Alex Pietrangelo

r defensemen."

With Brewer back and Sydor just eating minutes away from youngsters Alex Pietrangelo and Erik Johnson, the team should consider parting ways with the aging defenseman.  He would very likely be claimed on waivers by another NHL club.

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t last year, Hollweg saw a three-game suspension for his questionable hit on young Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.  After gathering the puck up in front of his net, Pietrangelo went into the corner with some speed and threw the biscuit up the boards and out of the zone.  With his back turned, Hollweg came in full steam and nailed Pietrangelo, sending him to the ice and the IR for the next 6 games with head and neck injuries.  Hollweg received a 5-minute major for the hit, along with a 3-game suspension. 

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to start the season, while posting 2 assists.

The silver lining from this injury is that Alex Pietrangelo will see some playing time with the big club.  He has been a healthy scratch the past three games, but showed promise in the pre-season.  He is expected to play alongside veteran Darryl Sydor in his season debut.

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ion, but they also upgraded their defensive play.  With Erik Johnson returning from injury and Alex Pietrangelo expected to play, the team looks to be more of a threat on defensive-scoring.  Johnson tallied 33 points in his rookie campaign, including 28 assists.  What may even be more impressive is that Erik's teammate, Pietrangelo, racked up 53 points in 60 games for the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL in 2007-08, which included 13 goals.  These smart defensemen are also expected to be strong in their own end; both players stand tall at over 6'3” each. 

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speed and hard work along the boards would be a welcomed addition.  Rumors were circling that Alex Pietrangelo or David Perron were on their way out with this deal, so it is hard to say who would have gotten the better end of the trade as of now.  If this was a player-for-player deal and did not involve any other variables, Perron would make perfect sense to be on his way out.  Kessel is more of a  proven player than Perron, scoring 36 goals last season and being more of a force on the power-play.  Perron is also on the last year of his contract, and the Blues have to start thinking about what the asking price for Johnson will be next summer.  While Kessel would most likely ask for more than Perron, Kessel brings more to the table which in turn means that the Blues may not need a Paul Kariya contract around come next season.

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bring the goals against number down as well.

When this team sees Johnson at his best and Alex Pietrangelo make it big, Barret Jackman will be a distant memory to Blues fans.  At

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nses, yet the precision passing to set-up his teammates. 

On the defensive end of the game, Alex Pietrangelo and Jonas Junland look to make a mighty impact on the team.  Junland will start the season injured, but should only miss the start of the season.  He is a quick-footed skater with puck-moving potential who has been heralded as a top prospect of the Blues since he was drafted in 2006.

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s rushing a defenseman into the NHL does more bad than good.

This may also be the case with young Alex Pietrangelo.  Being the Blues’ first pick in the 2008 draft, Alex possesses a lot of the same skills that Junland does.  Quick feet and passing ability are easily two of Pietrangelo’s best attributes, but the organization cannot risk rushing him into the league.  Aki Berg was selected by the Los Angeles Kings third overall and came into the league the next season.  While Berg had a long NHL career, he never reached his full potential.  He now plays in Finland, his home country.

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and 28 assists last season, will be coming in for his second full season as a NHL defenseman.  Alex Pietrangelo has an adequate shot of making the team, tallying 53 points in 60 games for the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL last season.  And to repeat what critics were saying last season about the current defense of the team, Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman are expected to contribute more offensively than they have in the past.  Looking at the situation on paper though, both players only totaled three goals between them in 2007-08.  It is almost foolish to rely purely on two players under 21 years old and to hope for two veterans to all of a sudden light the lamp constantly.   Bringing in a veteran who is known as a power-play quarterback and a great puck-handler may not be such a bad idea.  Mathieu Schneider is just that man.

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drafted a player fifteen years later that might have the same upside as the All-Star defenseman.

Alex Pietrangelo, selected fourth overall in 2008, signed a deal to lock him in as Blues property for the next three seasons Thursday afternoon.  Pietrangelo will be skating in training camp with the rest of the Blues team starting September 19.  It is believed that Alex has a good shot at making the club to start the season, but the team may want him to mature in Peoria of the AHL before he plays on the big club.

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