Perron avoids arbitration, agrees to four-year deal

Blues give winger $15.25 million contract; Oshie files for arbitration

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- For both the Blues and David Perron, each side had to give up something and take a risk in signing a new four-year, $15.25 million contract.

Perron, who avoided filing for arbitration today by signing a contract that will pay him $3 million next season, $3.5 million in 2013-14, $4.25 million in 2014-15 and $4.5 million in 2015-16 (a cap hit of $3.8125), will lose two years of unrestricted free agency by going beyond two years. It plays a big factor, especially if Perron goes out and tears it up for the next two seasons. He could be quite the bargain for the following two years and he knows it. 

(Getty Images)

David Perron (57) will spend at least the next four seasons in St.

Louis after signing a four-year contract extension.

With the market value for players soaring in the first week of free agency, Perron could have cashed in handsomely if he were on the market today. But on the flip side, there was the concussion factor that weighs in for Perron, who came back last season after missing nearly all of the 2010-11 season. The Blues are paying him well with the potential risk of possibly another type of injury, specifically a concussion.

But Blues general manager Doug Armstrong felt the rewards far outweighed those risks. Just look what the Pittsburgh Penguins did with Sidney Crosby's 12-year, $104.4 million contract. 

"Certainly his concussion was something David's agent (Allan Walsh) and I talked about," Armstrong said. "It's a risk-reward. Both sides are assuming some form of risk in this deal, I think. When you look at David's point production and goal scoring, he got 20 goals in 2009-10 and 21 this (past) year in 57 games. He's a natural goal scorer in our game, but he did have that where he was injured one time with that extended period of time with the concussion. Our options were to go to arbitration and take a two-year award. Obviously the risk for the team on a four-year deal was that there's potential for future injuries, but I think that's a risk with every player. Also, we were taking a risk going with a short-term deal and David staying healthy and continuing off of where he was last year and that 30-plus goal pace. He'd be in a very good spot as an unrestricted free agent.

"I think both sides wanted to get a deal done. Both sides were understanding of each side's position. I think it worked out very good. It's hard to believe that at the end of this contract, David's going to be in a good position for his next contract also."

Perron, 24, dressed in 57 regular season games for the Blues last season and tallied 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists). He posted five points (one goal, four assists) in nine playoff games. Despite missing the first 25 games of the 2011-12 season due to concussion symptoms, Perron finished the regular season fifth on the team in points and assists, second in goals, fourth in plus/minus (plus-19), tied for fourth in power play goals (five) and tied for second in game-winning goals (four).

"When we started talking, I had nothing in mind," Perron said of his contract options. "I was open to anything. I think last week things really got going and that's when we started to talk about longer term. (I'm) just really happy to be back in St. Louis for four years.

"... I could be leaving some money on the table, mostly for years three and four. But it's some kind of security that you have. Not only about my concussion because I know that it's past me and I've healed from that, every game I played last year I felt 100 percent in terms of my head. But the shape that I was in wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. Obviously missing all that time...so this summer is a real big summer for me and I think Army summed it up pretty good."

The 6-foot, 200-pound Sherbrooke, Quebec native -- a first round pick in 2007 -- has 173 points (74 goals) in 292 career games. He's trained ruggedly this summer in Quebec and is rounding into the kind of shape he was in pre-concussion.

"I'm way ahead of where I was at ... at any point last year," Perron said. "It seemed like when the intensity got a little higher in the playoffs, it kind of had me dragging just a little bit behind. My head was there, my hands were there ... everything was there except my conditioning seemed like it was just a little bit behind the guys.

"As a player, during the playoffs, you're not thinking too much. You're working as hard as you can. You're just hoping that it's a few bad days, but it seemed like, mostly in the second round, it didn't go as well as I wanted as a player and obviously as a team. I'm the kind of player that's trying to make a difference every shift out there, getting that big goal for the team. I wasn't able to do that. When you take a look two, three, four weeks after the season, I realized, we'll never know for sure, but it could be part of it that the conditioning wasn't quite there. I've been training like a maniac lately and feeling really good. I have no restriction or nothing."

Armstrong expressed some concern that the organization wanted to make sure the necessary steps have been taken in Perron's concussion recovery. Obviously, all those issues have been laid to rest.

