Blues expected to take Johnson

Twelve Americans could be selected in the first round.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Erik Johnson was 4 years old when he found an old hockey stick in his parents' garage and an empty baby carriage to shoot at.
Fourteen years later, the big defenseman from Bloomington, Minn., is widely expected to be the first pick when the St. Louis Blues open the NHL entry draft today at GM Place.
"That's how it all started: I just started shooting in that cradle and that's how it developed," Johnson said Friday. "It was my sister's baby cradle. I was always pretty jealous of her."
A lot of promising players might be jealous of Johnson today. He could become just the fifth U.S.-born player drafted first overall, joining Brian Lawton (1983), Mike Modano (1988), Bryan Berard (1995) and Rick Dipietro (2000).
But Johnson is hardly the only American expected to go early.
Top six
Twelve U.S. players are ranked as potential first-round picks -- the record is eight last year. Two players this time -- Phil Kessel and Peter Mueller -- most likely will be among the top six.
"It's a testament to see how far American hockey has come the past couple of years to be one of the elite hockey nations," Johnson said. "This will be a good year for Americans and there will be a lot more in the future."
Kessel, the top-ranked prospect until this season, could go second (Pittsburgh) or third (Chicago), marking just the third time since 1983 two U.S. players were chosen in the top three. It also happened last year, when Anaheim selected Bobby Ryan second and Carolina followed with Jack Johnson.
"You can tell U.S. hockey is improving and is going to be a great organization for years to come now," said Kessel.
Wisconsin native
Kessel, who is from Wisconsin, spent last year at the University of Minnesota. Mueller played junior hockey in the Canadian Hockey League. Along with Johnson, they share a link to the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mueller never played with Johnson in the development program, but knows him well from their years in Minnesota youth hockey and summer leagues. He marveled Friday at how far the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Johnson has come since they first played together as 10-year-olds.
"Now you look at him and it's like, 'Holy smokes, the kid is like Chris Pronger,"' Mueller said, referring to the Edmonton Oilers defenseman.
The Pronger comparisons don t end with Mueller. A great skater with a rugged body and soft hands, Johnson is known for making both big hits and big plays offensively.
Johnson is to attend the University of Minnesota next season, but could instead be playing in St. Louis, where the Blues are still looking to replace Pronger after trading the all-star to Edmonton following the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
After the World Junior Hockey Championships in Vancouver in January, many believe Johnson is ready for the NHL.
"I'm not ruling that option out," Johnson said.
For now, though, he is looking toward 2010 when Vancouver will host the Winter Olympics.
"Everything is kind of working out well in Vancouver," he said. "If everything goes well, hopefully I'll be here in 2010. I think a lot of [NTDP] graduates will step up and make that team. It's a great program, it's had a lot of success and I think it will have a lot more in the future."
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