Oskar Sundqvist, beloved by many St. Louis Blues fans, who recently signed a two-year contract extension, will be made a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.
With Zach Dean set to make his NHL debut on Thursday, Sundqvist was one of the extra forwards skating at Wednesday's practice along with Sammy Blais and Nikita Alexandrov.
Sundqvist, who has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) and is one of 11 Blues to play in all 69 games this season, has gone 13 straight games without a point, and interim coach Drew Bannister feels a reset is in order.
"I think 'Sunny's a heart and soul guy," Bannister said. "I feel like a little of his play's dropped off probably because of the grinds that we're in, in March. I think for him, it's just getting him a reset and getting him rest. He's going to be an important player for us moving forward here. He's going to go right back in, in Minnesota."
Sundqvist, who returned to the Blues last summer on a one-year, $775,000 contract, signed a two-year, $3 million contract on March 7 to remain with the club moving forward.
* NOTE -- Veteran Torey Krug was missing from Wednesday's practice due to maintenance reasons, and Bannister said it's nothing that should keep the defenseman out of the lineup against the Senators.
Veteran Marco Scandella was skating in Krug's spot on defense with Justin Faulk.
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