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What More Does Kenny Agostino Have to Do to Get a Shot With the St. Louis Blues?

By Patrick Karraker

Oct 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) makes the game clinching save on St. Louis Blues left wing Kenny Agostino (73) during a shootout at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) makes the game clinching save on St. Louis Blues left wing Kenny Agostino (73) during a shootout at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kenny Agostino has been the best player in the AHL by a rather large margin this season. How much more does he need to do to get a shot with the Blues?

In a season where the St. Louis Blues’ NHL roster has plenty of young talent, the organization’s minor-league prospects haven’t garnered an exceptional amount of respect. Without much fanfare, however, one new addition to the organization who still has youth on his side has begun to take the AHL by storm.

Winger Kenny Agostino, a 6-foot, 200-pounder who was signed by the Blues as a minor-league free agent last summer after three seasons in the Calgary Flames organization, was named the AHL Player of the Week on Tuesday after collecting five goals and four assists over four games for the Wolves. Agostino possesses the AHL lead in assists and points, and with the ridiculous run that he’s on right now, he’s leaving everyone else in the dust.

After collecting a goal and two assists in Tuesday night’s Wolves win, Agostino boosted his massive points lead, both for the Wolves and across the entire AHL. Agostino’s 15 goals and 31 assists give him 46 points in 35 games. The runner-ups for the league lead, Wilkes Barre-Scranton’s Jake Guentzel and Rochester’s Cole Schneider, are tied with just 34 points (though Guentzel has only played in 27 games and Schneider in 28).

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The Blues don’t really have an obvious way to make roster space for the 24-year-old winger, but it’s becoming more ridiculous by the day to leave him in the AHL. Agostino has already reached the NHL before–he has a goal and an assist in 10 games over two seasons for the Flames–so he’s by no means the overaged “career minor-leaguer” who overachieves against players much younger than him but can’t back it up at the next level. For that matter, Agostino already showed plenty of intrigue as a potential NHLer this preseason, collecting six points (two goals and four assists) in five official games.

A possible path was cleared for Agostino’s eventual arrival on Tuesday, when the Blues placed winger Ty Rattie on waivers. It’s expected that the team will use Rattie’s roster spot to clear space for defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, who’s nearing a return from a lower-body injury. But if the Blues suffer a forward injury or two, Agostino definitely would be in the mix for a promotion. If Rattie gets claimed on waivers, that’d only enhance Agostino’s cause.

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While Doug Armstrong has had a tendency in the past to promote the players with the most NHL experience when a roster spot opens, his approach seems to be different this season. When injuries have occurred, Armstrong has recalled longtime AHL guys like Brad Hunt and Wade Megan rather than turning to more experienced options such as Petteri Lindbohm, Chris Butler, and Jordan Caron. Considering that Agostino’s still young and has some NHL experience, his production should be enough to earn him an opportunity sooner than later.

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