Blues activate left winger Jake Neighbours

The Blues announced that they’ve activated left-winger Jake Neighbours from injured reserve. Forward Alexandre Texier was moved to the non-roster list to open up an active roster spot. He will be placed on waivers for assignment to AHL Springfield, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reports. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier Thursday that Texier was considering asking for a contract termination. If he clears waivers and fails to report to Springfield, that would give the Blues cause to trigger termination proceedings and place him on unconditional waivers.

Neighbours will return to the lineup tonight in Philadelphia significantly ahead of schedule. The 2020 first-rounder hasn’t played since sustaining a right leg injury against the Red Wings on Oct. 25 following a two-goal effort, and the Blues initially prognosticated he’d miss at least five weeks. That would have punted his return to the first week of December, but instead, he’s back healthy before Thanksgiving.

Before the injury, Neighbours was on a tear. The 23-year-old had rattled off six goals and an assist through eight games – all at even strength – while finishing at a 50% clip. Even with the missed time, that hot streak should have him well on his way to record his third consecutive 20-goal season. Neighbours had been stapled to Robert Thomas’ left wing to start the year. It’s hard to imagine the Blues removing him from that post, considering his early-season success, indicating Dylan Holloway will be shifted back to a middle-six role after seeing some time alongside Thomas.

Getting him back is a massive boon for a team that’s had nightmarish offensive output as they reach the first-quarter point of their schedule. Neighbours’ six goals are still tied with Jordan Kyrou for the team lead, and their 2.75 goals per game rank 26th in the league. Since Neighbours left the lineup, that figure drops to 29th place at 2.58 per game.

As for Texier, this is presumably the beginning of the end of his time in St. Louis. Beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT, the league’s other 31 teams will have the chance to pick up the remainder of Texier’s expiring deal at a $2.1MM cap hit if they so choose. If he clears and doesn’t report to Springfield, he’ll then land on unconditional waivers and become a free agent after another 24-hour waiting period, after which he can sign a prorated deal for cheaper with another team for the remainder of the season. St. Louis went through the same process last season with Brandon Saad.