(Getty Images)

David Perron celebrates a goal against San Jose during the playoffs last

season. He scored 21 goals in 57 regular season games.

"We didn't do any additional follow-ups since the season ended," Armstrong said. "There was a little bit of concern, but what we talked about at the end of the year was potentially going short-term, but I wanted to hear and wanted to talk to David's representative and find out what was important for them. I wanted them to hear my concerns.

"I think both sides had to give a little bit, with our expectations on going three or four years and what the value was and his expectations on what his value was if he stayed healthy. I think there was a little risk on both sides. Ultimately what we did talk about .. our goal is for him to stay healthy and produce the way that we need him to produce to be a successful team and then he'll be able to get back to the contract table in relatively short order."

Armstrong added that the free agency process thus far is a reality check.

"Quite honestly, I did have my eyes open a little bit here," Armstrong said. "Every year, I think we get to July 4th or 5th and say, 'Wow, did that market really fluctuate?' What would David Perron be worth as an unrestricted free agent in two years if he stays healthy and he continues to score goals at the clip he's scored them when healthy between (2009-10) and 11-12. I thought it was worth the risk and obviously David did also."

The Blues will go into camp with a full roster, since their remaining rostered restricted free agent (T.J. Oshie) filed for arbitration by Thursday's 4 p.m. deadline.

Armstrong, who expressed desire to lock up Oshie to a long-term extension as well, knows he will have Oshie, who tied with David Backes for the team lead in points with 54, for at least one more season and possibly two.

With Oshie choosing to file for arbitration, teams cannot extend an offer sheet.

"Obviously we're hoping to be able to work out a contract with him," Armstrong said of Oshie. "We have had dialogue. I think the good thing for all St. Louis Blues fans is to realize that everyone will be in training camp now and there will be no contract holdouts. T.J. will be in training camp on a one- or two-year deal if we can't work out a longer term deal. Our goal is to work out a long-term deal.

"We think he showed us last year that he's a very good NHL player. If we can wrap him up into a longer-term contract ... I think we're getting into that time now where these players that have played through their entry-level contracts, come out and played a couple years after that. Now I think is the time to see if we can reward these guys with a little bit longer term and create some stability in our organization."

Blues continue to add depth, sign Woywitka

Former Blue returns with one-year, two-way contract

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Another familiar face will help replenish Peoria's roster and provide experienced depth for the parent roster in case of injuries.

The Blues announced the signing of Jeff Woywitka to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms weren't disclosed.

Woywitka, 28, played in 27 games for the New York Rangers last season after spending the previous two seasons (playing in 99 games) with Dallas. He was briefly with Montreal before being picked up by the Rangers on waivers. He did not suit up in a game for the Canadiens.

Woywitka, who was acquired from Edmonton as part of the controversial trade that sent Chris Pronger to Edmonton, played in four seasons from 2005-09 with the Blues. The 6-foot-3, 227-pound right-handed shot has played 152 of his 278 career games with the Blues. He has nine goals and 46 assists in his career, including six goals and 29 assists. Woywitka, along with Eric Brewer and Doug Lynch came to St. Louis as part of the Pronger trade in 2005.

Woywitka had a goal and five assists with the Rangers last season in limited duty.

Woywitka is the fourth depth signing for the Blues in the last two days. They signed goalie and St. Louis native Mike McKenna along with defensemen Taylor Chorney and Scott Ford on Sunday.

The free agent market continues to progress slowly, as top players Zach Parise and Ryan Suter have yet to make their decisions where to sign. The Blues continue to be in the market for a top four defenseman and/or a third-line center.

Blues quiet on opening day of free agency

Tarasenko contract signed; team signs trio to two-way contracts

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- As the NHL opened its free agency doors on Sunday, enabling teams to spend gobs of money and in certain cases, throw an abundance of years at players, the Blues talked and they listened.

However, no deals were struck ... aside from making three minor moves for depth purposes.

Phone calls were made, conversations were had, but for a team that was near the top of the NHL standings a year ago and one looking to make the franchise work economically in order to be resourceful, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong was busy trying to lay groundwork for interested players. He was hoping to do so responsibly.


