Blues' new line looks good in first scrimmage of camp

ST. LOUIS -- Three players with something to prove got off to a good start in the first scrimmage of the Blues' training camp.

The combination of Petr Cajanek, Sergei Varlamov and Jamal Mayers highlighted the opening day of the Blues' training camp Sunday at U.S. Ice Sports Complex in suburban St. Louis. The Blues will spend three more days playing scrimmages before the first wave of cuts and the preseason opener Thursday.

Cajanek, a 27-year-old rookie from the Czech Republic, had a goal and an assist. Varlamov, a gifted but untapped scorer who faded last season, had a goal and two assists. And Mayers, who is seeking an increased role this season, provided room and an assist.

All were plus-3 in their Blue team's 4-0 victory.

"They had some chemistry going," Blues coach Joel Quenneville told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We try things and sometimes it clicks."

Often pitted against the Red team's top line of Pavol Demitra, Scott Mellanby and Cory Stillman, Cajanek's line produced repeated scoring chances. Blue team defenseman Al MacInnis pointed out that many came because Cajanek rarely lost a faceoff and kept the puck pinned in Red's zone. The trio also showed complementary skills, including an overall line speed that was tough to match.

Cajanek, the MVP of the Czech Republic Extraleague last season, doubted he would come overseas if there was a chance he'd be in the minors. The Blues awarded him an NHL contract but expect an NHL player in return.

"His anticipation and awareness offensively -- you can't teach it," Mayers said.

"He's a guy that wants the puck," said MacInnis, who scored a goal off a faceoff Cajanek won. "He knows where the opening is, he wants the puck and he gets in that position."

Mayers, before surrendering arbitration for a new contract and raise, met with general manager Larry Pleau and Quenneville to discuss how he could claim more ice time. He had some penalty-killing duty last season and got extended looks at center. He wants to earn regular stints.

Varlamov spent the summer in Worcester, Mass., with many of the Blues minor-leaguers, increasing his conditioning and strength. Last season, he made his first NHL team as a semi-regular and played for the Ukraine Olympic team. But he never earned a scoring-line spot and couldn't count on not being a healthy scratch.