As the Blues continue to remain within striking distance of a Wild Card spot in the West, they’ll welcome back a key piece to the lineup. Lou Korac of The Hockey News relays (Twitter link) that Robert Thomas will return after missing Thursday’s game due to an upper-body injury sustained earlier this week against Washington. The 26-year-old was featured in trade speculation leading up to the deadline earlier this month but ultimately stayed in St. Louis. Thomas leads the Blues in scoring despite missing 18 games due to injury, collecting 16 goals and 30 assists in 53 appearances so far this season.
More from out West:
Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko has resumed skating as he works his way back from a meniscus injury, notes Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. He has missed the last month due to the injury and was initially ruled as being out for the remainder of the regular season. However, while it appears that he’s back on the ice a little earlier than anticipated, the team is still proceeding as if he won’t return before the playoffs, should the team qualify. Kuzmenko, in his first full season with Los Angeles, has 13 goals and 12 assists in 52 games this season.
With Cornell being eliminated from the NCAA tournament yesterday, the Flames have sent two front office staff to speak to Jonathan Castagna to try to get him to sign, reports Sportsnet’s Eric Francis (Twitter link). The 20-year-old was acquired as part of the return for MacKenzie Weegar earlier this month and is coming off a strong season that saw him record 15 goals and 19 assists in 34 games. Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg adds (Twitter link) that Calgary has two contract slots remaining and wants Castagna to fill one of those, suggesting that if he agrees to sign, his deal will begin this season.