Rookies with a chance to make it out of camp?

[glen a richter]

I think we're all mostly in agreement on Pietrangelo. What about Sonne, Palushaj or Eller? Surely there must be a slot available for one of them...

[dmiles2186]

I don't know, I'd say out of those Eller has the best shot and it's a long shot at this point. I'd say the big club is full up on the front lines with PK coming back and the team re-signing Tkachuk, Winchester, and Crombeen. I know the coaching staff loves the grit they get from the bottom two lines with those three, McClement, DJ, Cam, and Steen.

[philco_3]

I would like to Eller play, but with him coming off shoulder surgery I don't know. Either way, he might be in Peoria playing in the minors and with any unforseen injuries he should be up.

[Robb_K]

Eller's shoulder is okay already. He's already been cleared for contact. He's a very talented offensive player, who also plays good defence and plays physically, too. The normal knock on flashy young forwards is that they are liabilities on defence. With that not a factor, I think Eller's offensive capability will be so desired by Blues' management (he'll blow them away in camp and exhibition season, that they'll have to make room for him on the roster. Usually, there is one forward hurt at almost any given time. That's all it would take for Eller to stick with The Blues from the start. The roster will be expanded in the first 2 games in Sweden, anyway (Junland and Eller will be on the team. When they return, I expect Eller to be staying with the team. I expect that they'll keep Winchester up, but will waive Stastny and Janssen (I think King beats him out), and no team picks up either.

I expect Palushaj and Sonne to start in Peoria, and, maybe Palushaj gets a trial later in the season. I expect that both of them will make The Blues' roster in 2010-11.