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Blues AHL/ECHL prospects season review
Written by: Kevin Wey on 06/17/2006 
The St. Louis Blues may have had their third-worst season in franchise history, but their minor league system proved to have success in developing players and winning in 2005-06.
The Peoria Rivermen, formerly the Worcester Ice Cats, finished third in the AHL's West Division and made the Calder Cup Playoffs in their inaugural AHL season. Although the team was swept by the Houston Aeros in four games, the Rivermen gave Peoria a competitive team in the city's first year in the AHL. Defensemen Aaron MacKenzie and Trevor Byrne were both fixtures in the Peoria line-up, but injuries prevented them from having the seasons they could have had. Third-year pro Jon DiSalvatore led the Rivermen in scoring, but prospect Peter Sejna finished with a higher points-per-game average. DiSalvatore and Sejna both received cups of coffee in St. Louis, as did right winger Colin Hemingway, who started the season on fire but was hampered by a number of injuries, but other Rivermen became full-fledged NHLers in 2005-06.
Lee Stempniak, Jay McClement, Dennis Wideman, and Jason Bacashihua all finished the regular season in St. Louis and made key contributions during the season. Stempniak and McClement tied for the team lead in rookie scoring and Wideman established himself as the Blues top defenseman offensively. Bacashihua had a difficult beginning to his NHL career, but the young netminder finished 2005-06 exceptionally strong and could contend for the top spot in 2006-07. Defenseman Jeff Woywitka and January acquisition Timofei Shishkanov also finished the season with St. Louis, but spent most of 2005-06 in the AHL. Defenseman Tomas Mojzis played a few games for Vancouver before being acquired before the trading deadline, but he was unable to crack the Blues line-up down the stretch.
The Blues had some strong rookies come out of the AHL in 2005-06, and their AHL affiliate had some success in their inaugural season, but their ECHL affiliate cleaned house. The Alaska Aces finished 2005-06 with the best regular season record in the ECHL and beat the Gwinnett Gladiators in five games to win the Kelly Cup. St. Louis prospects Doug Lynch, Troy Riddle, and Patrick Wellar all helped Alaska win the ECHL championship, but goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu went above and beyond and established himself as a top netminder in the ECHL in 2005-06. Defenseman Zach Fitzgerald began the season with Alaska before suffering a season-ending wrist injury with Peoria, and Peoria fighter D.J. King also played a few games for Alaska in 2005-06. Center Ryan Ramsay gained considerable confidence in his two assignments to the ECHL and became an impact player for the Rivermen down the stretch because of it.
Another Blues prospect who gained confidence down the stretch and became an impact AHLer was David Backes. Backes signed after his collegiate season with Minnesota State University-Mankato was over and quickly established himself as a future NHL power forward.
The Blues now find themselves in a rebuilding phase, and many of the players that played for their minor league affiliates figure to be a part of St. Louis' future.
Jason Bacashihua, G
Age: 23 (4th Year Pro)
Acquired: Trade to St. Louis from Dallas June 25, 2004
After the way Jason Bacashihua ended the 2005-06 season, there's no doubt he's an NHL-caliber goalie.
Bacashihua started 2005-06 in the AHL with the Rivermen and won his first five starts and was named the AHL Player of the Week Oct. 31 after making 27 saves on 28 shots in a 5-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage Oct. 28, and then earning back-to-back shutouts against San Antonio and Houston Aeros the next two nights. However, Bacashihua lost his next two starts and fellow Rivermen goaltender Curtis Sanford got the call to St. Louis after compiling a .929 save percentage and 1.84 goals-against average in six games. Reinhard Divis was assigned to Peoria in Sanford's place, but when Patrick Lalime was waived by the Blues on Dec. 12, Bacashihua got his chance.
Recalled Dec. 12, Bacashihua's first stint in the NHL was marked by inconsistency. In his first 10 starts, Bacashihua was pulled three times, twice before the game even reached the 10-minute mark, although he was barraged in with 13 shots in less than 10 minutes in his Dec. 21 start against Anaheim. While Sanford was out from Dec. 5 to Dec. 29 with a hip flexor injury, Bacashihua got a chance to be St. Louis' starter, but he too went down to injury Jan. 20. With 1:36 remaining in St. Louis' game against Columbus, Blue Jackets forward Dan Fritsche collided with Bacashihua, separating the netminders left shoulder. Columbus went on to win 4-3 in overtime, while St. Louis lost not only the game, but Bacashiuha for the next 29 games.
Upon his April 8 return, Bacashihua started the Blues final seven games of the season and, despite a 1-5-1 record, put up a .930 save percentage in that stretch. Routinely facing over 35 shots a game, including 52 in a 3-2 overtime loss to Chicago to end the season, Bacashihua received no help from the St. Louis offense, as the Blues did not score over two goals in any of their final seven games.
Bacashihua was not reassigned to Peoria for the Calder Cup Playoffs, but was instead assigned to the U.S. National Team in early May for the World Championships in Riga, Latvia. The Garden City, Mich., native started Team USA's 2-1 loss to Canada and their 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic, and also relieved Craig Anderson for the third period in their 6-0 loss to Sweden. In 140 minutes of action for Team USA, Bacashihua finished with a .925 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average, among the best numbers in the tournament.
Although his overall stats for both the AHL and NHL regular seasons were not outstanding, Bacashihua finished 2005-06 strong and looks poised to challenge Curtis Sanford for the top spot in St. Louis in 2006-07. Steve Pleau, Peoria's head coach for the 2005-06 season, told Hockey's Future before the final regular season game of the AHL season that, "I think [Bacashihua's] got the natural ability."
"With 'Cash' it's just a matter of focus and making sure that he comes to the rink every day and tries to make himself better and doesn't kind of sit back and watch," Pleau added. "He needs to make sure he takes control of his career and keeps improving."
If the end of the 2005-06 season is any indication, it looks as if Bacashihua has found his focus and taken control.
David Backes, RW
Age: 22 (Split Season NCAA/AHL)
Acquired: 2nd Rd, 62nd overall, 2003 NHL Entry Draft
After 12 games with Peoria to end the 2005-06 season, it's clear that David Backes has a bright future.
Drafted by the Blues in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Backes quickly established himself as one of the top players in the WCHA by scoring 16 goals and 21 assists in his freshman season for Minnesota State University-Mankato, earning him a spot on the WCHA All-Rookie Team. He followed it up with 17 goals and 23 assists in 38 games in his sophomore season.
Backes was MSU-Mankato's team captain in 2005-06 and finished 12th in WCHA scoring with 13 goals and 29 assists in 38 games, good for a spot on the All-WCHA Second Team. The electrical engineering major also earned a spot on the WCHA All-Academic Team. After three strong seasons, Backes decided to forego his senior year and signed with the Blues March 15, 2006.
He was assigned to Peoria that same day and quickly established himself as an offensive force in the AHL by scoring 5 goals and 5 assists in 12 games. Backes also scored a goal and an assist in Peoria's 5-4 overtime loss to the Houston Aeros in Game 1 of the West Division Semifinals. The young power forward did not tally in Games 2 or 3, and he was scratched for Game 4. However, he still has the most talent of any forward to play for Peoria in 2005-06. The reason Backes had a smooth transition from college hockey to the AHL was easy to see.