(Getty Images)

Vladimir Tarasenko, shown here after being drafted in 2010, signed

his entry-level contract with the Blues Sunday. 

For the most part, those players will still be on the board when management wakes up Monday morning and goes at it again. But for one day, it was all about window shopping as far as the Blues were concerned.

"We were active in talking to some players that we thought could help our team," Armstrong said. "But we might be a little bit different than some teams. ...we're pretty finite on what we need. A lot of the players that were signed today, they didn't fill a need or desire for our team.

"It has to play out. The players that we're looking at, there's probably two-thirds of the league looking at them. So, I think it's something that you just have to let it play itself out."

The Blues did bring in depth for their roster in Peoria, signing goalie Mike McKenna, a native St. Louisan who was on Ottawa's minor league squad a year ago. They also brought back a familiar face in defenseman Taylor Chorney, who the Blues claimed on waivers a season ago from Edmonton and was reclaimed by the Oilers, as well as veteran defenseman Scott Ford, who played for Nashville's AHL team in Milwaukee last year.

Also, the verbal agreement of the entry-level contract between the Blues and 2010 first round pick Vladimir Tarasenko was consummated with a contract signing today. So officially, Tarasenko is a Blue after a verbal commitment early last month.

"We sent his contract in to be registered today," Armstrong said. "... We signed everything and we just had to wait until today to put it through to the league and we did. Everything is good.

"I took him for his word and he took us for our word. I wasn't surprised. I wasn't nervous at all that we wouldn't get to this point. He sent back the documents and they were sent into the league and he's a St. Louis Blue."

The Blues, who have not hidden from the fact they are looking for a top four defenseman, preferably someone to play alongside Alex Pietrangelo on the top unit, and perhaps a third-line center, were not completely left out in the cold Sunday. Most of their targets are still on the board.

As for the big free agent dominoes, which include New Jersey winger Zach Parise and Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter, a lot of big numbers were bandied about regarding their value and worth and what it would take to get them signed. But as of Sunday evening, neither planned on making their respective decisions on Day 1 and none of those dominoes fell.

Both players are most certainly out of the Blues' price range and term, but one one player talked about as a fit with the on defense was Florida's Jason Garrison, who bolted South Florida to play in his native British Columbia, inking a six-year, $27.6 million deal ($4.6 million average annual salary) with the Vancouver Canucks. Other notable players to change uniforms Sunday included winger Ray Whitney, who left Phoenix to sign with Dallas; winger P-A Parenteau switched conferences, leaving the New York Islanders to sign with Colorado and defenseman Filip Kuba, another left-handed defenseman tabbed as a good fit for the Blues, signed with Florida. Also, former Blues' Brad Boyes signed a one-year deal with the Islanders and Jay McClement inked a two-year deal with Toronto.

"Right now, we have 13 forwards under one-way contracts and then we have very good depth in (Evgeny) Grachev, (Jaden) Schwartz, (Philip) McRae and (Adam) Cracknell," Armstrong said regarding the forward position. "If there's an area that we can improve before now and the start of the season, it's to our defense. That's what we'll look to do. With that being said, whether it's through free agency or via trade, I think it can be accomplished in a couple of different ways."

How?

"I think you talk to people that you think are going to be active," Armstrong said. "You just try and let people know what your needs are, what you're looking for. By signing one player might make another player available on your roster. So you just say, 'If you get into this situation let me know and I might have interest' ... not the free agent but to trade a player. And then I contacted some players I thought would be a good fit for our team. Some of them have signed with different teams and some of them have yet to sign."

Last season, the Blues were active and open to the free agent market -- despite the limited access to payroll with the ownership influx. But coming off a 49-win, 109-point season, Armstrong feels that other than a couple tweaks, there's no need for any sort of overhaul.

"To me, I think it's different every year. Last year, I thought we had to be much more active than this year," Armstrong said. "We had multiple holes and were coming off a poor season. I thought we had definite areas where we needed improvement. This year, I feel very comfortable that we're going to be healthy and everyone left the season expecting to be back at training camp in 100 percent condition. We didn't have that a year ago. This year, the needs on our team are much different than they were a year ago. That makes this process a little more selective. But when you're more selective, you're less involved.

