Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

Blues prospect Ian Cole isn't sure where he'll play

Defenseman has to choose between starting his pro career or going back to Notre Dame

ST. LOUIS -- It's a simple, yet complex decision.

If he were so inclined, St. Louis Blues defense prospect Ian Cole could say the word today and put his college hockey career behind him.

An All-American as a sophomore at Notre Dame, Cole put together a dominant season on the college level. He's a big (6-foot-1, 217 pounds), physical defenseman with a mean streak and big shot.

He also can skate well and make plays. Is he ready for a pro career?

"Obviously it would be a tremendous honor to play for the Blues, I think they're the best organization out there," said Cole, in town this week to participate in the Blues pro orientation camp at St. Louis Mills. "I wouldn't want to be drafted by anybody else. But at the same time, school has been going great.

"I'm in a great situation at Notre Dame. I play over 30 minutes a night in every situation with a great coach and a great hockey program."

One of three first-round draft picks by the Blues in 2007 (18th overall), many feel Cole is ready to make the jump from college to pro hockey.

Among those sharing that opinion are Blues team President John Davidson and Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis, a team vice president.

"My gut feeling would be that for Ian to take the next step, now would be a good time," Davidson said. "But that's not in the hands of the Blues, that's in the hands of Ian Cole and his family and his agent. We'll respect what his decision is. It's up to him."

That decision is definitely on the front-burner for Cole, who called it "a huge decision that needs to be thought through, with every angle to be analyzed. It's a process. I'm not necessarily in a hurry to make that decision, but I also don't want to keep everyone waiting, either."

MacInnis has watched Cole closely the last two years, just as he did again Thursday and Friday in St. Louis.

"He looks great out there," MacInnis said. "He's mobile, he makes a good first pass and he's always had that quality ice time at Notre Dame.

"He's always been a go-to guy and watching him play last year, I certainly think that's he's ready for the next step."

Cole is taking college courses this summer, which could be construed as a signal to the Blues that he is ready to turn pro.

"We're not in a position here to have to fast-track people," Davidson said. "He's going to do what his heart tells him to do."

Like Blues defenseman Erik Johnson, Cole is a product of the U.S. National Team Development program. He played for Team USA last winter at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic.

Cole led all Fighting Irish defensemen last season with six goals and 26 points and had a plus-minus rating of plus-15.

Drafted first overall by the Blues in 2006, Johnson played one season at the University of Minnesota and then made the jump to the NHL.

Cole's decision is a little more complex, since the Blues' still-developing defense lineup could find him playing at minor-league Peoria or with the big club in St. Louis.

"It's a tough decision, but the thing I'd be looking at if I was him is he's dominated the level he was at," Johnson said, noting Cole's strong sophomore season. "He doesn't really have anything left to accomplish at that level, (unless) he feels he needs to grow as a person more."

Forward T.J, Oshie stayed at the University of North Dakota through his junior season before signing with the Blues. His main reason was trying to win a national championship, something that also has eluded Cole through two seasons.

"I've done well and progressed as a player," Cole said. "But I guess I'm not real happy with either (season) because we didn't win a the national championship."

Johnson said he sees a little of his own situation with Cole.

"I left school," he said, "didn't set the world on fire but played pretty well. I came here, but I felt like I was ready. He just has an advantage because he has the ability to go down to Peoria.

"There's no rush. I think he's still only 19 or 20. He's got to do what's right, but he's got a good chance of making our team in one or two years."

Cole figures either option can be a positive for him.

"I'm not really in a hurry to leave school," he said. "It's going to be a tough decision either way, but whatever I choose it's going to be a good situation for me."

Cole left the South Bend, Ind., campus last winter to watch the Blues play in Chicago.

"I'm obviously more focused on the defensemen than where the puck's going," he said. "I'm watching them and I'm like 'I can make those plays, I can do what they're doing.'

"It's just a matter of doing it quick enough. That will comes with experience and pushing yourself to that level, to make it as fast as you possibly can."