Traverse City Game 1 Recap

Sure it's not really NHL hockey, but for guys like me who will stay up all night watching truncated versions of 2009 NHL Playoffs games on NHL network to pass the summer once St. Louis Cardinals games are over, it's a start. I'm of course referring the the twelfth annual Traverse City NHL Prospects tournament. For those in the very small minority I'm sure that don't know what the NHL Prospects tournament is all about, I'll fill you in (the rest of you bear with me and try not to laugh at our clueless fans). Every year, eight NHL franchises, including the Blues, organize a squad complete with the top prospects of the organization, as well as various unsigned and undrafted players who the respective franchises would like a longer look at. While officially the tournament doesn't give the prospects any advantage in training camp (which is just around the corner!!!!), it does give a coach another point of view if they still are having trouble placing a prospect in the system. However the tournament doesn't only make it easier for the franchises. As per NHL.com's Mike Morreale, Blues' standout T.J. Oshie says, "I think just the confidence you gain there by meeting new guys gives you a sense of the pro life and it makes you a little more comfortable for training camp."

Last night, the Baby Blues defeated the Baby Stars in game one of the 2010 tournament, winning 9-6 in a defense optional first game. The Blues' squad features notables such as, 2008's fourth overall pick Alex Pietrangelo,

University of Michigan and Team USA standout Aaron Palushaj (already anointed the next T.J. Oshie), unsigned St. Louisan Jack Combs (a flashy forward with a huge offensive upside), Goalie of the Future Jake Allen, WHL All Star Brett Sonne (who looks to make a big enough splash to stick with the big club this season, and CBC alum Phil McRae (who once could only watch helplessly as I dangled a puck between his legs then sniped it top cheese to take the lead in the 2005 MOIHA season opener)

In a 9-6 game the scoring was well spread out. Palushaj, McRae, Combs, and Sonne all had goals (Palushaj netting the pair). Pietrangelo remained absent from the scoresheet but from what I've heard he settled into a shutdown role, holding the Baby Stars' top two snipers scoreless. Despite letting in 6 goals, Jake Allen still made 31 saves for an .838 save percentage. Nerves plus the fact that tournaments like this are akin to all star games and feature less defense may have contributed to the skewed numbers. But numbers aside, this kid got the win in a western shootout type of game. I won't make a judgement on him til the end of the tournament.

For the complete scoresheet from game one visit, http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1083428

Some thoughts following the first game:

1. The Blues have a very bright offensive future. Can you imagine a 2012 top 6 forward core consisting of David Perron, Brad Boyes, T.J. Oshie, Andy Macdonald, Patrik Berglund, and David Backes? Now look at a possible 2012 third line of Aaron Palushaj, Phil McRae (who in all seriousness could find a way to score on a nun), and Lars Eller, (who honestly belongs in the top 6)? Somewhere in the mix you expect to see Brett Sonne, Pat Combs, and depth guys like Jay McClement, and Alex Steen. Run the numbers Blues fans, all of these guys aren't going to ever fit on one team, and that's a good thing. Like the 2009 Cardinals, the 2010-2014 Blues will be able to make any deal necessary to fill any hole they have, and with the smart front office currently in place I doubt there will be that many holes to fill anyway.

2. The Blues have a very bright defensive future. Erik Johnson, Alex Pietrangelo, Ian Cole, Carlo Colaiocovo, Roman Polak, David Rundblad, and Barret Jackman figure to be the 2012 starting seven. But let's not forget Brett Ponich, Cade Fairchild, and Jonas Junland. Damn it feels good to be a Blues fan.

3. Kind of a conclusion after reading the first two...How nice would this look traveling down Market Street for the first time (Hayden included)?

Be Kind Rewind...Cardinals Style

Well Blues fans…I’ve got nothing, (and by nothing I mean I have a little but nothing blog-worthy...stay tuned). Not too much exciting news from Prospect Camp, (although look out for that Phil McCrae in the future). So instead of collecting fake unsigned paychecks from FORF and waiting until September to write another blog, I’m going to have some fun.

I recently watched a couple bars of a god-awful movie Be Kind, Rewind, and became inspired. And what Jack Black movie won’t inspire? Who didn’t want to challenge the local preps to a city-wide rollerblading race after watching 1993’s Airborne? But anyway, I opined to myself, what would the world do if someone in St. Louis erased all the baseball movies and the St. Louis Cardinals had to lend some of their players for the roles?

It’s pretty obvious that Yadi Molina could lend his likeness in a remake of The Sandlot. He’s chubby, he seems talkative, even if you can’t understand him all the time, and he’s a heck of a catcher. He wouldn’t have to do too much research to portray the great Hamilton Porter. However if someone erased The Big Green, I’m not so sure he’d pull off Larry Musgrove.

Worried about the last remaining copy of Major League? Fear not. Put Chris Duncan in the role of Pedro Cerrano and would anyone notice? Hell Duncan has been auditioning all year for that role. When’s the last time Duncan hit a curveball?

Had it been a year or two ago, I would have easily asked Rick Ankiel to audition for the role of Roy Hobbs, but lately he seems more interested in A League of Their Own’s Kit Keller. Like Duncan, Ankiel has been auditioning all year for this role. Like Kit, he cannot lay off the high fastball, and also like Kit, he can’t hit them either. Luckily for Rick, it’s a movie so in the pitching scenes all he needs to do is have the proper throwing motion, and they can just jump cut to the result.

