SB Nation User Blog: Tomorrows Blues

Some thoughts on Patrik Berglund and prospect development in the Blues' organization...

Tomorrows Blues — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:43:45 -0000

NOTE: I originally posted this over at The Asylum (STLToday, for those just arriving)... but thought it would get more attention, and a better class of people commenting on it, over here...

Poster "forgetyerskatesdream" at The Asylum wrote:

"Let me make sure I have this correct. When a young player such as Perron, Oshie, EJ, Polak plays well it's in spite of Murray, and when a young player struggles it's because of Murray. Is that about right? Unreal."

And poster "croschek98" replied:

"I think the difference is the above mentioned guys spent time at a lower north american level of hockey. Also, for 3 out of the four, they still see family through out the season. Let us not forget no matter what their situation or income, they are still just kids."

The bolded parts above are the keys here, IMO.

Berglund is very talented and has a world of potential, but he jumped from (essentially) the Swedish version of the AHL (the Allsvenskan) straight to the National Hockey League in one season.

I think spending a year in Peoria at the start of his career last year would have done him some good... but in this organization, there seems to be a stigma attached to sending young offense-minded European players (Shkotov, Zakharov, Söderberg) to the AHL.

Sending young Euro defensemen doesn't seem to hurt -- see the Pola'ks and Junlands of the world for examples -- but for some reason, the forwards, and especially the skilled forwards, don't seem able or willing to take the journey to the NHL by steps.

Having Lars Eller in Peoria now, and thriving, is a step in the right direction towards changing this mindset for both the organization and their Euro forward prospects.

Getting Jori Lehtera there last season for a cup of coffee at the end of the year ( 7 GP, 0-1-1, plus 1, 2 PM), and in the playoffs -- where he performed more than adequately with a goal and an assist in seven games -- was also a positive move.

I'd expect -- or at least hope -- to see Lehtera, Simon Hjalmarsson, and possibly Sergei Andronov in Peoria next year, taking the first step towards the NHL future that likely awaits all three of them.

One hopes that they will follow Eller's example and understand that assignment to the AHL is really a necessary step in the player's adjustment to the North American game for all but the most elite of young European players -- the Overchkins, Kovalchuks and Zetterbergs of the world.

Keep in mind also that Zetterberg, at least, didn't come over until he was 22 and had already had the experience of five pro seasons in Sweden... three in the Allsvenskan and two in the Elitserien.

It may not be too late to get Berglund's development back on track by sending him to Peoria; let him get some premium ice time with scorers like Eller and Palushaj, with solid two-way guys like Chris Porter and Brett Sonne. Let him get his confidence back, because that's all that he seems to be lacking at this point.

He's had a year or more to adjust to the North American game and lifestyle already, so that's not the issue.

The issue is that Berglund needs to find and develop all the parts of his game, and what seems to be being emphasized here in St. Louis under Murray is only the defensive side and awareness.

This is important; it's absolutely important. But Patrik Berglund is not going to make a living in the NHL as a defensive shut-down guy the way a Jay McClement can. Berglund is a power forward, a scorer, and a playmaker... and that part of his game isn't going to be developed under Andy Murray, or at the NHL level, at this time.

Better, long-term, for his career to let him go to Peoria and work with a coach like Davis Payne who has experience, and success, working with young players and developing those aspects of their game.

Let him play -- consistently -- with the best offensive talents on the team; he won't get to do that in St. Louis... and justifiably so, because he hasn't yet earned it consistently with his play at this level.

The AHL's purpose is to turn prospects into players. Berglund is really only halfway to being a player at this stage; let him go the rest of the way by taking a trip about two hours north and staying there a little while.

Prospect Stats as of 12-13-09

Tomorrows Blues — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:32:42 -0000

Compiled by Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

New features this week include the "Blue Notes" section immediately following, and a "Trending Up" section in which five of the top performers among Blues' prospects are profiled.

PEORIA (SLGT) -- Following a 4-1 loss on the road in Grand Rapids on Dec. 5 -- a game in which Peoria allowed two empty-net goals in the last 1:31, and in which Hannu Toivonen made 39 saves on 41 Griffins' shots to earn third-star honors -- the Rivermen have reeled off three straight wins, allowing a total of three goals in those games.

On Dec. 9, in Austin, the Rivermen handled the Texas Stars by a 5-1 count, with Ben Bishop stopping 18 of 19 shots for the win. The next night in Houston, Davis Payne's squad eked out a 2-1 win over the host Aeros, with Bishop again in net stopping 23 of 24 shots.

And in their return to the friendly confines of Carver Arena on Dec. 12, Toivonen stepped in to handle 34 of 35 shots by the San Antonio Rampage, earning first star honors in a 3-1 Peoria victory.

Bishop (at right) is the Blues' Feature Prospect this week, and leads the "Trending Upward" category with a 4-0-0 record in the month of December to date. In four games (244:01 minutes) played, Bishop has allowed six goals on 93 shots. This translates to a 1.47 goals-against average and a 93.5% save percentage in December. The Peoria defense has been good in front of Bishop as well, giving up less than 23 shots against per 60 minutes (22.85) when Bishop has been between the pipes in December.

By way of comparison, the Peoria defense has allowed 73 shots against in the two games Toivonen has played in December, an average of 36.81 shots against per 60 minutes when "Ears" is in the net for the Rivermen.

Your Game Time weekly prospect statistical update after the jump...

ST. LOUIS BLUES 2009-10 PROSPECT STATS as of 13 December 2009

Lines with GREY backgrounds denote players above "prospect age" of 25 years.