(Getty Images)

Unrestricted free agent defenseman Matt Carle is certainly on the Blues'

radar. He's one of the most sought after defenseman on the market.

"A lot of this has to do with what other teams do. A lot of this is predicated on other teams making decisions on unrestricted free agents also. So it's difficult. I know the fans want to see instant results, but I think this is something that could play out into the fall or into the season."

Armstrong has had conversations with veteran Jamie Langenbrunner, but the winger has not come to an agreement with the Blues and is open to sign elsewhere. Other UFA's include center Jason Arnott, winger Chris Porter and defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, whose door is not completely closed regarding a return to the Blues.

Monday brings a new day, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that Armstrong is able to strike a deal with one or more of the players the Blues are coveting. But they'll stay the course and remain patient.

"More of the same. Stay current with what's happening and see if there's something there," Armstrong said on his plans for Monday. "I feel for the fans in the sense that they want something to happen. But we're not in a position where we have a lot of holes. If the right player is there, we'll make the right decision. But we're not looking to do something just for the sake of us saying we were active."

As for Tarasenko, he's not in St. Louis and there is no definitive date when he gets here.

"We don't know when he's coming," Armstrong said. "Because his contract couldn't be registered until today, we haven't been able to work on a visa. We would expect him to be here sometime over the summer."

Blues add Chorney for defensive depth

Team also adds hometown netminder McKenna,
veteran defenseman Ford; all sign one-year, two-way contracts

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues didn't dive head-first into the frenzy known as the first day of free agency, instead opting for defensive depth on Day 1.

The team brought back Taylor Chorney, signing the right-handed d-man to a one-year, two-way contract in a move designated to add depth on the blue line. Also signed to one-year, two-way contracts were native St. Louisan goalie Mike McKenna and veteran defenseman Scott Ford.

Chorney, who was claimed on waivers last season from Edmonton before losing him back to the Oilers, who reclaimed Chorney on waivers after the Blues put him back on the waiver wire.

Chorney, 25, played in two games with the Blues last season and did not register a point. In 61 career games (59 of them with Edmonton), Chorney has a goal and six assists. He was a second round pick by the Oilers in 2005.

McKenna, 28, appeared in 41 games for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL last season, posting a 14-22-1 record, a 2.98 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

McKenna, who got married on Saturday, has dressed in 17 career NHL games between Tampa Bay and New Jersey. He's 4-9-1 with a 3.49 GAA and .887 save percentage. He was originally drafted by Nashville in the sixth round in 2002.

The 32-year-old Ford played 75 games for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals last season, posting 11 points (four goals and seven assists). The 6-foot-3, 216-pound defenseman has appeared in 380 career AHL games between Cleveland, Bridgeport, Providence and Milwaukee, recording 41 points.

Blues bring veteran Nichol back with one-year contract

Team also names Bruce Affleck as COO

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Being a 37-year-old player in the NHL, Scott Nichol is not looking for the greener pastures.

The veteran center wants to win.

So in signing a one-year, $650,000 contract to return to the Blues, Nichol is banking on the Blues being a contending team once again in 2012-13 after a 109-point season a year ago. And after appearing in 80 games with the Blues last season, posting eight points (three goals, five assists) and leading the club with a 57.6 percentage in the faceoff circle, Nichol wanted to remain a part of what the Blues are building.

(Getty Images)

Scott Nichol, who played in 80 games for the Blues last season, will return

for the 2012-13 season after signing a one-year contract. 

"For sure we wanted to go back to St. Louis," said Nichol, who signed a one-year contract last summer to come to St. Louis from San Jose. "The success that we had and the strides that we made all season long ... as I go in my career, I want to win. We had as good a chance as anybody to win last year. We made huge strides and it's going to be another challenge for us next year.

"We're not going to sneak up on anybody next year. People are going to know when the rankings come out, we're going to be right up there to have a great year and challenge for the Stanley Cup. As an athlete, that's what you want. You want to have that pressure and you want to have the goal to be the best. This organization, this team ... that's what we got."

Added Blues general manager Doug Armstrong: "His work ethic and professionalism are second to none and he serves as an excellent role model for our young core."

