Blues call up Klim Kostin from San Antonio

The Blues recently signed veteran forwards Jamie McGinn and Troy Brouwer to professional try out deals. McGinn skated on Monday, Brouwer yesterday before the Blues’ game against the Coyotes. Doug Armstrong justified the PTOs as a chance to make sure that there was a veteran presence on the team and to limit the growing pains of youth. He also couched it behind the idea that the youth in San Antonio would be better served with playing time than by sitting in the press box, since Jacob de la Rose was going to be in the lineup for the foreseeable future.

Apparently neither vet worked out, and de la Rose isn’t either, because Armstrong changed his mind. The Blues called Klim Kostin up today from the San Antonio Rampage. Kostin was selected 31st overall in the 2017 NHL Draft with a pick received from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Ryan Reaves trade. Kostin had a stellar preseason with the Blues, scoring three goals and adding three assists in just four games played. He was sent down to San Antonio with the directive to limit penalty minutes and to play smarter.

So far in San Antonio he has three goals and five assists in 14 games, with ten penalty minutes.

Kyrou is still working his way back from injury, so Kostin makes sense. The Blues won’t want to see him hanging out in the press-box either, and de la Rose hasn’t impressed yet in St. Louis - let’s face it, that trade was a professional courtesy to Robby Fabbri - so Kostin could get some regular season play sooner rather than later.