Making the Big Show

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/07/2008

Alex Pietrangelo faced long odds of making the Blues' opening-day roster, but on Monday the 18-year-old defenseman received word that he'll be on the team and perhaps on the ice Friday against Nashville.

"It's tough to explain," Pietrangelo said moments after he got the news Monday night from Blues President John Davidson. "There's a smile across my face, but I think it's more of relief than anything. I thought I earned it through the preseason. ... I thought I played pretty well. ... Hopefully I'll be here longer than a little bit."

Pietrangelo, the fourth overall pick last June, will be with the Blues on opening night, but that doesn't mean he'll be on the roster for the entire season. The Blues can use Pietrangelo in up to nine NHL games before his season counts a full year toward the team owning his rights. If the team doesn't think he can contribute for the entire season, it will return him to his junior club.
"He's earned a spot," Davidson said. "Now it's the next step. Now it goes up another notch."

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