Blues set to open preseason schedule at Dallas

Bouwmeester sustains lower-body injury 

in scrimmage; camp roster trimmed by four

By LOU KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- The beauty of NHL training camp is that once it opens, it's not long after that preseason games follow.

The Blues opened Friday, and after four days of practicing and drilling sprinkled in with a scrimmage on Sunday, it's time for players to oppose different competition, and the Blues will open their eight-game preseason schedule on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars in Texas at 7:30 p.m. (it can be heard on KMOX.com and on HD radio on Y98 HD3).

It will be a matchup against former coach Ken Hitchcock.

The Blues will take a mix of veterans and young players. The lineup includes:

Alexander Steen-Robby Fabbri-Samuel Blais

Vladimir Sobotka-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou

MacKenzie MacEachern-Ivan Barbashev-Tage Thompson

Wade Megan-Kyle Brodziak-Klim Kostin

Jake Walman-Robert Bortuzzo

Vince Dunn-Nate Prosser

Carl Gunnarsson-Jordan Schmaltz

Carter Hutton will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will play in relief.

Extras: Justin Selman, Thomas Vannelli

"As far as looking at our first couple games, I think that we've balanced things out well between guys that we need to make sure that they're prepared for Game 1, and guys that we want to get a look at and see if they can crack our lineup for Game 1," Blues coach Mike Yeo said. "... Priority one is making sure that your team is ready and so obviously in that, you have to look at your veterans and determine what they need as far as amount of games and personnel they play with. The other part of it is making sure that Game 1, the lineup that we out on the ice is the best one that we can. I think that we have a good group going in. Part of that is we want to see how they react in a tough building. You know in home games, they're going to play a lot of their top guys in their lineup. We have some guys that are going to get some real tough matchups tomorrow."

Among them, 2014 sixth-round pick Samuel Blais, who has worked with Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko the first few days of camp, spent Monday on right wing with Robby Fabbri at center and Alexander Steen on left wing. It gives Blais, who scored in Sunday's scrimmage, another opportunity playing with proven veterans.

"I knew yesterday that I would be with these two (Monday)," Blais said. "I'm playing tomorrow with these two in Dallas, so we try to get some chemistry during the practice and I think we did some good plays and it was a good practice.

"They're both real good players. Steen and 'Fabs,' they working really hard and I think they are good on offense, too. We'll try to build on that for tomorrow. ... I'm looking forward to a real game. I'm going to try and do my best and show them the same player I was last year in Chicago."

* Bouwmeester injured -- Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester sustained a lower-body injury on Sunday and will see a doctor on Monday afternoon or Tuesday to determine the severity and if he will miss any length of time.

Yeo said Monday that the 34-year-old Bouwmeester was injured during a scrimmage.

"He's going to have an appointment here today or tomorrow. We'll have more of an update after Wednesday's game," Yeo said.

Asked if he thought the injury was serious, Yeo didn't want to speculate.

"I don't think so, but I don't want to say it is or it isn't," Yeo said. "It's serious enough that he has to go see a doctor and serious enough that it kept him off the ice. I definitely don't want to try to get into any kind of time frame right now, especially knowing 'Bouw.' He's a pretty tough customer."

Bouwmeester has been a mainstay on the Blues' top defensive pairing with captain Alex Pietrangelo; he played in 81 games last season, had one goal and 14 assists and averaged 22:24 ice time per game.

Bouwmeester has played in parts of five seasons with the Blues; he was acquired from the Calgary Flames on April 1, 2013 for a conditional first-round pick and two prospects.

* Blues trim roster by four -- The Blues assigned four players to their respective junior teams on Monday, trimming the camp roster down to 47 active players and 49 including injured Patrik Berglun and Luke Opilka.

The Blues assigned forward Tanner Kaspick (Brandon – WHL), defensemen Trenton Bourque (Owen Sound – OHL) and David Noel (Val-d’Or – QMJHL) and goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick (Sherbrooke – QMJHL) to their junior teams.

Steen heathy again, wants to be factor this season

Veteran forward coming off broken toe sustained in playoff series against Wild

By LOU KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- If you're a fan of the Blues and you've seen Alexander Steen's smile on the ice in the first few days of training camp, there's a good reason.

The simplest things can be reason to feel good, and for a hockey player, putting on the skates pain-free and just taking a twirl on the ice is enough reason to be happy.

