Blues acquire defenseman, place pair on waivers

Jerabek picked up from Edmonton for conditional 

pick in 2020; Thorburn, Jaskin placed on waivers

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- With NHL clubs scurrying to get down to the final rosters, the Blues were in on the action, trading for a blue liner and putting a pair of veterans on waivers.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

The Blues acquired defenseman Jakub Jerabek from Edmonton for a 2020

conditional sixth-round pick.

The Blues acquired defenseman Jakub Jerabek from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick that can become a fifth-round pick should Jerabek play in 50 games for the Blues this season, and they also placed forwards Chris Thorburn and Dmitrij Jaskin on waivers, lending one to believe that young forwards Sammy Blais, Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas, although the Blues can take an extended look on Thomas for up to nine NHL games before making the decision on whether to send him back to juniors or keep him here, but GM Doug Armstrong has stated in the past that Thomas has nothing left to prove going back to the junior level.

As for Jerabek, 27, the Blues added some defensive depth from the left side and it lends to believe that they have some concerns heading into the season-opener with Winnipeg on Thursday regarding a couple of their defensemen.

Carl Gunnarsson (ACL, hip), although he's skated a number of times during camp, hasn't played in a game yet and chances are he starts the season on injured-reserve, and defenseman Joel Edmundson only played 13 minutes last Friday against Dallas and it was disclosed that he's dealing with a groin issue, so Jerabek, who was signed to a one-year, $1 million contract by the Oilers on Aug. 20, could be a safety blanket in case Edmundson isn't ready to play Thursday.

Jerabek split last season Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League, the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals. He's listed at 5-foot-11 and weighs 200 pounds and is a left-handed shot.

Jerabek had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 17 regular season games with Laval and another eight points (two goals, six assists) in 36 regular season games between the Canadiens and Capitals; he played in two playoff games with Washington and had an assist.

Jaskin carries a $1.1 million cap hit and the Blues could be doing this as a cost-cutting move away from the cap ceiling, but it also indicates that the young kids are ready to make the move up to the NHL roster and the Blues are going away from their big, burly, heavy-hitting, hard forechecking style of fourth line play.

Jaskin fit the mold of a big, forechecking forward that carried fourth-line minutes but was given ample opportunities to perform in the top six and since the 2014-15 season when Jaskin produced 13 goals in 54 games, he's produced 11 goals in the 192 NHL games since.

Thorburn, placed on waivers last season at the NHL trade deadline, carries one more year at $900,000 of a two-year, $1.8 million contract signed on July 1, 2017.

The Blues will learn by 11 a.m. (CT) on Tuesday if either player is claimed. If not, they are eligible to be assigned to San Antonio of the AHL.