March 10, 2000

Well since Larry Pleau doesn’t appear willing to make any trade deadline deals by Tuesday to help the cause, perhaps the Blues should consider recalling some of their better minor league prospects if the need arises. Before we get into that though, let me go on the record as saying Marty Reasoner will NOT be sent down once Pierre Turgeon returns from his thumb injury. I see popular, but not very useful, Kelly Chase getting sent packing before Marty gets sent down. Worcester would love to have him back, but it’s not gonna happen folks.

The most logical scenario involving a minor league prospect getting recalled for the stretch run and playoffs would be if one of our top scoring forwards getting injured. If this were to happen Mr. Pleau will be on the horn to re-call Mr. Ladislav Nagy from Worcester. Nagy leads the team in Game Winning Goals with 4 and Power Play Goals with 6. You need instant offense? Nagy is your man! He scored 76 goals last year in the QMJHL and so far this year he has knocked in 20 for the IceCats of Worcester. His best position is at Center, but certainly he can play Wing if needed as we witnessed on his re-calls earlier this season.

The amazing thing is that Nagy isn’t even our top goal scorer in Worcester, that designation would go to one Jim Campbell. It’s doubtful the bizarre Winger would get recalled, but should the need arise, he’d be one hell of a person to have to call on considering he led the Blues in playoff goal scoring two seasons ago with 7. Need a set-up man? Center Daniel Corso leads Worcester with 31 assists this season and has been one of their most consistent players. Speedy Left-Winger Derek Bekar has 20 goals thus far and could possibly be called upon again once Worcester is knocked out of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Pascal Rheaume is down there on a conditioning assignment and could return at any time if the Blues need a mucker.

On defense, hard-hitting Jan Horacek is a rugged 6-5 banger just two years removed from junior hockey. Horacek has a large upside, but he isn't a deft passer. He would need lots more training to play for the Blues especially at this stage of the season. At Worcester he has been inconsistent in his defensive zone coverage and that is something the Blues definitely don’t need (see Rico Persson for an example).

Little Libor Prochazka was supposed to be the Blues #3 Defenseman this season and was protected ahead of since-departed Jamie Rivers in last summer’s expansion draft. Let’s just say I’m quite thankful Pleau found and Joel Quenneville resurrected the careers of Jeff Finley and Todd Reirden. Maybe next year Libor!

Bryan Helmer or Rico Persson could possibly be back for the playoffs should catastrophe strike. Quenneville hasn't been pleased with the play of Rico (or as my buddy Doc calls him- Retard!) so the Blues shipped him to Worcester on a "conditioning" assignment. Since Persson has been playing a semi-regular shift for the Blues, the designation of this move was a bit bogus. Quenneville wants Persson to log lots of minutes with the IceCats and raise the tempo of his game back. If Persson doesn't, he won't be playing down the stretch. The same tactic worked last year with Persson and Quenneville hopes it works again.

Barret Jackman will be in Worcester as soon as his junior season ends; he is a tough kid who can move the puck. This former No. 1 pick had a stellar training camp with the Blues. So did Peter Smrek, a rangy puck mover who is having a decent first pro season at Worcester.

I’m starting to get the impression we’ll never see this kid named Christian Backman (a Nicklas Lidstrom wannabe) in a Blues uniform. He hasn’t played much in the Swedish Elite League and I would be very surprised if he made the trek here next September for training camp. The Blues just don’t seem very high on him and if they did, they’d sign him and get him over here so he could start playing a little bit more often. Can you say trade bait? Perhaps Pleau could send him to Vancouver to play with his buddies the Sedin twins next year.