The Blues could have a forward spot up for grabs, at least temporarily, when the season opens in about a week and a half in Seattle.
On Friday afternoon, forward Brandon Saad said that he could miss the season-opening three-game trip through Seattle, San Jose and Vegas because he and his wife, Alyssa, are expecting their third child around that time.
鈥淪he鈥檚 due right around the time we鈥檙e going to be on that trip, so it doesn鈥檛 seem like I鈥檓 going to be making the trip,鈥 Saad said. 鈥淵ou never know when she鈥檚 going to come and where I鈥檓 going to be. So that鈥檚 the game plan, and he has me in that other group just trying to figure out things.鈥
As a result, Saad skated with the second practice group on Friday, which mostly consisted of AHL-bound players.
鈥淣ow we鈥檙e at a point in training camp here, we want to start putting some lines together,鈥 Blues coach Drew Bannister said. 鈥淲ithout the availability for him, depending on how things go obviously, he might not be available for us for the first three games of the road trip. We鈥檒l go in a different direction with our lines as if he wasn鈥檛 able to play for us.鈥
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If Saad does miss the start of the season, a contingency plan appears to already have formed, and it has to do with Zack Bolduc.
On Friday afternoon, Bolduc skated on a line with Pavel Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn, potentially signaling that he would be the option to lean on with a top-six role available for Opening Day. Bolduc has, thus far, followed up a strong prospect showcase with a decent showing during his first two preseason games.
鈥淚鈥檝e been happy with Bolduc,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淚 thought in Dallas (on Saturday), I鈥檇 like to see a little bit more from him. I thought I saw a concerted effort in the game in Columbus (on Wednesday). I think he had six shots on net and 10 or 11 attempts. Offensively, he鈥檚 been doing some real good things. Again, going back to the Dallas game compared to the Columbus game, I thought I saw a concerted effort on things we need to seem more from him.鈥
Saad has not played in any of the three preseason games, joining Nick Leddy and Alexandre Texier as expected regulars that haven鈥檛 seen any action in the exhibitions. Bannister said Saad鈥檚 absence did not have to do with the first three preseason games all being on the road, and he鈥檚 expected to play soon.
鈥淚鈥檝e been really happy with Saader,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 looked great in practice to me. I鈥檓 excited about it. We鈥檒l forward to having him back in the lineup.鈥
Of course, there鈥檚 always the possibility that Saad is available for the first time out west.
鈥淪he could come any day, so it鈥檚 not really ruled out,鈥 Saad said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of just up in the air and taking it day by day. It鈥檚 something where you obviously don鈥檛 want to miss the birth.鈥
Also in the NHL practice group, Jake Neighbours was on the top line with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Radek Faksa centered the third line between Dylan Holloway and Mathieu Joseph, while Alexandre Texier and Alexey Toropchenko flanked Nathan Walker on the fourth line.
Walker entered camp as a bubble player to crack the NHL lineup, and Oskar Sundqvist鈥檚 recovery from knee surgery has given him a potential role as the Blues approach Oct. 8 in Seattle. Sundqvist has been skating daily during training camp but is not expected to play preseason games. General manager Doug Armstrong previously said that Sundqvist is expected to be ready for the start of the season.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a player (that) once he gets in the lineup, for a coach, he鈥檚 hard to take out,鈥 Bannister said of Walker. 鈥淗e鈥檚 gone through parts of his career where he gets sent down from a main camp to the American Hockey League, then he鈥檚 the best player down there, best leader and then he comes back here and we never see him again (in the AHL). He brings a lot to the table. He鈥檚 well-liked in the dressing room. He鈥檚 willing to play through anything, and he鈥檚 willing to play in any position that we ask for him. He鈥檚 a quality person and a quality teammate.鈥
Also of note: Kasperi Kapanen found himself practicing in the second group. The Blues re-signed Kapanen to a one-year contract worth $1 million over the summer.
鈥淚鈥檝e been really happy with Kappy鈥檚 practices, and I know what Kappy brings to the table,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淚 like him a lot as a player. He can help us as a team. But talking to Kappy, I鈥檓 sure he would agree, is we have to see more in games from him. That鈥檚 the most important part for right now. Some of those guys in the B group are scratching the surface, like they could be over in the A group if somebody slips in the A group.鈥
Nick Leddy and Colton Parayko found themselves in a familiar position on the top pair, followed by Philip Broberg with Justin Faulk. R yan Suter, Matthew Kessel, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Scott Perunovich and Tyler Tucker rotated reps below them.