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Blues Prospects In-Offensive?

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The PD had a small round-up on the top forward prospects in the Blues organization.

1. T.J. Oshie

Team: University of North Dakota

Position: Center

Acquired: 1st round pick, 2005

Height: 5-feet-11 1/2

Weight: 185

Comment: Top offensive threat in college who has been slowed this season because of thumb injury.

2. Carl Soderberg

Team: Malmo (Swedish Elite League)

Position: Center

Acquired: 2nd round pick, 2004

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Comment: Decision to return to Sweden, after being sent to Peoria last September, could slow his progress.

3. David Backes

Team: Peoria Rivermen (AHL)

Position: Right wing

Acquired: 2nd round pick, 2003

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Comment: He was shuttled back to Peoria on Sunday, but not before showing that he has NHL potential.

4. Patrik Berglund

Team: VIK Vasteras (Swedish-2 League)

Position: Center

Acquired: 1st round pick, 2006

Height: 6-4

Weight: 195

Comment: A steal in last year's draft, he is tearing up his Swedish league and could be in St. Louis sooner rather than later.

5. Tomas Kana

Team: HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic)

Position: Left wing

Acquired: 2nd round pick, 2006

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

Comment: A recent draft pick who could be several years away from playing in the NHL.


The idea that there might be some home grown talent at forward is a bit of a novel experience for a Blues fan. For the better part of twenty years the Blues had acted as if the very idea of it was a fantasy foisted upon the feeble minded. "No. The way to build a franchise," they seemed to be telling us all, "is to trade a bunch of used plumbing fixtures for Brett Hull, or to (way) overpay in the retail free agent market, ala too many to mention by name."

The reality was there didn't seem to be ownership that was interested in investing the money needed to develop the organization that way. But it looks as if that is now changing. The mere idea that a scoring forward could develop down on the farm is exciting. It hasn't happened to the Blues since the days of Joe Mullen or Doug Gilmour (or if you prefer Joey and Dougie.)

Maybe we should forget about the whole thing and try to trade for Dale Hawerchuk.

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