The last time Steen, 33, was in competition for the Blues for keeps, it was during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in May. It was also one of the most painful times for Steen, who played the entire postseason with a broken big toe on his left foot.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Alexander Steen played virtually the entire postseason last year with a

broken foot, is healthy again.

But he's back twirling around at the Ice Zone again, free and clear of pain, healthy, married (Josefine) in Sweden over the summer and reinvigorated.

"It's been good. It's been energetic," Steen said of camp. "Seems like everyone's excited to be back.

"It took a while after the year, but I got back to training about a month and a half into the summer. I feel good, I feel energized and ready to go."

Steen, who had 16 goals and 35 assists in 76 regular-season games, delivered another seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 postseason games, but just to get ready for each game was a challenge in itself.

After injuring his foot in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round series against the Minnesota Wild, Steen was a broken skater.

After the game, there was a definitely limp in the locker room but not one to confirm that he was hurt. It got progressively worse and Steen was to the point where he was taking injections to numb the foot in order to get his skate on and be able to play. Only once did the throbbing, searing pain get the best of him, Game 5 of the second round series against the Nashville Predators.

Taking injections on gamedays was a chore in itself.

"It's weird. You just take it sort of day by day," Steen said. "I knew that our off-days are the days we weren't playing, I was not going to be able to aggravate it and get some rest on it. Gamedays were the days where you got up in the morning and you knew you had to get ready and prepare your mind. But it was good. The doctors were great in helping me out as much as they could. The team was great, too. The team pushed together and we had a really good vibe going, a good push in our group and played a tough Nashville team and they got the best of us."

Steen wasn't wallowing in his pain, which could have been very easy to do.

According to a former player who experienced a similar injury, he said the injections to the foot are some of the most painful experiences one could imagine. And Steen had to do it at least 10 times.

But now the pain is gone, and this cagy veteran said the patience paid off before feeling good again.

"It took about close to two months," Steen said. "I'd say six weeks, eight weeks, somewhere in there. I was able to really start pushing again. 

"I've had a good summer. It's been productive and last summer, the shoulder obviously took a lot of the summer and preparations, I was hopeful of making it to the World Cup and trying to push for that deadline. There was a lot of focus specifically on that shoulder. That feels great, and now this summer, when I took that little time to heal up, I felt like I had a good summer of getting everything ready."

Ready for a new season, one in which Steen is anxiously looking forward to after helping the Blues transition to a new coach with Mike Yeo taking over for Ken Hitchcock midseason.

"I like our group, I like our moves," Steen said. "Obviously we've made some changes this summer. Our young guys have gotten a year older, a little more experienced. Our goaltending's so solid. The way that the system that we started playing from February on was a big change even though it was small details that happened. I'm obviously excited to get going. Big key is early starts to the year. You want to get off to a good start and start feeling good about your game. Last year was pretty much the opposite. We got off to a rough start, were almost playing catch-up there for a while and then came together and really grew the second half of the year. I was really impressed how we played in the second half. Now's a new year and we want to get off to a great start.

"... 'Schenner's' (Brayden Schenn) going to come in, I like the style of game he plays. It fits in very well with the type of game that we want to play. Thors, same thing thing. Perfect guy for us. We've gotten to know him a little bit before camp; he showed up a few weeks early. They're going to be great fits for the club."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues forward Alexander Steen battles for a loose puck against a Toronto

skater last sesaon. 

Adding an influx of youth to go with the veteran players make the Blues a darkhorse in the Western Conference. They'll have to take a wait-and-see approach but in doing do, there's encouragement is to have fun.

"The biggest thing is for them to enjoy these moments when you get to play and practice at this level and push yourself but also to see the pace. "I if we're able to push them pace-wise so that they understand where we're at and where they need to get to. The young guys are great. I haven't watched the other group as much, but our group has been good, have been on pace the whole time. It's been good.

"You see how the young guy have developed over the years when they come into camp in shape and everything. They're 18-22 and they all look like they're ready to go. They definitely push us veterans."

At this point, if it means being on the ice, Steen wouldn't mind being poked and prodded.

Blais given greatest chance at cracking Blues roster

2014 sixth-round pick playing with Stastny, Tarasenko while 

coaching staff giving 21-year-old chance to shine after solid season in AHL

By LOU KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- Samuel Blais was assured of only one guarantee upon arrival to St. Louis on Thursday: he'd be one of 51 skaters attending Blues training camp for the 2017-18 season.

What Blais, a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, didn't expect was the first sight of the locker room inside the Ice Zone.

