Blues - Injury Crisis Grows & Other News

Vladimir Tarasenko threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers took to the field on Friday night.

Friday's game marked the annual St. Louis Blues Night at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals wore Blues-themed batting practice jerseys, and Blues players will be recognized on the field prior to the game.
Former Blues Jeff Brown, Garry Unger and Cam Janssen signed autographs for fans at Riverview Corner.
The first 30,000 fans at Friday's game received an adult replica batting practice jersey courtesy of FOX Sports Midwest.

St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the club has signed forward Scottie Upshall to a one-year, one-way contract. He will wear No. 9. Upshall, 33, spent the previous two seasons with the Blues, including the 2016-17 season when he collected 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 73 regular season games. The 6-foot, 200-pound forward also served eight penalty minutes in 11 postseason appearances in 2017.

Overall, Upshall has appeared in 14 NHL seasons, including stints with Nashville, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Columbus, Florida and St. Louis. The Fort McMurray, Alberta native has recorded 266 points (131 goals, 135 assists) and 569 penalty minutes in 696 career regular season games, as well as 13 points (five goals, eight assists) and 66 penalty minutes in 54 career postseason games.
Upshall was originally drafted sixth overall by Nashville in the 2002 NHL Draft.

St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that forward Robby Fabbri will miss the entire 2017-18 season after re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee. The Blues will hold a press conference with Armstrong and Fabbri on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Scottrade Center. Video from that press conference will be available on Thursday afternoon at stlouisblues.com. Fabbri originally suffered a torn left ACL on Feb. 4, 2017. Dr. Bernard Bach performed surgery on Fabbri's knee in Chicago on Feb. 28 and he was cleared to play on July 31. Fabbri, 21, has appeared in 123 career regular season games, recording 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists) and 52 penalty minutes.

Injuries to forwards Alexander Steen (hand), Robby Fabbri (knee), Patrik Berglund (shoulder) and Zach Sanford (shoulder) will likely open up a roster spot (or two or three) for some young forward pushing to remain with the Blues after training camp wraps up in the next week. The Blues will certainly have plenty of options.

The kids have been impressive at times in training camp - Tage Thompson, Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Klim Kostin and Sam Blais have all contributed in some way on the scoresheet in the preseason. But it's Wade Megan, who spent the majority of last season with the Chicago Wolves, that is making one heck of a case lately.
"(We had a) simple message for him (Saturday)," Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said. "(That's that) he put himself on the map here. He's gotten our attention."
Megan has played in two of the Blues' five preseason games to date, registering one goal and two assists. His three points are tied for the team-lead in the exhibition season with Vladimir Tarasenko, Dmitrij Jaskin and Kyrou.
On Sunday, Megan's strong forecheck and perseverance kept the Blues in the offensive zone and led to Kryou's go-ahead goal in the second period against Pittsburgh. Kyrou's goal would eventually stand as the game-winner in a 4-1 victory in the Kraft Hockeyville game.
But it wouldn't have happened without Megan.
"He's a gamer," Yeo said. "That's what I like. He's a smart player, a guy that's going to go out there, find a way to make a play, find a way to make a difference. He's reliable when he needs to be but recognizes opportunities to make something happen and jumps on it.
"We obviously knew of him and what he could do last year," Yeo added. "But he's really gotten our attention here and he's making a real strong case for himself."
Megan made a solid first impression when he was called up to the Blues last December. In his NHL debut, Megan scored in the first period to extend the Blues' lead in Tampa Bay. He also recorded a plus-2 rating in the game. He would play two more games for the club in February.
In 73 regular season games with the Wolves last season, Megan registered 33 goals and 33 assists.
Could he be on the roster for Opening Night?
"I haven't thought about it," Megan said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day and keep working hard. Just control what I can control and let the chips fall where they may… that's all I can do."

The Blues have assigned defenseman Niko Mikkola to Tappara Tampere of the Finnish Elite League. Mikkola played in two preseason games during training camp, recording a plus-2 rating and two penalty minutes. The Blues' training camp roster is now at 43 players.
On the first day of free agency, Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong signed forward Beau Bennett to a one-year contract. Bennett set career highs in goals (8) and points (19) with the New Jersey Devils last season and is a five-year veteran of the League. He spent parts of four seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, capturing a Stanley Cup Championship in 2015-16.
Blues Website caught up with Bennett during training camp to get to know him better. Our Q&A topics range from hockey to hidden talents to his close friendship with Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo.

BLUES: What was it about St. Louis and the Blues that made signing here so attractive to you?
BENNETT: You know, I just looked at their team and the success they have had in the past. I wanted to get back into a playoff mentality. The Blues fit my style in terms of me being a responsible, puck-possessing player who can bring some skill but also is reliable. That's what I try to pride myself on and I feel like I fit the mold on that.