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Nichol, who played a key role centering the Blues' fourth line a season ago, will be entering his 13th season in the NHL. The opportunity existed to enter July 1 and test the free agent waters, but that never seemed to be of interest to Nichol.

"I've been fortunate in my career. I've always signed early," Nichol said. "The way I look at it, if you're a good fit and you have success on a team, stay on that team. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener. We like St. Louis. We're not chasing money anywhere. I want to win. I want to win the Stanley Cup. I want to make the playoffs. That's what I want to play for. It's not anything else.

"We go on year to year deals just to see how the body holds up. I felt great. I felt like I still had lots of jump. They brought me in for faceoffs and penalty kill and I think for what I bring, that's exactly what they needed. It worked both ways. It's a good fit for us. That's why we ended up going back."

Nichol, who has 55 goals and 126 points in 632 career games, feels the Blues can grow off their 49-22-11 season. Being humbled by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the playoffs serves as a motivational tool the Blues hope to bring into the next season.

"We have a young team with a lot of youthful enthusiasm," Nichol said. "Any time you win and have success, it's fun. There's a fine line in the NHL between winning and losing. We competed every night and it was good to see everyone compete hard every night. If we keep growing, the sky's the limit."

* NOTES -- The Blues also announced on Thursday that they have named Bruce Affleck to the position of Chief Operating Officer.


Bruce Affleck

Affleck played in five seasons for the Blues beginning in 1975. In his most recent work, he has been involved with many local charities, including the St. Louis Blues Fourteen Fund (the Blues’ charitable trust), the March of Dimes, and the St. Louis University Lupus Foundation. He also helped start the Blues Alumni Association and the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame into which he was inducted in 20111.

"Bruce Affleck embodies our vision of a Blues franchise that is closely tied to its history and its community," chairman Tom Stillman said in a statement. "He wore the Blue Note as a player; he has worked in the Blues organization for 25 years, managing several key areas of the business. He is a longtime St. Louis resident, and he is well respected within the Blues organization and throughout the local community."

Affleck will be responsible for running the business side of the Blues, along with the Scottrade Center and related operations.

"Having played and worked for the St. Louis Blues for so many years, I am honored that our new local ownership group has given me this opportunity," Affleck said in a statement. "Our goal is to build a strong and successful business operation, enabling the Blues to be a serious contender here in St. Louis for many years to come."

Affleck returned to the Blues organization in 1987 as Sales Manager. During his time with the Blues, Affleck has held a number of positions, including Vice President of Sales and Vice President of Broadcasting and Alumni. Affleck has also handled the “color” or analyst duties for Blues radio and television broadcasts.

Hitchcock gets one-year extension

Veteran coach locked up through 2013-14, has mutual option for 2014-15 

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The marriage between the Blues and Ken Hitchcock got off to such a rousing start, both parties figured to keep the honeymoon rolling.

And as long as the 60-year-old still has the energy and passion to continue to coach a generation Hitchcock said "where less is more," the job is his as long as he wants to keep it.

The Blues rewarded their veteran coach, who took over early last season, with a one-year extension through the 2013-14 season that includes a mutual option between the two sides through at least the 2014-15 season but will certainly extend beyond that.

(Getty Images)

Ken Hitchcock (top) signed a contract extension on Wednesday that will

keep him behind the Blues bench through at least the 2013-14 season.

Hitchcock, who last week won the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year, took over the Blues when they were 6-7 and general manager Doug Armstrong relieved Davis Payne from the position. Hitchcock promptly led the Blues to the second-best record in the NHL (with 109 points at 49-22-11 behind Vancouver), their first division title since 2000 and their first playoff series win since 2002.

The Blues were 43-15-11 under Hitchcock, who originally signed a two-year contract upon his arrival in St. Louis from Columbus, where he was an advisor for the team after being fired as the head coach in 2010. He indicated that this would be his final destination as a head coach in the NHL and wants to make the best of the situation.

"I'm really grateful to Doug and (team president) John (Davidson) and (owner) Tom (Stillman) for offering this extension to me," Hitchcock said. "I'm really happy here in St. Louis. I'm really happy with the relationship we as the coaches have with the players. I think all of us are excited by the opportunity that's in front of us over the next coming season.