He expected to see his name on the board somewhere, but certainly not next to ... Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Samuel Blais takes part in a drill Saturday during Blues training camp. Blais

is being given a shot at cracking the roster after strong AHL season.

"It was a sheet in the room and I saw that when I came in yesterday morning," Blais said Saturday at Day Two of training camp. "I was very happy about that. I was like, "Is it me?' I was very happy and it's a good opportunity for me."

Yes, it is a good opportunity for the 21-year-old Blais.

A very good opportunity.

One in which will be by far his best chance at cracking a NHL roster.

Even if Blais doesn't crack the Blues' roster to begin the season, he's climbed up the proverbial chain of prospects on the parent club's radar. One in which coaches and management gas noticed.

But by placing Blais, a left wing, with two of the Blues' mainstays, which includes their leading scorer, shows what the Blues think of the Montmagny, Quebec, Canada native. 

This is no fluke, no chance of putting a younger player with veterans to fail.

"They told me I'm not there for no reason," Blais said. "I had a good year. Just got to do my best and try to earn a spot on the team."

Blais, who spent three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Victoriaville and Charlottetown, made the nice transition to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League last season with 26 goals and 17 assists in 75 regular-season games; he had 71 goals and 107 assists in three seasons in the QMJHL.

Blues coach Mike Yeo got a chance to watch Blais play in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season and came away impressed.

"I was real impressed when I went and watched him in the playoffs last year," Yeo said. "He's a guy that can really control the puck, possess the puck well, plays with his head up, can use linemates but can shoot the puck as well. I'm looking to see if he can obviously complement some very skilled players.

"I want him to show us that he can play with good players and not defer. He's a guy that can shoot the puck, he's a guy that can distribute the puck. I want him out there with the mentality that you're going to make the play that you believe is best to be made, not what you think somebody else might want from you. What makes top players great is that they're demanding, but for somebody to be able to go up and play at that level, you have to be able to deal with that. He's had a good first two days. "

Blais has looked good, albeit for two days, with Stastny and Tarasenko. There's speed, there's pinpoint passing, there's precision shooting as the three attack in drills. 

"I've just got to enjoy it," Blais said. "They're really good players in the league, 'Vladi' and 'Stas.' They're really good players, so I've just got to take my chance and don't be too much nervous and embrace the moment."

What the two veterans are doing is making Blais' time on the ice as comfortable as possible, and communication is key.

"I think we just talk to him," Stastny said. "Like anyone that plays with 'Vladi,' you try to find him all the time and sometimes you try and do too much. I know those first couple of days is just making him be comfortable. I think he's a good player, smart player, good hands. Any time you know you play with good players, the more you talk to a guy, the more time you have, the easier it is for him."

"Yeah, he's a good guy," Tarasenko said of Blais, who he calls Sammy. "It's nice when it's a guy that wasn't on team and come for camp and talk nice with you. We have all of them and it's really like good atmosphere in locker room. I just enjoy my time in rink."

Blais could be one of those diamond-in-the-rough selections for the Blues. Imagine developing an impact player drafted in the later rounds. 

"I think that everybody has their own rate of developing," Yeo said. "Some guys do it at a very young age, some guys are a little bit later and late bloomers. To me, he's a guy that's continued to find a way to improve. I was extremely impressed from where he was in training camp last year to where he was at the end of the year last year. Whether he's ready, we don't know. Obviously we'll give him a chance in training camp. But as long as he continues to improve and work at his game the way that he has, then he's given himself a great chance."

Blais took off after Christmas last season, scoring 22 goals after the holidays. Having his Wolves coaches (Craig Berube, Daniel Tkazcuk and Darryl Sydor) here in main camp is an added bonus.

"I think I always had my goal-scoring touch, but in junior I was more like a playmaker, but last year, my first half was like a little bit harder of my first-year pro," Blais said. "But after Christmas, I think I had like 22 goals after Christmas. I just played hard and played a different game than I was playing in junior. I was finishing my checks and playing good defensively. That's what make my success last year.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Samuel Blais during a preseason game in 2016 playing for the Blues. A

2014 sixth-round pick, Blais had 26 goals, 17 assists in AHL last season.

"They wanted me playing harder, finishing my checks. I'm like 6-foot-3 so I had to finish my check and they weren't very good for me in my defensive zone. They worked with me a lot, so I thank them a lot for that."