Remember Bull Durham? It’s only the greatest baseball movie ever made (sports.munchies@gmail.com for comments). Well if you remember it, then you sure couldn’t forget Crash Davis, the career minor league player that cracked the majors for a brief stint. Although it might be a year late, Ryan Ludwick’s previous career experience should more than equip him for the role.

Comments, concerns? Extensions of the list? Sports.munchies@gmail.com

BLUES UPDATE

Since I am FORF’s only hockey expert, it is my duty to fill the FORF-Universe in on the latest doings.

· T The Blues have not yet resigned Roman Polak, but several sources say it is only a matter of time before they do. The risk of an offer sheet from another team is minimal because most teams don’t yet think Polak is worth the risk of giving up a third or second round pick if the Blues don’t match the offer.

· Those who missed Blues Prospect camp missed quite a show from instant fan favorite T.J. Oshie. Aside from the fact that he made the Blues Prospects (some of whom will make the big club this fall) look like sled hockey players, I also heard no less than ten young ladies refer to him as their future husband. Here’s to hot broads and restraining orders T.J.!

N No word yet on the Phil Kessel trade that I had so vehemently predicted… FORF fans I may have been wrong.

· A And finally the Dany Heatley rumors have all but died. It would be a massive shocker if he were to wear a bluenote in 2010.

Draft Recap...Trades Coming?

Hello hockey fans, Blues fans, and FORF fans looking to view Marty Winkler’s latest Cards analysis. After an intense forty-eight hours and another day for recovery the news surrounding the draft is starting to slow.  However before we get down to business, I would like to invite a round of applause from all you FORF fans.  Yes, we are congratulating yours truly.  If anyone questioned my credibility, I’m sure those questions were answered when I successfully picked the top four picks in last Friday’s NHL Draft.  I’ll pause to let the cheers from my parents in the back row die down a bit. 

                         

  Now to the matter at hand.  Following the draft and the recent buyout of Jay McKee’s contract. I believe there is big news on the horizon for Blues fans. 

The 2009 draft choices have left me slightly baffled.  The Blues need an elite goal scorer, and soon.  Keith Tkachuk is on limited time before he retires, as is Paul Kariya, and neither are goal scorers anymore.  Brad Boyes is streaky at best and needs a quality setup guy to be effective.  After a 40-goal binge in 2008, it seems he will grow into a 25-35-goal scorer.  David Perron, Andy McDonald and T.J. Oshie are all solid players but not one of them will probably hit the fifty-goal mark.  Finally Patrik Berglund will probably take a couple of years before he becomes the goal scorer the Blues believe he will be.  So the Blues face a problem, too many setup guys, not enough scorers.  Dany Heately is available for trade, but he comes with a price tag and baggage.  The two Marians, Hossa and Gaborik are available via free agency; it’ll take more than a student loan to Harvard Law to sign one of them.  But finally, there’s Phil Kessel.  Rumor has it that the Blues had actually traded for Kessel in 2009, but the paperwork hadn’t made it to the NHL before the deadline.

 

Both sides deny this rumor, but regardless the rumor suggests interest between both parties in dealing.  But I won’t waste your time with rumors, lets check out the facts.

            Jarmo Kekalainen is known around hockey as a guy who will often go off the board on draft day to get a player he wants. Jarmo has said time and time again that he refuses to draft for team needs and instead will always take the best available player at the time.  This is where I become confused.  

                                                      

  I believe when the Blues selected David Rundblad as the 17^th overall pick, there were two players available not only better, but also better suited for the Blues.  Let’s start with 5^th ranked North American skater and my personal pick, Jordan Schroeder.  Most mock drafts including my own, had him taken by the 12^th pick.  He did however fall to 22^nd overall.  At 5’8 size may have played a role, so I’ll let that one slide. But Jacob Josefson?  He’s a Swedish dynamo that could play with Patrik Berglund or Brad Boyes and make them both 30-40-goal scorers, while scoring 30 himself.  He’s the third best European skater in the draft.  I know the rule of thumb is, “build your team from the net out,” but frankly the Blues have already done so.  This team is stacked on the blue line for years to come with Eric Johnson (1^st overall in 2006), Alex Pietrangelo (4^th overall 2008), and Ian Cole (18^th overall 2007).  Not to mention the already established youngsters Carlo Colaiacovo (17^th overall 2001) and Roman Polak (a Jarmo steal at 180^th overall in 2004).  Fill in vets Barret Jackman, Eric Brewer, and Mike Weaver and the team already struggles to trim the list down to the seven D needed for a game.  Then there’s Jonas Junland, Cade Fairchild, and David Warsofsky, all players who will have solid NHL careers.            

            So why draft three more defensemen when the team lacks an elite lamp lighter?  Here’s where the excitement comes in.  I believe the trade winds are blowing in St. Louis.  Buying out the final year of Jay McKee’s four million dollar deal opens up salary cap room for the Blues.  Trading from the wealth of team defense may free up even more room.  I won’t stake my reputation on it just yet, but I will however gloat in my next column if Bruins star forward Phil Kessel wears the Blue Note soon.