Top 5 St. Louis Blues Prospect Defensemen

Last week I took a look at the Top 5 Forward Prospects. This week I will delve in to the world of puck lugging, shot blocking, and who can log 20 minutes a night. Today, its all about defensemen.

Honorable Mentions: Cade Fairchild and Kristoffer Berglund

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#5. Brett Poinch
Acquired: 2nd Round (48th overall), 2009

To say Brett Ponich is big is an understatement. The Portland Winterhawks (WHL) defensemen is listed around 6’7 and 225 lbs at age 19. His size and draft position are similar to another Jarmo Kekalainen selection, Zdeno Chara. While Brett has a long journey ahead to reach the level of success that Chara has had, he can develop in to a solid NHL player. Ponich’s mobility is average and needs some work. You can only do so much with a 6’6 frame on skates, but it can improve. He is not offensively incompetent, but he doesn’t have a booming shot or exceptional first pass. Brett’s value will come from behind the defensive blue-line. Using his size to cut off angles and strength to muscle players to the outside. He is willing to get dirty and at his size he should be. I believe that Brett will develop in to a player somewhat like a Hal Gill, Andy Sutton, or Matt Walker.

Projection: Steady 3rd pairing / occasional 2nd pairing defensive defneseman
Currently Playing: Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. He will likely return to Juniors for his final season of eligibility.
ETA: 2-3 years to wrap up Juniors and season in the AHL. Looking at 3-4 for NHL minutes given the Blues depth chart.

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#4. Mark Cundari

Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent, 2008

A little thing like not being drafted won’t hold back Mark Cundari. The Blues signed him as a free agent in September 2008. He would go on two win back to back Memorial Cups with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Don’t let his 5’10 198 lbs frame fool you. He is pretty strong for his size and is a very good skater. He is not afraid to get dirty either. Posting over 139 PIMs each of the last three seasons. His value at the professional level will be providing offense and puck moving ability without being a defensive liability. I was very impressed with Cundari at training camp in 2009 and he continued to improve throughout the 2009-10 OHL season. He comes to camp in 2010 a dark horse to push on Ian Cole, Alex Pietrangelo, Tyson Strachan and Nikita Nikitin for a NHL roster spot.

Projection: 3rd paring defensemen and power play specialist.
Currently Playing: After concluding his Junior career in Windsor he will likely move on to the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.
ETA: Needs 1-2 seasons in Peoria for growth and for the depth chart to open up.

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#3. Jonas Junland
Acquired: 3rd round (64th overall), 2006

What a roller coaster ride it has been for Jonas and the Blues. In the 2006 draft that was headlined by Erik Johnson, Junlad was a small blip on the radar. The additions of Cole (2007), Pietrnagelo (2008) and David Rundblad (2009) seemed to keep moving down the blue-line depth chart. Junland would shine in Peoria throughout the 2009-10 season. In his second year in North America Junland posted 14 goals and 44 points in 74 games for the Rivermen. With the departure of Daryl Sydor and Carlo Colaiacovo becoming an Unrestricted Free Agent it appeared that the door was open for Jonas. Instead he “backs” out of the the Blues deal and heads home to Sweden. The Blues retain his rights should he return to this side of the pond. His development will not stagnate in the SEL, but he misses a great opportunity in St. Louis. His value is purely offensive. He can run a power play and provide an offensive scoring punch at even strength. His defensive play is what likely held him back from a more timely arrival in St. Louis.

Projection: 3rd pairing offensive defenseman and power play specialist.
Currently Playing: Farjestad of the SEL.
ETA: Ready now, but cannot return to North America till 2011-12 now.

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#2. Ian Cole
Acquired: 1st round (18th overall), 2007

With all of the hype and excitement surrounding Johnson and Pietrangelo many forget about Ian Cole.  He was the Blues third selection in the first round of the 2007 NHL draft following David Perron and Lars Eller. Ian quietly went about his business at Notre Dame, posting two solid seasons before departing for Peoria late last season. While he may not have the abilities of Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, his game has been compared to the former Blue. Ian is very strong physically and is fairly mobile. He has a solid first pass and can participate in the 5 man offense. That said, his strength is in the defensive zone. Cole is listed as 6’1 and 211 lbs.  At age 21 he can still add to his frame and reach 220-225 lbs. A size comparable to Roman Polak. Another physical, solid skating defenseman. Perhaps a better comparison is a Polak type player with top pairing potential.

Projection: Top 4 Defenseman, possibly top pairing.
Currently Playing: He will come to training camp to compete for one of two open spots on defense Most likely he will start in Peoria and have a chance to earn time on the top pairing.
ETA: Ready now.

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#1. Alex Pietrangelo
Acquired: 1st round (#4 overall), 2008

The Blues top prospect and ranked #1 in the league by Hockey’s Future is Alex Pietrangelo. His journey to the NHL has been scrutinized by many Blues fans and even some in the national media. After battling mono in 2008 he was just not ready for the rigors of an 82 game NHL season. He returned to the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL. He went back to mature and work on his defensive game while dominating the league he was growing out of. At camp in 2009 Pietrnagelo was good enough to earn a second trial period. He would stay with the team, as a healthy scratch following his 9th game played till the Canadian WJC camp opened. He returned with a Silver Medal and a new OHL team, the Barrie Colts. He went on to post 29 points in 25 games en route to a deep OHL playoff run. There is nothing left for Alex in Canada but memories and his family. His hockey attention now turns south.

Alex will come to training camp as a legitimate contender for a roster spot. His puck moving abilities are second to only Erik Johnson. A commodity currently very low on the blue-line. His overall offensive game will be a real threat to Carlo Colaiacovo and his power play minutes. Pietrnagelo has a very good chance at assertign himself as a power play specialist this season. His defensive game has improved as well and is worth noting. Alex is listed as 6’3 and 206 lbs, but by all accounts from those who have seen the team pracicing at the Mills, he is larger than that now. Pietrangelo is ready to make his mark on the Blues and the NHL.

Projection: Top pairing offensive defenseman.
Currently Playing: Will likely win one of the two available roster spots on defense. He may see time in Peoria if he does not play well to start the season.
ETA: Ready now.

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The Blues are very deep on defense. Next week I will look at prospect Goalies. An area not so deep on the depth chart.