Blues Keep Cracknell, Bring in Sterling to Bolster Rivermen | Roster Taking Shape
Peoria may be three or so hours north of St. Louis, but blue bleeders best not forget about the Rivermen this summer. Many a current and future quality NHL’er has player/is playing for the Blues AHL affiliate. Keeping the other hockey team owned by Dave Checketts well stocked and able to compete is a an important task.
To that end a pair of forwards have been inked for the 2011-12 season.
Adam Cracknell (Scott Neer / TSN Photography)
Adam “Release the Crackn” Cracknell has signed on for another tour of duty. Signing a one year, two way deal paying $575,000 in the NHL and $90,ooo in the AHL. In 25 games with St. Louis last season the 25 year old Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native registered three goals and seven points. He also made 76 appearances with the Rivermen. Amassing 17 goals and 38 points.
When recalled, Cracknell proved to be an effective fourth line depth option. Willing to do the dirty work an energy line forward should do and maintain defensive responsibility. He needs an effective 11-12 campaign to prove that he can be an effective depth option for the Blues going forward. Either as the 4th center or 4th right winger. Putting up solid numbers in Peoria and several trips down I-55 is the his best chance to earn a one way deal for 12-13. His free agent rights remain restricted when the contract expires.
Brett Sterling (LetsGoAmerks!/Flickr)
The newest addition to the family, Brett Sterling, helps soften the loss of longtime Rivs top six forward Nick Drazenovic to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.
His one year, two-way deal will pay out $600,000 in the NHL and $200,ooo in the AHL.
St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong had the following to say about Sterling in the team’s official release:
“Brett has been a top goal scorer wherever he’s been and gives our organization depth at the forward position.”
Sterling has been a prolific scorer in his AHL career. Registering an 171 goals and 316 points in 319 career games between the Chicago Wolves and Wilks-Barre/Scranton Penguins. His first profession season following a stellar college career with Colorado College (Jaden Schwartz connection), Sterling set career highs in goals (55) and points (97) in 77 games with the Wolves. A mark that earned him AHL Rookie of the Year honors.
He may be considered “small” at the NHL level, listed at 5’7 and 175 pounds, his skating ability and compete level push him above the likes of teammate TJ Hensick. Both have been College and AHL offensive dynamos, but Hensick’s inability to keep up with the pace of the NHL game has all but made him an minor league only option.
Effectiveness trumps experience more and more as the gap between the two expands. Sterling may have appeared in just 26 NHL games, compared to Hensick’s 112, but intangibiles possessed by Sterling make him a more of a “Davis Payne” player than Hensick and therefore more likely to be recalled when skilled call up is required.
Assuming the Blues continue to add depth to the NHL lineup, the Peoria roster will continue to deepen. A rough estimate of their lineup looks like:
Forwards:
TJ Hensick
Brett Sterling
Phil McRae
Evgeny Grachev
Chris Porter
Adam Cracknell
Stefan Della Rovere
Derek Nesbitt
Tyler Shattock
Anthony Nigro
Brett Sonne
Jay Barriball
Kyle Hagel
Anthony Peluso
Defense:
Ian Cole
Mark Cundari
Dave Shields
Brett Ponich
Cade Fairchild
Brennan Evans
Goalie:
Jake Allen
Brian Elliot / *Ben Bishop
*Bishop has not agreed to a deal, but his presence next season is all but assured at this point.
Free agent decisions still loom for key veterans like forwards Graham Mink, Dave Spina, Dave Scatchard and defensemen Dean Arsene, Nathan Oystrick, Tyson Strachan.
So far the only news coming out of this group is that Strachan is listening to offers across the board and his return to the Blues organization is not certain. That said, another large infusion of youth coming in to the back end, it would make a lot of sense to at least keep around last season’s captain Arsene.
Keep in mind the AHL Veteran Rule. The Rivermen must dress at least 11 players, who are not goalies, who have not competed in more than 260 games between the various professional leagues in North American and Europe prior to the start of the season. Since teams regularly dress 18 skaters they can have up to 7 players above the cap. This rule helps to reinforce the league as the primary developmental league this side of the Atlantic.
Of the list of 20 skaters above Hensick, Sterling, Porter, Nesbitt, Evans and Hagel all exceed 260 games. Leaving 14, to meet requirements.