"He's a smart player, he's a big guy and he uses his body well," Pleau said of Backes
With Keith Tkachuk getting older, Backes is St. Louis' next power forward. The 22-year-old is 6'3, 210 pounds, plays an effective physical game, and has considerable skill.
"That's why they drafted him where they did, because of his offensive skill, and he's certainly shown that at the pro level it can transition into success," Pleau said.
Backes will likely start 2006-07 with Peoria, but his future lies in St. Louis. Long term, Backes should become a second- or third-line forward who adds a desperately-needed power game to the Blues line-up.
Chris Beckford-Tseu, G
Age: 21 (2nd Year Pro)
Acquired: 5th Rd, 159th overall, 2003 NHL Entry Draft
Although he only played 19 games in the ECHL in 2005-06, Chris Beckford-Tseu has little more to prove in the ECHL after a sterling season that involved a lot of frequent flyer miles.
After attending training camp in St. Louis and Peoria, Beckford-Tseu began the season with the Alaska Aces. The second-year pro started the season in fine fashion by being named the ECHL Goalie of the Week Nov. 1, having won two games and making 52 saves on 53 shots the prior week, including a 4-0 shutout of Bakersfield Oct. 30. Two days later, Beckford-Tseu was named the ECHL Saver of the Month, having won all three of his starts and compiling a goals-against average of 1.33 and a save percentage of .949.
When St. Louis recalled Curtis Sanford Nov. 10, Beckford-Tseu was reassigned to Peoria the next day. Alaska was in Boise for a three-game swing against the Idaho Steelheads, so Beckford-Tseu's trip to Peoria wasn't the full flight from Anchorage, and he managed to play in relief of Jason Bacashihua Nov. 11 in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Marlies. Beckford-Tseu made 3 saves on 3 shots and, after serving as the backup against the Iowa Stars Nov. 13, was reassigned to the Aces Nov. 14 when the Blues assigned Reinhard Divis to Peoria.
Beckford-Tseu missed only one game for the Aces and rejoined the team in Las Vegas, and had a triumphant 27-save return to the ECHL in a 2-1 victory over the Wranglers Nov. 16. The Aces and Wranglers moved to Anchorage for two more games and Beckford-Tseu received the start Nov. 19 and made 20 saves on 21 shots in a 3-1 victory that came within two minutes of a second shutout. For his two victories over Las Vegas, the ECHL named Beckford-Tseu the ECHL Goalie of the Week Nov. 22. At that point, Beckford-Tseu had a 5-0-1 record and led the league with a .945 save percentage and 1.49 goals-against average.
Injuries forced the Blues to recall Beckford-Tseu Dec. 17 while the Aces were in Victoria playing the Salmon Kings. Beckford-Tseu served as Bacashihua's backup that night against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-2 loss and was subsequently reassigned to Peoria the next day, as Divis was recalled to St. Louis Dec. 19. Beckford-Tseu did not see AHL action in his December recall until Dec. 30 after Patrick Lalime let in two weak goals against Chicago. Beckford-Tseu came in relief at 14:35 of the first period, but 22 minutes and 14 shots later, the score was 8-3 and Lalime was again placed in Peoria's net. The Rivermen lost the game 11-5, their worst of the season. Despite the disappointment of Dec. 30, Beckford-Tseu received the nod in net for Peoria's Dec. 31 game against Hamilton and made 24 saves in a 5-1 victory. That same day, the ECHL announced that Beckford-Tseu had been voted to start for the National Conference in the ECHL All-Star Game in Fresno Jan. 25.
With the New Year came a new assignment to Alaska, as Beckford-Tseu was assigned to the Aces Jan. 3. However, by Jan. 22 Beckford-Tseu was back up with St. Louis, as Bacashihua had injured his left shoulder Jan. 20. While serving as backup to Sanford, Beckford-Tseu missed the ECHL All-Star Game that he had been voted to start. The Blues reassigned Beckford-Tseu to Peoria again Jan. 31. After three more games as Lalime's backup in Peoria, Beckford-Tseu was further reassigned to Alaska.
Back in Alaska, St. Louis' touring netminder once again won the ECHL Goalie of the Week honors. Beckford-Tseu was named the top netminder Feb. 13 after three victories the previous week on the strength of 68 save on 72 shots. The three victories gave Beckford-Tseu a 16-1-2 overall record, a 12-0-0 record at Sullivan Arena, an ECHL league leading 1.87 goals-against average, and the second-best save percentage at .929. The next day, Beckford-Tseu was reassigned from Alaska to Peoria, making his 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Mustangs Feb. 12 his final ECHL game of the regular season. His 1152 minutes of action were insufficient to qualify him among the ECHL leaders, but his .929 save percentage and his 1.87 goals-against average would both have been tops in the ECHL in 2005-06. Instead, fellow Aces netminder Matt Underhill won the ECHL Goalie of the Year award.
While Underhill held the fort in Alaska, Beckford-Tseu spent the next six weeks with Peoria before St. Louis needed him to back-up Divis again, this time because Lalime had gone down to a torn ACL suffered April 1. When Bacashihua returned to the St. Louis line-up from his shoulder injury, Beckford-Tseu was reassigned to Peoria April 6. Beckford-Tseu closed out the 2005-06 regular season with Peoria and finished the AHL season with a 6-5-1 record, an .887 save percentage, and a 3.01 goals-against average.
With Bacashihua ineligible to be sent to Peoria for the AHL playoffs, both Lalime and Sanford injured, and Reinhard Divis leaving to play for the Austrian national team, Beckford-Tseu became Peoria's starting goaltender by default in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Finishing third in the West Division, Peoria drew Houston in the first round, and Aeros netminder Josh Harding outdueled Beckford-Tseu to sweep the Rivermen in four games, including overtime losses in Games 1 and 2. Beckford-Tseu compiled an .887 save percentage and a 3.78 goals-against average in 238 minutes of action, as Gregg Naumenko was called in for relief in Game 3.
However, the end of Peoria's season did not end Beckford-Tseu's 2005-06. St. Louis reassigned the 21-year-old to Alaska after Peoria was eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs April 26. Beckford-Tseu started for the Aces April 29 and each of the Aces next nine games, as Underhill was out with a back injury. Along the way, he set ECHL history by being named the ECHL Goalie of the Week four times in one season. He won the award May 5 for winning three straight games and defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers 4-2 in the West Division Finals. His next seven games came against the Fresno Falcons in the National Conference Finals, which Alaska won May 22 in a Game 7, 3-2 double-overtime victory.
Underhill returned for Game 1 of the Kelly Cup Finals against Gwinnett, and Beckford-Tseu played Games 2 and 4 against the Gladiators, but it was Underhill who was in net when the Aces won the Kelly Cup championship in Game 5. However, it was Beckford-Tseu who was near the top of the Kelly Cup leaders. In 12 total playoff games for Alaska, Beckford-Tseu finished with a Kelly Cup second-best save percentage of .930 and a second-best goals-against average of 2.04. Beckford-Tseu's three playoff shutouts led the all goaltenders in the ECHL playoffs. A number of strengths allowed Beckford-Tseu to excel in 2005-06.
