Pierre-Olivier Joseph will line up alongside Faulk, has experience playing with Letang in Pittsburgh
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Pierre-Olivier Joseph has been down this road before.
The St. Louis Blues defenseman will get another crack at playing in the top four in light of the Philip Broberg lower-body injury that will sideline him 4-6 weeks.
Joseph gets a shot at playing in Broberg's spot alongside Justin Faulk, beginning Tuesday when the Blues (6-6-0) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (7-5-0).
"We really like his range, his stick, his ability to skate, and I think when you're in those positions, you have to be able to defend," Blues coach Drew Bannister said. "You're going to see some tough matchups. Certainly when he went up to that position, we thought he played extremely well, so we'll look for him and 'Kess' and 'Perun', they're going to have to play some good hockey for us as we move on and get guys healthier.
"I don't think we're talking about a young player anymore. He's been around. He's played on a few different teams in different situations with different players. I'm sure he'll settle in quickly and he did. When he's been bumped up, he seems to settle in really quick."
The Pittsburgh Penguins thought the same when they paired Joseph with Kris Letang there.
"It's fun. You (get) more minutes and you're playing against different players," Joseph said. "But it's the same hockey that you've been playing since you're a kid. Yes, it's a little bit more responsibilities, but at that same time, it's challenging, it's fun, it's why we do what we do. I'm just excited for the opportunity here."
Playing with Faulk will be different in certain situations. Letang is more offensive oriented whereas Faulk is a mix of jump in the offense and play more in his zone. Communication will be key.
"Ultimately you just try to make the game easy on each other," Faulk said. "It's not just a D-partner or what not. Anyone you're on the ice with, you want to make the game easy, you want to talk to them. But let them know what they have. I would say you're giving them an option; you're not telling them what to do, especially with the puck. If you call for it, you're just letting them know you're open and that you're available, and if they see something else, they make that play. Now on the D side of things, yeah, you might be telling them there's a guy behind and what not. All you're trying to do is make guys aware of what's happening on the ice and that they see. Ultimately guys have to make that decision. If you're giving them little reads here and there, you just kind of influence that a little quicker, I think, and you allow the team ad the tempo and the pace to pick up a little bit."
Playing with Letang off and on the past two seasons has been instrumental in Joseph's growth and helps him transition to this role while Broberg is sidelined.
"We all need to bring our side of how we play and stuff, but of course I want to learn from these guys," Joseph said. "I was a big sponge in Pittsburgh for the last couple of years learning from these guys. Whoever you're with, whoever you meet, you can learn a little bit from anybody. I've been trying to do that here. I'm definitely going to try and do that with Faulk. He's a great person. He's a great player on the ice so whatever I can take from him and put it in my luggage, tool box, I think it's going to be important.
"I just think it's the chemistry that we create with each other. I think everyone's chemistry with each other creates the best duos or trios. I think I'm just trying to learn a little bit with [Faulk] and from him. Of course he's been a solid veteran in the league for a long time. Just trying to bring my youth and my speed with him. The abilities are to just stay in the (offensive) zone as possible ad create some offense this way."
Faulk had adjusted to life playing with Broberg, and that duo was on the upswing each and every game. But in the next month, month-and-a-half, he will help groom a young Blues blueliner -- again -- while trying to help the team stay afloat while the Blues get through a rash of injuries.
"It will be good. He's a long body, skates well, takes up a lot of space," Faulk said of Joseph. "I think that's when he's at his best is moving and he's kind of influencing the game at that point. I'm excited for the opportunity. I know we've had some shifts together here. We skated together a few days at training camp. I think we'll be able to figure it out pretty quick. I know he's hungry for it and I'm excited for it.
"Guys get to step up. I've never heard someone complain about too much ice time in this league. Someone's going to be happy, I'll tell you that. When someone goes down, yeah ultimately it sucks, but someone's happy because ... they're not happy that their teammate got hurt or anything, but they get more ice time and they get an opportunity they weren't getting. It gives guys a great opportunity to show that they can play and a little bot more responsibility at that next level. Hopefully guys take it. That's what you want to see happen."
