Blues Assign 4 to Springfield Thunderbirds, Including Jiricek

The St. Louis Blues made some more roster moves Friday morning. Four players have been assigned to the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Springfield Thunderbirds: Aleksanteri Kaskamaki, Dylan Peterson, Otto Stenberg, and Adam Jiricek.

Moves Are Not Surprsing

With the only roles up for grabs being bottom-line/pair roles, it makes sense for these players to start 2026-27 in Springfield. All four have showed flashes of their potential, either during the preseason or last season.

With the exception of Stenberg, the other three had great performances. Kaskimaki scored a goal on Saturday was generated scoring chances on Thursday. Peterson showcased his physical nature, something that might get him into the NHL sooner rather than later. Jiricek, meanwhile, looked like he belongs on NHL ice, only increasing the excitement for when he does make his NHL debut.

Who Gets Called Up First?

Obviously, the answer to this question depends on why someone is needing to be called up. If another defenseman gets hurt, Jiricek will be the one who gets the call from Springfield.

If a forward gets hurt, that question is not as clear. Heading into training camp, Stenberg seemed to be the “next man up.” However, Peterson and Kaskimaki have certainly earned consideration.

Who gets called up may come down to the particular need on the forward lines. Should a top-six forward get hurt, Stenberg could be the guy called up. Should a bottom-six forward go down, Peterson and Kaskimaki could be the ones considered. However, we will truly not know until that bridge presents itself.

Final Roster Taking Shape

The final preseason game is Saturday. The Blues play their first game of the season a week from Friday. The season is almost here, and the final roster is about to be set.

There are still a few questions to get answers to, with the biggest ones being if Oskar Sundqvist manages to grab a starting role or if Nathan Walker gets placed on waivers. Those answers will come in time, and The Hockey Writers looks to be there with more coverage.