Blues reduce training camp roster down to 43, including releasing Ritchie from PTO

Ritchie, 27, was in camp along with defenseman Andy Welinski on PTO's and Ritchie (6-foot-3, 231 pounds) who fit the bill as a player the Blues could have used to beef up the bottom six. But it would have likely meant that it cuts into playing time at the NHL level for 2021 first-round pick Jake Neighbours and/or cast out veterans Nathan Walker and Mackenzie MacEachern, who are under NHL contracts. Plus, it would mean giving Ritchie a league-minimum deal at $775,000 and the Blues would be paying someone to play in Springfield under an NHL contract if not claimed on waivers to stay under the cap ceiling of $83.5 million.

And there's Nikita Alexandrov, like Neighbours, who is knocking on the door for more playing time at the NHL level.

We spoke with Ritchie, who played in three preseason games, recently about coming into camp and trying to take advantage of an opportunity.

The Blues reduced their camp roster down to 43 from 57 when they assigned forwards Mikhail Abramov, Drew Callin, Tanner Dickinson, Andre Heim, and Mitch Hoelscher, defensemen Jeremie Biakabutuka, Joseph Duszak, Marc-Andre Gaudet, Austin Osmanski, and Hunter Skinner, and goalies Will Cranley and Vadim Zherenko to Springfield of the American Hockey League.

With the Thunderbirds opening training camp on Sunday, this gives those 12 players time to get to Massachussetts. Players hit the ice on Monday and the first preseason game there is Wednesday.

The Blues (2-1-1 in the preseason), who dropped a 2-1 overtime game at the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, will face the Dallas Stars at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence outside of Kansas City on Saturday at 6 p.m.