##	FORWARDS	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
3 (78) '09	ANDRONOV, Sergei	RW/L	6-00	183	07-19-89	Moscow, RUS	Lada Togliatti	KHL	31	5	8	13	- 3	18	1	0	2
Trade '07	BARRIBALL, Jay	C/L	5-09	165	05-27-87	Prior Lake, MN	Minnesota	WCHA	5	2	2	4	+ 3	10	0	0	0
F/A '09	CRACKNELL, Adam	RW/R	6-03	215	07-15-85	Prince Albert, SK	Peoria	AHL	28	5	9	14	+ 3	10	1	2	1
6 (171) '05	DRAZENOVIC, Nick	C/L	6-01	200	01-14-87	Prince George, BC	Peoria	AHL	22	8	9	17	- 3	16	2	0	0
1 (13) '07	ELLER, Lars	F/L	6-00	198	05-08-89	Rodovre, DMK	St. Louis	NHL	5	1	0	1	+ 1	4	1	0	0
							Peoria	AHL	23	4	16	20	- 1	20	0	0	1
4 (100) '07	ERSTAD, Travis	F/R	6-04	185	11-09-88	Madison, WI	Wisconsin-Stevens Pt	NCAA Div III	10	3	6	9	...	49	2	0	0
2 (39) '07	HJALMARSSON, Simon	RW/R	5-11	170	02-01-89	Varnamo, SWE	Rögle BK	SEL	30	2	5	7	- 2	10	0	0	0
3 (65) '08	LEHTERA, Jori	C/L	6-02	191	12-23-87	Helsinki, FIN	Tappara	SML	29	12	25	37	+ 3	20	5	1	0
3 (70) '08	LIVINGSTON, James	RW/R	6-02	213	03-08-90	Halifax, NS	Sault Ste. Marie	OHL	29	14	10	24	+ 9	41	6	0	3
2 (33) '08	McRAE, Philip	C/L	6-03	191	03-15-90	Apple Valley, MN	London	OHL	30	9	22	31	+ 5	41	3	1	4
6 (155) '08	NIGRO, Anthony	C/L	6-00	189	01-11-90	Woodbridge, ON	Ottawa	OHL	25	8	18	26	- 2	12	4	0	1
7 (190) '07	NILL, Trevor	C/R	6-01	180	04-11-89	Detroit, MI	Michigan State	CCHA	10	0	0	0	0	8	0	0	0
2 (44) '07	PALUSHAJ, Aaron	RW/R	6-00	185	09-07-89	Livonia, MI	Peoria	AHL	26	2	10	12	0	10	1	0	0
Trade '09	PELLETIER, Pascal	RW/L	5-11	197	06-16-83	Labrador City, NL	Syracuse	AHL	25	3	13	16	- 7	23	1	0	0
							Peoria	AHL	3	0	1	1	+ 1	7	0	0	0
							TOTALS	AHL	28	3	14	17	- 6	30	1	0	0
6 (160) '07	PELUSO, Anthony	RW/R	6-04	235	04-18-89	King City, ON	Peoria	AHL	13	1	0	1	0	43	0	0	0
							Alaska	ECHL	5	0	1	1	+ 1	15	0	0	0
F/A '07	PORTER, Chris	LW/L	6-01	205	05-29-84	Thunder Bay, ON	Peoria	AHL	28	7	8	15	+ 6	23	0	1	1
5 (156) '05	REAVES, Ryan	RW/R	6-02	200	01-20-87	Winnipeg, MB	Peoria	AHL	28	3	3	6	-10	76	0	0	0
5 (124) '06	SACKRISON, Andrew	F/L	6-01	200	11-12-87	St. Louis Park, MN	Minnesota State	WCHA	11	2	2	4	- 1	4	0	0	0
4 (87) '08	SCHULTZ, Ian	RW/R	6-02	200	02-04-90	Calgary, AB	Calgary	WHL	32	13	13	26	+ 1	70	6	1	1
4 (108) '09	SHATTOCK, Tyler	RW/R	6-03	190	02-03-90	Salmon Arm, BC	Kamloops	WHL	31	16	21	37	+ 1	42	5	0	4
3 (85) '07	SONNE, Brett	C/L	6-00	187	05-16-89	Maple Ridge, BC	Peoria	AHL	25	4	4	8	-11	16	3	0	1
Trade '06	STASTNY, Yan	C/L	5-10	195	09-30-82	Quebec, QC	St. Louis	NHL	3	1	0	1	+ 1	0	0	0	0
							Peoria	AHL	23	7	8	15	- 1	26	3	0	1
F/A '07	TALBOT, Julian	C/L	6-00	185	03-24-85	Wahnapitae, ON	Peoria	AHL	26	5	6	11	- 5	12	3	0	1
7 (202) '09	TARDY, Max	C/R	6-00	188	10-27-90	Duluth, MN	Tri-City	USHL	21	6	9	15	- 2	20	4	0	1
##	DEFENSEMEN	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
5 (125) '08	BERGLUND, Kristofer	D/L	5-10	180	11-09-88	Umea, SWE	Luleå HF	SEL	30	2	6	8	- 8	12	1	0	0
1 (18) '07	COLE, Ian	D/L	6-01	211	01-18-89	Ann Arbor, MI	Notre Dame	CCHA	17	1	8	9	- 4	33	0	0	1
F/A '08	CUNDARI, Mark	D/L	5-10	200	04-23-90	Toronto, ON	Windsor	OHL	32	3	27	30	+33	81	0	0	1
4 (96) '07	FAIRCHILD, Cade	D/L	5-10	190	01-15-89	Duluth, MN	Minnesota	WCHA	17	0	8	8	- 5	18	0	0	0
Trade '08	FAST, T.J.	D/L	6-01	190	09-02-87	Calgary, AB	Peoria	AHL	5	0	0	0	- 1	2	0	0	0
							Alaska	ECHL	10	2	2	4	- 6	10	0	0	1
7 (184) '06	HELLSTRÖM, Alex	D/R	6-02	207	04-17-87	Falun, SWE	Luleå HF	SEL	20	0	1	1	- 8	50	0	0	0
3 (64) '06	JUNLAND, Jonas	D/L	6-02	200	11-15-87	Linköping, SWE	St. Louis	NHL	1	0	0	0	0	- 2	0	0	0
							Peoria	AHL	28	6	16	22	+ 9	20	4	0	1
1 (4) '08	PIETRANGELO, Alex	D/R	6-03	206	01-18-90	King City, ON	St. Louis	NHL	9	1	1	2	- 9	6	0	0	0
4 (48) '09	PONICH, Brett	D/L	6-06	205	02-22-91	Edmonton, AB	Portland	WHL	31	1	9	10	+ 1	38	0	0	0
Trade '08	RICHMOND, Danny	D/L	6-00	192	08-01-84	Chicago, IL	Peoria	AHL	25	1	8	9	- 3	86	1	0	0
1 (17) '09	RUNDBLAD, David	D/R	6-02	190	10-08-90	Lycksele, SWE	Skellefteå AIK	SEL	28	0	2	2	- 2	10	0	0	0
6 (168) '09	SHIELDS, David	D/R	6-03	216	01-27-91	Rochester, NY	Erie	OHL	32	5	6	11	- 9	18	5	0	0
F/A '08	STRACHAN, Tyson	D/R	6-03	225	10-20-84	Melfort, SK	St. Louis	NHL	6	0	2	2	+ 3	4	0	0	0
							Peoria	AHL	15	1	5	6	+ 6	33	0	0	1
4 (94) '06	TUREK, Ryan	D/R	6-00	185	09-22-87	Southfield, MI	Alaska	ECHL	19	1	2	3	+ 9	28	0	0	1
F/A '07	WAGNER, Steve	D/L	6-02	200	03-06-84	Grand Rapids, MN	Peoria	AHL	26	1	6	7	- 9	12	0	0	1
4 (95) '08	WARSOFSKY, David	D/L	5-08	170	05-30-90	Weymouth, MA	Boston University	HEA	13	4	4	8	+ 3	28	0	2	0

Drafted	GOALTENDERS	Ps/Ct	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2009-10 Club(s)	League	GP	Mins	GA	SO	GAA	W	L	OL	Shts	Sv %
2 (34) '08	ALLEN, Jake	G/L	6-02	175	08-07-90	Fredericton, NB	Montreal	QMJHL	23	1241	55	1	2.66	11	11	0	624	0.912
4 (106) '06	BERRA, Reto	G/L	6-04	189	01-03-87	Bulach, SUI	EHC Biel	NL-A	8	...	...	..	3.30	..	..	..	...	...
3 (85) '05	BISHOP, Ben	G/L	6-05	205	11-21-86	Denver, CO	Peoria	AHL	14	858	37	0	2.59	9	4	1	377	0.902
7 (185) '08	KARPOWICH, Paul	G/L	6-03	185	10-25-88	Thunder Bay, ON	Clarkson	ECAC	12	700	42	0	3.60	3	7	2	393	0.893
Trade	TOIVONEN, Hannu	G/L	6-02	200	05-18-84	Kalvola, FIN	Peoria	AHL	14	848	39	0	2.76	6	7	1	433	0.910

"Game Time" takes a look at five of the Blues' prospects who have performed above and beyond the others over the last seven days.

Jori LEHTERA	Philip McRAE	Brett SONNE	Hannu TOIVONEN	Steve WAGNER

** 4 games played this week	** 3 games played this week	** 4 games played this week	** 2 games played this week	** 3 games played this week
** 4 G, 2 A, minus-6	** 1 G, 2 A, plus-2	** 2 G, 1 A, plus-1	** 119 minutes, 3 goals against, 1-1-0 record	** 0 G, 2 A, plus-3
** 2 PIM, 2 power-play goals	** 0 PIM, 1 power-play goal, 1 game-wining goal	** 6 PIM, 1 power-play goal, 1 game-winning goal	** 1.51 GAA, 96.1% save percentage	** 6 PIM, 0 special teams goals.

Prospect Stats as of 12-06-09

Tomorrows Blues — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:23:25 -0000

Compiled by Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

ST. LOUIS BLUES 2009-10 PROSPECT STATS as of 06 December 2009

Lines with GREY backgrounds denote players above "prospect age" of 25 years.

