Camp opens today with some basic on-ice work starting at 11 am at the rink at The Mills. The whole schedule can be viewed at the Blues' site and if past experiences are any indicator, expect all of these open practices to be packed to the rafters. The team has invited 58 players to the camp and that number will likely be culled very quickly as the first pre-season game is Tuesday and the regular season team will be jetting off to Sweden in just a couple weeks.
We'll update this list as players are released, returned to their junior squads or sent to Peoria.
Centers:
Derek Armstrong: Recently signed after six seasons in Los Angeles, the Andy Murray-favorite is playing for an NHL job.
Patrik Berglund: Clearly has a spot on the team, he'll be playing to determine his role on the top two lines and power play unit.
Nicholas Drazenovic: The 22-year-old Blues draft pick is trying to break through the AHL/NHL bubble.
Lars Eller: The former first rounder is hoping to make the NHL team
Jay McClement: Silent Jay has locked down the title of "Franchise Checking Center" and the job is his to lose for the forseeable future.
Andy McDonald: NHLer who has the top line job unless he fails to impress.
Philip McRae: Blues second rounder looking to impress for the future.
Cam Paddock: A 26-year-old AHLer who got a cup of coffee here last year and is looking to make sure his name is considered for call-up if the need arrives.
Brett Sonne: High-profile draftee who is looking to impress.
Yan Stastny: Riding the AHL/NHL bubble, Stastny needs to break out of the pack of similar players on the roster if he wants to get out of Peoria.
Julian Talbot: The 24-year-old AHLer will be trying to turn heads for a possible call-up.
Keith Tkachuk: NHLer who we still can't believe is lining up at center after only 16 years as an NHL left wing.
Number of NHL jobs available at center: Zero (McDonald, Berglund, McClement, Tkachuk). Position changes will be necessary for someone else to make the roster.
Potential to upset the list: Armstrong, a noted Murray favorite. Eller, if not for recently-diagnosed mononucleosis, would have had a shot.
Right Wings:
David Backes: David Backes is all that is man. After his breakout 31-goal campaign, he's playing for top-line consideration.
Brad Boyes: Will we hear again this year that Boyes' goal is to hit the net more rather than trying to pick corners and missing the goal completely? Because that's what we really want to hear. Again.
Adam Cracknell: The 24-year-old free agent signee has bounced around the AHL and ECHL since being drafted in the 9th round by Cal and Gary back in 2004.
B.J. Crombeen: The Beej is playing to determine his role; would have to pass through waivers to go to Peoria.
Cam Janssen: NHLer whose role probably needs to be better defined. Is he competing with DJ King or will they both stay on the roster?
James Livingston: 2008 draftee (3rd round) who has no more junior eligibility and is playing to make the Rivermen.
Aaron Palushaj: 2007 second rounder who has impressed at every turn and is playing to put his name in the mouths of the NHL coaching staff.
Ryan Reaves: 2005 fifth rounder is playing for a job in Peoria.
Tyler Shattock: Fourth rounder from this summer in his first camp with the Blues, he's likely on the ECHL/AHL bubble.
Number of NHL jobs available at right wing: Zero (Backes, Boyes, Crombeen, Janssen). Position changes will be necessary for someone else to make the roster.
Potential to upset the list: Palushaj. Likely a Peoria stud this year, he has excelled at every level since being drafted, including the recent Prospect Tournament in Traverse City.
Left Wings:
Paul Kariya: On the roster.
D.J. King: The question is what roles he and Cam Janssen will be given. Will they fight for one job? Can both make the team?
Mitch Love: Undrafted 25-year-old AHL/ECHL veteran on a tryout with the team.
T.J. Oshie: Just a question of what line the Teej is playing on come opening day. Will he get power play time? Penalty kill?
Anthony Peluso: 2007 sixth rounder playing for the first time on a professional team. Will it be in Alaska or Peoria?
David Perron: NHLer playing to determine his role. Likely to get power play time this year as well.
Chris Porter: The 25-year-old got six games in a Bluenote last year and will be looking to impress for consideration for call-up from the AHL if needed.
Alexander Steen: NHLer who is either a great checking line forward or who still has potential to become a scoring line winger (though that would likely have to be on another team).
Barry Tallackson: Former Golden Gopher with 20 NHL games on his resume, recently-signed Tallackson is likely Peoria-bound.
Brad Winchester: Recently re-signed, a spot on the NHL team his his to lose.
Number of NHL jobs available at left wing: Two less than zero (Kariya, King, Oshie, Perron, Steen, Winchester).
Potential to upset the list: None.
