Mathieu Joseph Sent to AHL After Clearing Waivers from Blues

In a notable move on Friday, the St. Louis Blues announced that they have assigned forward Mathieu Joseph to the American Hockey League after he successfully cleared NHL waivers. The 29-year-old will now join the Springfield Thunderbirds, looking to revitalize his season.

Joseph has recorded 11 points in 39 games for the Blues this season, showcasing his speed on the ice. However, his $2.95 million average annual value likely deterred other teams from expressing interest, despite his potential.

This decision comes after Joseph was traded to the Blues from the Ottawa Senators in the summer of 2024, a deal that many viewed primarily as a salary dump. To facilitate the trade, the Senators even included a third-round pick, adding to the complexity of the transaction.

Joseph originally joined the Senators at the 2022 trade deadline when they acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Nick Paul, along with a 2024 fourth-round pick that ultimately turned into Blake Montgomery, a prospect who might help mitigate the impact of what has become a challenging trade for Ottawa.

While Nick Paul is currently sidelined with an injury and on long-term injured reserve, his contributions to the Lightning have been significant. Paul has consistently been a reliable player, surpassing 20 goals and 40 points in each of the last two seasons. His absence has been felt by the Senators, who opted for Joseph, saving $200K per season but ultimately locking in what appears to be the lesser player.

After the trade, former Senators GM Pierre Dorion secured Joseph with a four-year contract worth $11.8 million, averaging $2.95 million per year. In contrast, Paul signed a seven-year deal with Tampa Bay totaling $22.05 million, averaging $3.15 million.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.