In every father's life, there comes a time when his son thinks that he might be able to handle the old-timer.
For former Blue Basil McRae, a veteran of more than 200 NHL fights, it was no different. But with son Philip, a promising forward prospect in the Blues' system, they decided to keep it civil and find out who's stronger on the arm-wrestling table.
"It took everything I had to (beat him)," said Basil McRae, now 49. "Phil said, 'Yeah, but you have 'old-man strength.' I've never heard that one before.
"But I know I didn't arm wrestle for two weeks after that because my shoulder was so sore."
Philip McRae, 20, a second-round draft pick in 2008, may not be able to 'take' his pop yet, but he's not looking to be an NHL enforcer. The younger McRae scored 71 goals and had 182 points in 249 games in the Ontario Hockey League, and he recently wrapped up his junior hockey career by scoring six goals and netting 15 points in nine playoff games with the Plymouth Whalers.
Following the trades of prospects Lars Eller and Aaron Palushaj within the last year, McRae could be considered the Blues' top skilled forward prospect who will play pro hockey in North America this season. He'll attend the Blues' rookie tournament in Traverse City, Mich., Sept. 11-15, followed by his third NHL training camp, and if he doesn't make the Blues' roster, McRae will make his pro debut in the American Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen.
"There's a lot of good young (forwards) on the team already," said McRae, who plays center. "So even though there might not be that many good young forwards in the system, they're already on the team, so you're going to have to be really good to get a spot."
McRae, who was born in Chesterfield, has spent the entire summer in St. Louis preparing for his opportunity. He's one of several current and aspiring Blues who have been training at the club's practice facility in Hazelwood. On Thursday, McRae played in an hour-long pickup game, followed by a biceps workout. He was 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds when he was drafted in '08 and today he's 6-2 1/2, 205 pounds.
"My size and strength have been my biggest improvement," McRae said. "When I was drafted, I was a lot skinnier and slower and not as powerful. I've spent all three summers in St. Louis, working with (Blues strength coach) Nelson Ayotte, and that's really helped me."
McRae has another advantage this summer, living at the house of recently retired Blue Keith Tkachuk.
"At the start of the summer, he heard that I was going to be here and his family was nice enough to let me move in ... that really gets you excited," McRae said. "Whenever he says anything to me, I'm always listening."
It's one thing to open one's ears and listen to a player who has 538 NHL goals. It's another thing for a forward prospect to follow the advice of a player with 53 goals and 2,453 penalty minutes — his father, Basil.
"He's always giving me advice and tips and I just try to listen because he had a good NHL career, too, and he's been to a lot of NHL camps," Philip McRae said. "He knows what it's going to be like, so he's always telling me what to expect and what to do to get ready."
Philip said that Basil, who played four seasons for the Blues in the 1990s and now works as a scout for the team, has stressed resting his body when he's not practicing or working out, keeping himself hydrated and eating nutritional meals.
"Hopefully he's listening," Basil said. "But sometimes you try not to give him too much (information), because he has to learn on his own. I've been to 17 camps myself, and really it hasn't changed much. Whether you make the team or not, you're there to leave a positive impression."
Blues defensive prospect Alex Pietrangelo said that Philip McRae will leave a good impression if he can show team officials what Pietrangelo witnessed when the two played against each other in junior hockey.
"Phil's got a lot of skill and he's certainly going to be a good professional hockey player," Pietrangelo said. "In junior, he created a lot of scoring chances and he was always creating a buzz when he was out there. He's a threat on the ice every time he's out there."
Training camp can't get here soon enough for McRae, but he's trying to pace himself.
"I'm just trying to not get too high or too low, just stay focused," he said. "I want to show them that I've stepped it up a notch and that I'm able to compete at this level."
