David Emma and Scott Pellerin, the two most recent Hobey winners, are
starting off this season in the minors as well, so it is not unusual for
the players we may consider to be "sure things" from what we've seen of them
in college to need some seasoning in the minors.  NHL hockey is obviously
much different from college and it takes some time to get used to it - and
many players, even college stars, never adjust.  I wouldn't consider it to
be bad that Felsner is asked to start off in Peoria; if he can do the job,
he'll be back.  Also, the influx of Europeans this year means it is even
harder to make the parent clubs, and like many other teams, the Blues have
added a couple of these players themselves (Prokhorov and Karamnov).
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Mike Machnik    [log in to unmask]   mikem@{beanpot,bubba}.ma30.bull.com
(Any opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.)