The Blues were hoping to add another young draft pick to their roster, but Russian prospect Vladimir Tarasenko has decided to spend the 2011-12 season in the KHL.

The team selected Tarasenko with its second pick of the first round in 2010 (No. 16 overall), and, after his selection, Tarasenko told reporters that it was his goal to be playing in the NHL very soon.

But after leading Russia to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships and participating in a limited role with the national team at the World Men's Championships, Tarasenko is not ready to jump to the NHL. The 19-year-old forward will play his fourth season with Sibir, a team coached by his father, Andrei Tarasenko.

"At the end of the day, (Tarasenko) feels that it's best for his development to spend one more season in the KHL, and we certainly support that decision," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "At that age, 19, I'm sure he had to take a look at all the different options he had. Obviously, he felt that playing in the KHL, and staying in an environment he was comfortable with, will increase his development and make him a better player in North America when he gets here."

In three previous seasons with Sibir, Tarasenko has posted 29 goals and 53 points in 122 games. After the World Junior Championships, which Armstrong attended, the Blues' GM said Tarasenko was the most NHL-ready among all the players at the tournament.

"When I did talk to (Tarasenko in recent months), I did tell him that I thought there was a very good opportunity for him to come and compete for a spot in St. Louis," Armstrong said.

Sibir GM Kirill Fastovsky said the Blues went as far as "guaranteeing" Tarasenko a spot on their NHL roster, assuring him that he would not be assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate.

"We had no idea the Blues wanted (Tarasenko) to come so bad," Fastovsky said.

But Armstrong insisted that wasn't true.

"You can't guarantee anyone anything coming into the NHL," he said. "We were crystal clear that he has to come and earn that job. Ultimately, he had to come and earn the job."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
The Blues opened the season by setting a franchise record through 12 games. They were 9-1-2 in that stretch, posting three shutouts and allowing only 18 goals against. The Blues' youngsters were blossoming, as David Perron had seven points through 10 games and T.J. Oshie had 10 points through 13 games.

TURNING POINT
The Blues beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 on Dec. 31 to improve to 20-12-5 on the season. But when the calendar turned to January, the Blues got cold like the weather. They went 2-8-2 in January and plummeted to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

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