… on one game, especially in those circumstances. He got the phone call Monday morning, which means that he missed the morning skate with the rest of the Blues. Jumps on a plane (were the Rivermen in Peoria, or somewhere even less travel-friendly?), and gets to Columbus. Practice with his new teammates? None. Film study and pregame prep? Maybe some notes to read on the plane. Do the Blues protect him by pairing him with, say, Polak or Jackman or even Sydor? Nope – he gets thrown out there in the bottom pairing with Weaver. Frankly, it’s pretty amazing the kid wasn’t -6.

Give him a week or two to practice with the big club, and settle into a defined role, and then judge him. One game – wham, bam, get your ass back to P-town – doesn’t really answer anything.

I’m surprised they sent him back down, to be honest. I thought he’d get a longer opportunity, to let the front office determine whether they want to re-sign him in the summer or trade him before the deadline. Maybe they’ve already made up their minds.