Blues Recall Leo Loof From Springfield

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Leo Loof couldn't believe the news when he got it. At least he got to share the news with his twin brother Linus.

Leo Loof was recalled by the St. Louis Blues from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Wednesday to accompany the team on its three-game trip beginning Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres (6:30 p.m.; HULU, ESPN+, ESPN 101.1-FM).

"I was really shocked, to be honest. I couldn't believe it," Loof said after practice at Centene Community Ice Center on Wednesday. "I got really excited and happy.

"It means a lot. That's what you dream of as a kid, for my family and everybody around me. I'm super happy."

A third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, this is Loof's first in-season call-up. With Tyler Tucker injured with the Thunderbirds, Loof was the next man up.

With the Blues down to six healthy defensemen with Nick Leddy (lower-body injury) and Philip Broberg (right knee) out of the lineup, they needed an extra defenseman on the road just in case.

"He's been steady down there and they've had some injury problems down there too, whether it's on their backend or on the front," Blues coach Drew Bannister said. "But he's been playing simple, kind of what we saw up here when he came in and played some real good games for us, keeping it simple and moving pucks and playing physical."

Loof, who has one assist in 11 games with Springfield and is a plus-1 this season, is in his second full season playing in North America. The Blues could use someone for the time being that has some bite on the blue line.

"I think with Leo, that's kind of his M.O. a little bit is that bite to his game," Bannister said. "We've seen that in the America League, we've seen that in training camp when he was here this year, closing quickly on guys and getting under opponents' skin. He certainly brings that to his game."

There's no certainty to getting into a game, but if he does, the 22-year-old knows what to bring.

"I'm a hard, physical defenseman," Loof said. "I think they want me to bring that, play physical and play simple, a good first pass.

"I think it's (been a) pretty good (season in Springfield). I think I played (a) consistent game and hard. I tried to play very simple. I think it's been a good first (start to the season) for me."