"For me, this is a great opportunity to continue to grow with the players. We've got some exciting young guys in here and some more guys coming into the fold. It's that window that we're watching unfold here in St. Louis that really has me excited."

Armstrong, who worked with Hitchcock in Dallas when he was the assistant GM under Bob Gainey and will likely get a contract extension himself at any time from the Blues, feels the stability Hitchcock brings was a necessary component to keep for multiple seasons.

"I think it's important to have a good coach under contract for the next couple years and we've been able to accomplish that," Armstrong said. "... I knew as an organization, John and myself felt (Hitchcock) was an important person moving forward. To get him here for the next two years is paramount for us. Ken put it best: we'll go year to year after that to make sure he still has the same energy level, the same fire and drive to do it. I hope that he does for a number of years past that.

"Ken did a fabulous job when he came in here. Obviously he was recognized as coach of the year and we're really excited to move forward with him."

Hitchcock has mellowed out with the times and has adapted to the new style of the game and its players from his old-school mentality, transitioning himself well with the younger Blues players and immediately clicked with getting a simple message across.

One of those players is rising star Alex Pietrangelo, who finished fourth in voting for the Norris Trophy this year and had his best season as a pro with 51 points. He was tied for 16th in the NHL in average time on ice at 24:43.

"He's allowed me to go out there and play my game, let me do what I do best," Pietrangelo said of Hitchcock. "He's going to make me accountable for my play. He's going to make sure that I'm playing at my best at all times. That's what you need. Hitch is a good person to talk to away from the rink and off the ice. He's a guy that you can just chat about normal, everyday things. It's another thing I really respect about him.

"It's a relief for not only us, but for Hitch to know that he's going to be there for a couple years and he can kind of build this team moving forward. We certainly think that we have a good enough team to contend for a Cup, but it's a process and now Hitch can work at it for a couple years. It's a calming thing for us to know that we're going to have the same guy back there leading the charge for us for a couple years or maybe more. ... He's obviously deserving. The amount that he's accomplished in his coaching career and winning the award this year, it's an example of why it's such a good thing to have a guy like that around. His experience and what he's been through is obviously something that's helped along the way and we as players definitely have that respect for him."

The contract for Hitchcock is rewarded well for someone that's 13th all-time in games coached (1,110) and 11th in wins (576) with four franchises (Dallas, Philadelphia, Columbus and now St. Louis). In playoff history, Hitchcock ranks 8th all-time in games (130) and 11th in wins (70).

"For me, I'm grateful that there's an extension and after the extension is over, I just felt that if I don't have the energy at the end of the current term ... I don't want to do the job," Hitchcock said. "I know the energy and the discipline that it takes to do the work. I don't think it's fair to anybody for me to do it any further if I don't have the necessary energy to do it. I'm happy with the way it works and I'm sure we'll find a way to make it work providing that all of us think that I have that necessary energy. I don't feel, from my standpoint, that it's as important as the working relationship I have with everybody. I know the necessary demands that this position has. I don't want to do it if I don't have that energy."

And Hitchcock wanted to make it clear that he's not only in this just to see the Blues through the final goal: winning the Stanley Cup. There's more to it than the ultimate goal. It's about the big picture and long-term future of the franchise.

"Regardless of what happens in a few years, I want to stick around for a long time," Hitchcock said. "This is it for me, this is my last stop. I want this to be a successful franchise for the next 10-15 years and I want to be part of it, even if I'm not coaching. I want this franchise to be successful because of the people I'm working with I admire and I like a lot. I want to stick around those people.

"We're going to have ups and downs; we're going to have good times and bad times, but to me, I really trust the people in management, the scouting and everything here. There's a great working relationship with the coaching staff, which for me is very unique in sports. It just feels like it did way back in Dallas and that's why I want to stick around."

That's why Blues management is confident moving forward with the setup it has with Hitchcock. Management realizes the veteran coach will let it know when he's had enough.

"I don't see it dwindling over the next 24 months, but ultimately it's going to dwindle," Armstrong said. "You saw it with Scotty Bowman. ... Ken will know it. He'll know well before it shows to you or myself and the organization. He'll let us know. He's honest to a fault in some of those areas. He'll let us know when he feels it might be best to transfer it to somebody else.

