Vladmir Sobotka will start season injured
St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka will not be ready in time to start the 2010-11 campaign. Sobotka received off-season shoulder surgery and has been recovering since. The Blues were originally hopeful that Sobotka would be ready in time for their
season opener, but at this point that does not seem likely.
Sobotka has been practicing with the club and as of Wednesday he has started shooting on the net-minders. Nevertheless, the veteran has yet to take contact and is said to be meeting with a doctor on 13 October.
Sobotka was drafted 106th overall by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round of the 2005 National Hockey League entry draft. The 23-year-old joined the Bruins organization in 2007-08 splitting time between Boston and their American Hockey League
affiliate the Providence Bruins. Sobotka spent the next two years split between the two leagues. The youngster put up impressive numbers in the AHL, but was unable to transfer his game to the NHL level. In the off-season Sobotka was traded to St. Louis for
defenseman David Warsofsky, who is currently playing at Boston University.
The Blues were hoping that the Czech native would be able to step in at the bottom of their line-up, perhaps taking up a position on the wing. St. Louis is hoping that the added responsibility he could earn with their organization will help to spur the youngster
onto a productive NHL season.
In addition, Blues veteran centre Andy McDonald did not practice on Wednesday with what the team is calling a hip flexor. Meanwhile, defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo was once again held out of practice on Wednesday with a similar injury.
Last season with the Bruins Sobotka was only able to notch four goals and six assists for 10 points in 61 games.
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