St. Louis Blues: Is There Room For Everyone?

The St. Louis Blues have had impressive performances from a number of young players during training camp but is there enough room for everyone to make the team?

The St. Louis Blues overhauled their roster during the offseason, acquiring four forwards through free agency and trades. Signing David Perron, Tyler Bozak, Patrick Maroon and trading for Ryan O’Reilly.

It has been the young stars, however, that have made the biggest impact on the team so far in camp. Jordan Kyrou, Samuel Blais and Robert Thomas have all impressed the coaching staff and have received the most opportunities to perform.

The question still remains, with all the new additions brought in over the offseason including the returning players, is there enough room for all three players to make the team?

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St. Louis only subtracted three forwards that would have only made an impact on the third or fourth line.

However, there are still many returning players that could slot into the third or fourth line role for St. Louis.

Players like Dimitri Jaskin, Chris Thorburn, Ivan Barbashev all have NHL experience and could see regular playing time this year.

There is always room on the roster for young talent and head coach Mike Yeo will have to decide if he wants to prioritize youth over veteran experience.

Coming into training camp, Robert Thomas was thought to have the biggest opportunity to make the team out of camp. There is nothing to suggest the opportunity has passed but Thomas has gotten off to a relatively slow start.

Thomas has appeared in three of the first four preseason games for the Blues and according to Yeo, he has gotten progressively better as camp goes on. Thomas recorded three assists on all three goals the Blues scored in their most recent game against Columbus.

Sammy Blais has continued his success during training camp. Playing with the Blues top forwards, Blais has made a name for himself for the second consecutive preseason.

Blais has come into camp with a better understanding of how to play without the puck but has still shown signs of being a capable NHL goal scorer.

Jordan Kyrou has been outstanding this preseason. Kyrou may have been on the outside looking in when training camp began, but after his performances so far in the three preseason games he has played in, it looks like it’s his roster spot to lose at this point.

The most realistic opportunity for all three of these young players to make the team is if one of the top 9 forwards goes down with an injury prior to opening night against Winnipeg.

Robby Fabbri has been dealing with lingering injuries since playing for the first time in over a year and right now, there is no guarantee that he will be ready to take the ice on October 4th.

Blais has found chemistry with both Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz and could be the player that plays alongside the dynamic duo. Newly acquired David Perron started camp by playing with Schenn and Schwartz, but Perron has been dealing with a sore groin for the past week.

Expect to see all three of these young players at some point during the regular season, the way things are shaping up for the Blues, Kyrou, Thomas and Blais could all be in the starting lineup on October 4th.