##	FORWARDS	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
3 (78) '09	ANDRONOV, Sergei	RW/L	6-00	183	07-19-89	Moscow, RUS	Lada Togliatti	KHL	31	5	5	10	- 4	18	1	0	2
Trade '07	BARRIBALL, Jay	C/L	5-09	165	05-27-87	Prior Lake, MN	Minnesota	WCHA	5	2	2	4	+ 3	10	0	0	0
F/A '09	CRACKNELL, Adam	RW/R	6-03	215	07-15-85	Prince Albert, SK	Peoria	AHL	24	3	9	12	+ 1	8	1	1	1
6 (171) '05	DRAZENOVIC, Nick	C/L	6-01	200	01-14-87	Prince George, BC	Peoria	AHL	22	8	9	17	- 3	16	2	0	0
1 (13) '07	ELLER, Lars	F/L	6-00	198	05-08-89	Rodovre, DMK	Peoria	AHL	19	4	14	18	0	18	0	0	1
4 (100) '07	ERSTAD, Travis	F/R	6-04	185	11-09-88	Madison, WI	Wisconsin-Stevens Pt	NCAA Div III	9	3	5	8	...	32	2	0	0
2 (39) '07	HJALMARSSON, Simon	RW/R	5-11	170	02-01-89	Varnamo, SWE	Rögle BK	SEL	28	2	5	7	+ 1	8	0	0	0
2 (31) '06	KANA, Tomas	C/R	6-00	202	11-29-87	Opava, CZE	Alaska	ECHL	11	0	6	6	+ 2	10	0	0	0
3 (65) '08	LEHTERA, Jori	C/L	6-02	191	12-23-87	Helsinki, FIN	Tappara	SML	25	8	23	31	+ 9	18	3	1	0
3 (70) '08	LIVINGSTON, James	RW/R	6-02	213	03-08-90	Halifax, NS	Sault Ste. Marie	OHL	25	11	8	19	+ 5	24	5	0	3
2 (33) '08	McRAE, Philip	C/L	6-03	191	03-15-90	Apple Valley, MN	London	OHL	27	8	20	28	+ 3	41	2	1	3
6 (155) '08	NIGRO, Anthony	C/L	6-00	189	01-11-90	Woodbridge, ON	Ottawa	OHL	23	7	17	24	- 3	10	4	0	1
7 (190) '07	NILL, Trevor	C/R	6-01	180	04-11-89	Detroit, MI	Michigan State	CCHA	8	0	0	0	0	8	0	0	0
2 (44) '07	PALUSHAJ, Aaron	RW/R	6-00	185	09-07-89	Livonia, MI	Peoria	AHL	23	2	9	11	0	4	1	0	0
6 (160) '07	PELUSO, Anthony	RW/R	6-04	235	04-18-89	King City, ON	Peoria	AHL	11	1	0	1	- 1	43	0	0	0
F/A '07	PORTER, Chris	LW/L	6-01	205	05-29-84	Thunder Bay, ON	Peoria	AHL	24	7	6	13	+ 2	19	0	1	1
5 (156) '05	REAVES, Ryan	RW/R	6-02	200	01-20-87	Winnipeg, MB	Peoria	AHL	24	3	3	6	- 9	76	0	0	0
5 (124) '06	SACKRISON, Andrew	F/L	6-01	200	11-12-87	St. Louis Park, MN	Minnesota State	WCHA	11	2	2	4	- 1	4	0	0	0
4 (87) '08	SCHULTZ, Ian	RW/R	6-02	200	02-04-90	Calgary, AB	Calgary	WHL	30	11	13	24	+ 3	68	4	1	1
4 (108) '09	SHATTOCK, Tyler	RW/R	6-03	190	02-03-90	Salmon Arm, BC	Kamloops	WHL	29	16	19	35	+ 1	42	5	0	4
3 (85) '07	SONNE, Brett	C/L	6-00	187	05-16-89	Maple Ridge, BC	Peoria	AHL	21	2	3	5	-12	10	2	0	0
Trade '06	STASTNY, Yan	C/L	5-10	195	09-30-82	Quebec, QC	Peoria	AHL	20	6	8	14	- 2	8	3	0	1
F/A '07	TALBOT, Julian	C/L	6-00	185	03-24-85	Wahnapitae, ON	Peoria	AHL	22	4	5	9	- 5	12	2	0	0
7 (202) '09	TARDY, Max	C/R	6-00	188	10-27-90	Duluth, MN	Tri-City	USHL	19	6	8	14	- 3	20	4	0	1
##	DEFENSEMEN	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
F/A '09	BELL, Brendan	D/L	6-01	205	03-21-83	Ottawa, ON	Peoria	AHL	21	4	13	17	- 6	26	4	0	1
5 (125) '08	BERGLUND, Kristofer	D/L	5-10	180	11-09-88	Umea, SWE	Luleå HF	SEL	28	2	6	8	- 7	12	1	0	0
1 (18) '07	COLE, Ian	D/L	6-01	211	01-18-89	Ann Arbor, MI	Notre Dame	CCHA	17	1	8	9	- 4	33	0	0	1
F/A '08	CUNDARI, Mark	D/L	5-10	200	04-23-90	Toronto, ON	Windsor	OHL	28	3	24	27	+31	70	0	0	1
4 (96) '07	FAIRCHILD, Cade	D/L	5-10	190	01-15-89	Duluth, MN	Minnesota	WCHA	15	0	6	6	- 6	16	0	0	0
Trade '08	FAST, T.J.	D/L	6-01	190	09-02-87	Calgary, AB	Alaska	ECHL	9	2	1	3	- 4	8	0	0	1
7 (184) '06	HELLSTRÖM, Alex	D/R	6-02	207	04-17-87	Falun, SWE	Luleå HF	SEL	18	0	1	1	- 8	38	0	0	0
3 (64) '06	JUNLAND, Jonas	D/L	6-02	200	11-15-87	Linköping, SWE	Peoria	AHL	24	6	14	20	+ 7	18	4	0	1
1 (4) '08	PIETRANGELO, Alex	D/R	6-03	206	01-18-90	King City, ON	St. Louis	NHL	9	1	1	2	- 9	6	0	0	0
4 (48) '09	PONICH, Brett	D/L	6-06	205	02-22-91	Edmonton, AB	Portland	WHL	29	1	9	10	0	36	0	0	0
Trade '08	RICHMOND, Danny	D/L	6-00	192	08-01-84	Chicago, IL	Peoria	AHL	21	1	8	9	- 4	79	1	0	0
1 (17) '09	RUNDBLAD, David	D/R	6-02	190	10-08-90	Lycksele, SWE	Skellefteå AIK	SEL	25	0	2	2	- 2	8	0	0	0
6 (168) '09	SHIELDS, David	D/R	6-03	216	01-27-91	Rochester, NY	Erie	OHL	29	4	6	10	- 7	16	4	0	0
F/A '08	STRACHAN, Tyson	D/R	6-03	225	10-20-84	Melfort, SK	Peoria	AHL	11	0	3	3	+ 1	24	0	0	0
4 (94) '06	TUREK, Ryan	D/R	6-00	185	09-22-87	Southfield, MI	Alaska	ECHL	18	1	2	3	+11	26	0	0	1
F/A '07	WAGNER, Steve	D/L	6-02	200	03-06-84	Grand Rapids, MN	Peoria	AHL	22	1	4	5	-12	6	0	0	1
4 (95) '08	WARSOFSKY, David	D/L	5-08	170	05-30-90	Weymouth, MA	Boston University	HEA	11	4	4	8	+ 3	28	0	2	0

Drafted	GOALTENDERS	Ps/Ct	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2009-10 Club(s)	League	GP	Mins	GA	SO	GAA	W	L	OL	Shts	Sv %
2 (34) '08	ALLEN, Jake	G/L	6-02	175	08-07-90	Fredericton, NB	Montreal	QMJHL	20	1061	48	1	2.71	9	10	0	544	0.912
4 (106) '06	BERRA, Reto	G/L	6-04	189	01-03-87	Bulach, SUI	EHC Biel	NL-A	8	...	...	..	3.30	..	..	..	...	...
3 (85) '05	BISHOP, Ben	G/L	6-05	205	11-21-86	Denver, CO	Peoria	AHL	12	739	35	0	2.84	7	4	1	334	0.895
7 (185) '08	KARPOWICH, Paul	G/L	6-03	185	10-25-88	Thunder Bay, ON	Clarkson	ECAC	11	641	38	0	3.56	3	6	2	375	0.899
Trade	TOIVONEN, Hannu	G/L	6-02	200	05-18-84	Kalvola, FIN	Peoria	AHL	12	729	36	0	2.96	5	6	1	357	0.899

Rivermen Set For Run At Calder Cup In 2009-10

Tomorrows Blues — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:27:14 -0000

Tomorrow's Blues Online with Brian Weidler

The Peoria Rivermen prepare to embark on their fifth American Hockey League season this evening, and the prospects for their journey look to be as bright as the Proud Mary burning on the bow.