“Obviously his athletic ability is No. 1," Payne recently told Hockey's Future. "When his mental focus is on, he’s certainly as good as anybody in this league, and capable of taking the next step in the American League and then on further.”
Former Rivermen head coach Steve Pleau saw Beckford-Tseu's talent, but also room for improvement.
Pleau said that Beckford-Tseu "seems to be really good on the first shot, but he's got to learn to control his rebounds a little better."
A nagging high ankle sprain limited Beckford-Tseu's playing time with Peoria in the ECHL in 2004-05, but he established himself as the top ECHL goaltender in 2005-06, despite his teammate winning the hardware. In 2006-07, Beckford-Tseu will have to battle rookie netminder Marek Schwarz for supremacy in the Peoria net, but the veteran should hold the advantage early on.
Trevor Byrne, D
Age: 26 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: 4th Rd, 143rd overall, 1999 NHL Entry Draft
Trevor Byrne was a point-producing defenseman with Dartmouth College, but after three years of pro hockey, he's still trying to find his role at the AHL level.
After starting the season without a point in Peoria's first four games, Byrne began putting up points like he did back in his college days, when he was a member of the ECAC Second All-Star Team. In 10 games from Oct. 15 through Nov. 13, Byrne scored 1 goal and added 11 assists, the best points run of his AHL career. However, in his next 22 games, Byrne only tallied 1 goal and 4 assists before suffering a knee injury Jan. 13 against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.
Byrne was out of action for 27 games until returning to action March 9, when he was assigned to the Wheeling Nailers to regain his form. After two games and three assists with Wheeling, Byrne was re-assigned to Peoria March 12 and rejoined the Rivermen line-up March 15 against the Rochester Americans. In Peoria's final 15 games of the regular season, Byrne scored 1 goal and 3 assists for a season total 3 goals and 18 assists in 51 games. In Peoria's four-game sweep to the Houston Aeros, Byrne had an assist but did not dress in Game 3 of the series.
Despite being 26 years old and having played fewer than 80 NHL games, the NHL lockout prevents Byrne from becoming a Group VI unrestricted free agent. However, Byrne will have to be tendered a qualifying offer to remain a Group II restricted free agent. Byrne demonstrated his offensive upside for a month, but he has not defined himself as an offensive defenseman at the AHL level. The 6'2, 208-pound blueliner may be better equipped for a different role.
"I think what he's got to do is just develop a role where he takes care of his own end, kills penalties, and is a plus player defensively," Pleau said. "He's a big strong kid and if he plays with the body, he'll have success."
Byrne has the size, strength, and skating ability to be an effective defensive defenseman, and he has the hands to be a solid two-way defenseman. Whether he gets another shot in the St. Louis Blues organization remains to be seen.
Jon DiSalvatore, LW
Age:
25 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent June 30, 2004
Time may be running out for Jon DiSalvatore, despite a solid 2005-06 AHL season.
DiSalvatore failed to crack the Blues line-up and was assigned to Peoria to start 2005-06. The former San Jose Shark prospect started the season streaky, but DiSalvatore seemed to pull it together after playing for Team USA at the Deutschland Cup. Although he only scored 1 goal in the tournament, DiSalvatore scored 10 goals and 19 assists in 25 games for Peoria from Nov. 13 through Jan. 17. The next day, St. Louis sent Jay McClement down to Peoria and recalled DiSalvatore for his first NHL stint. He played four games and averaged about nine minutes of ice time per game, but was returned on loan to Peoria again Jan. 26. DiSalvatore was recalled again for St. Louis' March 7 home game against the Colorado Avalanche, but that was the last NHL game he played in 2005-06.
The 25-year-old winger finished the season with Peoria and led the Rivermen in scoring with 22 goals and 45 assists in 72 games, but he failed to tally in the playoffs, as the Rivermen were swept by the Houston Aeros in four games. The Providence College grad has always had good speed, offensive skill, two-way awareness, and a commitment to the intangibles of the game, but something has held him back from cracking the NHL full-time.
"Salv just needs to get some confidence at that level," Pleau said. "He's never been there for an extended period of time."
Along with confidence, DiSalvatore also needs to determine exactly how he's going to contribute to an NHL team.
"He just needs to get up there and find a role for himself where he believes that he can contribute night in and night out," Pleau said.
DiSalvatore will be a restricted free agent this summer, if the Blues tender him a qualifying offer by June 26. Given how St. Louis has added Magnus Kahnberg, Mike Zigomanis, and Timofei Shiskhkanov through trades last season, and considering that David Backes, Carl Soderberg, and Michal Birner will all be in the organization next season, St. Louis may allow DiSalvatore to walk. He has the ability to be a fourth liner in the NHL next season, it's just a matter of getting the opportunity and taking advantage of it when it comes, if it comes.
Zack Fitzgerald, D
Age: 20 (1st Year North American Pro)
Acquired: 3rd Rd, 88th overall, 2003 NHL Entry Draft
After four seasons of major junior hockey with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, Zach Fitzgerald looked to prove he was AHL-worthy, but the rookie pro had his playing time limited by injuries.
Fitzgerald started the season with the Alaska Aces, but injuries limited him to only 12 of the Aces first 25 games before being recalled to Peoria Dec. 20, when offensive defenseman Andy Roach was re-assigned to Zurich of the Swiss Nationalliga A. Although Fitzgerald had a two-game point streak after an assist in Peoria's 11-5 loss to Chicago Dec. 30 and a goal the next night against the Hamilton Bulldogs, the physical, fighting Fitzgerald plays a far different style than the offensive Roach.
After starting the first five games of 2006 without a point, Fitzgerald missed five games from Jan. 20 through Jan 27, played four more, and then was lost for the rest of the season with a broken wrist suffered against the Cleveland Barons Feb. 4.
Despite playing only 13 games with Peoria, Fitzgerald picked up five fighting majors and proved he's more than willing to drop the gloves. Fitzgerald also racked up 108 penalty minutes in 12 games for Alaska.
"He's a hard-nosed kid and he won't back down to anybody," Pleau said of Fitzgerald.
Pleau also liked Fitzgerald's ability to move the puck and the fact he has excellent size at 6'1, 214 pounds. However, after missing significant time to injury with Alaska and the rest of the AHL season after Feb. 4, Fitzgerald will have to work hard this summer to be ready for the 2006-07 season.
"He'll have to get himself into condition next year, he didn't play very much this year," Pleau said. "Hopefully he can do that, he's a certainly a guy you want to have on your side."
Fitzgerald, who turns 21 in June, was the youngest player in the Blues system in 2005-06 and has two more years remaining on his entry-level contract. Longterm, the Two Harbors, Minn., native could become a sixth or seventh NHL defenseman, but he's a longshot. Fitzgerald may be tough, but he would only be a middleweight fighter by NHL standards. It wouldn't bother St. Louis if Fitzgerald became an NHL depth defenseman, though, because then defensemen like Barrett Jackman could concentrate on playing rather than fighting players like Darcy Hordichuk.
Colin Hemingway, RW
Age: 25 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: 7th Rd, 221st overall, 1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005-06 season started with so much promise for Colin Hemingway, but another season of injuries kept him from having his breakthrough season.
