Monday, Sep. 14, 2009

Bell hopes to earn a spot with Blues

Former Senator is vying for one of two spots on defense unit

ST. LOUIS -- Looking for an opportunity and a chance to prove himself as an NHL regular, Brendan Bell chose the St. Louis Blues over several other teams this summer.

The 26-year-old former Ottawa Senators defenseman had six goals and 21 points in 53 games last season after being promoted from the minors.

He's a solid puck-mover who has helped create offense at every level he's been at. A third-round pick for Toronto in 2001, he has seven goals and 28 points in 101 NHL games with Toronto, Phoenix and Ottawa.

But Bell's two-way contract is a clear indication that all he has right now in St. Louis is a chance at one of two remaining spots on the Blues' defense unit.

That's more than enough for him.

"This is my sixth year as a pro and every year I've come in fighting for a job," said Bell, who chose the Blues over the New York Rangers and the Senators. "It's not something that's new to me. It's a young team that's going in the right direction and it's going to be fun to be a part of if I can crack this roster.

"It wasn't easy walking away from your home town and all that, but I felt this was the best opportunity for me."

Bell also wants to be part of what he feels is one of the NHL's rising teams. He was enthused after handling recruiting calls earlier this summer from Blues coach Andy Murray, General Manager Larry Pleau and team vice president and Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis.

"It just seemed like an exciting opportunity with a team that's going the right way," Bell said. "They're young and they're only getting better."

Bell has plenty of competition. There are 20 defensemen in camp battling for seven spots, with five of those already assured to Barret Jackman, Erik Johnson, Roman Polak, Carlo Colaiacovo and Mike Weaver.

Blues veteran Eric Brewer has returned to skating, but still is recovering from the after-effects of two back surgeries and a recent arthroscopic procedure on his knee.

The picture muddies considerably after that.

There are at least six candidates for the final two spots, including veterans Darryl Sydor and Bell, younger players with NHL experience in Alex Pietrangelo, Steve Wagner and Tyson Strachan and rookie Jonas Junland.

Wagner and Strachan have both played well in previous stints with the Blues, while Pietrangelo got an eight-game Blues baptism at the start of last season before being returned to juniors.

Pietrangelo has immense potential and can play up to nine games with the Blues before the team has to make a decision on his future. He can't play in the minors and would have to be returned to his junior team.

The Blues also want more offense from a defense that combined for only 15 goals last season, with no defenseman scoring more than four.

"It's tight on the blue line right now," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "There's a lot of guys battling for jobs. I don't want to tip my hand one way or the other, I just will tell you it's going to be intense --and I'm sure it will go right down to the end."

Wagner said it's about playing your best game and not being concerned with outside factors.

"You come and battle, you don't worry about the numbers," Wagner said. "You just play. There's some good puck-moving defensemen here this year and it should be interesting to see how it all unfolds."

If the Blues go with experience, the 37-year-old Sydor and Bell could have a slight edge. But Strachan played well down the stretch for the Blues and Pietrangelo was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.

"It's going to be a fierce competition," Murray said. "I don't care about a player's background, it's what we think they can do for us. Guys will make those decisions for us based on how they play.

"There's a pecking order when you come into camp. But you can change that pretty quick based on perception."

Bell and Blues center Jay McClement grew up playing against each other near Ottawa, Ontario. The pair later were teammates on several Canadian national squads, helping Team Canada win a silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships.

"We were rivals growing up as kids,' Bell said. "We played in the same youth league, so we got to see each other quite a bit when we were kids."

Now they're sharing the same dressing room in St. Louis.

"He looked at several different teams and felt like this was the best option for him," McClement said.

"It's no fun being on a two-way contract and coming into camp and fighting for a job," Bell said. "But at the same time, it's a risk I took and it was a calculated risk for sure. I've done this before and I think that if I go out and play my game, I'll be fine."