Here's what the Blues thought about Chris Beckford-Tseu's chances of playing in the NHL this season: They didn't invite the goaltender to training camp.
Few could blame the Blues at the time. A fifth-round draft pick in 2003, Beckford-Tseu had seemed to run his course with the club. After completing his entry-level contract, he and the Blues decided to part ways last summer.
The Blues signed Juuso Riksman, giving them five goaltenders in their system. Beckford-Tseu was out on the street, looking for work. But when he couldn't find a job, he returned to the Blues and asked if he could play with the team's ECHL affiliate in Alaska.
The club obliged, signing Beckford-Tseu to a minor-league contract, but the Blues did not invite him to camp. At that point, he was behind Manny Legace, Hannu Toivonen, Marek Schwarz, Jason Bacashihua and Riksman in the pecking order. One might even suggest he was seventh behind St. Louisan Mike McKenna, who was invited on a tryout basis.
"I was thinking, 'I've got a whole lot of guys ahead of me,'" Beckford-Tseu said Monday. "I was not where I wanted to be."
Tonight, Beckford-Tseu will be exactly where he wants to be ? wearing a Blues uniform. He has signed an NHL contract and will back up Manny Legace against Los Angeles at Scottrade Center. Toivonen was reassigned to Peoria on Monday to work through his struggles.
"Definitely, it was a tough summer to go through," said Beckford-Tseu, 23. "It was disappointing to not be part of things (in training camp), but you've got to know that things can change.
"I decided to work harder, improve my game. I think I have. I've improved a lot mentally ? figuring out how to be a pro. You know it's a long road to the NHL, and you have to make sure you're ready when your next opportunity comes."
Beckford-Tseu played only nine games in Alaska. Riksman went to Europe on a loan and Beckford-Tseu was promoted to Peoria. But with the Blues having a lot invested in Schwarz, a former first-round draft pick, Beckford-Tseu had little reason to believe he would play much.
"He controlled what he could control, and that was to win hockey games," Peoria coach Dave Baseggio said.
Beckford-Tseu eventually unseated Schwarz as the No. 1 goalie with the Rivermen. "I got an opportunity to step in and play some games, and I just wanted to give my team a chance," he said.
In 28 games with Peoria, Beckford-Tseu is 15-9-2 with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
"Right now, the best goalie to call up on merit is Beckford-Tseu," Blues President John Davidson said. "Give him all the credit in the world ? he had nothing. We'll see where it goes. (But) we've got to be forthright. He's surprised us with his good play. He climbed up the ladder in a hurry."
What does this mean for Toivonen, who is 5-6-3 with a 3.43 GAA and an .887 save percentage this season?
"In the first 25 games, he was outstanding," Davidson said. "He's lost his game and his confidence. He's got to find out how to become a better goaltender by doing less on the ice. He doesn't have to be moving all over the ice.
"He's also got to get mentally tougher. He's got to learn how to fight through things. It's part of maturity. He's beating himself right now. Talent-wise, we saw it ? he's good enough to play here. But he's got to do it on a consistent basis and learn between the ears to get tougher."
And Schwarz?
"It says that Beckford-Tseu is better than him and he's got to continue to battle," Davidson said. "Nobody has the given right because they were drafted (in the first round) to be here. You have to earn it and play well."
Beckford-Tseu has earned it.
"I'm excited to get the opportunity," he said.
Few could blame the Blues at the time. A fifth-round draft pick in 2003, Beckford-Tseu had seemed to run his course with the club. After completing his entry-level contract, he and the Blues decided to part ways last summer.
The Blues signed Juuso Riksman, giving them five goaltenders in their system. Beckford-Tseu was out on the street, looking for work. But when he couldn't find a job, he returned to the Blues and asked if he could play with the team's ECHL affiliate in Alaska.
The club obliged, signing Beckford-Tseu to a minor-league contract, but the Blues did not invite him to camp. At that point, he was behind Manny Legace, Hannu Toivonen, Marek Schwarz, Jason Bacashihua and Riksman in the pecking order. One might even suggest he was seventh behind St. Louisan Mike McKenna, who was invited on a tryout basis.
"I was thinking, 'I've got a whole lot of guys ahead of me,'" Beckford-Tseu said Monday. "I was not where I wanted to be."
Tonight, Beckford-Tseu will be exactly where he wants to be ? wearing a Blues uniform. He has signed an NHL contract and will back up Manny Legace against Los Angeles at Scottrade Center. Toivonen was reassigned to Peoria on Monday to work through his struggles.
"Definitely, it was a tough summer to go through," said Beckford-Tseu, 23. "It was disappointing to not be part of things (in training camp), but you've got to know that things can change.
"I decided to work harder, improve my game. I think I have. I've improved a lot mentally ? figuring out how to be a pro. You know it's a long road to the NHL, and you have to make sure you're ready when your next opportunity comes."
Beckford-Tseu played only nine games in Alaska. Riksman went to Europe on a loan and Beckford-Tseu was promoted to Peoria. But with the Blues having a lot invested in Schwarz, a former first-round draft pick, Beckford-Tseu had little reason to believe he would play much.
"He controlled what he could control, and that was to win hockey games," Peoria coach Dave Baseggio said.
Beckford-Tseu eventually unseated Schwarz as the No. 1 goalie with the Rivermen. "I got an opportunity to step in and play some games, and I just wanted to give my team a chance," he said.
In 28 games with Peoria, Beckford-Tseu is 15-9-2 with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
"Right now, the best goalie to call up on merit is Beckford-Tseu," Blues President John Davidson said. "Give him all the credit in the world ? he had nothing. We'll see where it goes. (But) we've got to be forthright. He's surprised us with his good play. He climbed up the ladder in a hurry."
What does this mean for Toivonen, who is 5-6-3 with a 3.43 GAA and an .887 save percentage this season?
"In the first 25 games, he was outstanding," Davidson said. "He's lost his game and his confidence. He's got to find out how to become a better goaltender by doing less on the ice. He doesn't have to be moving all over the ice.
"He's also got to get mentally tougher. He's got to learn how to fight through things. It's part of maturity. He's beating himself right now. Talent-wise, we saw it ? he's good enough to play here. But he's got to do it on a consistent basis and learn between the ears to get tougher."
And Schwarz?
"It says that Beckford-Tseu is better than him and he's got to continue to battle," Davidson said. "Nobody has the given right because they were drafted (in the first round) to be here. You have to earn it and play well."
Beckford-Tseu has earned it.
"I'm excited to get the opportunity," he said.