Hemingway started the season with Peoria, but he was recalled to St. Louis Oct. 18 after tallying a point in each of his first five games of the AHL season. He only played three games for the Blues before being returned on loan to the Rivermen, but Hemingway had played in his first few NHL games. Immediately upon arrival to Peoria, Hemingway picked up where he left off and had two two-point games and then tallied a point in his next two games. After only nine AHL games, Hemingway had 6 goals and 5 assists and was firmly establishing himself as a first-line AHL forward.
However, Hemingway was injured in that ninth game and missed Peoria's next three games, then played three more before going down with a back injury that kept him out of the Rivermen line-up for 15 games. Out of action from Dec. 3 through Jan. 7, Hemingway played only four more games before suffering a broken finger against the San Antonio Rampage Jan. 20. The broken pinky finger kept Hemingway out for 19 more games before being assigned to the Alaska Aces March 3 on a conditioning assignment.
The injuries took their toll on Hemingway. The 25-year-old scored 1 goal and 2 assists in 5 games with Alaska and was returned to Peoria March 13, but he was a shadow of his former self. In his final 13 games, Hemingway only tallied one assist, which he earned in the second-to-last game of the season. The former NCAA All-American was even scratched for two games in late March. Hemingway's 11-game pointless drought near the end of the season gave him an underwhelming 7 goals and 9 assists in 29 games after lighting up the AHL to start the season. The 1999 seventh-round pick has proven he has the skill to contend for an NHL roster spot, he just needs to be able to last a full season.
"I think he's got an NHL shot, an NHL touch around the net, it's just a matter of getting into game conditioning and making sure wherever he goes to camp next year, whether it's with St. Louis, that he's ready for the bump and grind of the season," Pleau said of Hemingway.
Because of the NHL lockout, Hemingway will still be a Group II restricted free agent despite being 25 years old and having played fewer than 80 NHL games. However, it's uncertain whether the Blues will tender Hemingway a qualifying offer by the June 26 deadline. The acquisitions of Timofei Shiskhanov, Mike Zigomanis, and Magnus Kahnberg, and the signings of prospects David Backes, Carl Soderberg and Michal Birner could mean there's no room for Hemingway in the St. Louis organization in 2006-07.
D.J. King, LW
Age: 21 (2nd Year Pro)
Acquired: 6th Rd, 190th overall, 2002 NHL Entry Draft
In a different era, D.J. King might already be in the NHL.
The 21-year-old King put up 5 goals and 6 assists in 67 games for the Peoria Rivermen in 2005-06, but his primary contribution was as a police man. King threw down 15 times in 2005-06, including three fights against Chicago's Francis Lessard, two against Houston's Joey Tetarenko, and two against Milwaukee's T.J. Reynolds. Other players whom King fought were Iowa's Zach Stortini, Manitoba's Jimmy Roy, Toronto's Mike Hoffman, Houston's Scott Ferguson, Hamilton's Raitis Ivanans, San Antonio's Tim Jackman, Toronto's Ben Ondrus, and Syracuse's Mike Sgroi.
Pleau said of the 6'3, 230-pound left-winger, "He's as tough as they come, he's a heavyweight for sure."
Despite being a willing combatant, King's 160 penalty minutes placed him nowhere near the AHL league leaders. Instead of racking up penaly minutes, King attempts to contribute as a physical fourth line forward. However, to challenge for a spot in the Blues line-up, King will need to make improvements.
"He's just got to work on his skating," Pleau said of King. "I think the game has changed a little bit and some of those big boys like him have been shut out. He just needs to make sure his feet and his skills continue to improve so that he can get himself a chance to play at the next level."
Scratched eight times during the AHL season, King was re-assigned to Alaska Jan. 9 through 17, where he had 4 assists in 5 games. King has proven himself as a capable fourth line player in the AHL, but he'll have to work on the skill aspects of his game to gain consideration for recall to St. Louis. If it were the early- or mid-90s, King might already have been the next great St. Louis heavyweight, a more skilled version of Tony Twist. Instead, King is attempting to crack the new NHL. However, St. Louis has no other forward in its prospect system like D.J. King.
Doug Lynch, D
Age: 23 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Traded to St. Louis from Edmonton August 2, 2005
When Doug Lynch was acquired in the Chris Pronger trade, it was hoped that he would return to his 2003-04 form with the Toronto Roadrunners that earned him a place in the AHL All-Star Game and a two-game call-up to Edmonton. Unfortunately, injury problems reduced Lynch to splitting the 2005-06 season between Peoria and Alaska.
Lynch, a 2001 second round draft pick of the Oilers, played in each of Peoria's first 20 games but only tallied 2 assists before being scratched Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. Lynch played the next seven games for the Rivermen and was kept busy over Christmas by being assigned to the Canadian national team for the Spengler Cup in Switzerland. Two games with Peoria after returning from the Spengler Cup, Lynch was re-assigned to Alaska Jan. 9.
The ECHL assignment started in positive fashion, as Lynch had a goal and an assist in his Alaska debut Jan. 11, but three nights later he injured his knee in a 3-5 loss to the San Diego Gulls. Nineteen games later, Lynch returned to the line-up March 3. Just over a week after returning, Lynch re-injured the knee in the second period of Alaska's 3-1 victory over the Idaho Steelheads March 11. Lynch managed to return in time for one more regular season game and the entire Kelly Cup Playoffs, where the 23-year-old scored 4 assists in 22 games, adding to the 1 goal and 1 assist he tallied in 8 regular season ECHL games.
Injuries suffered over the past two seasons and an accompanying identity crisis have had their impact on Lynch's game in the AHL.
"He's had a couple of knee injuries, which doesn't help when you're trying to compete at the American Hockey League level," Pleau said of Lynch's efforts in 2005-06. "I think Lynch needs to find a role for himself, that's the one thing he's had trouble with."
At 6'3, 210 pounds, Lynch has the size to be effective physically, and his skating ability mixed with his size could make him an effective defensive defenseman. Although Lynch put up decent numbers in the WHL and in the AHL his rookie season, and he does have decent stick skills, he will have to simplify his game to make it back to the AHL, something the Alaska Aces worked on with Lynch.
"When Dougie got to us, we just tried to make sure he wasn't trying to do too much, which sometimes for a defenseman can get you in more trouble than it's worth," Payne said. "He's learning to be an experienced defenseman, making the right plays, making simple plays."
Once Lynch defines his role, he'll be able to simplify his game according to the role he's playing and no longer try to be everything. Even though Lynch put up good numbers in his AHL rookie season, his future is that of a mobile, physical, defensive defenseman with good size.
Aaron MacKenzie, D
Age: 25 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent June 29, 2004
Defenseman Aaron MacKenzie put in his third year of AHL service for the St. Louis Blues in 2005-06, but an injury-filled season could jeopardize MacKenzie's future within the organization.
MacKenzie established himself as a leader in Worcester and was an assistant captain in 2005-06, but he was injured in Peoria's first game of the season and missed the next nine games before returning to action in November. In Peoria's final game in November, MacKenzie was again put on the IR list with a broken finger suffered against the Milwaukee Admirals. The finger injury kept MacKenzie out of action for 16 more games before returning Jan. 13 against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.
