The St. Louis Blues announced today that forward Ty Rattie has been assigned to AHL Chicago, a possible indication that Jaden Schwartz may be ready to play.
The Blues now have an available roster spot for Schwartz, though he has not yet been activated off injured reserve. The 23-year-old winger has been out since October after fracturing his ankle.
How the Blues fare with Schwartz in the lineup will be worth watching. GM Doug Armstrong has said he wants to see how his team looks when healthy, before any decisions are made ahead of the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
St. Louis is comfortably in a playoff spot, but its 24th-ranked offense is an area of concern.
The Blues host San Jose tomorrow.
Update:
Per Hitch: Schwartz practicing quicker. Won't play Thursday. Needs 1 more full practice. Will slot back with Stastny and Tarasenko #stlblues
— David Solomon (@solomonsside) February 3, 2016