Blues new prospects

With the draft now over lets break down the new additions to the Blues. First up is goalie Jeff Glass (drafted 18th ov in the 1st round) who led the superstar Canadian jr team to gold last winter. He is by far the highest profile player picked up by the Blues in the draft. Glass played last season with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL playing in 51 games he posted an impressive 34-11-5 record.


Joining him between the pipes will be John Curry (drafted 95th ov in the 4th round) who comes out of the Boston University and in 33 games managed an 18-11-3 record.


Mark Mancari was taken with the Blues 2nd 1st round pick 28th ov. Mancari who is a power forward playing primarily on the RW played last season with the OHL Ottawa 67's. He played in 64 games and scored 36 goals and 32 assist as well as 87 PIM. He also had a strong playoffs scoring 24 points in 21 games.


The last 1st round selection for the Blues was Denis Kulyash taken 29th ov by the Blues. Kulyash is a solidly built defencemen who played for CSKA Moscow last season and in 58 games had 8 goals and 10 assists.


In the 2nd round 49th ov the Blues brought in another RWer. Nick Johnson who played with Dartmouth College last season in 35 games had 18 goals and 17 assists. Johnson was named Canadian Junior A player of the year the season before and has turned a lot of heads in the scouting world. A solid two-way player Johnson is more then willing to rush up the ice while shorthanded.


With the only pick that the Blues actually managed to keep this season that was there very own they drafted Brett Skinner 57th ov in the 2nd round. Skinner is older then most drafted in this draft and should be able to step into the jr team and be a force. He played last season with the U. of Denver as a senior and in 41 games had 4 goals and 31 assists. A strong campain for the Blues new Dman and many feel if any of the Blues prospects are ready to step up it will be Skinner.


With no picks in the 3rd round the Blues had to sit around and wait for the 1st ov selection in the 4th round 91st overall to take RW Mike Brown of the U. of Michigan. More of an enforcer type player Brown does have the skill needed to become a good power forward if he applies himself. A great skater who likes to mix it up and is willing to drop the gloves Brown will have to show more discipline if he ever hopes to make the Blues pro team. Considered a work in progress this player could go either way for the Blues.


Another back to back pick for the Blues they selected Kevin Schaeffer 92nd ov in the 4th round. Another solid defensive defencemen Schaeffer also possesses a bullet of a slapshot which he can use to quarterback the PP. Another Boston University prospect he is very familiar with Curry who was taken 3 picks later.


The Only non American player taken in the draft by the Blues is Jan Holub. Taken 115th ov in the 4th round Holub played last season with the Liberec Bili Tygri HC. Another solid stay at home defencemen for the Blues, Holub isn't likely to put up many points but is great at clearing the front of the net and at 6'3" and 185 pounds he is a strong defencemen who will not be pushed around. His willingness to drop the gloves in defence of the smaller forwards on his team and his ability to play on the edge endeared him to GM Foley.


Craig Switzer was the Blues last selection in the draft. Taken 145th ov in the 55th round Switzer is expected to be a diamond in the rough. BCHL Top Defenseman Award for the Interior Conference in 2003-04 Switzer is a mobile offencive defencemen and should be a good player to go along with any of the more defencive dman selected by the Blues in the draft. His intension are to go to the U. of New Hampshire where he will hone his skills and mind in the NCAA.