St. Louis Blues Lose Brad Hunt on Waivers to Nashville Predators
The Blues lost a player to the waiver process for the second time in 2017.
For the second time in two weeks, the St. Louis Blues have lost a player off their NHL roster through the waiver process. Defenseman Brad Hunt was claimed by the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, one day after the Blues placed him on waivers in hopes of returning him to the AHL Chicago Wolves.
The 28-year-old Hunt had played just 21 games in the NHL prior to this season, but with his performance thus far it’s difficult to understand why he hasn’t received a greater shot at hockey’s highest level. While he’s 5-foot-9 and 187 pounds and gets overpowered in his own zone at times, Hunt has shown himself to be an impactful offensive contributor.
Through 23 games at Chicago, Hunt led the entire AHL with 29 points (nine goals and 20 assists) while posting a plus-9 rating. After being recalled to the NHL club in early December, Hunt had points (a goal and three assists) in each of his first four games with the Blues. He was somehow banished to the press box while that streak was still alive, giving way to Carl Gunnarsson as he returned from an injury, and he went pointless in four of his remaining five games with the Blues.
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His last point, though, was a beautiful assist on a Paul Stastny goal in the Blues’ January 7 win over the Dallas Stars. Hunt passed the puck from his own defensive zone all the way to the right side of Dallas’s net, and Stastny got ahold of it and pushed it past Kari Lehtonen to tie things up for the Blues.
Hunt follows Ty Rattie as Blues players who have been snatched up by other clubs as the Blues moved them off the NHL roster. Rattie was claimed on waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes on January 4.
While Hunt’s loss undoubtedly hurts the Blues’ depth, they’ve still got quite a few intriguing defensemen in the minors. Vince Dunn and Jordan Schmaltz, two recent early draft picks, are the Wolves’ leaders in points among defensemen this season. Three players with NHL experience–Chris Butler, Petteri Lindbohm, and Morgan Ellis–are also at Chicago and could provide depth if necessary.
Next: Should the Blues Give Jake Allen an Extended Break?
With Hunt no longer being on the Blues’ roster, they’ve got an open spot and are only carrying 22 of the permitted 23 players. It’s doubtful that they’ll fill that vacancy until a 14th forward is needed.