Even when numbers say they're not at their best, Schenn, Barbashev,  Neighbours changed course of season opener in 5-2 win over Columbus By LOU KORAC ST. LOUIS -- The analytics, for those that live and die by the numbers, didn't read particularly well for Brayden Schenn, Ivan Barbashev and Jake Neighbours. Their corsi number read four shots for and 10 against, for a 28.57 rating. (St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak) Jake Neighbours (middle) is all smiles after scoring and celebrating with teammates Ivan Barbashev (left) and Brayden Schenn on Saturday. Not exactly beaming with domina ..read more

By LOU KORAC ST. LOUIS -- Time to drop the puck -- finally. For the Blues, it's been too long, long enough for them to be the last of the 32 teams in the league to play their season opener. That will all change today at 7 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN 101.1-FM) when the Blues open the 2022-23 season at Enterprise Center against the Columbus Blue Jackets (0-2-0). "Everybody's ready," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "It seems like we're the only team that hasn't played, but guys are excited and ready to roll. "... You're off in the summer for a while, that gets boring. Not boring but you want to get back ..read more

Forward was expected to be sidelined until mid-December following  offseason shoulder surgery, rehab has done better than expected By LOU KORAC MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The remarkable run of Alexey Toropchenko appears to have parlayed into an opening night assignment. And that's two months ahead schedule to boot. (St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak) Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko (right) shoots a puck last year in the first round of the playoffs against Matt Dumba and the Minnesota Wild. He even made it known after practice Friday just how he feels. "Incredible," the 6-foot ..read more

Commentary by Lou Korac With each passing day and as potential skaters in search for a job in a crowded lineup for the Blues continued to pass him on the depth chart, Klim Kostin's days in St. Louis slowly became numbered. On Sunday, that number came to a head when the 2017 first-round pick was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for defensive prospect Dmirti Samorukov, a third-round selection by the Oilers in the same draft class. (St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak) Klim Kostin (37) scores against the Minnesota Wild in a preseason game last week. Kostin was traded Sunday to the Edmonton Oilers ..read more

2019 second-round pick wasn't on the radar initially, forward  earned himself job when many didn't give him chance to crack lineup By LOU KORAC ST. LOUIS -- Jobs were already scarce when it came for the Blues this season. Nikita Alexandrov didn't care. Nikita Alexandrov The 2019 second round pick flew in under the radar this year in training camp, nobody ready to put him in the conversation to win a job out of training camp. But there he was, playing with the rest of the varsity lineup, the final tuneup for the regular season Saturday afternoon in a 6-0 blitzing of the Chicag ..read more

Alexandrov could be surprise out of training camp to crack opening night  roster; Kostin among players put on waivers; Rosen in as seventh defenseman By LOU KORAC MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- For those that have followed and covered the Blues felt like the inevitable was unfolding as training camps winds down. The Blues will play their eighth and final preseason game Saturday at 2 p.m. when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Enterprise Center, and Nikita Alexandrov, a second round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, could be not only in the lineup Saturday afternoon but also on opening night on Oc ..read more

By LOU KORAC MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Thomas Greiss will play the full game when the Blues (5-1-0) close out their road preseason schedule today at 6 p.m. against the Columbus Blue Jackets (3-2-1). The Blues backup goalie to Jordan Binnington has played in three periods this preseason spanning two games, most recently getting two periods last Thursday in a 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets at Enterprise Center. Greiss, signed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract after spending two years with the Detroit Red Wings, will play the entire game tonight and be backed up by Joel Hofer. Greiss, 36, ha ..read more

2020 first-round pick by the Blues making strong case to  cracking opening night roster again, staying on it this time around By LOU KORAC MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- If there's anybody on the Blues that understands what Jake Neighbours is going through these days, trying to make an impression on the coaching staff, Robert Thomas is most definitely the one. (St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak) Blues forward Jake Neighbours (middle) drives the net looking for a rebound between Minnesota's Dakota Mermis (57) and Filip Gustavsson. Thomas, the 20th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, didn't i ..read more

Forward helped defeat Blues' AHL affiliate in Calder Cup Final year ago,  has taken challenging path to get game back after serious knee injury By LOU KORAC ST. LOUIS -- When Josh Leivo went crashing hard into the boards Dec. 21, 2019 against the Vegas Golden Knights, the immediate feeling was not a good one. (St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak) Blues forward Josh Leivo had two assists Tuesday in a 4-2 win against the Minnesota Wild, adding fuel to his shot at making the roster. The Vancouver Canucks forward, as he was skating off the ice, would slam his stick against the boards as ..read more

By LOU KORAC ST. LOUIS -- The news wasn't expected to be good for Scott Perunovich and the Blues confirmed a worse-case scenario on Tuesday. The Blues (4-1-0) will face the Minnesota Wild (4-0-0) at 7 p.m. today at Enterprise Center in preseason action, but the news on Perunovich was not good. The defenseman will be sidelined and reevaluated in six months with a fractured left left clavicle. Perunovich will have surgery on Thursday. "It's tough for him, tough for the team," coach Craig Berube said. "Can't catch a break." With defenseman Marco Scandella (right hip joint) out six months, Pe ..read more