On Wednesday afternoon, the Springfield Thunderbirds announced that 2024 AHL All-Star forward Adam Gaudette was recalled by the St. Louis Blues. Gaudette will replace Kasperi Kapanen in the Blues’ lineup, who is out of the lineup for at least the next four weeks with a lower-body injury.
A source close to the situation told AHL News Now that Gaudette will presumably be up with the Blues for, at the very least, the four weeks that injured forward Kapanen is expected to remain out of the lineup. The source would not confirm or deny whether Gaudette would participate in the All-Star Classic in San Jose but said it was not likely given the promotion and need in St. Louis.
On the season, Gaudette has played well for the Thunderbirds. At the time of publication, the 27-year-old forward leads the American Hockey League in goals with 24 on the season and is third in points with 36. The former Hobey Baker Award winner also leads the team in multi-goal games with six, and multi-point games with 12.
Throughout his career, outside of this current stint with St. Louis, Gaudette has played in 218 games in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Ottawa Senators. Throughout that stretch, he has scored 27 goals and 43 assists (70 points).
In a corresponding move with Gaudette’s callup, the Thunderbirds called up forward Tanner Dickinson from the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL).
Dickinson has participated in 34 games for the Solar Bears, racking up seven goals and 15 assists (22 points) in his tenure this season. He has also collected a +6 plus/minus rating.
After falling in its last two games, Springfield will look to right the ship while having to look elsewhere for the bulk of its scoring. The T-Birds next game is on Saturday when they take on the Rochester Americans. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
