PAPILLION, NE – Robert Mondavi can make some of the finest wine throughout the world. The essence of the fruits is marveled upon only after aging over a significant amount of time. The greatness of the wines is not that they fall from the vines ready to be experienced but that they are allowed the appropriate maturation necessary. This is where the St. Louis Blues now stand within their rebuilding process. The Blues have reflected a young, immature wine in recent years by making the playoffs one year than missing out the next. In the past two seasons, the Blues have fought hard and finished with a winning record, yet this team has needs that must be well recognized, addressed, understood and accepted.
The first issue in regards to Blues needs falls under player development. The players have the talent to play at the NHL level, and now they themselves must develop those abilities to become steady contributors in the major leagues. While a player can train his body trough weights and calisthenics, a franchise must aid in developing a young players mind within the process. The Blues learned this lesion when the players began to respond poorly to the highly technical “X’s and O’s” of Head Coach Andy Murray. Noticing this issue, the Blues promoted Davis Payne from Peoria (AHL) to help guide the Baby Blues to reach the pinnacle of their potential. Players like T.J. Oshie have begun to emerge, while players like Patrik Berglund struggled under Murray. The Blues currently stand with a great core of players needing time to age and expand.
If the Blues want to win this year and win big, they will be required to do so through the free agency pool as there is not a single player within the system right now who will step in and make this team great. St. Louis has yet to push on their off-season plans, and it looks as if they may be a rather quiet franchise this season. The Blues have been committed to building from within and through the draft, now more than ever. That will be the key to their success. The team’s website notes that contract talks have begun with Chris Mason for an extension. The duration of the contract may say plenty about the Blues opinions on Jake Allen and Ben Bishop. Don’t read too much into a one or two year deal, but a longer term deal of four years or greater could mean that the Blues are intrigued by a goaltender in this year’s draft.
PHN is unsure exactly what the Blues will do in this upcoming draft. They have no glaring needs that the draft will resolve, and they have no reason to panic whatsoever. The St. Louis Blues find themselves in a holding pattern for this season as will look to add a couple of NHL caliber players in what appears to be a very deep prospect pool. The Blues have set themselves up well to be fed by their minor leagues for a long time, and this season an individual such as Derek Forbort of the USA National Developmental program will catch their eye. Forbort has great size at 18 years old (6’ 5” 200 pounds) and while he will need to develop his physical game at the defensive position, he is an average scorer who is an exceptional puck mover. Forbort will attend the University of North Dakota this season. He is a player whom will need a good three years of physical, technical, and mental development to mature in a very good hockey program. Forbort run a power play and could become a permanent fixture on the top line with Hall of Fame potential.
The Blues have several players like Forbort with unlimited potential with several players at his position. Players will have catastrophic injuries that will end their careers, and players will also fail to uphold their end of the developing bargain. Some players may not mesh well personality wise, and some players will never see playing time with the Blues for various other reasons. The fact of the matter is that professional hockey becomes a numbers game and the St. Louis Blues have some quality numbers. Forbort can become a wonderful addition well worth his pick for the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues may also look to add another goalie in the mix as someone such as Seattle’s (WHL) Calvin Pickard who could fall into the second round when the Blues pick again. The Blues may want to have the opportunity to add more depth at the goalie position and an individual such as Pickard will have an easy two or three year time period in order to mature, which should give St. Louis plenty of time with Bishop and Allen to understand their fullest potential.
With that said, expect to hear these words from the Blues come draft day.
“With the 14th pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues select, defenseman Derek Forbort of the USA Developmental program.” You may contact the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com
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