The St. Louis Blues are about to start a five-game road trip in hopes of reviving this season. The pulse is still there, but it is getting much weaker with every single loss.
As these losses keep racking up, the spotlight is on these players more and more. Especially these younger players, like Dalibor Dvorsky, who might be sliding even further down than he might like.
Is Dvorsky's tenure coming to an end soon with the potential return of Jake Neighbours?
Did Dvorsky do enough to stay on NHL roster?
Dvorsky was called up when Neighbours went down with an injury back in October. Since then, No. 54 has seen nine games and scored two goals in the process. Both of those goals were on the power play.
Now, with the impending return of Neighbours on this road trip, the time might be nigh for his return to Springfield. Looking at the roster, there is room on the revolving door of the fourth line, not to mention whatever head coach Jim Montgomery decides to do if there is another benching in the mix.
Dvorsky might have used up all of his available time, and it was a lot quicker than everyone expected.
More time in Springfield, or is it a waste at this point?
if Dvorsky is sent back to Springfield, at the American Hockey League level, is it even worth it at this point? The notion is that he should be at the NHL-level at this point, and on the full-time roster as a pivotal piece of the future. Much like Jimmy Snuggerud, these two should be getting the reps now to be the devastating 1-2 punch of the future.
That cannot happen if Dvorsky is down in the AHL. Sure, he can use these nine games of experience to work on his game in the minors and demolish the fringe competition, but it might also spoil him. If there is no room for him on the Blues lineup card, either a move has to be made for him to be in it, or maybe even be out of it and onto another team.