Blues make a move for offense

ST. LOUIS, MO – After a slow start to their season and a coaching change in December, the St. Louis Blues ended the 2011-12 regular season with the second best point total in franchise history. The Blues head into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft with higher expectations and a lower than usual draft position in the first round, the 25^th overall selection.   St. Louis ended the regular season with the 21^st ranked offense, but had the league’s top rated defense. They were the 19^th rated power play and the 7^th rated penalty killing unit. The Blues had only two players with more than 20 goals in David Backes (24) and David Perron (21), but had seven other players with at least 10 goals.  Left winger Alexander Steen led the team in plus/minus (+24) and Kevin Shattenkirk led all of the blueliners (+20).   The Blues head into the draft with very few wingers in terms of top prospects with the exception of newly signed Vladamir Tarasenko, a right winger.  The rest of their top prospects are made up of centers and defenseman.  Still, the draft is deep on both wings and a very good crop of talent will be made available when the Blues pick at 25.  
 
For a St. Louis Blues team which turned the corner in early 2011, the selection of Stefan Matteau with the 25^th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft would continue a trend to acquire talented, unique pieces which will serve distinct roles and fill the cupboard with potential impact players.  The long-term Blues depth just got bulkier and more physical with this selection.
 
His father, Stephane Matteau, had a twelve-year career (1990-2002) which included a season and a half in St. Louis.  His tenure wearing the bluenote sweater came after his first Stanley Cup appearance with the Chicago Blackhawks, where Stefan was born, and his second and final Stanley Cup appearance with the New York Rangers in 1994.  Matteau ended his career with the San Jose Sharks.
 
Stefan played with the USA developmental team in the United States Hockey League (USHL) dressing in 46 games this season and registering 15 goals, 32 points and 166 penalty minutes.  He was disqualified for playing for USA in the under-18 world championships due to an eligibility issue which was based on the fact Matteau hadn’t played two consecutive seasons in the U.S. after the age of 10. 
Although Matteau spent his first nine years in the U.S., he was living in Canada when he joined the U.S. program in March 2010.  However, he didn’t play a game for the team until September in that year.
“It’s mind-boggling,” Matteau’s agent, Pat Brisson said.  “This has never happened before.  I want to dig a little bit deeper.  Why take this opportunity from this kid who was born in the U.S. and has been part of the U.S. program for a year and a half?  I feel bad for Stefan.” 
Still, Matteau has persevered and scouts have noticed. When asked to describe himself, Matteau said the following
“I’m a big-bodied power forward, have a lot of skill and a good shot and I play with an edge.  Some teams like that, and I like to bring an all-round solid game.”
Ranked 30^th in The Hockey News Draft Preview, one scout said of him, “He has all the tools to be a quote-unquote power forward.  There are enough tools in his game that when he gets that consistency, he can be very, very effective.”
Scouts expect him to succeed more in junior than in the U.S. NTDP because of his physical play.  This past season, it appeared Matteau’s physical play was more of a determinant than an asset.  “He took a lot of dumb, selfish penalties.  He’s definitely more a junior-style player than a college player.  He’d be in the box all game long in college.”
Matteau was originally committed to play NCAA hockey at the University of North Dakota, but has since dropped out of that commitment and announced he will be joining the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL where his father is an assistant coach
The 6-foot-1.5, 210-pound center is one of four players from the USNTDP to be ranked by NHL Central Scouting among the top 30 North American skaters eligible for the 2012 Draft. Along with T.J. Oshie, the Blues could really have a nice one-two punch to battle for NL supremacy in the coming years. At next Friday’s entry draft, expect to hear the following announcement. “With the 25^th overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues select, from the USA development program, Stefan Matteau.”
To learn more about Stefan Matteau click here .
Contact the author at: dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com
 
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com
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