After their 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, the St. Louis Blues were quick to announce the recall of winger Dylan Peterson from the Springfield Thunderbirds. The recall comes after the news announced earlier this morning that fourth-line forward Dillon Dube is heading to the Injured Reserve list.
Who is Dylan Peterson?
At 6-foot-4 and roughly 200 pounds, Peterson is a player who brings both size and the physical edge the Blues have long valued in the franchise's history. A 2020 draft pick, he spent four seasons at Boston University before turning pro and built a reputation as a hard-nosed, net-front presence.
Peterson is not a player who will show up very often on the scoresheet. In the AHL, he has scored 25 goals and 47 points in 115 games, or a 0.41 points-per-game pace, while piling up the penalty minutes and hits.
As fans got to see him in the preseason, Peterson is a player who can join defenders along the wall, extend cycles, and create second scoring chances without needing high-end skill. However, he is also a player who has earned his coaches' trust at every level he has stopped at, playing on the penalty kill.
He has a willingness to take and draw penalties when the time comes and is a natural spark plug of a player. If his team needs a player to set a physical tone or a bit of a wake-up call in the game, Peterson is the guy to call upon.
What can Peterson do for the Blues?
As much as fans will like Peterson for what he can bring to the fourth line, there are substantial limitations to his game. He is not a player who will take faceoffs or the kind of player who will score the highlight reel game-winning goal. He can generate a decent number of shots, but most will come from the perimeter, instead of the high-danger areas.
He is the kind of player whose impact shows up thanks to his hits and net-front traffic that he can bring, not the point totals on the scorecard.
For a Blues team trying to find and stabilize their fourth-line identity, Peterson is the type of player who can check plenty of boxes. He brings an identity all on his own and can be infectious to his linemates and the crowd.
He spent two seasons sharpening his game in the AHL, and this recall could be the chance he needs to show he has earned the spot and rightfully call it his. If it does, the fourth line gains a bigger, more physical option who can show he will not shy away from moments to help make his team better.
Add us as a preferred source on Google