After missing most of the first half of the season injured, MacKenzie was able to regain his form as the season wore on and even tallied a goal and two assists in Peoria's 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans March 1. However, a little over a month later, MacKenzie was again injured, this time with a hip injury that kept him out of action for five games. MacKenzie was able to return for Peoria's final game of the season, but injuries had limited MacKenzie to 2 goals and 7 assists in 51 games.
The defensive defenseman did not tally for the Rivermen in the Calder Cup Playoffs, but MacKenzie did finish with a team-best +3 rating despite Peoria being swept in four games by the Houston Aeros. MacKenzie may not have put up big numbers for the Rivermen, but he was one of the team's most reliable defensemen.
"He's as competitive of a guy as there is," Pleau said. "He'll do anything for the team."
MacKenzie's head coach with the Rivermen was pretty certain he knew what the 6'0, 187-pound defenseman needed to focus on to make the jump to the NHL.
"It's just a matter of him staying healthy, and I think that has a lot do with his conditioning off the ice," Pleau said. "He's going to have to have a good summer and go into camp next year and earn a spot."
MacKenzie is a longshot to play in the NHL, but the leadership he provides at the AHL level may convince St. Louis to re-sign the Group II restricted free agent. If the Blues don't tender him a qualifying offer, MacKenzie is certain to wind up playing minor pro hockey somewhere.
Jay McClement, C
Age: 23 (3rd Year North American Pro)
Acquired: 2nd Rd, 57th overall, 2001 NHL Entry Draft
Don't expect to see Jay McClement in Peoria in 2006-07.
After two full seasons in the AHL, center Jay McClement cracked the St. Louis line-up straight out of training camp in 2005. By early November, McClement was routinely receiving over 15 minutes of ice time per game, but his ice time decreased as November wore on and he was even scratched for two games before receiving 3:31 of ice time in a 5-3 loss to Minnesota Nov. 25. On Nov. 26 he was loaned to Peoria.
McClement was not in Peoria long though. He scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games before being re-called Dec. 5 when Petr Cajanek went down with a groin injury. In 16 games after his early-December recall, playing primarily on the fourth line, McClement failed to score or tally an assist and extended his scoreless streak to 23 games before being scratched Jan. 15 and 17. On Jan. 18, the Blues again re-assigned McClement to Peoria.
Despite only scoring 1 goal and 2 assists in 6 games in his second stint in Peoria, the Blues recalled McClement on Jan. 30 after Mike Sillinger was traded to Nashville Jan. 29 and Doug Weight was traded to Carolina Jan. 30.
In his third recall of 2005-06, McClement established himself as a regular in the St. Louis line-up. The 23-year-old consistently received over 17 minutes of ice time per game and scored 4 goals and 17 assists in his final 33 games of the season, giving him 6 goals and 21 assists in 67 games for the Blues. Once St. Louis traded Weight and Sillinger, McClement got his chance to contribute as a top-six forward.
"'J-Mac's' gotten a great opportunity to play up there and he proved at the end of last year that he's an NHL player," Pleau said in mid-April. "He dominated our division, a division that was filled with Bergeron, Boyes and Staal, he was up there with those guys."
McClement didn't put up the points in 2005-06 that the two Bruins forward or Carolina forward Eric Staal put up, but he's still a good two-way center in his own right. The 2001 second round draft pick has a strong stride and excellent skating skills, soft hands and offensive awareness for making plays, and a commitment to defense. Long term, if St. Louis has a strong line-up, McClement projects as a third line center who has the ability to play on higher lines if injuries necessitate.
St. Louis will need to re-sign McClement, a Group II restricted free agent after playing out his three-year entry-level contract, but it's highly unlikely that the Blues will not re-sign the young center.
Tomas Mojzis, D
Age: 24 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Traded to St. Louis from Vancouver March 9, 2006
Tomas Mojzis instantly added skill to the Peoria blueline when the Blues acquired him, but he still has a ways to go before becoming an NHL regular.
Mojzis did play seven games for the Vancouver in February and early March before being packaged with a third-round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft for veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich, but he did not skate for the blues in 2005-06. As was the case when he was playing for the Manitoba Moose, where the Czech defenseman put up 5 goals and 13 assists in 37 games, Mojzis spent most of his time with Peoria, although he did not play for the Rivermen until March 24.
The streaky Mojzis had an assist in his first game with Peoria and scored 2 goals and 1 assist in a 8-2 victory over the Houston Aeros March 28. By the end of the 2005-06 season, Mojzis had tallied 3 goals and 4 assists in 12 games for Peoria. With Dennis Wideman recalled to St. Louis early in the season, Mojzis provided a level of offensive competence that only veteran Mike Mottau could equal.
"He brings some great offensive skills," Pleau said of Mojzis. "He's got a great shot, he sees the ice well, and he can contribute on your power play."
However, Mojzis must improve in order to crack the St. Louis line-up.
"I like his offensive side of his game, but there's some things on his defensive game that he needs to work on," Pleau said.
"It's just a matter of doing things quicker, whether it's pivoting to play one-on-one and eliminate a man, or move the puck, or get into position," Pleau said. "It's just a matter of getting things up to pace at the AHL level and then the NHL level."
The three-year entry-level contract that Mojzis originally signed with Vancouver has expired and the Blues will have to tender the 24-year-old a qualifying offer in order to keep him as a Group II restricted free agent. If Mojzis can improve the defensive aspect of his game, he might become a secondary offensive defenseman for the Blues. However, despite being a third-year AHLer, Mojzis has a lot to learn before he becomes a regular NHLer.
Ryan Ramsay, C
Age: 23 (2nd Year Pro)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent July 12, 2005
Although Ryan Ramsay may have split the 2005-06 season between the AHL and ECHL, as he did during the lockout, his play down the stretch for Peoria provided great reason for hope that Ramsay could have an NHL future.
Ramsay started the season with Peoria and even scored 1 goal and 4 assists in 8 games in October, but by late December Ramsay's scoring had dried up (2 goals and 1 assist in 19 games from Oct. 30 through Dec. 27). On Dec. 28, Ramsay was re-assigned from Peoria to Alaska. After 13 games with Alaska, and 7 goals and 10 assists, Ramsay was assigned to Peoria again Jan. 23. Nine Peoria games later, in which Ramsay was a scratch for three, Ramsay was again assigned to Alaska Feb. 14 when Lee Stempniak, Mike Glumac and Trent Whitfield were loaned to Peoria during the Olympic break. Once the Olympic break ended, Ramsay was re-assigned to Peoria again Feb. 27. In his final stint with the Aces, Ramsay scored 1 goals and 2 assists in 4 games, giving him 8 goals and 12 assists in 17 ECHL games, and he had learned his lessons and gained his confidence. He knew he was an AHL caliber player.
Ramsay proved it by scoring 8 goals and 5 assists in his first 18 games after being re-assigned to Peoria again, becoming one of hottest scorers on the Rivermen roster. After missing three games from April 8 through April 11 due to a leg injury, Ramsay scored a goal against the Iowa Stars in Peoria's final game of the regular season, giving him 14 goals and 11 assists in 52 games. Down the stretch, the 5'11, 205-pound pivot provided an up-tempo forechecking game that he was able to translate into offensive chances.
