Which young Blue is ready to step up?

[DaDitka]

Berglund. I think he's going to have a big year. Give him top line minutes to start the season (if he earns them in camp) and he will produce.

God I hope your right. We haven't had a lot to cheer about from the number 21 jersey in a long time.

You best not be knockin Joe Murphy if you know what's best for ya.

I thought Joe Murphy was #17.

He actually wore two different numbers in his tenure with us.

One each game?

[JPonder94]

Berglund. I think he's going to have a big year. Give him top line minutes to start the season (if he earns them in camp) and he will produce.

God I hope your right. We haven't had a lot to cheer about from the number 21 jersey in a long time.

You best not be knockin Joe Murphy if you know what's best for ya.

I thought Joe Murphy was #17.

He actually wore two different numbers in his tenure with us.

One each game?

One each PERIOD. That's how bad ass he was.

[DaDitka]

God I hope your right. We haven't had a lot to cheer about from the number 21 jersey in a long time.

You best not be knockin Joe Murphy if you know what's best for ya.

I thought Joe Murphy was #17.

He actually wore two different numbers in his tenure with us.

One each game?

One each PERIOD. That's how bad ass he was.

Changed his number thinking he'd confuse the coaching staff and they couldn't find him to cut him?

[ReelBluesFan887]

Am I the only one who watched the World Juniors where Pie got skated around. I don't care that he had 12 points he didn't play solid defense.

My hope is #21 gives us something to cheer about.

Didn't Petro win overall dman of the whole World Juniors? I thought he played really well with some defensive inexperience that he will learn by the start of the season. I see EJ being the big dog this year all year with Petro putting up some impressive numbers

Ok first off I hope you at least watched the games if your even going to question this. Because I did watch the games, and I watched it with some friends who actually played in the NHL. The general thought between me, them and a lot of people on this board is that Pie is not the answer to our defensive issues. Can he be a good NHL player, yes. Will he be a super star stud d-man outside of St. Louis, no.

A) Acceptable excuse.
B) I did watch the games, without any professionals, and saw one thing through out the whole tourney: no one played defense. All the games were high scoring games. Did Petro play great d? No, but he didn't play terrible d. When he played 9 games with the Blues this year, i thought he looked really good on d, especially about using the poke check and pressuring players behind the net. I know this was only 9 games and a lot could have changed but the glimmer for hope was there. He is a young player who needs to be taught by Al Mc on how to play NHL level d. This will take time to get him ready. I personally don't believe Petro will ever be a shut down d man but i think in the near future we won't have to worry about him like we do with Brewer. Petro is and always has been promoted as an offensive dman and I think he can show signs of this early in this year. I must be in the minority of this site who believe in the hype surrounding Petro and that he will become an elite offensive dman some day soon. However i have little faith in Cole and am concerned over our new goalie.

[jaro]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

[philco_3]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

He'll be so secret we won't even know we have em!

[STLADOGG]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

He'll be so secret we won't even know we have em!

who the hell is Burgerland?

[philco_3]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

He'll be so secret we won't even know we have em!

who the hell is Burgerland?

Wasn't he the guy that tried to steal Ronald McDonalds hamburgers?

[Winning Unlimited]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

He'll be so secret we won't even know we have em!

who the hell is Burgerland?

Wasn't he the guy that tried to steal Ronald McDonalds hamburgers?

You mean Andy McDonald?

[philco_3]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

He'll be so secret we won't even know we have em!

who the hell is Burgerland?

Wasn't he the guy that tried to steal Ronald McDonalds hamburgers?

You mean Andy McDonald?

[ViPeRx007]

Berglund will be our new secret weapon.

He'll be so secret we won't even know we have em!

who the hell is Burgerland?

Wasn't he the guy that tried to steal Ronald McDonalds hamburgers?

You mean Andy McDonald?

robble robble.

[stlbluz]

[Portland Blues]

Awesome! We signed the Hamburglar this offseason? I'm back on the bus then.

[stlbluz]

Awesome! We signed the Hamburglar this offseason? I'm back on the bus then.

Didn't mean to get your hopes up PB, but until this ownership situation is worked out we're actually going to be more like:

[Portland Blues]

Awesome! We signed the Hamburglar this offseason? I'm back on the bus then.

Didn't mean to get your hopes up PB, but until this ownership situation is worked out we're actually going to be more like:

Well shit then...Maybe we can still get the Fry Guys to be our powerplay weapons?

[Winning Unlimited]

Awesome! We signed the Hamburglar this offseason? I'm back on the bus then.

I think he's only going to be officiating.

[WaukeeBlues]

NHL.com says Petro:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=5372 ... L|NHL|home

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Is it really fair to still consider defenseman Alex Pietrangelo a St. Louis Blues' prospect?

