St. Louis Blues | CollegeHockeyPlayers

03Feb

Ty Rattie(18) St. Louis Blues

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St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#32 overall) 2nd year right wing Ty Rattie(8) potted over 100 points in each of his last two seasons of juniors with Portland Winterhawks.

He won the 2012 WHL Championship with the team, went to the Finals 2011-2013, had the most playoff goals 2012-2013, most points in the 2013 postseason and named 2013 MVP.

The 6′ 192 lbs. forward continued his scoring trend as a rookie on reassignment with minor league affiliate Chicago Wolves getting most goals in the league at 31.

He looks to be on his way to another 30 goal season in the current campaign but could get slightly sidetracked as he scored his second career recall.

In a pair of games with the parent club he’s skated an average of 13 shifts for 9 minutes, had one hit, one breakup and even got in :54 of power play time but no points in two team wins.

The 21-year old could be looking at some extended time up with the injury bug bearing down on the Blues.

20Jan

Jordan Binnington (30)

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St. Louis Blues‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#88 overall) goaltender Jordan Binnington(30) has one of the more interesting artist renderings on his mask for 2014/2015.

That’s Will Smith as The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air that graces one side of his cage.

The story goes he is a huge fan of the actor in the tv show and thinks he can basically do no wrong on the silver screen.

Between the pipes the 2nd year net minder is earning his keep with minor league affiliate Chicago Wolves.

The 6’1″ 176 lbs. backstop has a 11-6 record in 19 AHL games with a 2.33 GAA, .911 SV% and one shutout.

He played the majority of his rookie season in the ECHL posting similar stats but was fairly outstanding in three Kelly Cup Playoff games going 1-1-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .946 SV%.

The 21-year old won the 2011 OHL Championship and was voted Outstanding Goalie at the Memorial Cup despite not winning.

He was also named 2013 Goaltender Of The Year in his final season with Owen Sound Attack.

He’s received one recall and probably isn’t too far from an NHL start.

15Jan

John McCarthy(17) Worcester Sharks

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6th year veteran center John McCarthy(17) got a bit of a surprised when he was reassigned back to Worcester Sharks‘ organization in a minor league transaction after less than half a season on a one-year, two-way deal with St. Louis Blues.

He has spent his entire pro career in the San Jose Sharks‘ system, playing 267 AHL games with their farm team (59-82-141, +31 rating) and one campaign as team captain.

The 6′ 195 lbs. plays a power forward style despite being a little shy of the usual size but only in his rookie season was he able to attain 20/20 scoring status.

He’s also thought of as a good checking, somewhat agitating to play against opponent, which completely goes against his real good-guy off ice persona.

In 25 games on reassignment with Chicago Wolves he only has a 5 goals and 3 assists so far this season but was injured for a spell, which might have thrown his game off.

At 28-years old it’s tough to say where this train will stop next but it would be little surprise to see him succeed quite nicely taking his game overseas in 2015/2016.

See related: 1/28-12, 4/7-11, 3/16-11, 2/4-11

08Jan

Colin Fraser(24) Chicago Wolves

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10th year veteran center Colin Fraser(24) signed a one-year two-way deal to join St. Louis Blues‘ organization after three seasons with Los Angeles Kings that saw him score a second 2012 Stanley Cup.

He won his first final hardware a couple of years earlier with Chicago Blackhawks and story has it even though he only appeared in 3 postseason contests still was granted his name engraved on the trophy.

You could even stretch it a bit and suggest he was part of a team that has won it all every other season for the last 6 years, as he skated with the Kings for 33 games, but was reassigned to the minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs for the first time since 2008 with the intent of sending the soon to be unrestricted free agent on his way elsewhere.

And although he was only part of the practice squad for the 2014 run, he was still given his day with the Cup.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. former Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2003 draft (#69 overall) has played 359 NHL games scoring only 20 goals and 38 assists but given his track record of being around a championship, he has his upside.

He was recalled for a game recently raising his years of appearances in the highest hockey league to 9.

Used ultra sparingly with only 6 shifts and 4:42 total ice he did at least manage a shot on net, one hit and one break up play.

Where the 29-year old takes his game next is anyone’s guess but if he is even associated with another team that wins it, then you can be sure luck will give him yet another shot in the show.

31Dec

Dmitrij Jaskin(23) St. Louis Blues

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St. Louis Blues‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#41 overall) 2nd year Russian right wing Dmitrij Jaskin(23) is starting to blossom.

06Nov

Brad Winchester(15) Norfolk Admirals

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Sizable 6’5″ 230 lbs. left wing Brad Winchester(15) signed his first minor league contract to play professional hockey in his 12th year of service.

