The St. Louis Blues have called up center Aleksanteli Kaskimäki following injury reports involving Jimmy Snageld and Alexei Trobchenko. Snageld, who recently had surgery to fix his left wrist, will be reassessed in six weeks, while Trobchenko is recovering from foot burns sustained in a home accident, with a week-to-week prognosis.
Despite the injury setbacks, Kaskimäki has earned his first chance to play in the NHL and is expected to possibly debut in the upcoming game. The 21-year-old Finnish forward is in his second season with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, registering four goals and seven points in 16 games. He is projecting to finish with around 17 goals and 30 points over 69 games, close to his rookie year numbers of 11 goals and 34 points in 63 games. Kaskimäki also played in three preseason games this year, scoring once against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blues are set to play the Anaheim Ducks tonight, though it remains uncertain if Kaskimäki will be in the lineup. Meanwhile, Pius Suter, sidelined recently due to a lower-body injury, has an uncertain status. If Suter cannot play, Kaskimäki will become the Blues’ third-round pick from the 2022 draft to make his NHL debut.
Fan Take: This development is an exciting opportunity for hockey fans to witness fresh talent stepping up in the face of adversity. It highlights how injuries, while unfortunate, can open doors for young players to make their mark and potentially shape the future of their teams and the sport.
