Johnson, No. 1 overall pick in '06 draft, signs with Blues

ST. LOUIS -- Defenseman Erik Johnson, the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry draft, told the St. Louis Blues a couple of weeks ago that he wasn't ready to sign a professional contract.

Now he's ready, signing the documents while seated at a podium at a news conference before donning a No. 6 jersey.

"It just came down to that I'm ready to make that next step," Johnson said. "I just thought this was going to be best for me and the Blues and everyone else. I just thought this was right."

Johnson, 19, decided to go pro after his freshman season at Minnesota in which he totaled four goals and 20 assists in 41 games. The Bloomington, Minn., native turned down a chance to join the Blues for the final few regular-season games earlier this month, soon after Minnesota fell one game short of the NCAA Frozen Four held in St. Louis.

"He had to make his own mind up," team president John Davidson said. "And if it took a little extra time to do it, so be it. That's his right."

The Blues envision Johnson as one of their top six defensemen next season, and have a number of veterans that could be paired with him to ease his transition.

"He's certainly matured a great deal over the past season," said former defenseman Al MacInnis, now a team vice president. "Obviously, the expectations are there but he's a very mature young man and we definitely feel he's ready to step in and be part of the Blues' lineup."

The Blues had the No. 1 pick after finishing last overall in the NHL in 2005-06 when previous ownership traded off star players such as Chris Pronger to facilitate a sale. St. Louis made big strides last season especially after Andy Murray was hired as coach in mid-December, finishing one game below .500.