If he keeps his feet moving and his abrasive play up, he could come close but Pronger is a hard level to get to. I'll be fine if he just becomes a number one capable of eating minutes and playing physical.

Time will tell as these next two years be key.
- martok2309

He'll eat minutes, he'll move the puck well. His shot is over rated. It's not very good.

He'll be a mid level #1 D-man.

He'll never in anyone's wildest dreams ever remind anyone of Pronger, he won't get close, not even by accident.

That's just not in his DNA. Little Shattenkirk is more physical than EJ.

He's in a good place. Had he remained in StL - he would have been forever labeled a bust. Because he was.

He'll eat minutes, he'll move the puck well. His shot is over rated. It's not very good.

He'll be a mid level #1 D-man.

He'll never in anyone's wildest dreams ever remind anyone of Pronger, he won't get close, not even by accident.

That's just not in his DNA. Little Shattenkirk is more physical than EJ.

He's in a good place. Had he remained in StL - he would have been forever labeled a bust. Because he was.
- bcallaway

He added a big physical element to his game this past year, thanks to Shane O'Brien. In the corners, at the blue line, in front of the net, he was not fun to play against the last half of the year.

His slap shot is powerful, he just needs the forwards to give him more room. If it doesn't develop, that's why we have Stefan Elliott who when he matures, might have the hardest wrister in the league.

I love the St Louis fans who say Johnson≠Pronger therefore I'm glad he's not on our team. Yes he didn't meet expectations but that doesn't make him a terrible player. He's still pretty damn good in fact. He's just not an Allstar future hall of fame type of player.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein

I love the St Louis fans who say Johnson≠Pronger therefore I'm glad he's not on our team. Yes he didn't meet expectations but that doesn't make him a terrible player. He's still pretty damn good in fact. He's just not an Allstar future hall of fame type of player.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
- westonie

The St. Louis fan didn't compare him to Pronger. Your blogger did.

The St. Louis fan didn't compare him to Pronger. Your blogger did.
- bcallaway

Everyone since day one has heard or made that comparison. How many blues fans have had that argument. When did Pronger even become Pronger, his 6th-7th season in the show?

EJ has played 5 seasons and since day one has been pressured to be pronger. He wont be pronger but when you see how far his game has progressed since we acquired him, we are very happy of the player he has become and will become.

The St. Louis fan didn't compare him to Pronger. Your blogger did.
- bcallaway

That was just who he was being compared to when he was drafted.

Come on Sherman sign O'Reilly and McGinn already!!!

O'Reilly 2 yrs 7 million and McGinn 4 yr 9 Million

We need another good defenseman now, we have so many mediocre ones but Johnson really our only above average guy, we need to be able to trade a couple d men and a draft pick to get a better one

We need another good defenseman now, we have so many mediocre ones but Johnson really our only above average guy, we need to be able to trade a couple d men and a draft pick to get a better one
- MattDuchene9

Hopefully there is a plan but honestly unless Wilson emerges or one of the prospects elevates his game, it'll be a defense by committee like it was last year.

That'll require five skaters and a goaltender coalescing together.

Would like to get another natural Left Winger, unless we want to watch Hedjuk play catchup for another season playing on one of the top three lines...