Blues hockey is back, and this is the opening night roster

Tomorrow night, at 9:30 Central, the St. Louis Blues start the 2021 season in Colorado. Fans can look forward to watching new addition Mike Hoffman light the lamp, the improved - and already productive - power play taking the ice, and a defensive core led by Colton Parayko and Torey Krug.

There is a lot to look forward to. A lot.

Tomorrow night’s opening night roster is stacked, and the taxi squad is capable. The taxi squad also includes Jordan Kyrou. The Blues had a long look at him camp, and went with Sammy Blais to start. Any player from the taxi squad can be slotted into the active roster as need be, so Kyrou will more than likely see game time. With the addition of Hoffman, the log-jam at forward makes it difficult for him to fit.

ACTIVE ROSTER

Forwards (12): Ivan Barbashev, Sammy Blais, Tyler Bozak, Kyle Clifford, Mike Hoffman, Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, Zach Sanford, Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz, Oskar Sundqvist, Robert Thomas.

Defense (7): Robert Bortuzzo, Vince Dunn, Justin Faulk, Carl Gunnarsson, Torey Krug, Colton Parayko, Marco Scandella

Goalies (2): Jordan Binnington, Ville Husso

Injured (1): Vladimir Tarasenko

TAXI SQUAD

Jacob de la Rose, Joel Hofer, Jordan Kyrou, Mackenzie MacEachern, Niko Mikkola, Austin Poganski

The Blues also sent the following players to the Utica Comets of the AHL; the Springfield Falcons are not playing this season due to COVID-19 economic concerns:

Sam Anas, Evan Fitzpatrick, Jon Gillies, Dakota Joshua, Tanner Kaspick, Hugh McGing, Curtis McKenzie, Jake Neighbours, Scott Perunovich, Evan Polei, Mitch Reinke, Steve Santini, Nolan Stevens, Tyler Tucker, Nathan Walker and Jake Walman.