BluesNut: Thoughts From Blues Informal Practices

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The first post in the BluesNut Program comes from blue bleeder Scott Busiek, aka @WhoLeTheDagsOut. Thanks for sharing Scott!

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Much like every other Hockey fan this off-season, I have been missing the sport. Fortunately, this past week I have had the ability to go see the Blues (and some non-Blue players) practice at the St. Louis Mills Ice Zone. While they are not official Blues practices, they run drills and scrimmage as if they were.

Before I begin the “meat and potatoes” of the topic here is a list of Non/former Blues that have made appearances (just this week) at the Mills for practice with the Blues:
Mike McKenna (Ottawa/Birmingham Senators, STL native)
Cam Janssen (NJ Devils, STL Native)
Ty Conklin (Detroit Red Wings)

Among Other goalies/skaters of relation to coaches or Invited by the team.

Monday and Thursday were both “conditioning” days. Players did Passing and MOSTLY Skating drills. These days were honestly pretty boring, but you learn a lot on boring days if you know where to look (more on this later.)

Tuesday and Thursday were both shooting drills and Scrimmages. Players wore alternate colors and played half rink 3v3 (and on Thursday full rink 4v4). The “lineups” were not important, and are mostly Irrelevant at this point being off-season still.

There were a few surprises this week. Tuesday #12 Scott Nichol was there (and has been since) being small and skating hard. Thursday JL15 (#15 Jamie Langenbrunner) made his “Blues Practice Facility” Debut, As well as the player I am 90% sure is Evgeni Grachev wearing #78 on his helmet. Grachev was acquired from NYRangers at the 2012 NHL Draft for a 3rd round pick.

It looks like our boys are coming to town, and starting to mean business.

Thanks to a Tweep and fellow STMHS Alum, @grzimmer14stlb, for the Helpful information regarding Grachev’s identity. With Training camp fast approaching (not fast enough) the players seem to be gathering and everyday look more and more ready.

The main reason I wanted to do a Write up today if to convey something I saw this week. Most fans who go to off-season practices are more than “fair weather” fans, and these practices were no exception to that rule. Most people still go to them to see people like Alex Pietrangelo, Patrik Berglund, JL15, and so forth. While just watching the practices , I could not help but notice one particular player who not only looks like he wants to breakout but is showing that in practice.

Phillip McRae looks like he has bulked up a bit this offseason. In addition to looking “bigger” he has been the second to last person off the ice all 4 days (Only beat by Mon/Tues Mike McKenna, and Thurs/Fri Cam Janssen) Staying behind to do some shooting drills of his own. Gathering about 20 pucks and wristing them from corner to corner of the net, from the benchside circle. He looks more focused, healthy, motivated, ready (insert appropriate adj. here) than I have ever seen him before. Even in the Informal scrimmages, Phil has looked great, sniping corners (and everything else) every opportunity (with some misses, no one is perfect).

I think that McRae will be a big surprise to many within the organization this year. Looks like he wants it more than ever.

It was a great to see some of you out there at the Mills Ice Zone for practices. Saw @muymanwell (and Co) @Michael_Manion @lkorac10 and @StayAtHomeDMom (and Co) and more that I didn’t know were there. (All names Twitter)
I will most likely be going to wed/thurs/fri practices since I work so close to the mills and get off at 9am. If you are there, give me a shout out, Via twitter or if it suits you run around yelling my handle and maybe I’ll have mercy and tell you who I am.

Just like everyone else I have Hockey Fever, cannot wait for STLBlues hockey! Let’s Go Blues!