最新杏吧原创

For about half of the four weeks Robert Thomas missed due to a fractured ankle, he spent it away from 最新杏吧原创. It was up in Toronto that Thomas received care and treatment, trying 鈥渁bout 20 different things,鈥� he said, that led him to returning to the Blues lineup against Minnesota on Tuesday night.

Thomas missed 12 games with his injury and returned about two weeks ahead of a six-week reevaluation timeline announced by the Blues on Oct. 23. Thomas was originally injured Oct. 22 vs. Winnipeg when he blocked a Neal Pionk shot.

鈥淵ou try as many things as possible,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 obviously a ton of new technology that can potentially help you heal. We鈥檒l keep that one behind the doors, but you try and do everything you can. That鈥檚 the most important thing.鈥�

The Blues went 4-7-1 without Thomas in the lineup and struggled to generate offense, as their 2.33 goals per game ranked fifth-worst in the NHL since Thomas鈥� injury.

On Tuesday, Thomas centered a line with familiar faces Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou on his wings. Last year, that was the Blues鈥� most-used line (and 11th-most-used in the league) as they logged close to 500 minutes together at five on five. Prior to Tuesday, they had not played a game together as the Blues used Buchnevich almost exclusively at center.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e had a lot of success together,鈥� Blues coach Drew Bannister said. 鈥淥bviously, we want to start creating a little bit more offense, creating our opportunities and being able to finish on them. I think it鈥檚 something that he鈥檚 going to be comfortable with, and Buchy, too, to get those guys going. I think it鈥檚 a good opportunity for them to get going here.鈥�

Buchnevich and Kyrou each entered Tuesday with five goals in 19 games, which would equal 21.6 across an entire 82-game season.

During morning skate, the Blues also used Thomas at the point on the top power-play unit, moving Justin Faulk to the flank in a one-timer spot and keeping Buchnevich (right flank), Kyrou (bumper) and Jake Neighbours (net front) in their respective positions.

Thomas said he had not run a power play from the top since his junior hockey days in the Ontario Hockey League. Bannister said the Blues had previously discussed Thomas at the point in conversations about a five-forward power-play unit.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a little bit of an adjustment that we鈥檙e going to make,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淚 think you鈥檙e going to see a lot more movement up top and probably won鈥檛 end up there all the time, but there鈥檚 going to be a little bit more movement and he鈥檒l start there.鈥�

It鈥檚 clear how many parts of the Blues鈥� game that Thomas touches. He plays top-line minutes against the opposition鈥檚 best players at even strength. He takes more than 20 faceoffs a game, including as the primary right-handed center on both the power play and penalty kill. His presence pushes guys like Buchnevich or Brayden Schenn into roles that better fit their skills. And Thomas was the leading scorer for 最新杏吧原创 and a first-time All-Star a year ago.

鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating being out, but I invested a lot in myself and pretty happy with the result and getting back so soon,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淓xcited to be back in the lineup and looking forward to getting in the trenches with the guys.鈥�

Thomas returned to practice in a non-contact jersey Wednesday before the team flew to Buffalo, and then he accompanied the Blues on the three-game Eastern Conference road trip. Bannister said Thomas had 鈥渁 great skate鈥� on Monday during the team鈥檚 off-day.

鈥淪tarted to feel better the last couple days skating,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淕ot to a point where it was comfortable for everyone that I was ready to go. Pretty much the last week or so, wasn鈥檛 planning on the road trip, just wanted to be around the guys and take it day by day.鈥�

Thomas said Pionk鈥檚 shot hit him directly in the ankle, where there was padding, 鈥渂ut sometimes it gets you good.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 only so much you can do when you get a blazing slap shot right at your foot,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淪ometimes, it just catches you in the right spot, and unfortunate for me.鈥�

Bannister said the Blues would monitor Thomas鈥� minutes on Tuesday against the Wild, and he said the two have talked about his usage.

鈥淚 think his legs are there,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done an incredible job keeping himself in real good shape right now. He鈥檚 skated himself hard. It鈥檚 something we鈥檙e going to have to watch, but I鈥檒l talk to him during the game.鈥�

Thomas said he would try not to do too much in his return after missing four weeks.

鈥淏eing the guy that you know you can be,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty much it. You can鈥檛 get too complicated, too fancy early. You鈥檝e got to get back into the rhythm of the game. It鈥檚 tough being out for so long. Today was my first real practice with the guys, so it鈥檚 going to take a little bit. Keeping it simple early will be important.鈥�

Kapanen claimed

In order to make room for Thomas on the active roster, the Blues waived Kasperi Kapanen on Monday. On Tuesday, he was claimed by Edmonton and will now join the Oilers.

Kapanen finished his Blues career with 15 goals and 22 assists in 106 games since he was claimed by 最新杏吧原创 on waivers in the spring of 2023.

Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph was on the ice for morning skate but remained out of the lineup after suffering a lower-body injury on Thursday in Buffalo.

鈥淗e鈥檚 real close, too,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 probably less than we thought it was when the initial injury (happened), so that鈥檚 a good sign. But I think he鈥檚 going to be very close.鈥�

With Joseph still out, Corey Schueneman was in the lineup for his third straight game, skating on a pair with Matthew Kessel.

鈥淗e鈥檚 come up and he鈥檚 really impressed,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淭he way he moves the puck, the way he skates, transitions the puck, his physical aspect. He鈥檚 made some real smart plays. I think he鈥檚 played outstanding.鈥�

Oskar Sundqvist and Mathieu Joseph were healthy scratches on Tuesday.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a coaching decision,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淢y conversations with them, I鈥檒l just keep it to us.鈥