After the jump, a quick look at what will "play in Peoria" this season, followed by your comments.

Head coach Davis Payne, and new assistant Drake Berehowsky, have a variety of weapons to choose from up front this season. The Rivermen are strong at center, where top returning scorer Julian Talbot (20-23-43 in 43 GP last year) teams with veteran Yan Stastny and a bulked-up Nicholas Drazenovic to provide the Rivermen with the core of three balanced, productive lines.

A trio of highly-touted rookies from the Blues' strong 2007 draft -- first-rounder (13th overall) Lars Eller, second-rounder (44th overall) Aaron Palushaj, and third-rounder (85th overall) Brett Sonne -- will all find places on the top two lines. Or perhaps, as a unit themselves.

Returnee Chris Porter, and Calgary Flames' castoff Adam Cracknell, are expected to round out the top nine forward positions. AHL veterans Cam Paddock, Barry Tallackson, and Mitch Love, along with 2005 draftee Ryan Reaves, who had a strong training camp with the Blues, and rookie Anthony Peluso, should all rotate into duties on the fourth line.

The blueline corps, led by 2008-09 AHL All-Star Jonas Junland and NHL-experienced Brendan Bell, is expected to be among the top units in the American League this season. Junland and Bell provide a solid one-two punch on both offense and defense for the Rivermen, and the rest of the d-corps is equally well-balanced.

208 free agent acquisition Justin Fletcher led all Peoria blueliners in scoring last year (8-24-32 in 68 games), and the veteran also led the entire team in plus-minus, with a solid plus-20 mark.

Solid veteran Adrian Veideman is around to provide a physical presence on defense, as is Tyson Strachan, who was the last cut from the Blues to be assigned to Peoria this year. Danny Richmond, acquired in trade last year from Pittsburgh, is a strong two-way player as well, and Steve Wagner seems poised for a breakout season.

In goal, the Rivermen should be well-fortified behind their solid defense. Ben Bishop will be sent to Peoria from St. Louis once the Blues return from Sweden, and the 6' 7 local product will join Finnish returnee Hannu Toivonen -- he of the Ed Staniowski paint job on his mask -- to give the Rivermen as good and as deep a netminding tandem as any in the league. Former OHLer and Canadian University goalie Danny Battocchio is on hand as insurance until Bishop's return.

The Rivermen open the 2009-10 AHL season tonight against none other than the Grand Rapids Griffins... the farm team of the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop at Carver Arena is 7:00 PM, and your Game Time Prospect Department will be on hand with live updates. So, until tonight, remember... "if we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil." Auf wiedersehen.

PEORIA RIVERMEN 2009-10 ROSTER

##	FORWARDS	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
19	CRACKNELL, Adam	RW / R	6-02	211	07-15-85	Prince Albert, SK	Quad City	AHL	79	10	16	26	-12	36	3	0	1
10	DRAZENOVIC, Nicholas	C / L	6-01	182	01-14-87	Prince George, BC	Peoria	AHL	76	12	21	33	- 1	43	3	2	3
20	ELLER, Lars	C / L	6-00	198	05-08-89	Rodovre, Denmark	Frölunda HC	SEL	48	12	17	29	+13	28	3	0	1
24	LOVE, Mitch	LW / L	6-00	200	06-15-84	Quesnel, BC	Houston	AHL	63	2	4	6	- 6	214	0	0	0
18	PADDOCK, Cam	C / R	6-01	185	03-22-83	N. Vancouver, BC	Peoria	AHL	60	8	7	15	- 3	96	0	0	0
8	PALUSHAJ, Aaron	RW / R	6-00	185	09-07-89	Livonia, MI	Michigan	CCHA	39	13	37	50	+25	26	4	0	2
15	PELUSO, Anthony	RW / R	6-04	235	04-18-89	King City, ON	Soo / Brampton	OHL	63	20	17	37	+ 1	125	3	2	2
11	PORTER, Chris	LW / L	6-01	201	05-29-84	Thunder Bay, ON	Peoria	AHL	74	7	16	23	+ 1	72	0	1	3
38	REAVES, Ryan	RW / R	6-02	220	01-20-87	Winnipeg, MB	Peoria	AHL	57	8	9	17	+ 9	130	0	1	0
29	SONNE, Brett	C / L	6-00	187	05-16-89	Maple Ridge, BC	Calgary	WHL	62	48	52	100	+39	58	16	1	11
21	STASTNY, Yan	C / L	5-10	189	09-30-82	Quebec, PQ	St. Louis	NHL	34	3	4	7	-14	20	0	0	0
12	TALBOT, Julian	C / L	5-11	180	03-24-85	Wahnapitae, ON	Peoria	AHL	65	20	23	43	+ 7	43	10	0	3
27	TALLACKSON, Barry	RW / R	6-05	210	04-14-83	Grafton, ND	Lowell	AHL	56	11	10	21	- 7	29	2	1	3
##	DEFENSEMEN	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
7	BELL, Brendan	D / L	6-01	205	03-31-83	Ottawa, ON	Ottawa	NHL	53	6	15	21	- 5	24	5	0	1
36	FLETCHER, Justin	D / L	5-11	185	03-30-83	Maryville, IL	Peoria	AHL	68	8	24	32	+20	50	2	0	3
44	JUNLAND, Jonas	D / L	6-02	198	11-15-87	Linköping, Sweden	Peoria	AHL	70	13	18	31	- 1	52	6	2	1
26	LAMPMAN, Bryce	D / L	6-01	200	08-31-82	Rochester, MN	Khabarovsk Amur	KHL	9	0	0	0	- 3	4	0	0	0
2	RICHMOND, Danny	D / L	6-00	194	08-01-84	Chicago, IL	W-B/S - Peoria	AHL	73	4	18	22	+ 3	129	2	0	1
25	STRACHAN, Tyson	D / R	6-03	225	10-30-84	Melfort, SK	St. Louis	NHL	30	0	3	3	+ 8	39	0	0	0
5	VEIDEMAN, Adrian	D / L	6-02	190	04-13-83	Sicamous, BC	Iowa	AHL	63	6	21	27	+ 2	56	3	0	1
14	WAGNER, Steve	D / L	6-02	190	03-06-84	Grand Rapids, MN	Peoria	AHL	47	6	16	22	-10	38	1	1	0

##	GOALTENDERS	Ct	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	Mins	GA	SO	GAA	W	L	OL	Shts	Sv %
1	BATTOCCHIO, Danny	L	5-10	175	12-21-85	Sudbury, ON	St. Francis Xavier	AUS	26	1474	81	1	3.30	15	11	0	760	0.893
35	TOIVONEN, Hannu	L	6-02	200	05-18-84	Kalvola, Finland	Ilves Tampere	SML	52	2913	130	3	2.68	19	23	9	1441	0.910

Rivermen drop 4-2 decision to IceHogs in preseason opener

Tomorrows Blues — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:49:39 -0000

At Carver Arena in Peoria last night. Rematch tonight at The Big Orange Box in downtown Rockford.

Lars Eller gets on the scoresheet 42 seconds into his North American debut, and St. Louis native Jack Combs chips in an assist as well. Chris Morehouse, who was at the Pro Orientation Camp, looks to be working hard to win a spot on the roster as well.

Hannu Toivonen gets bowled over by Akim Aliu -- who sounds like he's going to be a serious thorn-in-one's-side that the Rivermen will have to deal with all year long -- but stays in the game, and stops 36 of 39 shots against for a 92.3% save percentage.

Here's a nice photo of Eller, by Ron Johnson of the Peoria Journal-Star staff:

Game aricle from Rivermen.net.

Game article from the Peoria Journal-Star.

Box score, also courtesy of the Peoria Journal-Star.

ICEHOGS 4, RIVERMEN 2

Scoring ... 1st . 2nd . 3rd . F

Rockford ... 1 ... 1 ... 2 -- 4

Rivermen ... 2 ... 0 ... 0 -- 2

First period -- 1 Rivermen, Cracknell 1 (Morehouse, Eller), :42. 2 Rivermen, Ryznar 1 (Richmond, Combs), 5:25. 3 Rockford, Kearns 1 (Nesbitt), 7:01. Penalties -- Hellstrom, Peo, minor-double major (2-min instigating, 5-min fighting, 10-min misconduct), 9:03; Aliu, Rck, major (5-min fighting), 9:03; Reaves, Peo (highsticking), 19:23.

