St. Louis Blues’ Magnus Paajarvi Collects Hat Trick for Chicago Wolves

Forward

, who played in 10 games for the St. Louis Blues earlier this season before being put through waivers and sent to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, is making a strong push to join the NHL club again at the end of the Wolves’ season. The 23-year-old Paajarvi starred in the Wolves’ 8-4 Friday night victory over the Milwaukee Admirals, collecting the first hat trick of his professional career. (You can check out all three of Paajarvi’s goals below, courtesy of the Wolves’ YouTube account).

Paajarvi was sent down in late December, as he was struggling to find playing time as the younger, more highly-skilled

had usurped any opportunities that may have otherwise been available for Paajarvi. Though Paajarvi’s future with the Blues organization was definitely at odds at the time (and still may be, considering that he’s a restricted free agent this offseason), he’s made a strong case that he deserves another chance in the NHL.

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Since going down to Chicago, Paajarvi has picked up eight goals and 10 assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-5 in 25 games. Obviously the level of competition can enable players to be more successful at the AHL level, and that’s a possibility with Paajarvi, who had no goals and just one assist with a minus-2 rating in 10 NHL games this season.

With that said, there’s still reason to be intrigued by the Swedish native. Paajarvi, who was the 10th overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2009, has shown the ability to be at least marginally productive in the NHL, as he collected 15 goals and 19 assists over 80 games during 2010-11, his rookie season. He’s never come close to approaching those numbers in four subsequent seasons, but as a big (6’3, 208), athletic skater who’s shown the ability to score in the past, he still has potential. As he’ll be just 24 years old next month, Paajarvi still has a bit of time and is as young as many players who are just getting started on their NHL careers.

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It’s highly unlikely that Paajarvi will get a promotion to the NHL before the Wolves’ season ends, as the Blues are already being forced to sit out two talented forwards on a nightly basis due to the tremendous depth they’ve accumulated. However, Paajarvi–along with fellow NHL vets like Adam Cracknell and Jeremy Welsh, both of whom added two goals each for the Wolves on Friday night–is a strong candidate to be promoted to the big club at the conclusion of the minor-league season, assuming that the Blues’ playoff run lasts until then.

As is often said in the NHL, “you need everyone” to make a Stanley Cup run, so while a guy like Paajarvi may start out the postseason as the 14th or 15th forward on the depth chart, it’s possible that he’ll be needed for depth reasons in what is almost like a second regular season, with a team having the potential to play in as many as 28 postseason games. If nothing else, Paajarvi can make an impression on a bigger stage and prove that he belongs in the NHL next season.

Next: Blues to Get Kevin Shattenkirk, Carl Gunnarsson Back on Saturday