MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo.-- Calle Rosen wasn't going to sugarcoat it.
The defenseman, who played in an NHL career-high 49 games with the St. Louis Blues last season, had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) and led the team in plus-minus at plus-19, was disappointed when he didn't make the team coming out of training camp this season.
"I've been through it before. Obviously big disappointment after camp not getting the chance to start up here, but that's how it is sometimes," Rosen said Friday. "All I could do is go down there and play as good as I can and wait for my chance to get back here. Here I am now and I'm going to have to do what I can with the opportunity that comes.
"Happy to be here and I'm excited to get going."
Rosen is going to jump right into the lineup when the Blues (26-21-2) begin a three-game Eastern Conference road trip beginning Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres at noon (ABC, ESPN 101.1-FM) and will be paired with Marco Scandella playing the right side.
"Right side, left side doesn't make a difference to me," Rosen said. "I'm just happy to get out there and play again."
Instead of pouting, Rosen went to Springfield and contributed 25 points (two goals, 23 assists) in 44 games and played a leadership role with the Thunderbirds.
"It was good," Rosen said. "I kind of played a leader role down there. Definitely is a big part why I am here again. It's been good. I've been playing with some confidence, playing good hockey down there. But you just wait for the call to come and it did, happy to be here."
He played well under interim coach Drew Bannister and should make the smooth transition again not only playing for a coach he knows but players as well.
"He was a big part of two going back two years when we went to the (Calder Cup) finals and how he played and it translated to him obviously being here full time," Bannister said. "This year, he's the same player at that level. He's an elite defenseman, one of the best, if not, the best defensemen in the American Hockey League when he's playing his game. Just the things that stand out to me is how he can transport pucks, get back to pucks and get them back up to our forwards quickly in transition. His ability to skate, it's a high level where he can get back to pucks but he can defend with his feet and his stick really well.
"He knows the guys and he's been with the organization going on three years now. I think it's an easy transition for him to come in and the transition from Springfield here, what we do down there and him coming up here, there shouldn't be any road bumps for him. He's going to fit in and I'm sure he's going to compete and play well for us."
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