St. Louis Blues' stunning start to NHL season rooted in many players
Doug Armstrong
General manager Doug Armstrong is being interviewed about the St. Louis Blues’ impressive 10-2-1 start  and it takes more than nine minutes for superstar Vladimir Tarasenko’s name to enter the conversation.
“We are not surprised that he’s producing at this level ”  Armstrong  told USA TODAY Sports. “ He  is just starting to enter the prime of  his  career.”
Schwartz  25  was a 55-point scorer last season. It looks as if  he ’s figured out how to make all of  his  skills work together this season.
“We are going to see this level for a while ”  Armstrong  said.
 Armstrong  said Schwartz reminds  him  of former NHL player Jere Lehtinen “because  he  just does everything well.”
“ He ’s a guy that (coach) Mike Yeo feels comfortable in any situation ”  Armstrong  said. “(Schwartz) is a guy you can put with any player to get them going or keep them going."
“The time-tested (theory) that everyone is better at their second job than they were the first time around is true ”  Armstrong  said. “As a manager  I know I felt much more comfortable managing in my second job and I know Mike feels the same way.”
“You learn through your first job  and you learn on the job ”  Armstrong  said. “ He ’s putting the things  he  had positive success with into play.  He ’s a good communicator  and there’s a trust with  his  players.  He  is a generational coach.  He  knows what makes this age group tick.  He ’s got a good mind for the game.”
 Armstrong  appreciates that Yeo is willing to learn even from  his  assistants.  He  supported the decision to bring in former NHL head coach Larry Robinson as an assistant. “ He  wanted strong people around  him  ”  Armstrong  said.
While Tarasenko may be sharing the spotlight  his game is just as impactful  if not more so  according to  Armstrong .
“I see a different player shift-to-shift ”  Armstrong  said. “It seems like  he  has three really solid bodychecks every game.”
 Armstrong  said Tarasenko aspires to be a complete player. “It’s not just the bodychecking ”  Armstrong  said. “It’s the understanding of his leadership (role). You can always talk a good game  but he’s doing all of the things away from the puck. His frustration level is almost non-existent now. You see that with all the great players. They battle through to be complete players and he’s there now.”
[TGT] is being interviewed about the St. Louis Blues’ impressive 10-2-1 start  and it takes more than nine minutes for superstar Vladimir Tarasenko’s name to enter the conversation.
“We are not surprised that he’s producing at this level ”  [TGT]told USA TODAY Sports. “ [TGT]  is just starting to enter the prime of  [TGT]  career.”
Schwartz  25  was a 55-point scorer last season. It looks as if  [TGT] ’s figured out how to make all of  [TGT]  skills work together this season.
“We are going to see this level for a while ”  [TGT]said.
 [TGT]said Schwartz reminds  him  of former NHL player Jere Lehtinen “because  he  just does everything well.”
“ He ’s a guy that (coach) Mike Yeo feels comfortable in any situation ”  [TGT]said. “(Schwartz) is a guy you can put with any player to get them going or keep them going."
“The time-tested (theory) that everyone is better at their second job than they were the first time around is true ”  [TGT]said. “As a manager  I know I felt much more comfortable managing in my second job and I know Mike feels the same way.”
“You learn through your first job  and you learn on the job ”  [TGT]said. “ [TGT] ’s putting the things  [TGT]  had positive success with into play.  [TGT] ’s a good communicator  and there’s a trust with  [TGT]  players.  [TGT]  is a generational coach.  [TGT]  knows what makes this age group tick.  [TGT] ’s got a good mind for the game.”
 [TGT]appreciates that Yeo is willing to learn even from  [TGT]  assistants.  [TGT]  supported the decision to bring in former NHL head coach Larry Robinson as an assistant. “ [TGT]  wanted strong people around  [TGT]  ”  [TGT]said.
While Tarasenko may be sharing the spotlight  [TGT] game is just as impactful  if not more so  according to [TGT] .
“I see a different player shift-to-shift ”  [TGT]said. “It seems like  [TGT]  has three really solid bodychecks every game.”
 [TGT]said Tarasenko aspires to be a complete player. “It’s not just the bodychecking ”  [TGT]said. “It’s the understanding of [TGT] leadership (role). You can always talk a good game  but he’s doing all of the things away from the puck. [TGT] frustration level is almost non-existent now. You see that with all the great players. They battle through to be complete players and he’s there now.”