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Alex Pietrangelo, Tyson Strachan make the cut for the St. Louis Blues

Dustin Brown, Alex Pietrangelo

Los Angeles Kings’ Dustin Brown (23) passes around St. Louis Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo (27) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

AP

The St. Louis Blues decided to keep top prospect Alex Pietrangelo and Tyson Strachan on their NHL roster, according to Jeremy Rutherford. Defenseman Ian Cole and forward Nicholas Drazenovic were sent down to the AHL to make space for the two players.

Rutherford captured the reactions of both Pietrangelo and Strachan. First, Pietrangelo discusses the situation with Rutherford.

Here is Pietrangelo’s reaction to making the team: “It’s a relief. It’s exciting. It’ll probably hit me more on Saturday during the home opener, if I’m playing. But it’s exciting. I’ve enjoyed the process here ... it’s been a pretty good competition. We’ve been pushing each other pretty good, the guys that have been sticking around. It’s a relief, that’s probably the best way to put it. But at the same time it’s only a start right? There’s guys breathing down your neck, trying to get the same spot. You’ve just got to keep playing, keep pushing forward. They said the same thing I’m saying right now . . . it’s just a start and you’ve got to just keep pushing forward.”

On losing some of the pressure and advancing his game: “I’m feeling a lot more confident these past couple of days. I’ve got to go out there Thursday and Friday and have a good practice and Saturday is a big start to the season.”

Useless NHL ’11 note: if you’re doing a fantasy draft in Be a GM Mode, draft Pietrangelo. He turns into a star in about three or four years. Surely, there is some real-life relevance to Pietrangelo too, but for me he’s still one of those “awesome prospects who lives larger in video games at this point” type guys. (Jay Bouwmeester used to be that guy. Now he’s the fast defenseman who gets paid a ton of money.)

Next, Rutherford catches up with Strachan.

Here is Strachan’s reaction to making the team: “They let me know that I’m starting the season and I made the top seven and I’ll be competing for playing time. It’s stressful to get the call when they say ‘Meet with Davis (Payne)” because over the last two years, I’ve had those meetings and afterwards I was making the three-hour drive (to Peoria). It’s hard to explain. I just worked really hard and I’m excited to have the opportunity.”

So, there you go. The Blues seem like they could be a sneaky-good team next season, but it will require solid play from many young skaters. If Pietrangelo and/or Strachan work out, that would increase the odds of St. Louis succeeding substantially.