What a whirlwind of a day it's been for the St. Louis Blues. The team announced two major injuries, one of them to a key player: Jimmy Snuggerud will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks after he undergoes surgery on his hand, and Alexey Toropchenko is week-to-week after sustaining burns to his legs in an accident at home. The Blues have been struggling this season, and losing one of their best scorers and a reliable depth player is quite a blow.
On a positive note, it gives the Blues a chance to look at one of their young prospects, as they've recalled Aleksanteri Kaskimaki from the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds to the big club.
Kaskimaki was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, 73rd overall, and joined the Thunderbirds last season upon finishing his juniors career in Finland. In 16 games with the Thunderbirds this season, Kaskimaki has four goals and three assists for seven points total; through 79 career AHL games, he's posted 15 goals, 26 assists, and 41 points. He's a fast skater with a decent shot, and solid defensive instincts.
While Kaskimaki's listed as a center, head coach Jim Montgomery said he envisions him as a winger, either on the left or right. This tracks, considering the Blues' center depth, with Nick Bjugstad and Oskar Sundqvist slated to center the third and fourth lines, respectively, while Dalibor Dvorsky and Robert Thomas handle a heavier workload in the top six.
Provided his flight arrives on time, Kaskimaki's slated to make his NHL debut tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. If he's not in the lineup tonight, then expect to see him in the blue not sweater soon.