Erik Johnson News

When St. Louis Blues President John Davidson really wants a good read on one of the team's prospects, he relies on Al MacInnis.

One signing was expected Monday, but another may have caught a few St. Louis Blues fans by surprise.

Five times a week, when they could be at a water park or on their couch back home, a group of teenagers meet at the Blues' practice facility and lift weights.

Besides adding at the draft and potentially free agency, the St. Louis Blues are looking forward to the return of Erik Johnson on their blue line after the promising young defenseman missed all of last season due to injury.

NHL free agency opens on Wednesday. Here are some of the big names who will be available from Western Conference teams.

With restricted free agent defenseman Roman Polak still unsigned, the St. Louis Blues are facing a potentially similar scenario to the one they faced last summer with forward David Backes.

In this Oct. 28, 2007 photo, Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding tries to stop the puck as it gets past him, but does not go in, Colorado Avalanche's Marek Svatos got the rebound and scored in the second period of the NHL hockey game in Denver.

There are hidden gems in every NHL draft, even in the first round. However, there wasn't exactly an instantaneous roar when the Blues selected Minnesota prep star T.J. Oshie 24th overall in the 2005 draft.

The Columbus Blue Jackets had never made the playoffs and the St. Louis Blues hadn't played in the postseason since 2004.

If there's any area of their game the Blues don't want trouble with in the future, it's moving the puck out of their defensive zone.

In 1983, the Blues didn't make a single pick in the NHL draft. In fact, they didn't even show up to the draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum.

When a player scores 27 more goals than he's ever scored previously at the junior level, it tends to attract some attention.

QUESTION: Is there a specific area of need you think the Blues should address in the weekenda TMs draft, or do they just take the best available player at No.

In the months leading up to Friday's NHL draft, the New York Islanders have learned what the Blues went through in 2006.

Sports Columnist Bernie Miklasz [More columns] Bernie Miklasz ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 06/21/2009 When the Detroit Red Wings fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins at home in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, was their loss a temporary slip or a sign of increasing vulnerability? The Blues have been closing the gap on Detroit.

Blues coach Andy Murray sees being a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year as recognition more of his team than of him.

QUESTION: Erik Johnson is getting close to receiving full clearance on his injured right knee and should return to the ice 100 percent very soon.

QUESTION: The Blackhawks ousted the Canucks in the Western Conference semifinals last night with a young team that many thought was a year or two away.

Not only do cyclists save on gas, they're saving when they eat and drink. After I mentioned the upcoming free-pizza deal at Hot Italian, I heard from Erik Johnson, public information coordinator for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, better known as SACOG.

The St. Louis Blues have extended the contracts of Assistant General Manager and Director of Amateur Scouting Jarmo Kekalainen and Director of Professional Scouting Kevin McDonald.