Second period -- 4 Rockford, Hodgman 1 (Danis-Pepin, Ewing), 19:32. Penalties -- Morehouse, Peo (roughing), 10:46; Danis-Pepin, Rck (roughing), 10:46.

Third period -- 5 Rockford, Aliu 1 (Davis), 15:20. 6 Rockford, Nesbitt 1 (en) (Cullen), 19:09. Penalties -- Fast, Peo (slashing), 2:17; Flinn, Rck (goaltender interference), 9:15; Morehouse, Peo, major (5-min fighting), 13:25; Brennan, Rck, major (5-min fighting), 13:25; Love, Peo, minor-major (slashing, 10-min misconduct), minor served by Combs, 15:38; Cullen, Rck (holding), 16:57.

Shots on goal -- Rockford 10 15 15 -- 40. Rivermen 7 14 9 -- 30.

Power play chances -- Rockford, 0 of 4. Rivermen, 0 of 3.

Goalies -- Rockford, Richards 1-0-0 (30 shots-28 saves). Rivermen, Toivonen 0-1-0 (39-36), 1 empty-net goal.

Officials -- Referee, Kaval. Linesmen -- Bokal, Kneale.

Attendance -- 1,807.

Palushaj Leading Way For Baby Blues

Tomorrows Blues — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:29:11 -0000

It's a prospect samiche.

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan -- The St. Louis Blues' prospects have been hot and cold thus far in the annual Traverse City Prospect Tournament.

On the hot side, the Baby Blues' top line of Philip McRae between Aaron Palushaj and Anthony Nigro -- all recent draft picks by St. Louis -- have combined for seven goals and 16 points through three games played, and the scoring has been ably backed up by forwards Anthony Peluso (3 GP, 2-1-3, minus-1, 7 PIM) and FA Jack Combs (3 GP, 1-2-3, even, 4 PIM). The special teams, both power play and penalty kill, are leading the tournament, and the local players attending camp on a tryout basis (Combs and defenseman Tony DeHart) have played well.

Cold as ice, however, have been highly-touted draft picks Alex Pietrangelo on defense, and forwards Brett Sonne and James Livingston. Each is projected to play a key role in the Blues' near-term future, but they are a combined minus-8 with two goals and two assists between them at the tournament.

After the jump, a look back at the three games played by the Blues thus far in Traverse City, and a preview of the third-place tilt coming up on Sept. 10.

The tournament opened for the Blues with a 9-6 barnburner of a win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday, Sept. 6. Sonne opened the Blues' scoring with a goal at the 7:00 mark of the first period, and the race was on from there.

Eight different players notched goals for the Blues in this one, with Palushaj being the only 'Note to tally twice. Solo goals came from the sticks of Sonne, Combs, T.J Fast, Anthony Peluso, McRae, 2009 draftee Tyler Shattock, and an empty-netter from Ian Schultz at 19:38 of the third period.

"Goalie of the future" Jake Allen got the start, and played reasonably well despite allowing six goals. Allen faced 37 Dallas shots for the game, 15 second-period shots against sandwiched by 11-ahot efforts from the Stars in the first and third periods.

On Monday, Sept. 7, the Blues faced off against Central Division rival Columbus. The Jackets struck first in this one, with 2008 draftee Matt Calvert beating Blues' tryout goalie Peter DiSalvo at 1:21 of the first period. A pair of 2009 draft picks built a 2-0 lead for Columbus, with forward Tomas Kubalik scoring off of a feed from defenseman and first-round pick John Moore, before Pietrangelo got the Blues on the board with a power-play tally from McRae at 14:17 of the opening stanza.

The Blues pulled to within a goal on three different occasions in the game, including Fast's power-play tally that literally beat the buzzer with under a second to play in the game, but were unable to get the equalizer past Jackets' netminder Andrew Loverock.

After a day off on Tuesday, the Blues faced off against Minnesota for a shot at a share of first place in the torunament's Western Conference alignment. A regulation win for St. Louis would tie the Blues and Wild with 2-1-0 marks in the tournament, and for most of the game, it looked like that was exactly what was destined to happen.

The Blues built a 3-0 lead early in the third period, thanks to Nigro's second goal of the game and the tournament, but Minnesota struck back to spoil Jake Allen's shutout bid just 42 seconds after Nigro's goal. The Wild tallied three times on 18 shots in the third period, including a goal with just three seconds to play and goalie Matt Hackett pulled for the extra attacker, to send the game into overtime.

Two five-minute OT periods later, with the game still knotted at three, the teams went into a shootout session. McRae and tournament scoring leader Palushaj (3 G, 4 A) each tallied for the Blues, while Allen stoned all four Minnesota shooters he faced to give the 'Note a 4-3 shootout victory. The SO win gives Allen a 1-0-1 mark for the tournament, with a 4.15 GAA and 87.3% save percentage in 130 minutes of playing time.

The Blues will practice tomorrow morning, and face the New York Rangers (also 2-1-0 in the preliminary round) tomorrow at 6:00 PM Eastern time for third place in the tournament. The Rangers are led by FA winger Luke Walker (3 GP, 2-2-4, +1, 4 PIM) and backstopped by goaltending prospect Chad Johnson (2 GP, 120 minutes, 2-0-0, 2.00 GAA, 93.8% save percentage).

Blue Notes from Traverse City: The Blues were the only team in the eight-team tournament to be designated the "home" team in each of their three preliminary round nd games ... special teams have played a big role in getting the Blues to this point; they lead the tournament with six power-play goals in 19 attempts, a 31.58% mark, and also have the best penalty kill in the tourney, successfully nullifying 17 of 18 penalties against (94.44%) ... on the downside, the Blues have also allowed the most shorthanded goals in the tourney, with three against in three games ... through three games, Palushaj leads the entire tournament in scoring with three goals and seven points, one ahead of Columbus prospect Matt Calvert ... Palushaj is also the tournament assist leader with four, while Calvert leads all goal scorers with five in three games ... Nigro and defenseman T.J. Fast lead the Blues in plus-minus, each at a plus-3, while Alex Pietrangelo is tied with tryout players Leigh Salters and Adam Perry at minus-4 for the worst marks on the team ... Pietrangelo has been a minus player in each game of the tourney for the Blues to date.

Traverse City Prospect Tournament Preview

Tomorrows Blues — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:51:02 -0000

Tomorrow's Blues Online with Brian Weidler

The Blues will be making their annual trip to northen Michigan over Labor Day weekend to take part in the annual Traverse City Prospect Tournament, hosted by the ~~Evil Empire~~ Detroit Red Wings.

Joining the Blues in the Western Conference alignment of this tournament will be Central Division rivals Columbus, as well as Dallas and Minnesota. The host Red Wings lead the pack in the Eastern Conference lineup, joined by Atlanta, Carolina, and the New York Rangers.

This year's tournament will feature some outstanding prospects from the eight teams involved, and the Blues' lineup is second to none in the number and quality of the prospects involved. Nearly all of the Blues' roster for this tournament is comprised of draft picks from the last four drafts (2006 to this year), and there will be no less than 25 recent first- or second-round picks involved in this tournament, including six on the Blues' roster.

After the jump, we'll take a look at the Blues' roster for this year's tournament, and preview some of the top young talent that the Blues will be facing off against.

TRAVERSE CITY TOURNEY -- EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

...

In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Thrashers will be sending three highly-regarded picks from the 2009 draft along with a small-but-skilled lineup. First-rounder Evander Kane (48-48-96, 89 PIM with the WHL's Vancouver Giants in 2008-09)) will be the Thrashers' "go-to" guy in this tournament, and should receive some quality support from OHL-bound USNTDP alumnus Jeremy Morin. Atlanta will also feature good size on defense (averaging 6-03, 201 pounds) and 2009 fourth-rounder Edward Paqsuale, the top-rated North American goalie in this year's draft, between the pipes.

