Blues Sign Scott Nichol

[dmiles2186]

By quick check, he's never scored more than 19 points in a season. I'm taking it he's more of a grinder/defensive forward/PK type of guy?

Strick tweeted the deal was 1 year, 600,000 bucks. We're still not at the cap floor right?

[dmiles2186]

http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568435

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Tuesday the club has signed forward Scott Nichol to a one-year, one-way contract.

“Scott is an experienced, honest player and an excellent face off guy,” said Armstrong. “He will provide a positive veteran presence to compliment our current group.”

Nichol, 36, spent this past season with the San Jose Sharks dressing in 56 games and tallying seven points (four goals, three assists) to go along with 50 penalty minutes.

The 5’9”, 180-pound forward is a veteran of 11 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons including stints with Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Nashville and San Jose where he has spent the past two years accumulating 30 games of playoff experience.

In 552 career regular season games, Nichol has recorded 118 points (52 goals, 66 assists) as well as 808 penalty minutes.

The Edmonton, Alberta native was originally drafted by Buffalo in the 11th round, 272nd overall, of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

[dmiles2186]

jprutherford Jeremy Rutherford
Blues GM Doug Armstrong said the Nichol signing does NOT preclude the Blues from another forward signing. Still looking to improve.

I still think that's going to be Langenbrunner if he chooses to sign with the Blues.

[glen a richter]

jprutherford Jeremy Rutherford
Blues GM Doug Armstrong said the Nichol signing does NOT preclude the Blues from another forward signing. Still looking to improve.

I still think that's going to be Langenbrunner if he chooses to sign with the Blues.

Unnecessary. Nichol is the final piece of the puzzle.

[JPonder94]

[Portland Blues]

So, we'll be his 6th team in 12 years...

The Scott Nichol area may be short in years but obviously effective.

[Nyghtewynd]

Thank goodness we're spending money on an old forward that doesn't score. That'll help.

[kodos]

So is anyone even left in the free agent pool?

I would have hoped that the Blues would have at least signed one guy who was more then an AHLer or pressbox warmer.

[drwoland]

Nichol is a "role player." Basically another Crombeen.

[ViPeRx007]

I've always dreamed of having a whole team of Crombeen's. Look's like my dreams are coming true.

[cprice12]

Nichol is a "role player." Basically another Crombeen.

Yeah.
And to think...I foolishly thought that by getting rid of Crombeen, that we would actually upgrade the position.

[SIU LAW]

If Nichol can do the job he has with other teams, being a PK and faceoff specialist, I'm not sure why everyone is looking down on this signing.

Sure it is not a sexy signing by any means, and not Brad Richards, but the Blues have desperately needed an upgrade in the faceoff department for a long time. Now that they have that guy, at a dirt cheap price, and they can stick him on the 4th line. One less AHL-er tweener on the 4th line too.

It is a small move that actually provides something the Blues need.

Chill out people.

[dmiles2186]

If Nichol can do the job he has with other teams, being a PK and faceoff specialist, I'm not sure why everyone is looking down on this signing.

Sure it is not a sexy signing by any means, and not Brad Richards, but the Blues have desperately needed an upgrade in the faceoff department for a long time. Now that they have that guy, at a dirt cheap price, and they can stick him on the 4th line. One less AHL-er tweener on the 4th line too.

It is a small move that actually provides something the Blues need.

Chill out people.

I don't know where I saw the stat but they said the Blues best faceoff guy last year was McClement and his face off win % was somewhere in the low 50's...Nichol was at 59% and change. Definitely an upgrade. I agree with you. I was disappointed initially but especially in light of today's signings, this is a good move.

[thedoc]

I would have to assume with today's signings that he is headed to Peoria.

[SIU LAW]

I would have to assume with today's signings that he is headed to Peoria.

I strongly disagree. In fact, I would be shocked if he plays in Peoria.

Sobotka will play on a wing, Arnott and Nichol will be centers.

[dmiles2186]

Army confirmed today that the centers will be Backes, Berglund, Arnott, Nichol.

[WaukeeBlues]

Army confirmed today that the centers will be Backes, Berglund, Arnott, Nichol.

Man oh man.

Like you demonstrated in that other thread, there is no longer the problem of having guys in the bluenote (on forward at least) before they are ready. With two signings it all but assured you're going to have to work your @$$ off to get quality playing time on this team.

I don't think Perron is going to be around for awhile but I counter your lineup with my own ( )

McDonald- Berglund- Stewart
Langenbrunner- Backes- D'Agostini <-- I think they're going to give D'Ags the chance to hit it big, I really do.
Oshie-Arnott-Steen
Reaves- Nichol- Sobotka <--- I think we almost have to have Reaves dressed with the exodus of Winchester and Crombeen from normal starting rotations.

Obviously we get Perron back and there's some decisions to be made on the forwards side of it

[dmiles2186]

Army confirmed today that the centers will be Backes, Berglund, Arnott, Nichol.

Man oh man.

Like you demonstrated in that other thread, there is no longer the problem of having guys in the bluenote (on forward at least) before they are ready. With two signings it all but assured you're going to have to work your @$$ off to get quality playing time on this team.

I don't think Perron is going to be around for awhile but I counter your lineup with my own ( )

McDonald- Berglund- Stewart
Langenbrunner- Backes- D'Agostini <-- I think they're going to give D'Ags the chance to hit it big, I really do.
Oshie-Arnott-Steen
Reaves- Nichol- Sobotka <--- I think we almost have to have Reaves dressed with the exodus of Winchester and Crombeen from normal starting rotations.

Obviously we get Perron back and there's some decisions to be made on the forwards side of it

I like those too. That Oshie-Arnott-Steen line gets me excited. They should crack some skulls. You spread those tough, rugged forwards out of 4 lines (Stewart on the 1st, Backes on the 2nd, Oshie/Arnott on the 3rd and Reaves on the 4th) and teams will have a tough time withstanding 60 minutes of that. Like you said, even if Perron is out, you just shuffle some guys up, but there's always a guy ready to fill in that's got experience. It's been a long time since the Blues have had that kind of depth and experience up front.

[SIU LAW]

No way is Reaves a regular starter over Crombeen. WTF?

Crombeen is a legitimate NHL 4th liner, Reaves *might* be NHL player.

Injuries will eventually make "who is going to the pressbox" discussions meaningless. If no one is on the IR, Reaves will either be in Peoria or will only be asked to put down his pressbox nachos when the Blues anticipate a game with some brawling.

Only when and if Perron returns does the pressbox warrior status become truly interesting (assuming there isn't a trade to eliminate "excess" NHL forwards).

[DaDitka]

No way is Reaves a regular starter over Crombeen. WTF?

Crombeen is a legitimate NHL 4th liner, Reaves *might* be NHL player.

Exactly, Reaves wanted to try and test the market and try and garner more cash and all he got was splinters on his ass from riding the bench (or more likely the press box)


4 solid lines, now I have only two questions 1) How do we appropriate minutes defensively 2) Halak.