(9-24-22) Blues-Coyotes Preseason Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- After two days of training camp skating, the Blues hit the ice running -- or skating -- with preseason game action.

They'll take on the Arizona Coyotes to kick off the preseason today at 7 p.m. at WINTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan.

It will be a very raw group for the Blues, who are taking none of their core players aside from goalie Jordan Binnington, who is expected to play at least the first period, if not half of the game. 

The lineup will be filled with plenty of hopefuls, guys that are on the fringe of making the opening night roster and guys like local native Logan Brown, who could open the season slotted in as a third-line center and is being given looks in an offensive role thus far in training camp.

"Just play hockey again and getting back out there, competing against other teams, getting back in the flow of things," Brown said. "We've had a good couple days here at camp and just trying to carry that hard work we did in the summer into the first preseason game."

The Blues signed a number of skaters to one-year contracts, whether they're one-way deals or two-way deals, that will be competing tonight, including Josh Leivo, who they brought in on a one-year, $750,000 one-way contract.

The 29-year-old Leivo, a third-round pick by Toronto in 2011, just wrapped up a season with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, the Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate, and won a Calder Cup.

Leivo went up against a number of skaters in Blues camp currently because the Wolves defeated the Blues' affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, in five games in the Cup Final.

"It was definitely fun, what a group we had," Leivo said. "Obviously they had a good group too to go that far. Coming into it, didn't know what to expect, but everyone's been positive, a lot of jokes. I guess they said I had a better summer than them. They went so far without winning, but it's been a good little transition here and happy to continue it."

Leivo, who had 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 54 games with the Wolves and a goal and two assists with the Hurricanes in seven games last season, had 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 18 games for the Wolves in the playoffs.

"I had that big injury in Vancouver (fractured kneecap in 2019), it set me back, took me a while to get back into the offensive mind I've always known I can do. Obviously getting down there and playing a lot, having a long run, it always gives you confidence coming into the next season. That's what I'm coming into this camp and expecting to produce and to help make the team."

Why were the Blues a good fit? Well, a one-way contract for one is not a bad place to start, but also because, "I like the older group, their mentality," Leivo said. "I've played against them, I kind of knew the system, knew how these guys play, played them a lot when I was in the West. I think they've always had some interest. It was always in the back of my head and then when they called, just got it done and happy to be here."

Also in the lineup tonight are Matthew Highmore, who signed a one-year, one-way contract after spending last season with the Canucks; Martin Frk, who scored 40 goals with the Los Angeles Kings' affiliate, the Ontario Reign, last season, and Tyler Pitlick, who is the lone skater this year on a professional tryout.

"I think it'll be exciting, a bunch of guys fighting for spots," Brown said. "We're going to go out, play hard and start the preseason off right."

Blues No. 1 draft picks, Jake Neighbours (2020) and Zachary Bolduc (2021), will also be in the lineup, as will 2017 first-round pick Klim Kostin, who is fighting for a roster spot in the bottom six.

The Blues' projected lineup:

Zachary Bolduc-Nikita Alexandrov-Josh Leivo

Jake Neighbors-Logan Brown-Martin Frk

Matthew Highmore-Nathan Todd-Klim Kostin

Landon Sim-Keean Washkurak-Tyler Pitlick

Scott Perunovich-Matthew Kessel

Calle Rosen-Brady Lyle

Michael Buchinger-Luke Witkowski

Jordan Binnington is expected to start in goal; Joel Hofer will play and be the backup.