One To Watch: St. Louis Blues

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Solid drafting and patient player development have been keys to the success of the St. Louis Blues in recent years. The team spent its fair share of time at the lower end of the standings but made the most of the down years. The Blues drafted in the top half of the first round four times in five years from 2006-2010 and still have those players on their roster, or the players they received for them via trades. 

Despite picking much later these days, the Blues have still done very well at the draft with a number of their prospects trending upwards. 

2012 Choice: Max Gardiner - I thought Gardiner was an interesting player in an even more interesting situation. The former Golden Gopher was back in the NCAA but with a different program, and a new one at that in Penn State. Gardiner had a good year collecting 21 points in 23 games but only managed 3 goals. I'm guessing more was expected and if so, more will be counted on as he begins his junior season with the Nittany Lions. 

My 2013-14 choice for One To Watch with the Blues comes after the jump.

Kings take game one and take out Ty Rattie

Edmonton slipped past Portland 3-2 at Rexall Place Thursday night in a game that had many twists and turns.

First to 40

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Ty Rattie's late third period goal against Tri-City on Monday gave him an even 40 on the season making him the first player in the Canadian Hockey League to reach that plateau this season. The St. Louis Blues second round pick has accomplished the feat in 43 games. The Portland Winterhawks have 27 games remaining in the regular season schedule so some quick math has Rattie on pace for an impressive 65 goals.

How's that compare to the other top junior leagues on the continent?

Team Canada Camp Day 2

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The brass for Team Canada decided to give the players the morning off from on ice activities. Some are healing bumps and bruises while others aren't yet able to skate. Another reason is that most guys played Friday night before jetting to Calgary on Saturday. Here are some notes from the media availability before tonight's 2nd inter squad game.

Saturday Morning Special - July 30th

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We officially wrapped up Season 6 this morning without a lot of fanfare or celebration, we just had a kick ass show instead. I was flying solo today with Deano off to Calgary for a friend's wedding so I had to call in some heavy hitters to carry the load for me. We covered the U18 and U20 Canada camps with a scout and a participant, we touched on the CHL/NCAA border war and then welcomed a pair of players into the studio for the second half of the show.

The Class of 2011 on TPS (Oct - Nov)

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Continuing from where I left off yesterday, October and November featured a number of 2011 eligible players we'd consider sleepers or under the radar guys. Obviously we talked to more 1st round players too but it was in this point of the year that we introduced fans to a player who wasn't even ranked by Central Scouting who ended up on their final list (and will get drafted higher than he is ranked). And not just players but coaches, scouts and media folks who cover specific, key prospects as well.

Rattie Undresses Oiler Prospect to Score Beauty

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The annual Teddy Bear Toss season is here and several CHL teams (and NCAA too I believe) have already held their version of the charity tradition. Edmonton's Teddy Bruin Toss game is tomorrow when Chilliwack comes to town.

The Portland Winterhawks hosted Prince George on December 11th and the goal that got the ice littered with stuffed toys was an absolute beauty. It was scored by 2011 eligible forward Ty Rattie and was even more impressive considering the player he embarrassed in the process.

The highlight video replay to follow...

Top 5 Tuesdays: Surprises on 2011 Ranking

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It's the first release of the year from NHL Central Scouting and as such, the 3 CHL leagues are ranked separately as is the NCAA, USHL and European countries. Most scouts have limited viewings for players outside of their immediate areas so we often see a lot of movement from this listing to the Mid-terms.

Tonight on TPS we'll speak with E.J. McGuire, who admittedly has not seen the WHL yet, about the Central Scouting rankings.

Until then, here are 5 things that jumped out to Dean and I this morning...

This n' That - Mid October

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It's a great time of year. The CHL is now a month into the season, the new NCAA campaign has kicked off plus the AHL is underway and so there are lots of things to look at at various levels.

Who's hot and who's not? Which 2011 eligible players are rising or falling? Are there free agents worth keeping an eye on?

This could take a while, I'll try to be brief.

Top 5 Tuesday: WHL Rookie Forwards

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I know what you're thinking: Rookie predictions for 2009-10 already!?!? Well I say... WHY NOT?

Sure WHL training camps don't even open for another 6 weeks or so but I'm really looking forward to the new season. Maybe because after two years of the Oil Kings under my nose, I'm feeling like I've got a pretty good grasp on the WHL scene. Unlike Dean, I grew up well out of WHL country in NE Alberta so I didn't get to experience the league first hand until the revival of the local team.

