Blues Headng Down Preseason Stretch

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The Blues have two more preseason games before departing to Stockholm, Sweden on Saturday. The Note plays at Minnesota tonight and in Dallas on Saturday before heading overseas immediately following the game.

Andy Murray's team will play an exhibition against a Swedish Elite League team next Tuesday before beginning the season at 2:00 (CST) Thursday afternoon against Detroit.

The Note's roster is currently at 28 as three will be cut, perhaps following tonight's game, to get the team down to the 23-man regular season maximum. Defenseman Erik Brewer will likely start the season on injured reserve following offseason surgery. Goaltender Ben Bishop will be allowed to travel with the club to Sweden as a third goaltender (in addition to Chris Mason and Ty Conklin) that will not count against the team's roster. 

The next wave of cuts could possibly include forward Derek Armstrong. Center Yan Stastny was cut today after winger Barry Tallackson was cut yesterday. Defensemen Jonas Junland and Tyson Strachan could soon be heading to Peoria...though head coach Andy Murray, a guest yesterday on "The Bernie Miklasz Show" (M-F, 12-2PM, 101 ESPN) spoke highly of Strachan's camp and indicated that 2008 first rounder (4th overall) Alex Pietrangelo would have to make an immediate impact in his nine-game trial to stay with the team and not return to Niagra, his junior team in the Ontario Hockey League.

TPC