The Carolina Hurricanes' entry features three recent first-round picks -- 2009's Philippe Paradis, a Quebec League goal-scorer; 2008 first-rounder Zach Boychuk, who scored 57 points in 45 games in the WHL last year; and 2007 top pick Brandon Sutter, who spent most of last season in the NHL. The 'Canes will get offense from these players, as well as from Drayson Bowman and Nick Dodge, but they have a suspect defense (only 2006 second-rounder Jamie McBain is considered a top prospect) and may also have the weakest goaltending in the tournament.

Host Detroit will feature a European flavor up front -- no surprise there -- with 2009 second-rounder Tomas Tatar from Slovakia and third-rounder Andrej Nestrasil, a Czech who put up 22-35-57 numbers in 66 QMJHL games last season. The Wings' lineup also features 2009 32nd overall pick Landon Ferraro up front, and a pair of defensemen with solid AHL experience in Logan Pyett (61, 3-11-14, 12 PIM) and Sergei Kolosov (70, 4-7-11, 36 PIM), both of whom made their pro debuts with Grand Rapids last year. Thomas McCollum, who disappointed with Team USA in the World Juniors last year, should get the nod in goal for Detroit.

The New York Rangers' entry will be led by budding star Evgeny Grachev, who scored 40 goals and 80 points in the regular season, and added 11-14-25 numbers in a deep playoff run for the Brampton Battalion of the OHL last year. USNTDP alumnus Ryan Bourque will also chip in offensively, as will Roman Horak, who was a point-per-game player in the Czech junior league last season. On defense, 2008 first-rounder Michael Del Zotto (13-50-63 in 62 OHL games last year) leads the way for the Blueshirts, and highly-regarded Chad Johnson (1.96 GAA, 94.0 save % for Alaska-Fairbanks in 2008-09) splits duties with 2009 draftee Scott Stajcer in goal.

TRAVERSE CITY TOURNEY SCHEDULE -- ST. LOUIS

Date	Time	Event	Location
Sep. 6	10:30 AM	Practice	David's Rink
Sep. 6	6:00 PM	Game vs. Dallas	David's Rink
Sep. 7	10:30 AM	Practice	David's Rink
Sep. 7	6:00 PM	Game vs. Columbus	David's Rink
Sep. 8	12:00 PM	Practice	Huntingon Rink
Sep. 9	10:30 AM	Practice	David's Rink
Sep. 9	6:30 PM	Game vs. Minnesota	David's Rink

TRAVERSE CITY TOURNEY -- WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

...

Facing off against the Blues in the Western Conference will be the Columbus Blue Jackets, who will bring a team loaded with free agent tryout players to Traverse City. One draft pick that should see significant ice time there, however, is 2009 fifth-rounder Tomas Kubalik. The 18-year-old winger has good size at 6' 2, 189 pounds, and spent most of the 2008-09 season with Plzen HC of the Czech Extraliga, where he notched a goal and an assist, with a minus-9 and 64 PIM in 32 games. The Jackets will also be bringing 2009 21st-overall pick John Moore (14-25-39 in 57 GP with Chicago/USHL) to Traverse City, as well as big (6' 6, 209) Quebecois d-man Steven Delisle.

The long-time rival Dallas Stars, by contrast, will be loaded with draft picks, including 2009 eighth-overall selection Scott Glennie (28-42-70 in 55 GP with Brandon/WHL) and Russian defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy, who managed 6-13-19 totals in 67 games while on loan to the Peoria Rivermen last year. Unheralded Russian import and 2007 draftee Sergei Korostin (13-23-36 in 49 GP for London and Peterborough of the OHL last year) should also provide some offense. In goal, the Stars will rely on rookies Richard Bachman (14-11-10, 3 SO, 2.63, .914 with Colorado College/WCHA) and Tyler Beskorowany (11-12-10, 1 SO, 3.64, .902 with Owen Sound/OHL).

The Minnesota Wild entry will also feature several FA's, but will rest their hopes primarily on 2009 77th-overall pick Matt Hackett (34-15-3, 2 SO, 3.04, .913 with Plymouth/OHL) in goal. Hackett, a 6'2, 170-pounder from London, Ontario, will set up behind a defense that includes offensive-minded Mario Scandella (10-27-37, 8 PP goals in 58 games with Val-d'Or/QMJHL), as well as tryout Bjorn Krupp, son of former NHL'er and dogsled racer Uwe Krupp. Up front, the Wild will look for offense from 2007 draftee Cody Almond (33-33-66, 105 PIM in 70 games with Kelowna/WHL) and FA Czech import Tomas Knotek (69 GP, 22-44-66, +17 with Halifax/QMHL).

The Blues will be taking 22 players to Traverse City, and only nine of those players were not drafted by the team since 2006. Of that nine, defensemen TJ Fast (LA's second pick, 60th overall in 2005) and Mark Cundari (signed as a free agent by the Blues in 2008, after last year's Traverse City tournament) are contracted to the Blues. Further, local product Tony DeHart (a defenseman from Ballwin, MO playing for Oshawa of the OHL) has attended the last two Blues' Development/Orientation Camps, and has one year of major junior eligibility left, so his performance at this tournament may lead to a contract in much the same way as Cundari's performance did last season.

The top seven forwards feature six draftees, and another local product. Jack Combs, a left-shooting winger from St. Louis, is listed as a RW on the roster, but played the left side at the recent Pro Orientation Camp as well as with Saginaw of the OHL this year. While toiling just down the road from Traverse City in 2008-09, Combs picked up 32 goals and 75 points to go along with 102 PIM. A solid special-teams player, Combs racked up 10 power-play goals as well as four shorthanded tallies, and five of his goals were game-winners. In an eight-game playoff run for the Spirit, Combs struck for nine goals (3 PPG, 2 GWG) and 13 points. A player with no major junior eligibility left, Combs' performance at in Traverse City will determine if the 20-year-old ends up in Peoria this year, where the Blues' organization can use some scoring pop on the port side.

The rest of the top six include luminaries such as C Philip McRae (33rd overall in 2008), RW's Aaron Palushaj (44h overall in 2007) and James Livingston (70th overall in 20098), C Brett Sonne (85th overall in 2007), 2009 draftee (108th overall) Tyler Shattock at right wing, and left-shooting center Anthony Nigro (155th overall in 2008), who will likely be asked to play the left wing.

Each of these players scored at least 20 goals in major junior last year (from Livingston's 20 to Sonne's 48), except Palushaj, who still struck for 13 in 39 games while under the tutelage of Blues' legend Red Berenson at Michigan (CCHA). Shattock (19) and Sonne (16) reached double figures in power play goals last season, along with Combs and 6' 4, 211-pound free-agent tryout forward Nick MacNeil (18 PPG; 30-23-53 in 64 games for Cape Breton of the QMJHL). Livingston, McRae and Nigro each chipped in nine PPG on their respective major junior teams, and Palushaj's abilities as a set-up man round out what should be a dynamic assortment of power-play specialists for the Blues' coaching staff to send onto the ice in Traverse City.

Sonne's 100 points in the rough-and-tumble Western League set the scoring standard for the Blues' prospects on this year's Traverse City roster, and Sonne's leadership abilities coupled with his emerging scoring prowess to net him the WHL's Eastern Conference Player of the Year award in 2008-09. He and McRae, who was better than a point-per-game player (29-31-60 in 59 GP) in the OHL last year, will likely find themselves centering the top two lines. Palushaj, Livingston and Shattock (30 G, 69 points last year) will rotate into the two top RW slots, and old Ontario League hands Combs and Nigro should nail down the top slots on the port side.

Even the Blues' bottom two lines feature some scoring pop; RW's Anthony Peluso (20 G, 125 PIM) and Ian Schultz (15 G, 127 PIM) bring a nice combination of size, grit, and scoring touch in a support role, and tryout LW Adam Perry posted 23 goals and 56 points in just 45 games with the Arizona Sundogs of the Central League in 2008-09. Leigh Salters, a free-agent tryout player who also attended the Blues' Orientation Camp in July, brings size (6' 4, 225) and grit to the fourth line, and FA center Brent Borgen comes from St. Cloud of the WCHA to round out the roster up front.

