St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the team has recalled defenseman Dmitri Samorukov from its AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, under emergency conditions.
In addition, defenseman Matt Kessel was assigned to Springfield.
The Blues are currently dealing with injuries on defense to Robert Bortuzzo (upper-body) and Marco Scandella (lower-body). Scandella has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.
Samorukov, 23, was acquired by the Blues via trade from the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 9, 2022. This season, the Volgograd, Russia, native has posted 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 66 games for the Thunderbirds.
Samorukov, who made his NHL debut with the Oilers against the Blues back on Dec. 29, 2021 at Enterprise Center, has totaled 50 points (nine goals, 41 assists) and 96 penalty minutes in 169 career AHL regular-season games.
Kessel, 22, appeared in two games for the Blues during his recall. In 66 games with the Thunderbirds this season, the Phoenix, Arizona, native has collected 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) and 64 penalty minutes. Kessel was drafted by the Blues in the fifth round (No. 150 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