"'Rammer's a spark plug for us, and he's got great skills," Pleau told Hockey's Future before the final game of the regular season. "He's certainly stepped up and contributed offensively on the power play, on our first two lines at times."
The key to Ramsay's success down the stretch for Peoria was mixing the skill he showed in the Ontario Hockey League for five seasons and maintaining the aggressive, scrappy game he's had since he was a 16-year-old with the Peterborough Petes.
"He's a guy who had a lot of points in junior and has a lot of offensive skill and hockey sense," Pleau said. "If you can combine that with the energy that he can bring, you've got a pretty good hockey player."
The Calder Cup Playoffs proved frustrating for Ramsay, however, as a groin strain limited him to only two games in the four-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Aeros. Had Ramsay been able to play healthy for the entire series, the results might have been different for the Rivermen.
The frustrations of the 2006 AHL Playoffs shouldn't hinder Ramsay. He knows what earned him the free agent contract he signed with St. Louis July 12, 2005. If he maintains his aggressive forechecking style and continues to bring his skill game when he gets the puck, he could just become a fourth line energy center on the St. Louis roster one day.
Troy Riddle, C
Age: 24 (2nd Year Pro)
Acquired: 4th Rd, 129th overall, 2000 NHL Entry Draft
Like Ryan Ramsay, Troy Riddle split both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons between the AHL and the ECHL. Unlike Ramsay, Riddle finished the season in the ECHL and without a positive identity of what his role within the organization was and is.
Riddle started the 2005-06 season with Peoria and even scored 3 goals and 1 assist in his first five games, but he then went on a six-game drought from Oct. 21 through Nov. 5. By December it appeared as if Riddle might have been emerging as a semi-consistent scorer, as he scored points 3 goals and 4 assists in the 11 games he played that month (missing one due to illness), with those 7 points coming in 6 different games. However, the former University of Minnesota scoring ace saw his touch disappear for a 17-game stretch from Jan. 27 through March 3, as he had 2 goals and 0 assists during that time. On March 4, in practice, Riddle suffered an injury that kept him out of the Peoria line-up for nine games. When he returned from the injury, he was re-assigned to the Alaska Aces March 23, as it was decided that Riddle needed more ice time to develop.
"It was a situation where 'Rids' wasn't playing up here, and sitting around is not good for anybody," Pleau said of Riddle. "He needs to play, and Alaska was short on guys, so we knew it was a good situation for him to go down there and get some ice time."
Riddle put up 2 goals and 2 assists for Alaska in 7 games down the ECHL stretch, as Alaska had other forwards with fairly established roles on Alaska's top two lines. In the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Riddle played 21 games and scored 4 goals and 3 assists. Never afraid to shoot the puck, Riddle finished third on Alaska in shots taken in the playoffs with 64. Despite not being one of Alaska's top forwards, Riddle's speed was a positive addition to the Aces line-up.
"He's fit in real well with our penalty-killing unit and any time we can get a chance to utilize his speed we like to try to do that," Payne said.
Riddle's speed and skating ability helped him play a checking role for the Aces who regularly skated in 5-on-5, 4-on-4, and penalty killing situations. In order to play in offensive situations, according to Payne, Riddle will need to improve in "reading the play, making the correct play, knowing when to use his speed."
Payne also said that Riddle needed to handle the puck and make plays with the puck in order to take his game to the next level.
Unable to establish himself as a full-time AHLer in two seasons, it is uncertain what Riddle's position within the organization is. If he does remain in the Blues system, Riddle will have to focus more on, according to Pleau, "just developing a role at the American League level, whether it's up the middle or on the wing, he needs to figure out a way to contribute on a nightly basis."
What may help Riddle find success at the AHL level is to become a puck pursuit forward with more scrappiness, along the lines of Ramsay. At 5'10, 175 pounds, Riddle is unlikely to become a major physical presence, but he started to play more of a defensive game with Alaska and will need to focus even more on the defensive aspects of his game if he is to stick in the AHL and get a shot in the NHL. Otherwise, Riddle's career will likely play out in the lower minor pro leagues.
Peter Sejna, LW
Age: 26 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent April 6, 2003
As is the case with DiSalvatore, time may be running out for Peter Sejna.
The 2003 Hobey Baker Award winner did not crack the Blues line-up out of training camp, but he did start the 2005-06 season by lighting up the AHL. Sejna was named the AHL Player of the Week Oct. 11 after scoring 2 goals and 1 assist against both the Iowa Stars Oct. 6 and the Manitoba Moose Oct. 7. With an assist the next night, Sejna had 4 goals and 3 assists in his first 3 games of the season. After 5 more goals and 4 more assists in his next 7 games for Peoria, Sejna was recalled by St. Louis Oct. 31 when Colin Hemingway was returned to the Rivermen, and Doug Weight was out with a concussion, and Dallas Drake was suspended by the NHL. Sejna scored in his first game up, a 6-5 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Nov. 2, and had an assist in the Blues next game, but he was returned to Peoria Nov. 8 when Weight was again healthy and Drake was eligible to play again.
The Slovakian took the re-assignment in stride and scored 6 goals and 17 assists in his next 19 games with the Rivermen before again being recalled by St. Louis Dec. 28 when Lee Stempniak was assigned to Peoria. Sejna's ice time decreased in each of the four games he played with the Blues in his second stint of the season and he was returned to Peoria Jan. 4. In his second game back, Sejna was injured and missed Peoria's next three games before giving it a go Jan. 20 against San Antonio and Jan. 21 against Houston, when he suffered a high ankle sprain that kept him out of action until March 25 against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.
Sejna assisted on three goals in Peoria's 8-2 victory over Houston March 28, but he went without a point for the next four games, the first time Sejna had gone more than one game without a point all season. Despite playing in only 44 games for the Rivermen, Sejna finished fifth in team scoring with 19 goals and 31 assists. The only other Peoria forward who averaged over a point per game was eighth-year pro Trent Whitfield.
The 26-year-old Sejna led Peoria in playoff goal scoring, but 3 goals in 4 games was not enough, as the Rivermen were swept in four games by the Houston Aeros.
The stocky 5'10, 197-pound winger has excellent offensive awareness, a hard shot, and a powerful stride, but he doesn't always use his considerable skating skills.
"On the ice, he really needs to move his feet," Pleau said. "When he moves his feet and he competes and stops and starts and gets low on the puck, he's tough to play against."
Sejna is a Group II restricted free agent this summer, assuming the Blues tender him a qualifying offer, and his point production in the AHL in 2005-06 could earn him another contract from St. Louis, but only a full NHL season will be considered a success for Sejna. If Sejna keeps his feet moving and plays the aggressive forechecking game he's known to play in the AHL, he should contribute in St. Louis in 2006-07.
"Peter needs to get the situation where he gets some confidence and is given some ice time that he can thrive in," Pleau said.
With St. Louis rebuilding, there's no better time for Sejna to make his mark, but time's running out.