The defense will be led by 2008 fourth-overall pick Alex Pietrangelo, who started 2008-09 with the Blues before returning to major junior with the Niagara Ice Dogs, and then finishing the season in Peoria. Pietrangelo, who reminds many observers of a young Chris Pronger, has the physical attributes of Pronger in his early NHL career at 6' 3 and a slender 206 pounds. Pietrangelo also plays a Pronger-style game in that he makes a good first pass and has good offensive instincts; and again drawing comparisons to a young Pronger, Pietrangelo has yet to fill out and develop the mean streak necessary to be a dominant NHL defenseman. It took Pronger a few years in the NHL to grow into that kind of player, and Pietrangelo appears to be well on the way to the same ultimate destination.

At the other end of the physical spectrum, OHL veteran Cundari will probably fill the number 2 defenseman role. Not the biggest of players at 5' 10 and 200 pounds, Cundari is nonetheless a talented offensive force from the blueline, and his grit and character are evidenced by his role as captain of the Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires last year, as well as his 143 minutes in penalty time over 60 regular-season games. While Cundari does not have the ideal size to play defense in the NHL, he has all the other tools needed, and indeed is of comparable size to Mathieu Schneider, Jaroslav Spacek, Stephane Robidas, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Dan Boyle... all of whom have had long and successful NHL careers.

Big 18-year-old Brett Ponich is another player in the Pietrangelo mold, with a little less-developed offensive skillset and a more highly-evolved physical game than his fellow Blues' prospect. A dark horse draft pick at 48th overall this past June, Ponich impressed most observers with his poise and confidence at the July Orientation Camp, and a strong showing here (and at the regular Blues' camp in two weeks) could lead to Ponich following in Pietrangelo's skates as an 18-year-old starting the year in the NHL.

Fast, who spent most of last year in Peoria, and 2006 draftee Ryan Turek, who started 2008-09 at Michigan State before leaving school in mid-season to skate for the Alaska Aces, will also play key roles in Traverse City for the Blues. Both are "tweeners," in the sense that they're not as offensively-gifted as a Cundari or a Pietrangelo, but not strictly stay-at-home physical defensemen either, although both can play that role when needed. Free-agent hopeful DeHart falls into that category as well, and 2009 sixth-round selection David Shields will use this tournament to work out some development issues before, in all probability, returning to the Erie (PA) Otters of the Ontario League for the upcoming season.

In goal, the bulk of the work is expected to fall to 2008 second-rounder (34th overall) Jake Allen. The Fredericton, New Brunswick native will use this tournament as a tune-up for the QMJHL season with Junior de Montréal, and for a possible shot at the starters' role for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships, after turning a few heads at the recent Orientation Camp. Allen won 28 of his 53 starts, posting three shutouts along the way, and finished with a respectable 2.86 GAA and 91.6% save percentage for la petite Bordeaux.

Backing up Allen will be 2009 draft-eligible Peter DiSalvo of the OHL's Barrie Colts. DiSalvo, an Oakville, Ontario native, was one of the older players eligible for the 2009 draft (a November 1990 birthdate), and managed very respectable numbers in 2008-09 with a 15-13-4 record, three shutouts, a 2.83 GAA and a 91.9% save percentage. DiSalvo may be in the same position as DeHart, in that a solid performance here could very well lead to a contract and return to major junior, as the Blues did with Cundari last year.

ST. LOUIS BLUES 2009 TRAVERSE CITY PROSPECT TOURNAMENT ROSTER

##	FORWARDS	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
70*	BORGEN, Brent	C/L	5-11	188	01-17-85	Mahtomedi, MN	St. Cloud State	WCHA	31	4	7	11	+ 3	16	1	0	0
68*	COMBS, Jack	RW/L	5-11	193	01-26-88	St. Louis, MO	Saginaw	OHL	62	32	43	75	+ 9	102	14	4	5
67	LIVINGSTON, James	RW/R	6-02	213	03-08-90	Halifax, NS	Sault Ste. Marie	OHL	66	20	17	37	-26	98	9	0	0
80*	MacNEIL, Nick	C/L	6-04	211	01-01-89	Creignish, NS	Cape Breton	QMJHL	64	30	23	53	+13	35	18	0	6
38	McRAE, Philip	C/L	6-03	191	03-15-90	Apple Valley, MN	London	OHL	59	29	31	60	+ 6	54	9	2	6
54	NIGRO, Anthony	C/L	6-00	189	01-11-90	Woodbridge, ON	Guelph / Ottawa	OHL	67	30	39	69	+17	59	9	1	6
52	PALUSHAJ, Aaron	RW/R	6-00	185	09-07-89	Livonia, MI	Michigan	CCHA	39	13	37	50	+25	26	4	0	2
59	PELUSO, Anthony	RW/R	6-04	235	04-18-89	King City, ON	Soo / Brampton	OHL	63	20	17	37	+ 1	125	3	2	2
72*	PERRY, Adam	LW/L	5-11	185	01-12-87	Peterborough, ON	Arizona	CHL	45	23	33	56	+ 1	44	5	4	3
64*	SALTERS, Leigh	LW/L	6-04	225	03-27-89	London, ON	Guelph / London	OHL	36	4	7	11	+ 5	54	0	0	0
62	SCHULTZ, Ian	RW/R	6-02	200	02-04-90	Calgary, AB	Calgary	WHL	58	15	26	41	+19	127	4	0	0
84	SHATTOCK, Tyler	RW/R	6-03	190	02-03-90	Salmon Arm, BC	Kamloops	WHL	68	30	39	69	- 4	82	19	2	5
76	SONNE, Brett	C/L	6-00	187	05-16-89	Maple Ridge, BC	Calgary	WHL	62	48	52	100	+39	58	16	1	11
##	DEFENSEMEN	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
63	CUNDARI, Mark	D/L	5-10	200	04-23-90	Woodbridge, ON	Windsor	OHL	60	10	22	32	+27	143	0	1	2
78	DeHART, Tony	D/R	6-02	185	03-20-90	Ballwin, MO	Oshawa	OHL	63	7	20	27	- 6	76	2	0	1
61	FAST, T.J.	D/L	6-00	185	09-02-87	Calgary, AB	Peoria	AHL	46	1	4	5	+ 2	12	0	0	0
27	PIETRANGELO, Alex	D/R	6-03	206	01-18-90	King City, ON	Niagara	OHL	36	8	21	29	+ 1	32	2	0	3
56	PONICH, Brett	D/L	6-06	204	02-22-91	Beaumont, AB	Portland	WHL	72	1	17	18	-19	117	0	0	0
58	SHIELDS, David	D/R	6-03	216	01-27-91	Rochester, NY	Erie	OHL	61	1	16	17	+24	28	0	0	0
73	TUREK, Ryan	D/R	6-00	185	09-22-87	Southfield, MI	Alaska	ECHL	35	3	3	6	+ 7	26	0	0	0

##	GOALTENDERS	Ps/Ct	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2008-09 Club(s)	League	GP	Mins	GA	SO	GAA	W	L	OL	Shts	Sv %
60	ALLEN, Jake	G/L	6-02	175	08-07-90	Fredericton, NB	Montreal	QMJHL	53	3023	144	3	2.86	28	25	0	1706	0.916
85*	DiSALVO, Peter	G/L	6-00	180	11-14-90	Oakville, ON	Barrie	OHL	34	1948	92	3	2.83	15	13	4	1130	0.919

	Jake Allen	Brent Borgen	Jack Combs	Mark Cundari	Tony DeHart	Peter DiSalvo	T.J. Fast

James Livingston	Nick MacNeil	Philip McRae	Anthony Nigro	Aaron Palushaj	Anthony Peluso	Adam Perry	Alex Pietrangelo

Brett Ponich	Leigh Salters	Ian Schulltz	Tyler Shattock	David Shields	Brett Sonne	Ryan Turek

Reason # 46,233 to hate the friggin' Red Wings...

Tomorrows Blues — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:33:10 -0000

Bertuzzi offered contract with Detroit, pending physical.

So the team that we hate the most signs a player that most of us hate... should be good times at the Scott this season.

Fan ta Detroit...

Sorry, But This Is Too Good NOT To Be On The Front Page...

Tomorrows Blues — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:24:55 -0000

First time the Hawks come to San-Louie this year, I want to hear the "KEEP THE CHANGE! KEEP THE CHANGE!" chant coming from Section 305...