Pietrangelo, after all, has been a part of two training camps and is no longer eligible for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year when he does settle in as a full-time player in St. Louis. Why? He played in eight games for the Blues in 2008-09 and nine last season before being sent back to junior … again. But, really, Calder talk is of no concern to Pietrangelo.

"You know what, at this point, I'm just trying to make the team and remain there all year," Pietrangelo told NHL.com. "You just have to shake that off, go out there and play hockey."

The thing is, since being selected fourth overall by the Blues in 2008, that's all he's ever done. And never once has he complained or questioned anyone -- despite playing for four different teams (Niagara IceDogs, Peoria Rivermen, Barrie Colts and St. Louis Blues) over two seasons.

He's also the best prospect skating of the eight teams participating in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament this week. Pietrangelo, in fact, is making his third appearance at the annual five-day tournament, which, for some, is a great primer for the main camp.

"My goal is to make this hockey team (St. Louis)," Pietrangelo said. "I know what to expect at main camp since I've been there twice already and I'm familiar with all the guys. Making the team is one thing, but playing every night and playing good minutes is another, so that's another goal I kind of look forward to once I do get a spot in the starting lineup."

Pietrangelo has played 17 NHL games, scoring 1 goal, 3 points and 8 penalty minutes. After being named one of Team Canada's top three players at the World Junior Championships in Saskatoon and then scoring 9 goals and 29 points in 25 games for Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League in 2009-10, don't be surprised if the third time is the charm for Pietrangelo.

"He had a great (Traverse City) tournament last year and that was one of the reasons we kept him for as long as we did in St. Louis (nine games)," Blues Vice-President of Hockey Operations and Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis told NHL.com. "His play, starting with this tournament, will determine where he goes. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the player will dictate to us whether or not he's ready to stay."

With defensemen Barret Jackman, Erik Johnson, Eric Brewer and Roman Polak all assured roles along the blue line, Pietrangelo is just hoping to fit into the team's top six at this juncture. Once he does, though, the sky's the limit.

"I know spots are open," Pietrangelo said. "They're not sitting me down and saying, 'This is your spot.' I have to go there and earn it; everyone does at training camp."

For one thing, Pietrangelo wasn't demoted to the OHL each of the past two seasons for a lack of effort.

"It has nothing to do with living up to any potential or lack thereof," MacInnis said. "I can still remember sitting with our scouts at our final draft meeting and going over the defensemen (in 2008), and it was likely (Pietrangelo) would be available at No. 4. We knew at the time, (Zach) Bogosian, Luke Schenn and Drew Doughty were more physically developed than (Pietrangelo). It was just a matter of process of elimination. As far as physical maturity, we knew that it might take him a little longer."

Doughty went No. 2 to the Los Angeles Kings and Bogosian third to the Atlanta Thrashers before St. Louis picked Pietrangelo. Schenn went fifth to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"We sent him back to get that experience and get that level of competition," MacInnis said. "He's worked extremely hard this summer and he's matured into a man … he's physically stronger (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and there's no question he's going to have a long NHL career once he does stick."

Pietrangelo has collected 37 goals, 126 assists and 198 penalty minutes in 180 OHL games.

"At last year's Traverse Tournament, he was always two seconds ahead of everybody else," MacInnis said. "And the one other thing -- he's as good defensively as he is offensively. He's got a great stick, his angles in the defensive zone are excellent. He eliminates guys by the way he's able to angle guys off and guide them into the dead zones."

Pietrangelo knows nothing will come easy, but he expects a pretty competitive training camp since a few spots will still be up for grabs. He knows he'll either be with the Blues or in the American Hockey League with Peoria in 2010-11.

"I'm playing with men now … it's a different game than playing with 16-or-19-year-olds in junior," Pietrangelo said. "I've been working with (Blues strength and conditioning coach) Nelson (Ayotte) in St. Louis and working out with the guys on the team. I've noticed a huge difference in my strength and that comes with age. I'm 20 now, and I started when I was 17, so that's a big gap and I certainly can feel it. I think I've done a better job recently of using my size and I'll continue to do that."

[STLADOGG]

Thanks for getting back on the topic....yeah Petro is coming back strong.

[cprice12]

"At last year's Traverse Tournament, he was always two seconds ahead of everybody else," MacInnis said. "And the one other thing -- he's as good defensively as he is offensively. He's got a great stick, his angles in the defensive zone are excellent. He eliminates guys by the way he's able to angle guys off and guide them into the dead zones."

Hmmm....

[ohio BLUES]

I think our young padawan organist Jeremy is bound to bring his game to a new level this year. Playoffs, here we come!