That said, 2009-10 looks like a terrific year for rookies, especially in respect to Edmonton-area kids. Remember that the 2008 WHL Bantam draft saw 8 local boys selected in the first round so there will definitely be lots of stories for Edmonton's junior hockey media horde to focus in on. (And by Horde I mean the 4 or 5 of us that regularly attend Oil Kings games).

With that in mind, here are my top 5 WHL rookie forwards for 2009-10. And I just wanted to add that this could easily have been a top-10 list, there are several players who could have been here - plus I didn't even look at the incoming Euro group led by Toni Rajala (Brandon).

5. Klarc Wilson (RW) - Brandon Wheat Kings
Edmonton, AB
Height: 5'11 Weight: 197 lbs
Drafted: 10th overall 2008

The Edmonton product made his WHL debut here in the City of Champions on January 28th as he joined the Wheaties for a road game against the Oil Kings. Wilson is described as a power forward in the making and as a 15-year-old he was already thicker than many in the WHL. He'll be part of a really strong Brandon club that has every intention of winning the Memorial Cup on home ice without skating in through the back door as hosts - on a team that will boast two top-10 1st round picks (Schenn and Glennie) plus Toni Rajala and whatever else Kelly McCrimmon can add to the mix, Brandon will be a force. And Wilson should be a contributor to that success.

4. Shane McColgan (C) - Kelowna Rockets
Manhatten Beach, CA USA
Height: 5'11 Weight: 170 lbs
Drafted: 13th overall 2008

Another guy who made his in Alberta, McColgan dressed for road games in Red Deer and Edmonton (first WHL goal) right before Christmas before playing twice in Kelowna in January. The diminutive Californian was with the team during the playoffs and the Memorial Cup as well so he's well versed in what it takes to win in the WHL. He'll be one of the guys expected to start filling the void left by Jamie Benn and Colin Long but it might be a little early to expect McColgan to score 40 goals and 80 points.

3. Ty Rattie (LW) - Portland Winterhawks
Airdrie, AB
Height: 6'0 Weight: 167 lbs
Drafted: 2nd overall 2008

He was an offensive dynamo on a loaded Airdrie Xtreme club during his draft year and the new-look Winterhawks would love to see some of that firepower injected into their line up this year. Rattie appeared in 10 games with Portland last year but only recorded a single point - a goal against Seattle. The Xtreme had a few players who practically lapped the field in scoring during the 2007-08 season including Rattie. There was some suggestion that his numbers were inflated from playing on a highly offensive team so he might be on a mission this year to prove a lot of critics wrong.

2. Michael St. Croix (C) - Edmonton Oil Kings
Winnipeg, MB
Height: 5'11 Weight: 165 lbs
Drafted: 4th overall 2008

Speaking of offensive dynamos... the Oil Kings should be a playoff team this year but if they get strong performances from their 2007 and 2008 drafted players like St. Croix, they could legitimately be a top 5 team in the Eastern Conference. St. Croix led his league in Manitoba in scoring and was the youngest player on Team West and the World U-17s in BC last Christmas. The forward scored and picked up an assist during his two-game stint with the Oil Kings last year. He's got loads of talent and will get the ice time in Edmonton to show it off. A potential rookie scoring title contender.

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C) - Red Deer Rebels
Burnaby, BC
Height: 6'0 Weight: 155 lbs
Drafted: 1st overall 2008

If anyone is a favorite to win the rookie scoring race next year it would have to be Nugent-Hopkins who scored 6 points in 5 games with the Rebels which included a 4-game scoring streak. Landon Ferraro told us in March that he thinks Nugent-Hopkins is the real deal but that he hopes Red Deer fans show patience and not heap major expectations on the shoulders of a 16-year-old. I've spoken with several media people who cover the CHL or have interests in the WHL specifically and to a tee they all agree; Nugent-Hopkins has everything it takes to be a star in the league.

Honorable Mentions: Like I said, there could have been a few and even this list was narrowed down some by only going with forwards. How about Brent Benson who will play for the Saskatoon Blades next year? He had a 4-game taste last season and could be a big player sooner as opposed to later for Lorne Molleken and company.

Another Oil King to watch for is Dylan Wruck. He's a year older than the gang listed above but he played an extra season in Saskatchewan, won the league scoring race and is poised to step into a big offensive role with Edmonton. He's not a big player but Jordan Weal and Brandon Kozun are proof that at the junior level, size isn't as big a factor as talent.

(Photos Courtesy: The Hockey News, Hockey Now, Portland Winterhawks)