A Few Minutes With... Brett Ponich

Tomorrows Blues — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:21:26 -0000

Tomorrow's Blues Online with Brian Weidler

The Blues are quietly building a very impressive stable of young defensemen, through both trades (Carlo Colaiacovo) and free-agent signings (Brendan Bell), but especially through the NHL Entry Draft. In each of the last four drafts, the Blues have spent a first-round pick on a defenseman (Erik Johnson, 1st overall 2006; Ian Cole, 18th overall, 2007; Alex Pietrangelo, 4th overall, 2008; and David Rundblad, 17th overall, 2009).

In total, 12 of the Blues' last 35 picks in the NHL Entry Draft, going back to the 2006 draft, have been blueliners. Of these picks, 2009 second-rounder Brett Ponich is the tallest at 6' 6, and brings with him perhaps the loftiest set of expectations as well, considering his draft position and ranking going into the draft.

After the jump, check out what the latest addition to the Blues' burgeoning stable of potential impact defensemen has to say about being drafted in the second round, who he patterns his game after, and more...

Ponich, a native of Beaumont, Alberta, may well be this year's poster boy for "off-the-board picks" by Jarmo Kekalainen and he Blues' scouting staff. The 6' 6, 205-pound southpaw was not ranked at all by NHL Central Scouting in their Midterm Rankings, and rose to 151st overall in their Final Rankings.

On his NHL Draft Notes blog, "Red Line Report" scout and contributing editor Michael Remmerde summed up what was for many the consensus on Ponich going into last June's draft:

"...the more I look at my notes, the more I realize this is a pretty decent mid-round sleeper. I just wish he showed just a little more natural aggressiveness. If I'm in an organization that needs this role (big stay-at-home d-man), you'd have to argue pretty hard for this guy with your 4th... maybe even your 3rd, depending on who else is available. I'd guess he goes somewhere in the 3rd or 4th. Some whispers around that he could sneak into the 2nd round, but that's iffy to me."

Kekalainen and the Blues heard the whispers, and took a flyer on the big Albertan midway through the second round in Montreal. Your "Game Time" Prospect Department had a chat with Ponich after a practice at the Blues' Pro Orientation Camp in early July, and here's what this gentle giant had to say about his draft position, and about his future with the Blues.

GAME TIME: Brett, the first thing I wanted to ask you is, what was your reaction to being drafted in the second round after being rated somewhat lower than that? Did you think you could go that high?

PONICH: No, I was really trying to just get drafted. My goal going into the year was to be drafted, and going in the second round was exciting. I had heard a few rumors, and didn't know exactly where I would go, but being drafted by St. Louis is very exciting.

GAME TIME: OK. One of my readers is a guy that's in the Army, and he's deploying to Iraq soon. He wanted me to tell you that when he comes back next year, he wants to hear about you knocking on the door of playing in the NHL, or else. Do you think you can meet that timetable?

PONICH: You know, I don't know right now. I will definitely try, because I want to be here. I want to play here this year if I can; I want to be here right now. I love this city, and I'd definitely love to play for the Blues.

GAME TIME: This organization has a lot of talent and depth on defense, as you probably know. How do you feel about being in an organization that has so much talent at your position? Would you have preferred to be drafted to some place where you might have an easier path to the NHL?

PONICH: I don't think there's any such thing as an easy path to the NHL. No matter what team you're going to, it's going to be tough to crack the roster. There are good players on every team, and you know, St. Louis does have a great defense. They've got a lot of great young players coming up, and it just means I'll have to work a little harder to try and grab a spot.

GAME TIME: OK, now some people have said that your skating isn't all that, but it sure didn't look bad to me when you were out there. What do you think about your skating? Would you say that's one of your strengths, or is it something you might want to work on a little bit?

PONICH: My skating is for sure something I want to work on as much as possible. You can never be too fast, or too quick.

I've been out in Portland this past month; actually, I was out there during the draft. I've been on the ice pretty much twice a day working on skating, doing that kind of thing, working with (ex-Winter Hawk and current Buffalo Sabre forward) Paul Gaustad.

I don't think there's anything I overlook when I'm training. Skating is one of the things that I put an emphasis on, but I try to improve everything.

"I want to be here. I want to play here this year if I can; I want to be here right now. I love this city, and I'd definitely love to play for the Blues ... St. Louis does have a great defense. They've got a lot of great young players coming up, and it just means I'll have to work a little harder to try and grab a spot."
--Brett Ponich

GAME TIME: OK, some of the basic questions now. Who would you say you model your game after?

PONICH: Oh, I love to watch Chris Pronger. He's a big guy like me, and he controls the pace of the game with his passing. He makes great passes, never throws it off the boards, always makes a smart play, so I love to watch him.

I also watch Hal Gill, because he's another big defenseman who makes the safe play, the simple play, and he's also a smart player. Sticking with the big guys, I love to watch Zdeno Chara too. He's tough, he's smart, and he's a great player.

GAME TIME: Yeah, Jarmo Kekalainen mentioned your name in the same sentence with Chara after you had been picked by the Blues...

PONICH: Oh, I don't know if I'm ready for that yet, but if I can get close to him, that'd be awesome.

GAME TIME: Do you consider yourself a physical kind of player, or are you more of a finesse defenseman?

PONICH: Well, I'm a big body, so I want to be as physical as possible. I'm looking to add a little more of that to my game, be a little tougher. When I need to be tough, I'll be tough.

GAME TIME: Do you like to throw 'em, or would you prefer to stay out of that kind of thing if you could?

PONICH: I try to keep under control, as little emotion as possible; like I said, if there needs to be a fight, I'll fight, but I don't want to lose my head and put my team down a man. I don't want to fight just out of aggression; I want there to be a purpose for it.

GAME TIME: OK, one other question from my readers is, what do your friends and teammates usually call you? What kind of a nickname do you have?

PONICH: Oh, I've had quite a few over the years... I've had "Pony," "Poncho," "Ponzie." There's a ton of names out there. And "Tree." I get "Tree" a lot.

GAME TIME: OK, tell us real quick, if you would, what you consider to be the strengths of your game, and what you consider are the areas of your game that you might need to work on a little bit.

PONICH: Well, I'm a defensive defenseman, so I consider myself pretty strong in the defensive zone. I'll try to make the safe play, and my first pass out of the zone, I think, is one of my strengths.

I really want to work on my skating, and the offensive side of the game. I'd like to add a little more to that, mix up my shots.

GAME TIME: OK, and if you do end up going back to Portland this year, what does it look like for the Winter Hawks? How are they looking for next year?

PONICH: Oh, we've had a couple of rough seasons the past two years (30-106-8 in the last two seasons), but our 17-year-olds this year are going to be a lot better. They'll be a big part of turning the team around, and we're going to be a lot better this year.

GAME TIME: All right.... thanks a lot for your time, Brett. I appreciate it, and good luck to you this year.

PONICH: Thank you.

PONICH SCOUTING REPORT
"Gigantic defender still needs to add some meat to his 6-foot-7, 205-pound frame .. fairly heavy slap shot when he gets all of it .. not the next Paul Coffey when it comes to stickhandling , however possesses pretty decent feet for a player his size .. passes are not always on the mark which puts the intended target in a poor position to do much with it .. has the ability to carry up the ice and elude a checker or two .. will pinch in from the point .. works hard along the boards for loose pucks .. not surprisingly sports a long wingspan which helps him create turnovers .. a regular on the penalty kill .. chosen by Winter Hawks in the second round (30th overall) of the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft."

--McKeens Hockey Prospects website

BRETT PONICH ... Defense, shoots left. 6' 6", 205 pounds. Born February 22, 1991 in Beaumont, AB.

St. Louis' 2nd selection (48th overall) in 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Season	Club	League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	Pt/G	PM/G
2008-09	Portland	WHL	72	1	17	18	-19	117	0	0	0	0.236	1.625
2007-08	Portland	WHL	64	0	3	3	-39	63	0	0	0	0.047	0.984
2006-07	Portland	WHL	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	0.000
	Schwabs GM Oil Kings	AMHL	35	1	10	11	...	64	0	0	0	0.314	1.829