‘Iâ€m Just Going To Wait On That Call To Get The Nod To Go In And If I Do’ — If Skinner Gets Shot With Blues, It Would Be His NHL Debut

MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. — Hunter Skinner had some trials and tribulations on
Sunday treking his way to St. Louis from Springfield, Mass. with
plane delays, but now that the defenseman is here, the focus came
along with it.

Skinner
was called up from Springfield of the American Hockey League when the
St. Louis Blues assigned Logan Mailloux to the Thunderbirds. The
24-year-old will be the seventh defenseman – for the time being –
and just fit in any way he can after an extended training camp here
in September.

“I
feel good today, ready to go,†Skinner said. “Just come up here,
put a smile on my face, work hard. Like I said before in camp, work
hard, show them what I have, bring them what I can do to the table.â€

Skinner,
acquired from the New York Rangers with Sammy Blais in the trade that
sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to New York on Feb. 9, 2023,
has 203 games†worth of AHL experience, including 157 the past
three-plus seasons with the Thunderbirds, will do whatever is
necessary and asked of him.

“Iâ€m
just going to wait on that call to get the nod to go in and if I do,
make the best of my opportunity,†Skinner said. “Energy,
physicality, I want to bring that to the best of my ability,
honestly. Hopefully that can help turn some tides.â€

Skinner,
who mentioned in training camp he grew up as a forward, had
career-highs in goals (eight), assists (15) and points (23) with
Springfield last season and certainly grew on the coaching staff,
which recognized the “energy,
physicality, attitude,†Blues
coach Jim Montgomery said.
“Plus he has a lot of confidence and poise with the puck. I donâ€t
think people would describe him that way.â€

*
Is
Sundqvist coming in, Bjugstad going out? â€“ Mondayâ€s practice lines
had Oskar Sundqvist centering the Blues†fourth line flanked by
Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker. That spot had been occupied of
late by Nick Bjugstad, who was the extra with Alexandre Texier.

Sundqvist
has been a healthy scratch the past two games and could be a case of
getting him back in the mix somewhere. But could it be at the expense
of Bjugstad, who has been solid with the Blues since signing this
past simmer?

“Itâ€s
more about getting Sunny into the lineup. Itâ€s not dead set that
thatâ€s the lineup for tomorrow,†Montgomery
said of a matchup with the Calgary Flames.
“Bjugstad, what I love is heâ€s a great pro. Heâ€s done really
good things, and he was really good in practice today. Heâ€s going
to be hard to take out.â€

*
Dvorsky
gets shot with Kyrou, Holloway – It was the line that galvanized
the Blues†season down the stretch last season with Brayden Schenn
between Dylan Holloway on the left and Jordan Kyrou on the right.

And
while that combination hasnâ€t been used often – yet – this
season, it will be Dalibor Dvorskyâ€s turn there on Tuesday.

“Theyâ€re
going to have to take care of Dvorsky,†Montgomery
said of Kyrou and Holloway. “Schenn
was taking care of them last year. Now itâ€s on
them
to be leaders and take a young guy under their wing whoâ€s got
incredible potential whoâ€s played really good hockey for us. You
want to see if thereâ€s a spark there, if thereâ€s some chemistry.â€

In
the meantime, Schenn once again has altered a role that best suits a
team. And playing on the wing.

“I
thought heâ€s played really well outside of the Washington game, but
that was the whole team laying an egg in Washington,†Montgomery
said of Schenn.
“I think heâ€s been getting more opportunities offensively, and
defensively heâ€s done a good job as a winger.â€

*
Joseph
takes tumble in practice – Mathieu Joseph was able to finish
practice on Tuesday but not without a bit of pain.

The
forward collided and fell along the boards during a drill,
compromising something with his lower body that needed some rest and
attention by the Blues†training staff on the bench.

Joseph,
whoâ€s off to a real solid start to the season, was able to finish
the practice and seemed fine in the locker room afterwards.

“I
didnâ€t check with the trainers to see where heâ€s at,â€
Montgomery
said.
“Weâ€ll have an update tomorrow.â€

St. Louis Blues Prospect Report (Nov. 9, 2025)
Tomas Mrsic starting to feel the scoring after adjustment at Colorado College; Adam Jiricek’s offense highlighting his season at Brantford; Matvei Korotky injured in Russia

Logan Mailloux Can Always Lean On Blues Teammate Who Knows What It’s Like To Break Into NHL
Tyler Tucker knows pipeline between Springfield, St. Louis in efforts to crack NHL lineup, finally doing it last year after almost three years of ups, downs

Blues Already Moved Past Saturday’s Controversy
Goalie interference call that wasn’t made allowed Seattle to tie it late, win in OT; Sunday’s practice was more geared towards pushing each other to be better, end with bag skate

Blues Assign Mailloux To Springfield, Recall Skinner
Defenseman acquired from Canadiens for Zack Bolduc will go down to AHL, play big minutes, variety of roles and get a “reset,” GM said

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