Mark: Hey JR,

Will Eller be recovered enough from his shoulder surgery to participate in Orientation Camp next week?

Jeremy Rutherford: I was told last week that the Blues are hopeful Eller will be able to participate. He might not be on the ice the entire week, but you may see him at some point.

Mark: JR, just how close were the Blues to getting Harding from Minnesota? If the Wild were asking for too much in return, I'm glad the Blues didn't go with that option but just what was it the Wild were asking for? Perron? Eller? More than that? Any idea what the Blues were countering with?

Jeremy Rutherford:
Minnesota starter Niklas Backstrom is coming off offseason surgery, and so the Wild weren't crazy about the idea of dealing Harding. Reports in Minnesota suggested that if the Wild traded Harding, they were looking for an "established NHL forward" not a prospect or draft pick. The Blues then decided to go the free-agent route.

Ryan: As exciting as this free agency period is, I'm even more excited about the prospects camp next week. I had heard a lot of the young kids were spending their summer here in St. Louis working out with Nelson Ayotte. Is Pietrangelo one of them? I'm hoping he will be a little bigger than the last time I saw him. Who all else is working out with Ayotte this summer?

Jeremy Rutherford: Indeed, a number of the Blues' prospects have been working out together at the practice facility. From my memory, Pietrangelo, Sonne, Palushaj, Eller, etc., were among them. Pietrangelo has apparently put on some strength, but I guess we'll have to wait to next week's camp to see for ourselves.

chuckk011: Hey JR thanks for everything that you do!

I just wanted to ask your opinion on the chances that the Blues either sign or trade for a true impact player this offseason like a Hossa or Bouwmeester type player (obviously those guys are both off the market but you get idea).

A high quality player that could mentor a lot of our younger guys has always really intrigued me. However, I would almost rather see us stand pat with the team as is than to throw money at lesser players just to build up even more depth. One of the problems with the team now I think is an obvious lack of starpower. We have great depth but lack true stars like you almost become accustomed to seeing in the Stanley Cup year in and year out.

Many will argue that Kariya and EJ are both stars and while I think they will certainly help next year a lot, I still think EJ is a couple years away from being a true #1 d-man and Kariya is past his prime and can no longer be really considered a star (albeit he is still a really good player).

Just wondering your thoughts on all of that and the potential acquisition of an impact player. Thanks again!

Jeremy Rutherford:
Not a chance. John Davidson likes this team, and heading into the 2009-10 season, he doesn't believe there's much else the Blues need to do. Davidson is going to roll the dice with this group, and if they need to make an impact signing next summer (when a few big contract could come off the books), then he'll do it.

etp_stl: Hey, JR. Thanks for the taking my question. Do you think Ian Cole is in position to fight for a spot next year, or is it more realistic that he'll go back to college or Peoria? Are you concerned with the reports last year that Pietrangelo still wasn't developing as a physical presence even at the Junior level? Won't that make it extremely difficult for him to adapt to the NHL?

Jeremy Rutherford:
Ian Cole could be playing in Peoria this season if he chose to do so. The Blues were mildly disappointed that he didn't sign. Cole will play next season at Notre Dame and then likely turn pro. He could battle for an NHL spot in 2010-11, but the fact that he's not in Peoria next season could hurt those chances.

From what I've seen, and heard, Pietrangelo isn't much of a physical player to begin with, so you're asking him to be somebody he's not. When he reaches his NHL potential, it will be as a heads-up, puck-moving d-man.