New line, no problem: Blues' Schwartz continues best year in young career
ST. LOUIS -- When he looks at Blues teammate Jaden Schwartz, goaltender Brian Elliott sees ... a bowling ball.
In the best possible way.
"I equate him to like a little bowling ball. He gets out on the forecheck hard and, as a shooter, he kind of has the same qualities," Elliott says. "He's quick, quick hands, can shoot it in stride, can pick his corners. I don't think he gives his shot enough credit."
It's been a career year for Schwartz, who's on a three-game point streak at a crucial time in the Blues' season. He surpassed his previous career high in points against Calgary last Thursday, then followed that up Saturday against Dallas with his second hat trick of the season -- on the fourth anniversary of the death of his sister Mandi, a former Yale hockey player who died of leukemia. On Sunday, his assist on a David Backes goal in Chicago helped the Blues beat their division rivals 2-1.
Back in September, things weren't moving quite as fast. After contract negotiations delayed his start with the club during preseason, Schwartz returned Sept. 27 with a two-year deal and a new jersey number, 17, to honor Mandi. She had worn number 17 at Yale.
On the ice, he wanted to build off his success from the previous season, his first full campaign in the NHL, when he scored 25 goals and amassed 56 points. It was the fourth-highest total on the team.
As his point totals grew from last season, so did his game. He used his tenacity and strength in a checking role, stripping the puck from opponents.
"He has used his checking to create offense, so it's a little bit like (Detroit's Pavel) Datsyuk," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock says. "He strips people of pucks. He surprises people with his quickness and strength, and when you fall asleep on the ice, he takes advantage of it. He's scored a lot of points this year taking advantage of people sleeping on the ice."
Other times, he sets the ice on fire. Schwartz was one-third of the dynamic STL line earlier in the year, playing alongside Tarasenko and newcomer Jori Lehtera. Recently, as a result of injuries and Hitchcock's maneuvering, Schwartz has been paired with Paul Stastny and T.J. Oshie. Switching lines has not been a problem, he says.
"Lot of smart players on this team, so it's not too hard to get a read off and play with them," Schwartz says.
The time he invests with teammates off skates is another factor. Stastny and Schwartz have become friends away from the rink, and Stastny thinks that's helped their rapport at work. "He's fun hanging with off the ice," Stastny says.
At 22, Schwartz is one of the youngest guys on the roster, which means veterans can offer advice on a plethora of other topics, including his wardrobe.
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As impressive as Schwartz has been this year, the most telling number comes from when he's not on the ice. The Blues have played several games this year down top offensive talent; they're currently without Tarasenko, who leads the team in goals, and Steen. Yet they've managed to go 3-0 since Tarasenko's injury, and 3-1 since Steen's last game.
But while Schwartz missed a stretch of games from mid-December into January this season, the team went 1-5-1. When he returned to the lineup, the team went on a five-game win streak en route to 12 wins in 13 games.
You do the math.
You can follow Elisabeth Meinecke on Twitter at @lismeinecke or email her at ecmeinecke@gmail.com