BLUES: Do you expect an adjustment coming to the Western Conference? You've only played in the Eastern Conference with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils.
BENNETT: No I don't think so. You play the Western Conference every year. That Metropolitan Division has been really tough, so we were getting top-quality competition every night. It's the NHL. All 31 teams are really good, so if you don't bring it, you're going to lose. It's not that different with the Eastern and Western Conference.

BLUES: A few minutes after you signed with the Blues as a free agent on July 1, social media lit up about how you were re-united with Robert Bortuzzo. Is he really your BFF?
BENNETT: It's funny. We didn't really talk when we were in Wilkes-Barre. He was so much older than me in that he had already been established there. Once we got called up right around the same time to Pittsburgh, it's just like we were the two new guys in the hotel. We lived together the next two years, and he's come down to California the last three summers. It's been a good relationship so far (laughing).

BLUES: And you're living at his place now, right?
BENNETT: Yeah. He's got an extra room, so I lucked out there. He knows the lay of the land, so with him, I don't have to check my maps everywhere I go.

BLUES: How would you describe your game?
BENNETT: I think just a guy who thinks the game well. I try to play the game the right way and I understand how the game is meant to be played. I'll bring out some flashes of skill but while still not being too risky. You don't want to be risking it all out there. I'm just a responsible player who can bring some skill to the table.

BLUES: You're coming off of a career high in goals and points last season with New Jersey.
BENNETT: I just played the game that I knew I was capable of playing. I'm in no way satisfied with that - I could have had way more with the chances I missed out on and the chances we were creating on a shift-by-shift basis. I think it's a good stepping stone, but I'm not thrilled with that being my career high. I want to get to a better number: 30 or 40 if possible.

BLUES: You're coming to a very talented team in St. Louis. Where do you see yourself fitting in with this group?
BENNETT: I feel like I can slot in and up the lineup wherever they need me, whatever they need me to do. I can play right or left wing - I played half and half last year. It seems like it's a tight-knit group, too, so just fitting in and being one of the guys, getting back to winning hockey games.

BLUES: What did you know about the city of St. Louis? Have you had a chance to explore much since you arrived?
BENNETT: No, because every time we've traveled here, we flew in for the night and we left right away after the game. I haven't really gotten a taste of the city yet, other than knowing the Arch was here - that's basically all I know. Great food spots though so far.

BLUES: How do you spend your time away from the rink? Concerts? Movies? What do you do?
BENNETT: I was just talking about that today. During the summer, you don't have enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do or see. But here during hockey season, you're all about rest and recovery. It's all about feeling better for the next day, and not really about what you're going to do away from the rink.

BLUES: What have you learned about one of your new teammates that has surprised you?
BENNETT: I learned (Patrik Berglund) plays piano. I play piano! Maybe we can get a duet going or something. We'll figure that out.

Add Alexander Steen to the list of Blues who have sustained injuries in training camp. Steen was slashed on the left hand behind the net in Tuesday's preseason opener against the Dallas Stars and will miss the rest of training camp with the injury. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

"We knew on the bench right after it happened," Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said. "When he came back to the bench it was an issue. (Head Athletic Trainer) Ray (Barile) came down and talked to me and told me it happened. (Steen) was sore and he was going to give it another shot. We saw what he did last year (in the playoffs), so he played the rest of the game with it.
"It's a tough injury for sure, but we'll move forward." 

The Blues have also lost forward Zach Sanford for 5-6 months with a dislocated shoulder he sustained on the first day of training camp. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester took a puck off the skate and has a fractured ankle and will be evaulated in three weeks. In addition, Patrik Berglund (shoulder surgery) is out until December.

Zach Sanford will miss five to six months with a dislocated left shoulder he sustained in training camp, while defenseman Jay Bouwmeester will be re-evaluated in three weeks after suffering a left ankle fracture.

Sanford, who will need surgery, was injured on the first day of training camp.
"That one's tough, I feel really bad for him," Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said of Sanford. "He worked hard this summer and you could see physically, he looked more ready and more prepared for the NHL game. He looked bigger, stronger. He had a tough break. I was really excited about his potential for us this year, and now he's got some work ahead of him, but his season's not over. If he can put in the work and get through the surgery and rehab properly, then you never know... it's certainly a big blow."

Yeo said Bouwmeester took a puck to the ankle in Sunday's training camp scrimmage.

"(Bouwmeester) is a big part of our group," Yeo added. "But part of the reason we were talking about (Jordan) Schmaltz, (Nate) Prosser, (Jake) Walman and (Vince) Dunn - we knew you always need depth. You need guys that are going to have to come in and play games for you, whether it's September or October or later in the season. It's up to these guys right now to see who is going to solidify their position. Some of the guys we have in our group are going to have to step up.
"Injuries are part of the game and we have capable players. We'll get through it."