The NHL draft has come and gone and it’s about that time to look forward. After speaking to multiple GM’s and people throughout the hockey world this is what I was able to come up with.
Sorry Toronto fans, a high ranking official with Colorado tells me there is "no chance" they move Paul Stastny.
Sources inside the Blackhawks organization are still in semi-disbelief they were able to find a taker for Brian Campbell’s ridiculous contract. One source tells me if Dale Tallon wasn’t an NHL GM, Campbell would still be in Chicago.
Tallon by the way could have gotten more from the Blackhawks in return for taking the sizable contract. I’m told Chicago would have given him a second round pick but he never asked for one. Rostisalv Olesz is making crazy money as well when you consider what he brings to the table. The Blackhawks had to take his contract if it meant unloading Campbell. Don’t forget assistant coach Mike Kitchen was in Florida so they know what they’re getting, or in this case not getting.
Campbell has a limited no-trade clause and provided eight teams where he would go. Florida was not on the list but he approved the deal anyway. Once you know a team doesn’t want to keep you it’s best to move on.
Talbot on the move…
Sources close to Maxime Talbot tell me he will be a UFA on July first with Toronto, Detroit, and San Jose expected to be interested.
Pittsburgh is trying to re-sign Michael Rupp.
James Wisniewski to the Wings?
Look for Detroit to take a run at signing former Habs D-man James Wisniewski along with Florida and Edmonton.
Kariya Done?
I was told over the weekend that Paul Kariya is healthy but has not given any indication he’s looking to return to the NHL.
Teemu Selanne’s decision on the other hand purely comes down to health. There is a health issue he’s dealing with. Anaheim is the only option he’ll consider if he does return.
Butler Excited to be a Flame!
Told D-man Chris Butler is very excited to be moving on to Calgary. His role in Buffalo was strange to say the least when you consider he’d play 20 minutes one night and be out of the lineup the next. That will give you attention deficit disorder in a hurry.
Meet Mr. Backes…
Good to see David Backes at the Blues draft table to greet the newest members of the organization. People keep asking me if this is a hint he’ll be the next Captain….is there really an alternative?
Yandle Doubtful to receive Offer Sheet….
Speaking to a high ranking official with the Phoenix Coyotes, he does not expect his D-man to receive an offer sheet. “Unless a team wants to stage war, I wouldn’t expect one”. Phoenix does not see players like Shea Weber and Drew Doughty as comparables by the way, instead looking closer at the contract Kings D-man Jack Johnson recently signed. Both sides agree Yandle has a very strong arbitration case should he decide to go there.
No rush to move Cory Schneider…
As I have already written there is no rush for Vancouver to move goalie Cory Schneider. If a team wants him now there’s a good chance they would have to take Keith Ballard’s $4.2 million contract as well. Vancouver would want at least a first round pick in return. There is the danger of keeping him too long with the potential of another lockout looming. Vancouver does not want to be in a position where Schneider is a UFA coming out of the lockout and they get nothing in return.
Jason Arnott wants two more years…
Will he get it? Washington has some interest in bringing him back but there a chance he’s free on July first.
Draft Breakdown….
101 CHL players were taken in the draft. 21 CHL players came out of the first round.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the fifth straight CHL player taken first overall.
Players from each league…
OHL-46 WHL-33 QMJHL-22 USHL-28
Every NHL team except Washington selected at least one CHL player.
Detroit and Ottawa led the way with six CHL draft picks each.
Blues Clues!
St. Louis looked hard at moving their 32nd pick to move up into the first round much like they did to grab Patrik Berglund back in 2005.
Portland Winterhawks winger Ty Rattie spoke to every team except for Pittsburgh and Dallas.
Rattie scored over 70 goals and 130 points in his Bantam major year.
