Hockey Guy hates to see Lars Eller get called up under these circumstances – Andy McDonald’s injury – but it’s still good to see the former first-round pick get his first NHL look.

He has three goals and eight assists for the Rivermen, with a plus-3 rating. Eller has recovered nicely from a shoulder injury suffered during the Swedish Elite League playoffs last season.

He will give the Blues one more player with “plus” offensive talent.

Also progressing at Peoria is forward Nicolas Drazenovic, who has 12 points in 11 games. Drafted as a center, he has played primarily left wing on a line with Eller and Yan Stastny in his third AHL season.

As you know, NHL teams can never have enough depth. So this, too, is good news.

“For the first time in his pro career, he’s getting his name mentioned consistently in conversations about call-ups,” Blues director of pro scouting Kevin McDonald told the Peoria Journal-Star. “He’s played himself into that group that (Blues brass) looks at when a player is needed.

“He has done everything we’ve asked him to do, answered the bell. We knew he was one of those third-year pros coming into this season that would have the mantle swing to him. We looked for him to be an impact player, and he is.”

AROUND THE RINKS: Rivermen defenseman Tyson Strachan (upper body injury) could miss a few games down at Peoria . . . Forward Derek Armstrong (facial injuries) could also be sidelined briefly . . . Former Blues great Brett Hull is looking forward to his Hall of Fame induction. Expect him to express gratitude to the Blues for giving him shot become a full-time player . . . The first month of the season produced a lot of strange numbers and a lot of big injuries, giving fantasy hockey GMs a lot to do . . . The first month also produced pleasant and unpleasant surprises in goal, too . . . The troubles keep mounting for the Bruins, who just lost David Krejci to the swine flu. What will hit this team next . . . In these tough economic times, Columbus is rightfully concerned about losing the Blue Jackets at some point. . . . HockeyBuzz.com suggests that Montreal could move the Kostitsyns, Andrei and Sergei, to Carolina for veteran winger Ray Whitney. The Hurricanes, regarded as a playoff team by most experts, remain in a free-fall.