Blues prospect T.J. Oshie informed the club on Wednesday that he will stay at the University of North Dakota for another season.
Oshie, 20, had the option of signing with the Blues just a week after his sophomore season ended in St. Louis at the NCAA Frozen Four. But the club's first-round pick from 2005 chose another year of college hockey.
"It's pretty hard to turn down the money and my dream to play in the NHL," Oshie said. "But I felt it was best for me to stay in school.''
Oshie becomes the third player from UND this week to announce he's staying in school. Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan and Taylor Chorney said they would return to the Fighting Sioux, who lost in the NCAA semifinals to Boston College.
"That loss definitely kind of left a bad feeling,'' Oshie said. "I think with the loss, it made me realize I want a national championship. It's not guaranteed, but we'd have a shot."
This is a little disappointing since this will basically push back his full time NHL career by a year. No matter when he signs for the Blues he will most likely face a transition season in Peoria.
On the other hand, it isn't as if he was going to be making an impact in St. Louis in 07-08, so his staying put isn't an immediate downer.
No word yet on Johnson.
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