Defense:
Brendan Bell: Recently signed free agent with 101 NHL games played, he'll be playing for one of the available NHL jobs on the blueline.
Eric Brewer: Captain Roboto is not ready to play due to his knee and back surgeries. His absence leaves a a job opening.
Carlo Colaiacovo: An NHL job is his to lose, as is his spot on the power play.
Mark Cundari: Playing for his first professional job, though that's likely either in Peoria or Alaska.
T.J. Fast: 2005 second rounder will likely be back in Peoria this year.
Justin Fletcher: At 26, an AHL mainstay.
Alexander Hellstrom: Dancing the ECHL/AHL line.
Barret Jackman: NHLer who will likely, thankfully, lose his power play time this year.
Erik Johnson: NHLer with something to prove. Let's see him prove it.
Jonas Junland: has an outside shot at an NHL job, but would have to really impress.
Bryce Lampman: Welcome to the AHL, Bryce. At least it's not the KHL like last year, right? Free agent signee, the 27-year-old has 10 NHL games, zero points and a minus-5.
Alex Pietrangelo: Due to his juniors-or-NHL-only situation, he'll get a very long look to make the Blues.
Roman Polak: NHLer who will be battling for time on the power play and penalty kill.
Brett Ponich: Second rounder from this summer who was a big off-the-board pick is on the ECHL/AHL bubble.
Danny Richmond: 2003 second rounder of the Blackhawks, the window is closing on Richmond's NHL dream. A perfect camp will be required to avoid going to Peoria.
Tyson Strachan: Fairly impressive in limited NHL service last year, Strachan has an outside chance at one of the available jobs on the Blues' defensive corps.
Darryl Sydor: Cup-winner (Lightning, Stars) veteran of 17 NHL seasons, Sydor is in camp on a tryout and likely has a good chance at winning a job due to Brewer's injury. Unsigned, however, means he could receive an offer from any other team at any time.
Ryan Turek: 2006 fourth rounder, Turek is on the Alaska/Peoria bubble.
Adrian Veideman: A 26-year-old on a tryout who is so far off the grid that not even TSN's exhaustive list has info on him. At first, we thought the Blues had invited the World's Smartest Man to camp. Which would be cool, except that we'd rather have Rorschach on the roster than that fucking prima donna Ozymandias.
Steve Wagner: Look, we're big fans of Dancin' Stevie Wagner, but he's definitely on the outside looking in on the battle for an open spot on the pro roster. He'll likely be a late cut, sent back to Peoria.
Mike Weaver: The journeyman NHLer is nonetheless, an NHLer. A solid depth defenseman who is remarkably effective on the penalty kill, Monkey Arms is on the Blues roster unless he inexplicably implodes during camp.
Number of NHL jobs available on defense: Two (Colaiacovo, Jackman, Johnson, Polak, Weaver; with Brewer on IR).
Most likely to win the jobs (in order of likelihood): Sydor, Pietrangelo, Bell.
Outside shots: Strachan, Junland, Fast.
Goaltenders:
Jake Allen: The latest goalie in the Blues' system to carry the mantle of "The Future In Net," Allen will have to wait for the future to take the ice in St. Louis.
Ben Bishop: It's all but official that Bishop will be the starter in Peoria, gaining minutes, experience and training under the bleary, semi-watchful eyes of new goaltending consultant Eddie Belfour. A man, not insignificantly, who was probably serenaded by a younger Ben Bishop in a chorus of "Beeeelllllllll-Fooooooouuuuuuur!" chants. Weird.
Ty Conklin: The summer signee de facto backup NHLer. Will he be content to be the designated door-opener or is he going to push for the starter's job? You know, like last year's back-up, Weird Beard Mason, did to last year's starter Manny Legace....
Sebastian Dahm: On a tryout, we hope Dahm does a sweet Sebastian Bach impression. There are jobs available in the organization and this Dane would probably like one of them.
Chris Mason: The Starter. Is he going to be as unreal as he was down the stretch last year or will he start looking over his shoulder with Conklin in the fold?
Hannu Toivonen: Not a typo. When Ears exploded a couple years ago and fled to Europe we all figured that would be the last we'd see of the Finn. But he's back and he's hoping to re-start his NHL career. At just 25 years of age, we suppose it's possible. But we're skeptical. And gunshy.
Number of NHL jobs available in goal: Zero (Mason, Conklin). Bishop will be the starter in peoria and the guy called up if injuries occur.
Potential to upset the list: None. Too much money is invested in the top two guys and too much icetime will be given to Bishop and Allen at their respective levels to change this list.
If you're going to the practices and looking for a more statistical breakdown, print out the official Blues roster of the event.