Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009

Winchester shoots for a job

Forward is among best conditioned

ST. LOUIS -- For a guy that didn't make the St. Louis Blues out of training camp last season, Brad Winchester definitely left a lasting impact.

The former Edmonton and Dallas prospect was promoted from minor-league Peoria and netted 13 goals and 21 points in 64 games. He eventually earned a spot on a highly effective line with Keith Tkachuk and Dan Hinote during the Blues' late-season playoff push.

One of Blues coach Andy Murray's favorite lines about Winchester last season was that the big left winger went from someone just playing hockey to being a hockey player.

"He was one of top five conditioned athletes at the conditioning tests (this week) and he wasn't even close last year," Murray said. "That's a big statement. I hope he gets rewarded, but that's up to him. He's got to keep his feet on the ground and keep working.

"It's nice for people to pat you on the back, but he also was here last year and knows what it feels like to be sent down -- so he's got to remember that."

Winchester, 28, got the message a year ago. At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds and possessing a nasty physical streak, he provides toughness and grit along with scoring and checking.

In short, the kind of versatile guy the Blues are looking for.

"Certainly it's a lot different this year," said Winchester, who gained valuable experience while visiting the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton and the Western Conference finals with Dallas. "This is my team, this is my family and these are guys that I'm excited to see every day and excited to go to battle with.

"Whether it's offense, being a solid-two way guy, being physical, stepping in to scrap when needed, just putting all those elements together ... I feel like all those pieces are starting to come together for me."

Murray doesn't want teammates fighting in camp because of injury concerns, but that didn't stop Winchester from stirring things up during his first two camp scrimmages.

Among his targets were David Backes, one of the team's toughest competitors.

"Andy Murray's been great for me personally in terms of holding me accountable, but also just believing in me as a player (and) pushing me," Winchester said. "I feel like I've come together and want to keep growing my game."

Murray has Winchester on a line with center Keith Tkachuk and young star T.J. Oshie.

"They could be as good a line as we have," said Murray, who felt the trio of Tkachuk, Murray and Dan Hinote was the best on the team during the final 20 games. "We've added T.J. Oshie to a line that was our best line over the last 20 games last year."

Murray believes it's an intriguing combination.

"All three guys can get the puck to the net, all three guys like to play a grinding kind of physical game," he said. "That could be a miserable line to match up against, too, when they're playing their game."

A Wisconsin native, Winchester played college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers and is also a big Green Bay Packers fan.

As long as he continues bringing intensity each night, Winchester has found a new home in St. Louis.

"I wanted to find a situation where it was the right fit for me," he said. "I think I found that here. I'm excited to be part of this; I think we have a lot of good intangibles in place for building something here."