Tkachuk did not pass his physical today at Blues camp, and has been sent home by the team.
Post-Dispatch hockey writer Jeremy Rutherford confirmed this in an interview with Blues GM Larry Pleau who said: "He did not pass his physical, and he has been suspended."
Pleau declined to elaborate or answer any more questions about Tkachuk's status or the reason for the suspension.
More later...
--Bernie Miklasz
Pleau told KMOX's Andy Strickland that Tkachuk would have an opportunity to be reinstated once he's able to pass the physical.
It's been common knowledge around the Blues that Tkachuk hasn't been in good shape, though his conditioning had improved from a couple of months ago.
Also, Tkachuk's hip has been bothering him some; I don't have any additional details on that. Sorry.
bernie
holy shit, i thought the original thread was a lame joke!! :roll: rumor has it, he was between 25-45 pounds overweight!
Post subject: More on Tkachuk from Andy Strickland
Andy just called this in.... and I'm taking dictation.... here's his report..
Tkachuk had a weight clause in his contract before he signed his last contract extension in Phoenix...it is believed a weight clause was also part of his deal in STL, but GM Larry Pleau wouldn't confirm that.
Still...inside the Blues' family there's been a constant buzz this summer about Tkachuk's weight and conditioning.
Strickland emphasizes, after talking with multiple Blues officials, that contrary to some bad rumors making the rounds, the Tkachuk suspension has NOTHING to do with drugs or alcohol. It is simply a matter of Tkachuk failing to meet his assigned weight.
Also, contrary to reports -- Tkachuk did report to camp yesterday. He is still in town.
Pleau told Strickland that Tkachuk will be welcomed back as soon as he can fulfill his end of the contract.... but again, nothing specific was offered by Pleau.
Why does he even need to be in shape...he scores most of his goals in front of the net anyways. He can plop his fat ass in the low slot and pick up his 30 goals a year.
If Tkachuk stays out, then we won't have any of those SportsCenter anchors
pronouncing his name like they're working up a giant loogie. :P
“If you look at folks of color, even women, they’re more
successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white, uh,
excuse me, in the Republican Party.” (NPR Interview Of Howard Dean
<http://www.breitbart.tv/html/153493.html> , 8/15/08)
Tkachoke shows back up at camp. Odds on when he gets injured?
Tkachuk back with Blues after missing nearly two weeks
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
September 29, 2005
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Blues were impressed with Keith Tkachuk's first day on the ice Thursday -- especially considering he'd missed nearly two weeks of training camp.
``He looked good,'' captain Dallas Drake said. ``We had a pretty short practice but I thought he looked really good.''
So good that Tkachuk, suspended at the start of training camp Sept. 16 after failing a physical, may play in the opener at Detroit next Wednesday. Tkachuk did little skating during the NHL lockout that wiped out last season, and reportedly showed up for the start of camp about 25 pounds overweight.
``I wasn't as prepared as I should have been,'' Tkachuk said. ``But I'm telling you right now, if you watched me skate today I'm definitely prepared now.''
Coach Mike Kitchen said the team was ``kind of leaning'' toward dressing Tkachuk in the opener.
``A lot of it will be how comfortable he is on the ice,'' Kitchen said. ``It's getting in traffic and making plays, his timing, that type of thing. He'll have plenty of practice.''
Tkachuk, the second-highest paid player in the NHL at $7.6 million, worked with a personal trainer during the suspension, and had done some skating at area rinks. The Blues took the drastic step of banishing him instead of letting him work his way into shape with the rest of the team, and last week the NHL Players' Association filed a grievance on behalf of Tkachuk.
Tkachuk passed a physical Thursday morning.
``We wanted him back,'' general manager Larry Pleau said. ``We need him back. He can be a heck of a player in this league.''
Added coach Mike Kitchen: ``It's nice to have our big guy back in the lineup.''
Tkachuk, who led the Blues with 33 goals and 71 points in 2003-04, wouldn't say if he deserved the suspension.
``We've got to move forward,'' he said. ``That's two weeks ago, it's over and I'm here now.''
Tkachuk met with teammates and the coaching staff separately before hitting the ice. Drake said it wasn't a long talk with players.
``He said 'Guys, I apologize for the situation I put you in, I put everyone in a bad spot a little bit,''' Drake said. ``We didn't expect much from him, we were just happy he was back.''
The same went for Tkachuk.
``It was awesome being out with the guys,'' he said. ``I don't know if it was a combination of adrenaline and training, but I felt unbelievable.''
