I improved a lot last year and keep building on that this year.”
Loof’s recall to Ƶ was necessary because the Blues are without both Nick Leddy and Philip Broberg on the back end. Broberg (lower body) was injured Nov. 2 and is not expected back until December. Leddy (lower body) has not played since Oct. 15 against Minnesota.
Leddy last practiced with the Blues on Oct. 28 in Montreal before he was sent back to Ƶ for further treatment. Bannister said Leddy would not travel with the Blues on their current road trip.
“Just continuing to do rehab and get his injury back to where he can play,” Bannister said of Leddy. “I think when we look back at it, we didn’t realize how long it would take. That’s probably why we said he was day-to-day at times. It’s obviously gone a lot longer than that. It’s the nature of the injury that you don’t know where you’re going to be with.
“He’s just continuing to rehab. He’s been on the ice, too, but we’re just trying to build his strength up and he’ll continue to rehab and see the proper doctors to get it fixed and ready to play.”
Searching for Saad
During Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to Boston, Blues forward Brandon Saad played just 8:57 and did not receive a shift across the last 11:30 of the third period. It was the third time in Saad’s career that he played less than nine minutes, and the other two shortened appearances were injury related: 8:16 on Dec. 19, 2019, and 6:21 on March 16, 2014.
“When I look at Brandon, the three things that stick out to me when he’s really playing well is he’s using his speed, driving D deep into the zone, he’s always strong on pucks,” Bannister said. “A lot of times, it’s where he scores goals are around the net. He’s heavy on his stick, and he’s winning those puck battles. With that speed, being able to get to pucks first.”
Saad entered the road trip with two goals and four assists in 13 games. That would put him on pace for about 13 goals and 25 assists across an entire season. In his first three seasons in Ƶ, Saad averaged 24.5 goals and 20.9 assists per 82 games.
“I think Brandon right now, there’s times when he’s played really well and there’s times where I think he’s like a lot of us right now, we’re second-guessing ourselves,” Bannister said. “It’s tough when you’re a player to second-guess yourself. You want to be able to just go out and play with confidence. He’s probably rightfully struggling a little bit with that.
“He’s a veteran guy and he’s had a lot of success in this league, and he’s going to be an important player for us. He’s going to get up and running, and he’s going to be a big impact player for us.”
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