Blues Recall Matt Luff Amid Forward Injuries, Look to Bolster Depth Ahead of Busy Stretch
The St. Louis Blues are turning to a familiar face as their forward group continues to get hit hard by injuries. On Wednesday, the team recalled 28-year-old winger Matt Luff from their AHL affiliate in Springfield, a move that adds much-needed depth heading into a demanding stretch of games.
Luff’s call-up comes as the Blues (9-11-7) prepare to face the Boston Bruins (15-13-0) on Thursday. The timing is crucial - St.
Louis is dealing with a growing list of injured forwards, including Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns), and Nathan Walker (upper body). With Walker now expected to miss up to eight weeks, the Blues needed reinforcements, and Luff fits the bill.
A veteran of 106 NHL games, Luff brings a mix of experience and offensive upside. He last played in the NHL during the 2022-23 season with the Detroit Red Wings, where he posted two goals and two assists over 19 games. He’s also logged NHL time with the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators, showing flashes of scoring touch and responsible two-way play.
This season, Luff has been a standout in Springfield. Through 17 games with the Thunderbirds, he leads the team in both goals (7) and points (14), continuing the strong form he showed last year when he tallied 18 goals and 27 assists across 50 AHL games. He’s clearly earned another shot at the big club, and with the Blues’ current situation, he may get a real opportunity to contribute.
Luff joins fellow call-up Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who is set to make his NHL debut on Thursday. While Kaskimaki brings youth and upside, Luff adds stability and a proven track record. Together, they’ll be part of a reshuffled forward group trying to keep the Blues competitive during a tough stretch that includes back-to-back games this weekend against the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.
Meanwhile, the Blues have been active on the roster front beyond just injury replacements. The team completed a one-for-one trade with the Los Angeles Kings, sending Nikita Alexandrov west in exchange for forward Akil Thomas. It’s a minor move on paper, but it adds another layer of flexibility as the Blues navigate a season that’s already been full of lineup challenges.
In the crease, Jordan Binnington addressed his recent on-ice exchange with Bruins coach Jim Montgomery after being pulled from Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Blues netminder made it clear he’s moved on from the moment, saying, “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it.
It is what it is.” Binnington added that while he wasn’t thrilled about being pulled, he respects the coaching decisions being made.
For the Blues, the focus now shifts to weathering this stretch of adversity. Injuries have tested the team’s depth early and often, but the front office is staying active, and the call-ups are ready to step in. Luff, in particular, brings a steady hand and a scoring touch that could help stabilize the forward corps.
As the Blues hit the ice against Boston and roll into the weekend’s back-to-back, all eyes will be on how these lineup changes translate. It’s a pivotal moment in the season - and for players like Luff, it’s a chance to make it count.