Tomorrow's Blues Online with Brian Weidler

The Peoria Rivermen prepare to embark on their fifth American Hockey League season this evening, and the prospects for their journey look to be as bright as the Proud Mary burning on the bow.

After the jump, a quick look at what will "play in Peoria" this season, followed by your comments.

Head coach Davis Payne, and new assistant Drake Berehowsky, have a variety of weapons to choose from up front this season. The Rivermen are strong at center, where top returning scorer Julian Talbot (20-23-43 in 43 GP last year) teams with veteran Yan Stastny and a bulked-up Nicholas Drazenovic to provide the Rivermen with the core of three balanced, productive lines.

A trio of highly-touted rookies from the Blues' strong 2007 draft -- first-rounder (13th overall) Lars Eller, second-rounder (44th overall) Aaron Palushaj, and third-rounder (85th overall) Brett Sonne -- will all find places on the top two lines. Or perhaps, as a unit themselves.

Returnee Chris Porter, and Calgary Flames' castoff Adam Cracknell, are expected to round out the top nine forward positions. AHL veterans Cam Paddock, Barry Tallackson, and Mitch Love, along with 2005 draftee Ryan Reaves, who had a strong training camp with the Blues, and rookie Anthony Peluso, should all rotate into duties on the fourth line.

The blueline corps, led by 2008-09 AHL All-Star Jonas Junland and NHL-experienced Brendan Bell, is expected to be among the top units in the American League this season. Junland and Bell provide a solid one-two punch on both offense and defense for the Rivermen, and the rest of the d-corps is equally well-balanced.

208 free agent acquisition Justin Fletcher led all Peoria blueliners in scoring last year (8-24-32 in 68 games), and the veteran also led the entire team in plus-minus, with a solid plus-20 mark.

Solid veteran Adrian Veideman is around to provide a physical presence on defense, as is Tyson Strachan, who was the last cut from the Blues to be assigned to Peoria this year. Danny Richmond, acquired in trade last year from Pittsburgh, is a strong two-way player as well, and Steve Wagner seems poised for a breakout season.

In goal, the Rivermen should be well-fortified behind their solid defense. Ben Bishop will be sent to Peoria from St. Louis once the Blues return from Sweden, and the 6' 7 local product will join Finnish returnee Hannu Toivonen -- he of the Ed Staniowski paint job on his mask -- to give the Rivermen as good and as deep a netminding tandem as any in the league. Former OHLer and Canadian University goalie Danny Battocchio is on hand as insurance until Bishop's return.

The Rivermen open the 2009-10 AHL season tonight against none other than the Grand Rapids Griffins... the farm team of the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop at Carver Arena is 7:00 PM, and your Game Time Prospect Department will be on hand with live updates. So, until tonight, remember... "if we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil." Auf wiedersehen.