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Evaluating the St. Louis Blues’ Professional Tryout Players and Their Ability to Make the Team

By Patrick Karraker

Apr 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Chris Porter (32) skates against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Blues defeat the Stars 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Chris Porter (32) skates against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Blues defeat the Stars 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Eric Nystrom
Jan 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators left winger Eric Nystrom (24) celebrates after a goal during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Eric Nystrom

Eric Nystrom played in two fewer games than Magnus Paajarvi in 2015-16 and scored four more goals (though he had no assists, compared to Paajarvi’s six). That should tell you that the 33-year-old forward can hang with bottom-of-the-roster players like Paajarvi, Ty Rattie, and Dmitrij Jaskin as he battles to make this Blues team. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is a tenacious grinder (much like Scottie Upshall, who made the team as a PTO a year ago), and you can bet that he’ll go out and compete to the best of his ability in however many preseason games that he sees action in.

Paajarvi, Rattie, and Jaskin will have an obvious leg up in the competition since the organization has spent tons of time developing them and has given them guaranteed contracts for 2016-17, but if the coaching staff senses that the “compete level” isn’t where it needs to be during camp, it’s definitely possible to see how Nystrom would force himself into the mix.

Next: Chris Porter

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