Blais can serve up the ultimate thank you by winning the staff over during the next two weeks and be a surprise member of the Blues when they open Oct. 4.

"I want to make a good impression here," Blais said. "If I'm going back to the AHL, I jut want to have a good start and get a call-up after. If I play good this year, maybe earn a spot or battle for a spot."

Blues open camp with plenty of intrigue

Schenn debuts; Fabbri returns; do young guns Thompson, Walman, 

other have a shot; Steen healthy; other newcomers all part of storylines

By LOU KORAC
For The Telegraph
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- The Blues opened training camp for the 2017-18 season on Friday at the Ice Zone inside St. Louis Outlet Mall with plenty of questions and intrigue heading into a 50th season in the NHL.

"Probably the first group was maybe a little sharper than the second, but I think from what we wanted to accomplish today as far as getting some of our systems work in and those first glimpses of getting the guys into the battle and seeing what they can do against their competition is a good first step," Blues coach Mike Yeo said.

The Blues, who finished with a 46-29-7 record (99 points) before losing to the Nashville Predators in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, head into a new season with plenty of storylines that will catch the eye of Blues fans everywhere, even those that packed into the Ice Zone on Friday to catch the first glimpses of two groups that skated.

Among them:

* Brayden Schenn's first practice with his new team. How he fits into the top six after being acquired at the draft in Chicago from the Philadelphia Flyers for Jori Lehtera and two No. 1 picks. Schenn was skating on a line in Group A centering Alexander Steen and Jaden Schwartz.

"It's been good. The guys have been awesome. Super welcoming," Schenn said. "Coming to an organization where you don't know a whole lot of people, guys have been good. I feel comfortable right off the beginning and having fun with the guys and happy to get Day One out of the way.

"It's definitely a huge opportunity for me. At the same time, they're a deep group here that have a lot of forwards up front. For me, I've just got to come in and try and jell with the guys, fit in and find chemistry. They've got a good group here already. I don't think I've got to try and do anything special, just try to fit in."

* Robby Fabbri is 100 percent healthy after sustaining a torn left ACL on Feb. 4 that forced the forward to miss the remainder of the season. Fabbri was on the ice playing center, his natural position, and between Magnus Paajarvi and 2016 first-round pick Tage Thompson.

"The offensive part of it will take care of itself," said Yeo, head-manning his first training camp after taking over for Ken Hitchcock on Feb. 1. "He's obviously not a huge guy in comparison to a lot of centermen around the League. What he's going to have to prove is he can do the dirty work, defend, make sure that he's able to keep the puck out of his net, but more importantly, is he able to get to his offensive game. Some smaller centermen have a tough time. They have to battle so hard in d-zone, they have nothing left when it's time to go on offense. That's part of it. We want to see how he defends, how he learns to defend. Not because we want him to be a defensive specialist, but good players need to find a way to separate and need the opposition from the puck and to get to their game. That's what we're looking for."

* Alexander Steen is skating healthy again after playing throughout the playoffs with a broken toe.

* New skaters include Chris Thorburn, signed as a free agent to replace the departed Ryan Reaves, Oskar Sundqvist, acquired from Pittsburgh as part of the trade sending Reaves to the Penguins, Beau Bennett and Nate Prosser. Where do those new faces fit in?

* How do the young players fit in, such as Thompson, Jake Walman, Vince Dunn, Jordan Schmaltz, Jordan Kyrou, Klim Kostin, Robert Thomas, Samuel Blais (more on him below)?

"You have to know that No. 1, there's not a lot of jobs available, but that doesn't mean that somebody can't win a position," Yeo said. "As a coach or when you're a part of this, you know coming in who you're going to keep a real close eye on. That doesn't mean somebody can't grab your attention and all of the sudden earn that same look from you as well. We have a good sense of who we think is knocking on the door. Part of that might be Traverse City, part of that might be what they've done in Chicago or junior hockey for that matter. It's always a fun time to see how those guys come in."

Thompson led all scorers with nine points (four goals, five assists) at Traverse City in four games.

"That was kind of the main key going in, hope to have a good showing and kind of carry it into main camp," Thompson said. "I've done the first part. Now I have to carry it over."

* Blais getting a shot; he played with Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko.

"I think we just talk to him," Stastny said. "Anyone that plays with Vladi, I think you just try and find him all the time, but sometimes you try and do too much. I think those first couple days for him, just making him be comfortable. I think he's a good player, a smart player, good hands. Anytime you play with good players, the more you talk to a guy, the more time you have and the easier it is for him."

