Philip McRae, the 20 year old center and son of former St. Louis Blues forward Basil McRae, has played well for the Blues in his limited action.
In 7 games wearing the Blue-Note on his sweater, McRae has scored 1 goal and tallied another assist while playing valuable minutes on the team's 4th line.
Not bad for a rookie who wasn't expected to make a contribution at the NHL level for another season.
Unfortunately for McRae, when veterans like Andy McDonald return from injury, you have to find the next bus back to the minor leagues.
In order to make room for McDonald, the Blues have optioned McRae back to Peoria.
But it isn't as if the people in St. Louis haven't noticed what McRae brings to the table.
"Just play his game," Blues coach Davis Payne said. "He doesn't need to do anything other than that. He's a guy who can skate well, a guy who has a good offensive pace to his game, he's got to look to play with his linemates. But most of all, use his skills and use his abilities. We're not calling him up here to be any different than who he is. The same game he was playing down there, it's going to happen a little quicker, faster ... just play."
Proof that McRae is the type of talent that eventually won't be going back to Peoria.
In 7 games wearing the Blue-Note on his sweater, McRae has scored 1 goal and tallied another assist while playing valuable minutes on the team's 4th line.
Not bad for a rookie who wasn't expected to make a contribution at the NHL level for another season.
Unfortunately for McRae, when veterans like Andy McDonald return from injury, you have to find the next bus back to the minor leagues.
In order to make room for McDonald, the Blues have optioned McRae back to Peoria.
But it isn't as if the people in St. Louis haven't noticed what McRae brings to the table.
"Just play his game," Blues coach Davis Payne said. "He doesn't need to do anything other than that. He's a guy who can skate well, a guy who has a good offensive pace to his game, he's got to look to play with his linemates. But most of all, use his skills and use his abilities. We're not calling him up here to be any different than who he is. The same game he was playing down there, it's going to happen a little quicker, faster ... just play."
Proof that McRae is the type of talent that eventually won't be going back to Peoria.
I thought McRae looked pretty good playing in the show...i wish he would have gotten a little more time playing with some playmakers though...
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day he will be a 1st line forward like your boy Ryan Reaves...
SB