Timofei Shishkanov, LW
Age: 22 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Traded to St. Louis from Nashville January 29, 2006
The Blues rebuilding process began when they acquired Timofei Shishkanov.
On Jan. 29 St. Louis made its first trade of the season and sent Mike Sillinger to the Nashville for Shishkanov, a 22-year-old Russian who had been unable to crack the Predators line-up full-time in three seasons of trying. Shiskhanov played for St. Louis Jan. 30 in a 3-2 overtime victory over Calgary, but was assigned to Peoria Feb. 1 when Keith Tkachuk returned to the line-up from broken right hand that had kept him out of action for 22 games.
Immediately upon arrival in Peoria, Shishkanov made an impact by scoring 2 goals in his first game for the Rivermen, a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Marlies in which the new guy scored the game-winning goal. Shishkanov tallied a goal and an assist the next night, a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Barons, but after three goalless games and three more games injured, Shishkanov went on a six-game pointless streak, completing a nine-game goal-scoring drought punctuated by the injury.
Regardless of the offensive dry spell, St. Louis recalled Shishkanov March 4 after Vladimir Orszagh was lost for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Shishkanov did manage to play Peoria's March 8 game in Grand Rapids between games during a four-game Blues homestretch, but he generally played the rest of the season for St. Louis. Shishkanov typically received under 10 minutes of ice time per game and scored only scored 3 goals and 2 assists in his final 21 games with the Blues to close the 2005-06 NHL regular season.
With St. Louis out of the playoffs with the worst record in the NHL, Shishkanov was assigned to Peoria for the Calder Cup playoffs, but he only played in Games 2 and 4 in Houston's four-game sweep of the Rivermen, to the ire of the St. Louis management. Former Rivermen head coach Pleau felt Shishkanov needed to adjust his game to succeed in North America.
"He just needs to develop, to play the game with a straight head, we call it in north-south, instead of trying to make plays with the puck all the time," Pleau said.
It's difficult to argue with Peoria's departed coach, as the talented Shishkanov was never a consistent scorer for the Milwaukee Admirals and also proved to be inconsistent for the Blues. Despite Shishkanov needing to have more substance to his flashy game, Pleau still had compliments for the 6'1, 209-pound right winger.
"He's a very powerful forward," Pleau said of Shishkanov. "He can skate, he can shoot, he's big, he's strong, and he just needs to learn how to utilize those abilities and transition into the game."
The entry-level contract that Shishkanov signed with Nashville expired at the end of the season, but it's certain that the Blues will re-sign the player they began their rebuilding phase with. If Shishkanov makes the proper adjustments to his game, he could be a contributing third liner for St. Louis in 2006-07.
Lee Stempniak, RW
Age: 23 (1st Year Pro)
Acquired: 5th Rd, 148th overall, 2003 NHL Entry Draft
The only reason Lee Stempniak is in this review is because he played 26 games for Peoria in 2005-06, but it's clear he's an NHLer after his 57 games with St. Louis last season.
When Keith Tkachuk strained his groin in the first game of the season, St. Louis called upon Stempniak to fill in even before he'd played an AHL game. The Dartmouth College grad skated two games on St. Louis' fourth line and was loaned to Peoria Oct. 11 when veteran Trent Whitfield was recalled instead. Stempniak did not light up the AHL in his first first seven games for Peoria, but his strong two-way play earned him recall to St. Louis Oct. 31 in favor of Colin Hemingway.
With Tkachuk out with a rib cage injury, Dallas Drake suspended, and Doug Weight out with a minor concussion, Stempniak got the chance to play on the Blues third line and responded with 3 goals and 4 assists in the first 10 games after his Oct. 31 recall. However, when Stempniak went the next 12 games without a point, he was loaned to Peoria Dec. 28. Stempniak only scored 1 goal in his first five games back with Peoria, but St. Louis recalled Stempniak Jan. 28 after he scored 5 goals and 1 assist in four games over five nights Jan. 20 through 24.
Stempniak picked up where he left off in the AHL and scored 6 goals and 2 assists in 7 games for St. Louis leading up to the Olympic break, during which he was assigned to Peoria. Although he only had two assists in six games for the Rivermen during the Olympic break, Stempniak was promptly recalled when the NHL season resumed. The 23-year-old resumed where he left off before the Olympics and scored 3 goals and 2 assists in his five games back, but he then only scored 2 goals and 5 assists in the Blues final 21 games. While Stempniak struggled to score, the Blues struggled to win, and the team went on a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak March 16 through April 8. The Blues did manage to beat the Edmonton Oilers April 9, but then finished the season with five straight losses.
Stempniak was assigned to Peoria for the Calder Cup Playoffs and had three assists in Peoria's Game 1, 5-4 overtime loss to the Houston Aeros, but he did not tally in Games 2 and 3 did not play in Game 4, as the Rivermen were swept in four games.
The Blues have had a terrible season as a team, but Stempniak led the team in rookie scoring with 14 goals and 13 assists in 57 games. Stempniak established himself as an NHLer in his first professional season, but it wasn't because of the scoring he showed leading up to and after the Olympics.
"His core and his legs, his core is so strong he protects the puck very well," Pleau said of Stempniak. "He's able to accelerate out of turns.
"A lot of guys slow down when they turn, he accelerates out."
The basis of Stempniak's game is his strength and power. He may only be listed at 6'0, 195 pounds, but he's incredibly solid. Stempniak uses his combination of leg and core strength to give himself a powerful stride, good balance, and excellent acceleration. Stempniak's two-way game, speed, and strength should make him a staple on the Blues second or third line for seasons to come.
Patrick Wellar, D
Age: 22 (2nd Year Pro)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent June 30, 2004
The Peoria Riverman may have moved from the ECHL to the "A" for 2005-06, but second-year pro Patrick Wellar needed one more season with a different "A" - the Alaska Aces.
Wellar started the season in the AHL with Peoria, but was assigned to St. Louis's ECHL affiliate on Oct. 28 after being a scratch for Peoria's first seven games. Over the next three months, Wellar was able to become a regular contributor to the Aces blueline.
After Trevor Byrne fell to injury Jan. 13 against Omaha and Zack Fitzgerald suffered a broken wrist Jan. 17 against San Antonio, St. Louis re-assigned Wellar to Peoria on Jan. 23 to fill in. Wellar played in Peoria's next four games after being recalled, but he was scratched the next three games before playing one more AHL game Feb. 11. On Feb. 14 Wellar was again re-assigned to Alaska.
Wellar finished the season with the Aces and improved upon his rookie ECHL season by scoring 6 goals and 13 assists in 53 games. In the Kelly Cup Playoffs, which the Peoria Rivermen missed in 2005, Wellar contributed to the Aces drive for the Kelly Cup by scoring 2 goals and 2 assists and providing his brand of physical, defensive hockey.
The 6'3, 210-pound Wellar has always been a physical defenseman, and his defensive awareness could help earn him a spot in the AHL in 2006-07.
"He's got good hockey sense," Pleau said of Wellar. "He needs to work on his feet, but his sense is very good and he can keep the game simple, and that's always something that a coach likes."
Payne didn't think that it was skating that Wellar needed to improve on so much as increasing his leg strength.