* Tarasenko comes into camp lighter, quicker on his skates. The Blues' leading scorer with 39 goals and 36 assists last season, changed his offseason workout regimen.

"I just needed to work on the balance and things like this because technology go really high right now and new drills," Tarasenko said. "I was just in touch with our strength coach Eric (Renaghan) and practiced with my hometown team (Sibir Novosibirsk). It was really good summer but happy to be here."

Yeo liked what he saw.

"His fitness testing scores were very high," Yeo said of Tarasenko. "Extremely pleased about that. His work ethic in practice was very high. I think that Vladi is really starting to grab hold of that he's a leader. He wants to be a leader for this group. Obviously with that comes a lot of responsibility.

"He looks really good, so that's a good sign. We'll just have to make sure we stay on it."

* Center Zach Sanford was the first injury casualty as part of the second group; he departed immediately and seemed to favor his left shoulder during a battle drill in the near right corner of the rink. Sanford was checked into the boards by Dmitrij Jaskin, who tried to pull his teammate back as they were fighting for puck possession, but Sanford went down right away and was taken off the ice.

"I'll have more of an update for you tomorrow, but I think we all saw him go into the boards there and he was pretty uncomfortable," Yeo said of Sanford. "Don't have much of an update right now, but he was certainly in some discomfort."

Older, wiser Pietrangelo continues to grow as Blues captain

Defenseman enters second year wearing 'C' having experienced 

first year of highs, lows; knows what to expect better moving forward

By LOU KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- It was a little over a year ago when the Blues elected to put defenseman Alex Pietrangelo in an exclusive group.

Pietrangelo was named the 21st captain in franchise history that forever changes his stance in Blues hockey history.

The one-year anniversary of his anointment came and went. It was Aug. 26, 2016. But in the one year of his time wearing the fabled 'C,' it adds a year of experience for Pietrangelo's resume.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will begin his second season as captain when

the Blues open training camp Friday for the 2017-18 season. 

The 27-year-old can look back and reflect on the highs and lows of his time as the successor to David Backes where Pietrangelo hopes to build on more wealth and knowledge of being a leader moving forward as the Blues get set to open training camp Friday for the 2017-18 season.

Pietrangelo, a King City, Ontario native just outside Toronto, makes a full-time home in St. Louis with his wife Jayne. There comes more added responsibilities for the Blues' No. 1 defenseman, not just on the ice but off it as well. 

But in the time he's held the 'C,' Pietrangelo is comfortable wearing it, tackling the responsibilities that come with it and is ready to continue to lead the charge for the Blues moving forward. 

"You just feel more comfortable," said Pietrangelo, who has 65 goals and 238 assists in 539 regular-season games spanning seven full seasons and parts of nine. "I think going into the year, it's not something more than you expect but sometimes when it's your first year, maybe you try and do too much."

Pietrangelo, who put up a career-high in goals with 14 last season to go with 34 assists and 48 points in 80 games, is surrounded by veteran players who can help guide him when the going gets tough. Guys like Alexander Steen, Paul Stastny, Jay Bouwmeester, Kyle Brodziak, Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko and now newcomers Brayden Schenn and Chris Thorburn, guys that have been through the wars and know the ins and outs of how to keep a locker room in tact and pushing forward together as one.

"I think the biggest thing was really just relying on the other guys in the locker room, now bring 'Thorbs' (Chris Thorburn) in, another veteran guy who's been around, it just makes it easier on me, not just to pick their brains, but they can kind of help me with things that I need," Pietrangelo said. "We're not getting any younger in our room, we've got a good group of guys that have been here for a while and have been here together. We understand each other as people and as players and in that aspect I'm lucky that there hasn't been too much turnover and it's easy to know how to kind of relate to each guy.

"It's no different on the ice. If you try to do it by yourself, it's not going to work, so you've got to be sure you rely on everybody else. When you have an older group, it's a little bit easier because they've been through it, they know how to be pros, they know how to take care of business. I'm a people person, too, so I like to get to know each guy but even us bringing 'Schenner' over, I know him from the world juniors so I'm kind of lucky that, like I said, it's not trying to rebuild anything, it's just kind of getting to know guys again."

Being named captain is essentially no different than, for example, someone's first year in high school or first year in college, or even one's rookie season in the NHL. That first experience with something new takes time to adjust, but with each passing day, things tend to become less complex and each experience is seamless the more you go through things.

