On “The Sports Edge” at KFNS, we had a chance to catch up with Blues sniper Brad Boyes before his return to St. Louis.

Boyes scored 43 goals for the Note last year. The only young Blue with similar potential is David Perron — but the contrast between the two is stunning.

Perron stuck with the Blues last season after just one season of major junior hockey success. Boyes, by comparison, had this on his resume when he finally broke through:

• Four highly productive years for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 309 points. That team, in fact, has retried his number.
• Seasons of 30, 31 and 33 goals in the American Hockey League.
• A 26-goal rookie season with the Bruins.

“I had time to mature,” Boyes said. “I had a chance to play with guys in their early 30s at a high level. (Perron) was thrown in with the best players in the world at the age of 19. It’s a lot to ask of a young kid like that.”

Last year the Blues could not send Perron to Peoria of the AHL, due to the NHL rules regarding junior-age players. There will be no such restriction this year for Perron, T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund.

The Blues need all three to become impact players this year, but their growth could include time in the minors. All three will need lots of ice time to develop. If they can’t get that time here on a week-to-week basis, they could spend some time with the Rivermen.

This reality — as underscored by Boyes’ development path — is why Hockey Guy would like to see this team add another veteran offensive forward.

AROUND THE RINKS: After fueling lots of Jay Bouwmeester trade speculation, HockeyBuzz.com now expects the Panthers to keep the cornerstone defenseman into this seaso. The issue in Florida is a new long-term deal (or lack there-of) for the big kid . . . Also on the site, Andy Strickland reported that our friend Ladislav Nagy has taken the money and run to Russia. His promising NHL career never really took off, due to injuries. Once upon a time, he came to Blues camp with Perron-like skills and cockiness . . .In a weird development, Stephane Legein, a second round pick, 37th overall, of the Blue Jackets in the 2007 Entry Draft, told the Columbus Blue Jackets that he is retiring from hockey at the age of 19 . . . Still no word on where Mats Sundin is heading, so Brendan Shanahan remains in limbo as well. And Joe Sakic is still trying to decide whether to play another year.