Oh Those Summer Blues
Late July is always the time of year that weighs down on hockey fans. The Stanley Cup has been handed out, the Entry Draft is over and free-agency is pretty much at a standstill. It always brings in all of those questions regarding if the team has improved or regressed. Blues fans always have the same question on their mind almost more than any other teams’ fans: When will it be our turn?
Blues media kept fans on the edge of their seats early this summer when there were constant talks of Chris Pronger returning to the blue and gold. Those discussions came to a crashing halt on the first day of the NHL Entry Draft when he was shipped from Anaheim to Philadelphia in the first blockbuster deal of the summer. Draft day was still exciting for the Blues though, when they selected defenseman David Rundblad at 17th overall in the first round. Rundblad is known for his smooth skating ability and offensive instincts, but worries some scouts with his defensive lapses at times. The Swedish defenseman reminds many scouts, including the Blues’ Director of Amateur Scouting Jarmo Kekalainen, of Mike Green from Washington. It will take a few seasons to see that progression though.