Pietrangelo wore an 'A' under Backes and was part of the leadership group for coach Ken Hitchcock, the third coach Pietrangelo's played for but the one with the most longevity after Andy Murray and Davis Payne. And changing to Mike Yeo midseason could have been tough on the first-year captain, but Pietrangelo handled it as expected -- like a pro.

"When you look back at it, I guess when you think about it, it was (tough), but when you're in the middle of it, you just kind of deal with it," Pietrangelo said. "You don't really think about it too much. When you look back, we had the World Cup at the start, we had the Winter Classic, then we had the coaching change and we had a couple ups and downs in terms of the way we were playing. I think once we found our groove after the coaching change, it became a lot easier because then you were just able to focus on hockey. A coaching change is never easy to go through.

"... I've been in that leadership group for a few years now. Knowing guys as well as we know each other, it's always a little bit easier, but I guess that can also make it a little uncomfortable if you get into situations where some things need to be said. Lucky enough we've got a good group that if I do say something or if somebody else does, everybody understands it."

All captains wear their hearts on their sleeve, but each go about their methods of leading in different ways. Some are more vocal and emotional, and some lead by example and go with the unified approach of relying on fellow veterans to lead collectively.

This is who Pietrangelo is.

"You can probably ask those guys," Pietrangelo said. "I didn't really change ... I'm not going to change who I am as a person. I am who I am. I really want to make sure on the ice that I was leading by example. It kind of sounds cliche, but especially in practices it's an opportunity to kind really set the standard. Off the ice, I'm going to be the same way. I'm a people person, so If I want to say something to somebody, I don't have a problem saying it. 

"Off the ice, on the ice, it's communication. It starts from Doug (Armstrong) and makes its way down. Everybody's got to be on the same page. It's kind of my job to buffer the coaches, the GM and the players.

"I wouldn't say anyone yells at each other. The one thing you learn, the more you've been around the game, as you get older as a person, you've got to treat everybody differently. You can't treat two people the same way. Some guys are going to react differently to different things. That comes with experience. I enjoy getting to know people, I enjoy understanding them as a person and family. I guess than kind of helps me knowing how to approach them."

And as the Blues, who lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Nashville Predators a year ago in six games after upsetting the Minnesota Wild in five games to begin the postseason, embark on a new challenge of trying to maintain a level of consistency to crack the top eight and compete for a Stanley Cup again, Pietrangelo said he'll approach Year Two of captaincy without too much change.

"Same way, just use the momentum that we had I think at the end of the year," Pietrangelo said. "Use what I learned last year and try and turn it over into training camp and move forward into the season. 

"We haven't made that many changes. The guys that we did bring in, I already knew. For me being captain, it's an awfully easy change. The biggest difference is a whole coaching staff come in, but I played with 'Syd' (Darryl Sydor) and I played with 'Otter' (Steve Ott). That makes it a little easier.

"... Everyone's trying to get better all the time. Every game you learn something. There's always something that happens. The game's so unpredictable, the game's so fast that you've got to take that opportunity to learn from it. I always said to the young players, 'Nothing's ever going to be perfect. Do what you can to get better. There's always room for growth.'"

And this is how he was taught by some of the great players when Pietrangelo first came onto the roster, guys like Keith Tkachuk, Barret Jackman, Backes, Steen, Jay McKee, Paul Kariya and others.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Alex Pietrangelo is the 21st captain in Blues history. 

Now Pietrangelo gets to pass along wise advice and help to the younger players coming through the ranks today like Robby Fabbri, Ivan Barbashev, Zach Sanford, Jordan Schmaltz, and up-and-comers like defensemen Vince Dunn and Jake Walman, Tage Thompson, Robert Thomas and Klim Kostin ... like the wealth of information Pietrangelo got in 2008.

"I enjoy it," Pietrangelo said. "Captain or not captain, that doesn't have a bearing on anything. I enjoy watching guys grow. I enjoy watching them develop and playing. I do like helping guys along the way because a lot of it too is not so much the on-ice stuff. It's a big life change for a lot of people coming in. There's a lot of things happening. I think it's my job and the other guys' to really help guide them through. We're lucky. We've got a bunch of guys who are an open book, so if anyone has any questions, they know they can pick our brains.

"I'm old. I'm not getting any younger, let me tell you. Now we've got guys that are eight years, nine years that are younger than I am. It's scary to think about."

