The St. Louis Blues assigned eight players to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday and released Tyler Pitlick from his professional tryout, meaning Saturday’s preseason finale against the Chicago Blackhawks will have a loaded roster (2 pm, Bally Sports app, 101 ESPN).
Jake Neighborswho is trying to make the club out of training camp, will be in the lineup for the seventh time in the preseason. Nikita Alexandrov – a surprise emergence in training camp – is also still on the roster and expected to play on the fourth line on Saturday.
Alexandrov is a 2019 second-round pick of the Blues and had 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 67 regular-season games with Springfield last season.
“He’s had a real good camp. I’m impressed by his details,” Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said of Alexandrov. “Smart guy, in right positions, checks, does the right things, makes good puck plays. Now he has grown to do but he’s had a real good camp.”
On Friday, Berube had Brandon Saad on a line with Ryan O’Reilly and Jordan Kyrouwhile Pavel Buchnevich was skating with Robert Thomas and Vladimir Tarasenko. Neighbors was on the third line Brayden Schenn and Ivan Barbashev.
Jordan Binnington is expected to start in goal.
While some things could change, Saturday’s lineup is likely to look very similar to the one the Blues will use on Opening Night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 15.
“For the most part, we are (down to our roster),” Berube told reporters Friday. “Just looking at a couple of things still, but for the most part, we’re pretty narrowed in.”
Below is a projected lineup based on Friday’s team practice at Centene Community Ice Center.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Brandon Saad – Ryan O’Reilly – Jordan Kyrou
Pavel Buchnevich – Robert Thomas – Vladimir Tarasenko
Jake Neighbors – Brayden Schenn – Ivan Barbashev
Nikita Alexandrov – Noel Acciari – Nathan Walker
Defense
Torey Krug – Justin Faulk
Nick Leddy – Colton Parayko
Niko Mikkola – Robert Bortuzzo
Goalie
Jordan Binnington
Thomas Greiss
.