"One thing he'll never do is lose his passion for hockey. He's going to be a really big part of this organization for the next two years and I see beyond that because he has so much knowledge he can give, not only to the players but to myself, to senior management, minor league coaches. His knowledge will never wane. We're going to keep him here as long as we can."

(Getty Images)

Ken Hitchcock guided the Blues to a 43-15-11

record after taking over for Davis Payne early

last season. They  finished with 109 points

(49-22-11).

For the time being, Hitchcock will continue to work a group that will be 95 percent in tact from a season ago and looks forward to dealing with that group on a regular basis.

"This is a generation where less is more in a big way," Hitchcock said. "Getting the players' attention has to come, for me, from lightening the load. The players have so much individual pressure on themselves nowadays and there's so much stress from other avenues other than coaching that I think with the amount of information that we supply to them, we can put them in overload position very quickly. For me, this is a generation where if you can keep it light, if you can keep the information simple and short, I think there's a much better response because they're getting it from everywhere and anywhere before they even get into your office.

"Years ago, you were the first and only form of information, but now it's coming everywhere. We end up being kind of the group that dissects the information for them more than provides it. It's hard to keep it simple nowadays. It's hard to keep it short, but it has a much more positive impact if you do that."

And while Hitchcock admits that coaches, "at this time of year, we're better off getting lost and letting management do their thing," he doesn't feel the Blues need to change much ... if at all.

"I think what's really exciting for us right now is we don't need to make a lot of changes," Hitchcock said. "There aren't a lot of gaping holes in our hockey club. We've got a great nucleus here and a lot of younger guys that are going to get better just because they're a year older. We're in a different boat than a lot of other teams are in. That's what's got everybody on the coaching staff so excited. ... Ninety-five percent of our team is coming back and we had 109 points. I think that's a real good thing for any team to be in right now."

Blues pick MacEachern living dream after briefly leaving hockey

Blues finished draft weekend with seven picks; no activity on trade front

By LOUIE KORAC
Mackenzie MacEachern wasn't even playing hockey two years ago. Saturday, he was living the dream of slipping on a National Hockey League jersey.

The Blues completed their 2012 NHL Draft at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center with seven selections, including the Bloomington Hills, Mich. native MacEachern, picked in the third round Saturday morning.

The Blues completed the two-day event with eight picks, focusing more on defense but picking a player from each position.

(Getty Images)

Blues draft picks on Saturday includes third-round selection Mackenzie

MacEachern (left) and second round pick Sam Kurker. 

The 6-foot-3, 183-pound MacEachern, who played in 29 games last season with Brother Rice High School in Michigan, scored 42 goals and totaled 90 points in only his second year of prep hockey. The 18-year-old left winger was ranked 138th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting after taking up the sport he loved as a kid. But after a brief hiatus of a couple years to try his luck at lacrosse, MacEachern was back on the ice.

"It's pretty unique how I've come out of high school and I'm in this situation," said MacEachern, who will attend Michigan State University this fall. "Two years ago, I was playing lacrosse not even focusing on hockey. (But) I gave up lacrosse my junior year just to focus on hockey.

"I played hockey growing up, since I was three. But going into high school, lacrosse was probably my main sport. ... Our school was focused on lacrosse. we won like 10 state championships in a row. I just put hockey to the side to focus on one thing. As I got older, I wanted to keep pursuing hockey. The love of the game came back. I kind of lost it at one point. But then it just came back to me."

MacEachern, who considers himself a power forward with good skating ability, didn't care where he was picked. He came to Pittsburgh with an agenda, and that was to go somewhere ... anywhere.

"I came here hoping to be selected anywhere in the draft," said MacEachern, who in 59 games in high school had 76 goals and 162 points. "It's an awesome feeling. Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to play in the NHL. This is one step closer. I've got to keep working. Maybe one day, I'll be there."

Blues director of amateur scouting Bill Armstrong really likes MacEachern.

"He's really athletic, a very athletic kid," Armstrong said of MacEachern. "... He's one of those guys that's got some intriguing qualities about him."