Blues to open camp on Sept. 15

Fifty players expected to attend at Ice Zone inside 

St. Louis Outlet Mall, including newcomer Brayden Schenn

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues are set to open training camp for the 2017-18 season on Sept. 15 at the Ice Zone at St. Louis Outlet Mall. Players are to report on Sept. 14. 

There are 50 players expected to fill the roster for camp, including two on personal tryouts (forward Ty Loney and defenseman Michael McKee).

Brayden Schenn, Chris Thorburn, Beau Bennett and Oskar Sundqvist will join the Blues on the ice for the first time as will 2017 first-round draft picks Robert Thomas and Klim Kostin.

Prospects Tage Thompson, Jordan Kyrou, Jake Walman and Vince Dunn will also join the team on the ice for training camp.

The Blues have listed the dates and times for the first five training camp dates at the Ice Zone and will be free and open to the public.

The Blues open the preseason schedule on Sept. 19 at Dallas.

Training Camp Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 15 at St. Louis Outlet Mall
Group A practice: 9 a.m.
Group B practice: 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 16 at St. Louis Outlet Mall
Group B practice: 9 a.m.
Group A practice: 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 17 at St. Louis Outlet Mall
Group A practice: 9 a.m.
Group B practice: 11:30 a.m.

Monday, Sept. 18 at St. Louis Outlet Mall
Group B practice: 9 a.m.
Group A practice: 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 19 at St. Louis Outlet Mall
Game group practice: 11:30 a.m.
Game at Dallas: 7:30 p.m.

Training Camp Roster:

Forwards (28)
49 - Ivan Barbashev
78 - Beau Bennett
64 - Samuel Blais
67 - Conner Bleackley
28 - Kyle Brodziak
15 - Robby Fabbri
23 - Dmitrij Jaskin
83 - Tanner Kaspick
37 - Klim Kostin
72 - Jordan Kyrou
53 - Ty Loney (PTO)
62 - MacKenzie MacEachern
61 - Wade Megan
54 - Adam Musil
56 - Magnus Paajarvi
12 - Zach Sanford
10 - Brayden Schenn
17 - Jaden Schwartz
79 - Justin Selman
71 - Vladimir Sobotka
26 - Paul Stastny
20 - Alexander Steen
70 - Oskar Sundqvist
91 - Vladimir Tarasenko
36 - Robert Thomas
32 - Tage Thompson
22 - Chris Thorburn
65 - Alexey Toropchenko

Defense (17)
41 - Robert Bortuzzo
63 - Trenton Bourque
19 - Jay Bouwmeester
25 - Chris Butler
29 - Vince Dunn
6 - Joel Edmundson
4 - Carl Gunnarsson
84 - Michael McKee (PTO)
78 - Niko Mikkola
60 - David Noel
55 - Colton Parayko
27 - Alex Pietrangelo
39 - Nate Prosser
43 - Jordan Schmaltz
68 - Dmitrii Sergeev
47 - Thomas Vannelli
46 - Jake Walman

Goalies (5)
34 - Jake Allen
50 - Jordan Binnington
85 - Evan Fitzpatrick
35 - Ville Husso
40 - Carter Hutton

Injured (2)
21 - Patrik Berglund
45 - Luke Opilka

Blues prospects focused on Traverse City

Prospect Tournament set to begin Friday; 2016 first-round pick 

Tage Thompson among those looking to make first impression lasting

By LOU KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- The Blues prospects departed Thursday for Traverse City, Mich. to participate in the 2017 Prospects Tournament beginning Friday and running through Tuesday.

And for center Tage Thompson, a first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, it's all about the first impression.

"I think it's everything," Thompson said. "Your first impression kind of tells everyone your character and what you're all about. I think making a good first impression kind of gives you opportunities down the road. Coming in and making a good impact right away is something that will help me down the road a little bit.

"... I think obviously the goal is to come in and make a good first impression to the organization and as far as the team standing goes, I think we want to win this thing. I'm excited, I haven't done it prior to this, so I'm looking forward to it."

The Blues will once again participate in the eight-team tournament that also features Dallas, Columbus, MInnesota, Chicago, New York Rangers, Carolina and the host team, Detroit.

The Blues' roster includes many first-timers, including 2017 first-round picks Robert Thomas and Klim Kostin as well as those who have participated before, including 2016 second-round pick Jordan Kyrou and 2015 fourth-round pick Adam Musil.

