Monday, Sep. 14, 2009

Johnson and Kariya take part in team scrimmages

Team is counting on big things from both

ST. LOUIS -- A healthy Erik Johnson and Paul Kariya were welcome sights for St. Louis Blues fans, coaches and team officials Sunday at Scottrade Center.

Johnson missed all of last season because of knee surgery, while Kariya got off to a flying start with 15 points in 11 games. Kariya eventually was diagnosed with hip injuries that required two surgeries and missed the rest of the season.

Johnson was dominant during the first training camp scrimmage and Kariya made his first on-ice appearance during the day's final practice session.

"Paul's a real professional, he's in tune with his body and what it needs," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "When he's saying he's feeling great like he is right now, it's good news. But there may be times when we rest him, just like we'll do with Walt (Keith Tkachuk).

"He enhances the skill level of our team for sure."

The first training camp scrimmage ended in a 1-1 tie as forward Tyler Shattock and defenseman Steve Wagner scored the goals.

The three training camp scrimmage teams are named after coach Andy Murray's three assistants: Team (Ray) Bennett, Team (Rick) Wamsley and Team (Brad) Shaw.

Shattock was a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft while Wagner is among the defensemen battling for a roster spot.

Noticeably bigger and stronger than in his rookie year of 2007-08, Johnson moved the puck quickly out of his own zone and paced his team's transition attack.

"I thought it was really a positive day and really successful," said Johnson, who says he's been at 100 percent since late July or early August after an intense summer of training. "Nothing's bothering (me), nothing's lingering. This isn't like a warmup. I had all summer to get my body into the shape I needed to be. "

Blues President John Davidson gave Johnson -- whose fitness testing ranked at or near the top of the team in most categories --high marks.

"He's very focused and very fit," Davidson said. "He wasn't overwhelmed by anything."

Notes

Other scrimmage highlights were the strong play of linemates David Backes, Andy McDonald and David Perron. Backes had one of the best moves of the day, a behind-the-back pass that found its way onto the stick of Wagner for a goal.

Forward B.J. Crombeen did not play in the scrimmage because of what is believed to be a minor injury. Big winger Brad Winchester mixed it up a bit with Backes and Keith Tkachuk, but Murray has a no-fighting edict among teammates during camp.

Murray named the Blues' annual training camp scrimmage tournament the Wendy Pleau Determination Cup.

The wife of general manager Larry Pleau has battled cancer and Murray said her determination and courageousness serve as motivation for everyone involved in the franchise.

"Wendy Pleau's going to be here Thursday to present the trophy," Murray said. "When I told the guys that, you could just see the sparkle in their eyes. The guys that have been here for a while know what she's been through.

"To see her walking out on the ice presenting that trophy, looking as good as she looks now, that's great."

White isn't right

Probably not realizing Murray's disdain for white skates, new Blues forward Mitch Love wore white ones Sunday. When then-rookie Perron showed up with white skates two years ago, Murray ordered the training staff to paint them black so they wouldn't be such attention-grabbers.

But unlike the offensively-gifted Perron, Love's role is more of an enforcer judging from the 214 penalty minutes he picked up with the AHL's Houston Aeros last season.

He is likely headed to minor-league Peoria.

"I didn't know he had white skates until he got out there," Murray said. "He plays a different kind of game, and I think what he's waiting for is somebody to make fun of his white skates."