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St. Louis Blues: Mitch Reinke Leads Blues Into Traverse City

By Jason Martin |
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 2: Mitch Reinke #39 of the St. Louis Blues skates during warmups before the game against the Washington Capitals at Scottrade Center on April 2, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. Reinke played for team USA during the 2018 Olympics. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 2: Mitch Reinke #39 of the St. Louis Blues skates during warmups before the game against the Washington Capitals at Scottrade Center on April 2, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. Reinke played for team USA during the 2018 Olympics. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

The beginning of hockey season is officially here with the first game of the 2019 Traverse City Prospect Tournament and the St. Louis Blues will open against the Maple Leafs.

Neither the St. Louis Blues nor the Toronto Maple Leafs have the best farm system in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t players to watch who could potentially make a splash at the NHL level this season.

The Traverse City Tournament is always a benchmark for hockey fans everywhere that signifies the beginning of hockey season. After the tournament ends, training camp begins, and the real fun starts.

There are many prospects on both teams that have something to prove this weekend in Michigan, but since we all bleed blue, let’s point out some Blues prospects that need to get off to a good start tonight.

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Mitch Reinke will dawn the captain’s “C” on the sweater for the Blues’ opener against the Maple Leafs this afternoon. He has been one of the most talked-about Blues players in the offseason when it comes to a prospect earning a spot on the Blues’ opening night roster.

Reinke finished second on the San Antonio Rampage in points last season and also has some NHL experience from his brief stint with the club two years ago.

St. Louis is not short on defensemen, and this is the biggest obstacle Reinke will need to overcome if he wants to see playing time for the defending champs this year.

With the Blues having brought back everyone except Pat Maroon, the defense will be a logjam once again in 2020. If St. Louis hadn’t brought back restricted free agent Joel Edmundson, then Reinke would almost be a lock to make the team.

The goaltenders the Blues brought with them to the Traverse City Tournament will also need to put on a good showing. Both Colten Ellis and Joel Hofer will need to be excellent in order to cement their status with the front office.

With the emergence of Jordan Binnington, and a solid 2019 campaign by Evan Fitzpatrick, the young goalies tabbed to stand in goal will need to limit their mistakes greatly.

I would be shocked if either of these goalies sees time in the AHL next season unless Fitzpatrick or Ville Husso go down with an injury.

The organization thinks much more highly of Fitzpatrick and Husso than that of Ellis and Hofer. However, this doesn’t mean that the tournament this weekend is insignificant for them.

Next. Everything You Need To Know About Traverse City Tournament. dark

The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 (CST) and the St. Louis Blues website will provide a live stream, as will FoxSportsGo. Even if you don’t know each individual player, the fact that people will be running around in a Blues sweater will be a sight to behold.

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