Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesfever
St. Louis didn't live up to his potential on the Flames because Sutter used him as a 4th line checker. He even stated later that he was grateful for his experience with the Flames, as it greatly improved his defensive ability.
As a STH in those years, I watched him closely and believed him to be an outstanding potential, and was extremely disappointed when he was not signed. In fact, towards the end of the season, I phoned Bremner and told him whatever he did he should not get rid of Martin St. Louis. He sent me a clock, and I call it my Martin St. Louis clock.
I recall during the summer, after losing him, telling my brother-in-law, who spends the winters in the Tampa Bay area, to keep and eye out for Martin St. Louis, and he said, "Martin who?" Needless to say, the rest is history.
I don't think St. Louis really started to shine, until someone took a chance on him, and started playing him on the top line.
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St. Louis came up playing on the top line, he faltered (as nearly ever early 20-some year old rookie and sophomore player would) but he was given some chances before (and during) playing on the 4th line. And for what it's worth, St. Louis was re-signed by the Flames, he was just eventually bought out.
St. Louis had potential, I mean obviously, but this was a guy who went undrafted several times, the latest being in the 2000 expansion draft when he was already 25. In very little way is this comparable to Baertschi who before playing a game in the NHL at 18 and 19 years old already had talking-heads calling him a future-star. Trying to draw parallels between the two just seems like a huge stretch.