When Michigan fell in the NCAA hockey tournament, defenseman Jack Johnson stayed behind in Denver and tried to strike a deal to join the Los Angeles Kings immediately.

He hoped to play the final six Kings games of the season, then return to Ann Arbor to finish school.

Erik Johnson wasn’t as eager to leave Minnesota after the Golden Gophers  fell to North Dakota.

“It hurts to have it go down this way,” Johnson told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, “but we can always look forward to next year.”

The  Blues are highly interesting in signing Johnson for next season and getting him  prepared for his first NHL training camp. College is a great play to develop skills — especially in a quality program like Minnesota — but Johnson is clearly ready for the next test.

In  the past, the Blues signed top collegiate stars like Tony  Hrkac and Petr Sejna (two Hobey Baker Award winners) and put them right to work.  

Let’s see what becomes of Big Erik . . .

GOOD-BYE TO MR. MCGEOUGH?

The hapless work of referee Mick McGeough  came to the attention of the NHL after he  denied the Blues two legit goals against Ottawa. Here is an item Ottawa Sun scribe Bruce Garrioch recently published:

“Referee Mick McGeough, who has been getting plenty of heat for blown calls this season, likely won’t work in the playoffs. If that’s the case, there’s a strong chance the veteran official may not be back next year.”

That would  be a real shame.

HELLO RYAN SMYTH?

For what it’s worth, the rumor mill says the Blues will take a big run at free-agent-to-be Ryan Smyth this summer to replace the Keith Tkachuk Element in the offense. The Oilers need to get him back, but was the bridge burned during failed contract talks earlier this year? Smyth wasn’t thrilled by his trade to the Islanders.