The St. Louis Blues will have a key cog back in the lineup tomorrow against Anaheim.
Alex Steen, out since Dec. 21 with a concussion, was activated from injured reserve on Friday and will suit up for the first time in 11 games on Saturday when the Blues host the Ducks, the club announced.
Steen, 29, was in the midst of a career year prior to getting hurt. He had 24 goals through his first 35 games -- challenging Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead -- and was rewarded handsomely with a three-year, $17.4 million extension in mid-December.
In early January, Steen was one of the 14 forwards named to the Swedish Olympic team.
Steen’s return to the lineup couldn’t come at a better time. The Blues have lost two of three and mustered just four goals over that span, and are facing a touch stretch of their schedule that begins with Saturday’s game against the NHL-leading Ducks, followed by a four-game road swing through Detroit, New Jersey and both New York teams (Islanders and Rangers).
As for how the Blues plan to incorporate Steen back into the lineup?Hitchcock on Steen: “I think we’re going to play him as much as he can handle, and hopefully he can get up to speed right away...” (1 of 2)
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 17, 2014
”...and play the minutes that he did before and contribute the way he did before because he was a huge impact player for us.” (2 of 2)
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 17, 2014