As I reported Saturday Blues 2nd round pick Philip McRae didn't dress in the London Knights exhibition opener because of an illness believed to be mono.
Today this story was confirmed and Mcrae's status for training camp appears to be doubtful. He will almost certainly sit out the Traverse City Prospects Tourney which is set to begin in a few weeks.
McRae, the son of former NHL enforcer Basil McRae, was selected 33rd overall by St. louis back in June.
From Saturday.......
Mark Parrish is still looking for a home this season. Sources close to Parrish tell me he will not attend a training camp without a contract. At the end of the day he may not have a choice and may be forced to attend a camp on a professional tryout. Vancouver, Nashville, Atlanta, and Dallas have expressed the most interest thus far although no formal offers have been given. St. Louis has also been in contact with Parrish’s camp but there appears to be little interest from St. Louis.
I could see St. Louis bringing in a player or two on a PTO and Parrish would be a candidate if he doesn’t have a job by the time camp gets going.
The Blues used this option last season with Mike Johnson and David Tanabe. Johnson ended up signing a 1 year deal with St. Louis.
Sources close to Brendan Shanahan tell me he will not sign before Mats Sundin. While the Blues have expressed interest in the future Hall of Famer they have yet to make Shanahan an offer.
I can guarantee one thing if the Blues offered Shanahan a contract in the neighborhood of 3-4 million he would sign immediately. I’m not suggesting this would be the wisest move on the Blues front to pay an aging player this type of cash.
In my opinion you don’t sign a player just to sell tickets. I think Shanahan could help the Blues both on and off the ice but I wouldn’t pay him 3 million dollars to return to St. Louis. If the Blues had an extra 3-4 million lying around they could have gotten a younger player who could likely contribute more to this hockey club.
The agent for veteran Glen Murray recently returned from a long European vacation and has just begun returning phone calls to NHL General Manager’s.
I’m being told the New York Islanders remain interested in Toronto D-man Bryan McCabe. He may very well end up in Florida but the Islanders haven’t given up hope. The problem Islanders GM Garth Snow is faced with is putting together a compensation package that pleases Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher.
NHL referees will gather in Toronto on September 12th for their annual training camp.
Welcome Home Wendy!
I’m pleased to pass along the news that Wendy Pleau, the wife of Blues GM Larry, has been released from the hospital and has returned home for the first time in 9 weeks. Wendy has been battling cancer for two years and continues to fight. The entire Blues organization has been inspired by the courage Wendy and the entire Pleau family have displayed over the last several months.
Blues Clues!
The Blues will debut their new third jersey on November 21st against Anaheim. They can wear the third jersey up to 15 times this season and plan on wearing the new sweater 10 times at home. There are also a couple of home games in December against Detroit when the Blues will sport the new jersey.
Paul Kariya spent a lot of time this summer surfing with All-Pro safety Troy Palomalu from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Blues 2nd round pick Philip McRae did not dress for the London Knights in their first exhibition game. Word is McRae has mono, a source with the Blues tells me they are checking into it.
Keith Tkachuk is doing PSA’s for the Alzheimer’s foundation.
Blues forward David Perron may be the hungriest player on the Blues roster heading into camp. He takes his gloves and sticks home from the rink everyday and stickhandles around his house.
Goaltender Manny Leagce had organized a trip for the entire team to go to the Lake of the Ozark’s for a couple days of golf before training camp but was forced to cancel when the NHLPA said the players could not take their physicals early.
There are discussions to televise the Blues September 22nd pre-season game vs. Los Angeles in Kansas City. The only problem is the game will only be available in Kansas City and not in St. Louis.
I recently asked a Blues official if he expects Jay McKee to be a St. Louis Blue when camp begins and he responded “I absolutely do”.
The Blues could certainly use McKee’s experience who started skating much earlier this summer than he usually does. He’s coming into camp healthy and didn’t have to rehab all off-season like he was forced to do a year ago at this time.
McKee has been skating in Buffalo with Mike Peca, Drew Stafford, Martin Biron, Derek Roy, and Kevyn Adams among others.
The Blues alumni have purchased every ticket for the St. Louis Bandits home opener on September 12th and have distributed them to youth hockey kids and their families. The Blues have chipped in by donating one free ticket to an upcoming exhibition game for the first 2,000 fans in attendance. The Bandits are owned by former NHL player Kelly Chase and coached by long time NHL D-man Jeff Brown.
The Blues have added St. Louis native and London Knights D-man Tony Dehart to the Traverse City roster. Dehart, who participated in the Blues prospects camp, played his minor hockey with the AAA Blues in St. Louis. He will be the only local player on the roster with the absence of Philip McRae.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
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St Louis Blues Blogger •1380 ESPN • 
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