The 33-year old inked late for a one year AHL deal with Norfolk Admirals. He was also invited to Anaheim Ducks‘ training camp to start ’14/’15 but was among the first to be released, despite having a strong showing.

He actually spent 19 regular season and 3 postseason games with them a few seasons ago amongst the many teams he’s skated for.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2000 draft (#35 overall), he played his first four years in their system including his first two stints with a pair of farm club Roadrunners, first Toronto then Edmonton.

It wasn’t until his fourth season that he became a regular in the show.

He’s appeared in 390 NHL games (mostly through three years with St. Louis Blues) scoring 37 goals, 31 assists and a monster -42 rating.

His last pair of campaigns have been exclusively in the minors and he seems fairly comfortable assuming the role of assistant captain.

He’s quite the poiny scorer in the league too at 96 goals and 81 assists in 319 games but still haunted by a horrible -32 plus/minus.

It remains to be seen if those on ice accountability numbers will improve but he’s off to a hot start with a first time reversed 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 games and a +1.

30Sep

Jeremy Welsh(15) Chicago Wolves

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Undrafted center Jeremy Welsh(15) has already been with his share of teams as he enters his third professional season.

An unrestricted free agent heading into 2014/2015, his former team Vancouver Canucks decided to not re-sign the fairly large 6’3″ 208 lbs. Ontario, Canada native.

He originally inked a 1-year entry level deal with Carolina Hurricanes and skated his first NHL game after winning an ECAC Championship at Union College in his third and final season before turning pro.

The physical presence up front split his time in his rookie year up with the big club on numerous recalls but mostly with affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he notched some decent numbers (14+12-26 in 69 AHL games).

His potential abilities led him to receive a two-year extension with the 2nd year being a one-way contract.

He was traded to Vancouver before the start of 2013/2014 and split his time with Utica Comets.

The 26-year old joined St. Louis Blues early in free agency on a 1-year, 2-way contract and was recently reassigned to affiliate Chicago Wolves.

He’ll easily be on the short list for a recall to prove his mettle once again but will need to show up big.

03May

Kent Huskins(29) Utica Comets

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13-year veteran defenseman Kent Huskins(29) signed an AHL contract to join Utica Comets a month into the 2013/2014 season.

Possibly looking for a new NHL suitor after splitting less than 20 games the previous year with Detroit Red Wings then Philadelphia Flyers, it’s possible he saw a possible opening in the parent club to influence his decision to sign a minor league deal.

He appeared in 65 games with the expansion central New York club adding another 10 points to his league totals (473-33-101-134). He also owns a +33 rating.

The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has also skated in 318 contests in the show putting up just 13 goals and 55 assists, but his stay-at-home style and strong defense of his own zone gives him a highly accountable +46 plus/minus.

It took him 5 years of trolling with farm teams before he received his first opportunity to play at the highest level but from there he spent six straight seasons on top.

Not bad for a player that was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 1998 draft (#156 overall).

The almost 35-year old could either stay put or try his hand elsewhere but is probably happy earning a decent payday playing pro hockey.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 as a member of Anaheim Ducks.

03Apr

Cade Fairchild(2) Portland Pirates

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3rd year defenseman Cade Fairchild(2) was picked up in an AHL trade deadline deal by Phoenix Coyotes for future considerations and reassigned to their farm club, Portland Pirates.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft, he skated mostly with their minor league affiliates apart from 5 NHL games in his rookie season (one assist).

In a somewhat surprisingly move he was also sent down to the ECHL for a pair of contests for Kalamazoo Wings near the beginning of the current season.

The slightly small-ish looking 5’11” 178 lbs. blue liner has appeared in 150 AHL contests scoring 10 goals and 55 assists with a massive +30 rating.

He dished out his fair share of helpers in four years at University Of Minnesota.

Tbe 25-year old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current campaign after signing a one-year extension.

It will be interesting to see where he ends up playing in 2014/2015, but I doubt anyone will be surprised if he decides to take his talents overseas.

31Mar

Danny Syvret(25)

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Hartford Wolf Pack 9th year veteran defenseman Danny Syvret(25) is quickly approaching his third straight 40-point AHL season (9 goals, 30 assists).

He was traded in the second season of his two-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers, his third contract with the team, to New York Rangers and reassigned to their farm club in Connecticut, where he’s played 67 contests in 2013/2014.

The stocky-looking 5’11” 205 lbs. d-man has skated in 59 NHL games, putting up a modest 3 goals and 4 assists but hasn’t paid a visit to the show since late 2011.

He’s considered a top-two pairing blue liner in the minors but given a full campaign may play a fairly strong role as a bottom six, seventh guy in the lineup more than watching from the sidelines.