Rattie was graded out as a first round player and has the tools to be a top six forward. His ability to play with the puck is what separates him from other players. Some scouts I spoke with question his skating style but there is plenty of time for him to improve. Blues Bill Armstrong disputes that claim saying he has no problem getting to pucks. He’s a good athlete who needs to get bigger. He is very thin but the Blues aren’t foolish to believe he’s going to be 167 pounds forever. The Blues fell in love with his high end instincts and hockey sense.
One thing about St. Louis, their scouting staff is ridiculously thorough. From school guidance counselors to billet families they do their homework on all these kids.
There’s a decent chance Dmitrij Jaskin goes higher if he didn’t suffer a knee injury this past year that forced him to miss some tournaments. The Blues didn’t believe he’d be there at 41 when they grabbed him. He’s a European kid who plays an up and down, North American game according to Bill Armstrong. He will eventually play at 6’3, 220 once he turns pro. The Blues wanted some size and toughness and they view current power forwards Milan Lucic and Johan Franzen as a good comparisons.
Joel Edmunson is very raw who has some nice size at around 6’5. He can transition the puck which has become a priority for NHL D-men. His shot was recently clocked at close to 100 mph. He made great strides coming straight out of Midget AAA. The fact that he was playing the PP at the end of the season for Moose Jaw caught the Blues attention. He has a lot of work to do as again he is a very raw kid. Speaking to him for several minutes I found him to be easy to talk to and you can see he has good character. He’s got to bulk up and get stronger just like any kid. He believes he compares nicely to Flames D-man Jay Bouwmeester.
The Blues grabbed Owen Sound Goalie Jordan Binnington in the 3rd round. Attack Asst Coach Terry Virtue, who used to be in the Blues organization, played a big part in keeping the Blues updated throughout the season. He stole the number one job as a 1993 which isn’t all that common. He was named the top goaltender at the Memorial cup even though he posted a 1-2 record. Binnington tells me he will miss Mark Reeds who has left to be an assistant in Ottawa. He says the players loved Reeds and wanted to play for him. Binnington played his AAA hockey for the Vaughn Kings.
The Blues traded a third round pick for Evgeny Grachev who has been held pointless in eight career NHL games. He has recorded 66 points in two AHL seasons. Grachev played one OHL season with Brampton back in 08-09 where he played on a line with Vancouver first rounder Cody Hodgson and Blues minor leaguer Anthony Peluso. He recorded 80 points that season to go along with 25 points in the playoffs. NHL All-Star Matt Duchene was also on that team.
Power forward Yannick Veilleux was taken in the fourth round. He’s an intriguing player who Armstrong says has great sense. He had 48 points in 68 games last year in the “Q”.
The Blues went with Swedish goaltender Niklas Lundstrom, their highest rated player left on the board, in the fifth round.
Saint John Sea Dogs forward Ryan Tesink was selected in he 6th round. He’s a forward who played on all four lines for the Memorial Cup winning team. Armstrong tells me he has great feel that can play all three forward positions. He played a little with Johnathan Huberdeau who went third overall to Florida.
Jarmo Still Picking for St. Louis?
The Blues took D-man Teemu Eronen in round seven. Eronen plays for former Blues Asst GM Jarmo Kekalainen in the Finnish Elite League. Jarmo tells me he’s a gifted/skilled D-man with great sense and feel for the game. Has no fear or nerves, he’ll need to get stronger but has good athleticism. Will obviously need time to develop.
Blues scout Basil Mcrae made the trip to see him play as well. He’s a 1991 birth year who would have played in the Worlds had he not gotten sick.
St. Louis native Scott Mayfield was taken 34th overall by the Islanders. He’s a great story who will play at Denver University next season. Scouts tell me if Mayfield can simplify his game he will have a chance at playing in the NHL.
The Blues are entertaining the idea of signing another goaltender either to a one-way or two-way contract. They would like to have more competition than they currently have in place at that position.
I apologize with the technical problems I’m having with Truehockey.com, I hope to have the matter resolved soon.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
[email protected] 
St Louis Blues Blogger •1380 ESPN • 
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