Ken Appleby was disappointed he was overlooked in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but he was very surprised and excited to receive a phone call during the draft from future hall of fame goaltender Martin Brodeur, who is the Assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues.
According to NHL.com, Blues director of amateur scouting Bill Armstrong asked Brodeur at the draft if he contact Appleby to see if he'd be interested in coming to their camp should he again go undrafted.
Martin Brodeur is very familiar with Ken Appleby since his son Jeremy Brodeur was his goaltending partner with the Oshawa Generals last season.
Both Jeremy and Ken were invited to the Blues development camp which took place last week.
"I think it was a tough day for him not getting drafted," Martin Brodeur told NHL.com.
"... I called him in the seventh round and said, 'Listen, regardless of what happens in the seventh round, if it doesn't come your way, we're interested to see you. We don't have a draft pick in the seventh round, so we can't pick you.' Right away, he was intrigued about it. I think it's a good experience for him,” added Brodeur.
Brodeur felt it was hard not to give Appleby a look especially considering he is such a big goaltender. An OHL championship and a Memorial Cup title don't hurt his resume either.
“He's a kid with success and a track record; that's what it's all about. He's paid his dues sitting behind a goalie in Oshawa and got the job as No. 1. I was interested in him,” Brodeur said.
"It's got to be a little disappointing for a young kid when you have so much success and then you've got so much upside as far as your size and the skill set that you have, then you get passed over. But now I think it opens up the League to him instead of getting caught in an organization where he would get picked and then he would have no chance to move on. Now he'll be able to pick something and make the right decision.”
Appleby told NHL.com, the chat with Martin Brodeur was helpful, but not the deciding factor.
"I just think it's a great organization," Appleby said of the Blues to NHL.com.
"I talked to Marty and he knows my friend Jeremy obviously. There's a little bit of a connection there, but I just thought this was a great place to come to and one of my better opportunities.”
Ironically, Appleby was also invited to attend the New Jersey Devils Development Camp which of course is where Brodeur spent most of his career as a player. Martin’s other son Jeremy Brodeur, who is a Devil’s draft pick, will be at the camp with Appleby.
Photo courtesy NHL.com/St. Louis Blues