"He has a tendency to stand straight up, get stiff-legged," Payne said. "That takes away mobility, it takes away balance."
If Wellar can skate within a power position with bent legs all of the time, he will be able to better use his size and make even better open-ice hits. Payne thinks size will be one of the primary keys to Wellar's game.
"He needs time, but when he realizes how big he is, it's probably going to be an asset for him," Payne said. "He's got to realize that his strength is his size and continue to use it and make sure he's, what I call, 'playing within his legs.'"
Despite Wellar needing to improve his leg strength, Payne still described Wellar as "a big mobile guy who can move pucks and make outlet passes."
The 22-year-old Wellar has the edge control to be a good skater, he just needs to improve his leg strength so that he can thrust into hits and have more balance when making hits or taking hits. With his size and aggressiveness, Wellar could become a reliable, physical, defensive defenseman at the AHL level and possibly even the NHL level.
Dennis Wideman, D
Age: 23 (2nd Year Pro)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent June 30, 2004
Originally a draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres, free agent acquisition Dennis Wideman is already paying dividends for the Blues.
Wideman finished second in AHL rookie-defenseman scoring in 2004-05, and he started 2005-06 with Peoria, but after 12 games with the Rivermen, Wideman was ready to make his NHL debut. St. Louis recalled Wideman from Peoria on Nov. 8 after the Andy Roach experiment didn't work out. Roach was playing in Switzerland by the end of the season, but Wideman never left St. Louis.
On a d-corps plagued by injuries, Wideman was healthy throughout the entirety of 2005-06. In three straight games in early December, Wideman received over 26 minutes of ice-time and had established himself as one of the Blues top defensemen. After St. Louis' Dec. 29 game against Dallas, Wideman only played in six games the rest of the season in which he didn't play over 20 minutes. Along the way, Wideman also scored 8 goals and 16 assists in 67 games to place him first among all Blues defensemen in scoring. Unfortunately for Peoria, when the Blues season ended, Wideman's ended as well, as he was not assigned to the Rivermen for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
"He's been able to really help them (St. Louis) on the power play and in the transition game," Pleau said of Wideman. "His outlet passes are second to none, and we really miss that down here."
Pleau, who was an assistant coach with Worcester in 2004-05, was able to see Wideman's strong two-way play throughout the course of an entire season. Wideman is an intelligent defenseman who can use his 6'0, 205-pound frame to make open-ice hits or hip checks, but his offensive awareness, passing, point shot, and one-time make him dangerous offensively. Despite finishing with a -31 rating, the third worst in the NHL, Wideman is still a solid two-way defenseman for St. Louis and figures to be one of the Blues top four defensemen in 2006-07.
Jeff Woywitka, D
Age: 22 (3rd Year Pro)
Acquired: Trade to St. Louis from Edmonton August 2, 2005
Acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the Chris Pronger trade, Jeff Woywitka is going to have to step up his game if the Blues are to get any sort of equity out of the trade.
The 2001 first round draft pick started the season in St. Louis, but Woywitka was loaned to Peoria Oct. 13 after he received less than 10 minutes of ice time in his first three games of the season and after Barrett Jackman returned from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the first three games of the season. After two games with Peoria, Woywitka was recalled Oct. 16 and played in seven more games before being sent back down to the Rivermen after St. Louis' 4-2 loss to Chicago Nov. 10. In Woywitka's place, the Blues recalled Dennis Wideman, who did not return to Peoria the rest of the season.
When Bryce Salvardor was injured for the Blues Nov. 26 game against Columbus, St. Louis called upon Woywitka to fill in. However, Salvador only missed one game with the minor knee injury, and Woywitka was loaned to Peoria Nov. 29.
Woywitka rejoined the Rivermen in time for their Dec. 2 game against Grand Rapids, a 7-4 victory, and the 22-year-old began to establish himself on the Peoria blueline. Although he did not put up big numbers with the Rivermen, Woywikta contributed to the Peoria line-up by giving the team a 6'2, 210-pound defenseman with excellent mobility, size, and more offensive ability than his 1 goal and 14 assists in 53 games showed. Despite lackluster offensive numbers, when Salvador had to pack it in for the season with a nagging right shoulder injury, St. Louis recalled Woywikta March 21 to fill in.
The rookie NHL defenseman did not see more than 15 minutes of ice time in any of his 16 games after the March recall. Despite his skating skills and size, Woywitka must believe he's an NHL caliber defenseman and play accordingly.
"He's a big strong kid, he competes hard, most of the time," Pleau said of Woywitka. "It's just his intensity level needs to stay up where, you call it NHL intensity, whatever you call it, he needs to keep that up there so that guys don't take advantage of him and he'll be able to stick."
Woywitka returned to Peoria for the Calder Cup Playoffs, but he went pointless and was a -3 in Houston's four-game sweep of the Rivermen.
Assuming the Blues tender Woywitka a qualifying offer, he may be hard-pressed to crack the St. Louis line-up. Blues defensemen Bryce Salvador and Steve Paopst are both Group III unrestricted free agents this summer, and Kevin Dallman and Mike Stuart will both be a Group VI unrestricted free agent. What St. Louis does with these defensemen will largely determine where Woywitka starts 2006-07. Given that he was part of the Pronger trade, the Blues will be highly motivated to help Woywitka succeed.
| St. Louis Blues AHL/ECHL Prospect Stats 2005-06 | ||||||||||||
| Player | Team | Leag. | GP | G | A | TP | +/- | PIM | PG | SG | GW | SH |
| David Backes | Minn. St. | NCAA | 38 |
13 |
29 |
42 |
- |
91 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
- |
| Peoria | AHL | 12 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
-1 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
|
| Peoria | AHL* | 3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
+3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
| Trevor Byrne | Peoria | AHL | 51 |
3 |
18 |
21 |
+2 |
47 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
95 |
| Wheeling | ECHL | 2 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
| Peoria | AHL* | 5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
| Jon DiSalvatore | Peoria | AHL | 72 |
22 |
45 |
67 |
+2 |
42 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
235 |
| St. Louis | NHL | 5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
| Peoria | AHL* | 4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
| Zach Fitzgerald | Alaska | ECHL | 12 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
+4 |
108 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
| Peoria | AHL | 13 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
+2 |
47 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
| Colin Hemmingway | Peoria | AHL | 29 |
7 |
9 |
16 |
-1 |
19 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
66 |
| St. Louis | NHL | 3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
| Alaska | ECHL | 5 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
+1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
| Peoria | AHL* | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| D.J. King | Peoria | AHL | 67 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
-12 |
160 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
| Alaska | ECHL | 5 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
+2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
| Doug Lynch | Peoria | AHL | 29 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
+2 |
57 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
| Alaska | ECHL | 8 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
| Alaska | ECHL* | 22 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
-3 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
|
| Aaron MacKenzie | Peoria | AHL | 51 |
2 |
7 |
9 |
+11 |
35 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
28 |
| Peoria | AHL* | 4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
| Jay McClement | Peoria | AHL | 11 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
-1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
| St. Louis | NHL | 67 |
6 |
21 |
27 |
-23 |
30 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
76 |
|
| Peoria | AHL* | 4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
-3 |
2 |
0 |
||||