"I learned that it's a fast-paced tournament," Kyrou said. "You've got to play hard. It's a hard tournament. You've got to play with a chip on your shoulder. 

"I thought I had a good tournament. I think it gave me a confidence boost. It was good. ... I just want to go out there, focus on myself and play my game and do what I can to help the team win."

The Blues will play in the Ted Lindsay Division against the Wild Friday at 3 p.m., Dallas Saturday at 6 p.m. and Monday at 2 p.m. against Columbus before figuring out when they play on Tuesday after completing group stage games.

"The competitiveness is at a pretty high level," said former Blues defenseman and developmental coach Barret Jackman, who will be coaching the team along with Tulsa Oilers coach Rob Murray. "... I think it's all about effort. It's a good time to make a first impression for a lot of these guys. You want to go in there and show that you're willing to compete and do a lot of the little things to move on and bring to training camp. A lot of these kids are very good at their age level and now they're playing against some of the top competition. They've got to go out there and kind of prove why they were drafted and have fun with it, too."

But that's why that first impression will be so crucial, to leave a lasting mark on the coaching staff and management. It's where Blues defenseman Colton Parayko came in on the highest of levels two years ago and stormed in on the Blues, who were so impressed that they took a long look and gave him every chance of making the team, which he did.

Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo was a participant in this tournament, two times. 

"I think the hockey was good, but I think the best part about it was getting to know the other guys that you're going to be potentially playing with down the line," Pietrangelo said. "Mine was 'Bergy' (Patrik Berglund), around 'Osh' (T.J. Oshie), I guess 'Bish' (Ben Bishop) was there around that time. Those are the guys that you get to know and you're going to go through the organization with and that's where it starts. If you want to have a close group, it starts there."

So take in the advice and soak up the experience.

"I talked to (Mackenzie) MacEachern and Sam Blais from Chicago. They say it's a fast tournament, you're playing four games in five nights," Thompson said. "It kind of gives you the taste of the pro style, the pro game. Everyone's got their high-end prospects from across the league. It's a tough, competitive tournament and it's kind of a measuring stick to see where you're at in terms of making it."

Thompson, who played at 185 pounds last season, has increased his strength and size to get him ready for training camp, which begin with players reporting Thursday and camp opening Friday, Sept. 15.

"I'm very comfortable right now where I'm at," said Thompson, who prefers to be between 210-215. "I had a really good summer of training. ... I feel like I'm ready. I'm weighing in at 205-210, in that range. I've put on some weight, feel a lot stronger, feel faster. Those are all things that will hopefully help me make the team. 

"... I think it's more strength than weight. The weight will come with age. I'm still pretty young. The main emphasis is getting stronger. I think I did a good job at that this summer. Hopefully, it'll help me make the team. (Leg strength) was my focus, getting a strong low base, helping to fend off guys down low, kind of use my body. That all comes from lower base."

For those players returning for a second and even a third time, like defenseman Thomas Vannelli, it's never too late to make an impression, especially since Blues scouts, who will be on hand, trusted to draft you in the first place.

"They have a lot riding on your success," Jackman said of the scouts. "If you struggled the year before maybe because it's your first year and didn't know what to expect, you come in and elevate and try and show that you're progressing in your development."

Watch out for Kostin, who was taken with the 31st pick in June; he's determined to make that first impression after coming off a shoulder injury that limited his playing time a season ago and had teams pass on him in the draft in Chicago.

"He's got the skill, he's got the size and the strength," Jackman said of Kostin. "For him to come in here and first taste of North American hockey, everybody's kind of eager to see what he brings. He has the potential to be a very high-end offensive threat."

The Blues' roster includes (with jersey numbers):

Forwards: Connor Bleackley (67), Filip Helt (86), Tanner Kaspick (83), Klim Kostin (37), Nikolaj Krag-Christensen (58), Jordan Kyrou (72), Mackenzie MacEachern (62), Hayden McCool (89), Greg Meireles (76), Adam Musil (54), Robert Thomas (36), Tage Thompson (32), Alexey Toropchencko (65)

Defensemen: Sean Allen (81), Trenton Bourque (63), Charles-Edouard D'Astous (74), Michael McKee (84), Niko Mikkola (77), David Noel (60), Dmitrii Sergeev (68), Thomas Vannelli (47), Jake Walman (46)

Goalies: Evan Fitzpatrick (85), Stephen Dhillon (90)

All games will be streamed on FOX Sports Go and DetroitRedWings.com.