The St. Louis Blues recalled Chris Thorburn from the San Antonio Rampage. No need to look too much into why, however.
The St. Louis Blues brought Chris Thorburn back from the dead, so to speak. On April 5, they recalled him from the San Antonio Rampage.
The last time Thorburn suited up in a Blues uniform was October 13 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He will probably have to keep waiting before he wears an NHL uniform again.
Thorburn has been called up to the Blues, but this is likely little more than a reward for his professional behavior in this situation. The Blues put him on waivers thinking another team was probably going to pick him up.
Nobody did, so Thorburn spent the entire 2018-19 season in the AHL. That was tough to swallow for a guy that had been in the NHL for 13 years.
“It was tough,” Thorburn said in the Post-Dispatch. “It was tough on myself, my wife, my family. I’m a guy with family; anyone that has family and kids would understand that. They stayed here (in St. Louis) while I went to San Antonio.”
"“It was tough at times, but we grinded and we made it through it. We’re at this point now, so it feels like it was worth it.”"
This is not pity. If the Blues get any injuries, there is a chance Thorburn would have to play and if the Blues play a physical team, he might even get called upon to suit up for a game.
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That is unlikely though. The Blues still have some bodies waiting.
Mackenzie MacEachern played in 29 games this year. I advocated for keeping him in there even when other guys got healthy, but he would bring some energy, regardless.
Sammy Blais is another guy that could jump in there. He is still trying to get healthy from a foot injury, but he is skating.
Last, but definitely not least, the Blues will need to decide between Robby Fabbri and Zach Sanford for that fourth line role. Sanford has played the bulk of the games, but Fabbri is itching to play and a minimized role would not be too strenuous for his legs.
Ultimately, Thorburn is insurance on top of the insurance – similar to scoring three and four goals when you have a shutout going. The team felt he deserved it for doing his duty.
Plenty of guys would have stomped around and pitched a fit. Some might have even quit and apparently Thorburn was close, discussing things with his family.
“I think this year, as tough as it was, it created more conversation between me and my wife as far as the end being closer than we kind of anticipated.” Thorburn said in Jim Thomas’ piece. “So I think we’re ahead on that curve as far as what we’re gonna do post-hockey.”
So, it’s just a classy move by an upstanding organization. You’re going to get those on social media or within your own circles that will question it.
They’ll wonder why this guy or that is not up. The bottom line is that the Blues are best when their current roster is healthy and playing in the right spots. If we get to a point where any of the extra ones have to suit up for more than a game or two, they are in trouble.
At that point, it won’t matter if it’s Thorburn or Jordan Kyrou or whomever. Let’s be happy for a guy that is just happy to be there and around the guys and to help in any way he can.