With the Springfield Thunderbirds officially out of the playoffs after falling to the Providence Bruins, the St. Louis Blues have wasted no time in bringing up some reinforcements. On Monday, the Blues announced they’ve recalled forward Nikita Alexandrov, goaltender Colten Ellis, and defenseman Corey Schueneman to add depth for the rest of their playoff run. To make room, netminder Will Cranley, who had been their third goalie so far this postseason, was sent back down to the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.<\/p>
For Alexandrov, it’s a long-awaited return to the NHL roster. After spending most of the past two seasons bouncing between St. Louis and Springfield, the 24-year-old center was waived and assigned to the AHL at the start of this season. Despite not getting called up during the regular season, Alexandrov made a strong statement in Springfield, racking up 21 goals and 49 points in just 48 games. Although he went scoreless during Springfield’s short playoff run, he led the team in points per game and showed he’s ready for another NHL opportunity. With restricted free agency looming, Alexandrov’s future with the Blues will be one to watch, especially with possible openings if players like Radek Faksa depart.<\/p>