The Blues, after taking defenseman Jordan Schmaltz with the 25th pick in Friday night's opening round, grabbed 18-year-old Sam Kurker, who will attend Boston University this fall, in the second round.

Kurker played in 24 games last season with St. John’s Prep in Massachusetts and recording 60 points (32 goals, 28 assists) and in two seasons, scored 52 goals and totaled 97 points in 49 games. The 6-2, 208-pound right winger and native of Boston who has met fellow Bostonian Keith Tkachuk, was ranked 36th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and is considered a power forward along with MacEachern.

"I can't be more happy where I got picked," Kurker said. "I'm really excited. I don't even know how to describe it.

"I like to watch guys like David Backes. Just got to go hard to the net, make it hard to back down and really get the nose dirty."

The Blues, who used the pick on MacEachern that they got from the Brad Winchester trade in 2010 from Anaheim, picked right-handed defenseman Colton Parayko later in the third round with their own pick.

Parayko, 19, played in 53 games last season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with Fort McMurray, recording 42 points (nine goals, 33 assists). The 6-4, 191-pound Parayko is a native of St. Albert, Alberta.

The Blues grabbed another defenseman in the fourth round, going with 6-2, 187-pound Nick Walters. The 18-year-old left-hander played last season in the Western Hockey League with Everett. He had 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) and 95 penalty minutes in 62 games played.

Walters attended Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp in Calgary last July and won a bronze medal with Team Pacific at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg. The Edmonton, Alberta native was ranked 67th overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

"The intriguing quality about him is his size and his will," Armstrong said of Parayko. "Walters is a competitive kid. He put up more fights than any other draft-eligible defenseman. But I don't think he's a fighter. ... He's almost like a Roman Polak. He plays that kind of style."

(Getty Images)

Blues President John Davidson (left) greets goalie Francois Tremblay, the

team's fifth round selection upon being picked Saturday.

The Blues went goalie in the fifth round, taking 18-year-old Baie-Comeau, Quebec native Francois Tremblay.

The 6-2, 195-pound Tremblay played in 57 games last season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for Val-d'Or, recording a 22-28-4 record with two shutouts, a 3.79 goals-against average along with a .882 save percentage. Tremblay was ranked 5th overall among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting.

"I'm really happy and I'm proud to be a part of the St. Louis Blues," said Tremblay, who models his game to that of Montreal's Carey Price. "I'm a big goalie, a strong goalie. I'm very calm.

"To wear an NHL sweater, I'm so happy. ... I had a great interview (with the Blues) at the combine. I had a great feeling."

The Blues finally went across the ocean with their sixth round pick, going to get Finnish defenseman Petteri Lindbohm, who played with Jokerit Jr. in Finland's Junior League last season.

The 18-year-old Lindbohm played in 41 games last season and registering 10 points (three goals, seven assists). At 6-3 and 209-pounds, the native of Helsinki, Finland was ranked 46th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

And with their final pick in the seventh round, the Blues went with a center, grabbing Tyrel Seaman of Choiceland, Saskatchewan.

Seaman, 18, played in 32 games last season with Brandon in the Western Hockey League and recording 19 points (six goals, 13 assists). The 6-2, 196-pounder was ranked 104th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

It was another successful draft, according to Armstrong.

"I think we targeted our guys," Armstrong said. "The guys that we wanted, we really targeted them. Just looking at the sheet, those are the guys that we really wanted. It's important not that you like them, but we want somebody you really want. And you look down the list for us, the guys that we got, our scouts really put a lot of enthusiasm into really wanting that guy.

"If you look at the overall draft, there's skilled defensemen, two big power forwards that are in the middle with some good size. ... I think they all just fell in our lap, but I think everybody was over 6-1, 6-2. The average was probably about 6-2, 6-3 and good skating (ability). We were happy with all those elements. It's certainly a draft that we're excited about. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing the kids progress."

There were some trades, one particular whopper that saw Carolina acquire center Jordan Staal from Pittsburgh, and plenty of scuttlebutt for other deals -- including the Blues -- but nothing happened on the home front. But one can be sure general manager Doug Armstrong was busy working his phone and talking to other GM's looking to fill pieces in the current lineup, possibly setting up framework for a deal(s) to get done.