T.J. Oshie is 24 years old and in his third NHL season. He makes mistakes on the ice. He makes mistakes off the ice. Missing a St. Louis Blues practice with an "unexcused absence" was a mistake, and the Blues indicated today that it's not one they intend to see Oshie or another player make again.
Blues beat writer Lou Korac reported this morning that GM Doug Armstrong offered a "short and to the point" announcement that Oshie will sit for the Blues' next two games, and will not accompany the team for road games at the Minnesota Wild or the Detroit Red Wings. Via Korac:
"Oshie is not technically suspended, according to Armstrong, nor will he be fined."
Like Cam Janssen said on the radio yesterday: It wasn't anything serious, but it was enough to draw a rebuke from the "pissed" veterans on the team. And it's also enough to raise concerns from Blues observers about whether this franchise is being served by its youth, and whether Oshie will heed the advice of older teammates. From Jeff Gordon of STLToday.com:
Berglund missed a practice earlier this season and Oshie was nowhere to be found Monday. These guys aren't rookies any more.
It must be nice to be young, relatively wealthy and beloved by hockey fans. The perks are tremendous. But with such high standing comes great responsibility.� These young men should reflect on the Erik Johnson Story. The former first overall pick wrecked his knee during off-ice high-jinks and damaged his career.
He took a big step backward this season for the Blues and got traded to a reeling franchise. Many NHL scouts doubt he will ever achieve the greatness forecast for him. He stands as an example of how careers can go terribly wrong.
Gordon also notes that Oshie is a restricted free agent; and while the team didn't fine him, "the responsibility issue could factor into contract talks."
Again, this isn't some major insubordination. He's not the first 24-year-old player to hit the snooze button. But it context is key; given the state of the franchise and its direction, this is one alarm to which Oshie should have paid better attention.
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