St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou, left, looks to pass the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar reaches for it during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — The new season arrived with a surprise for the Blues. A big surprise. The Blues skated out for pregame warmups at Ball Center without newly signed forward Mike Hoffman.
The Blues announced that Hoffman was not eligible to play because his work visa has yet to be approved. Hoffman is a native of Kitchener, Ontario.
He is expected to be eligible for Friday’s game here in Denver against the Avalanche, according to the team.
Hoffman signed a one-year, $4 million free-agent deal with the Blues on Monday after spending training camp with the Blues on a PTO (professional tryout contract).
The sharp-shooting winger is expected to provide scoring help, particularly in the absence of Vladimir Tarasenko, who was placed on the long-term injured reserve list Wednesday morning as he continues his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.
Sammy Blais replaced Hoffman in the lineup. These were the Blues’ revamped lines in Hoffman’s absence:
Schenn-O’Reilly-Perron
Schwartz-Thomas-Sundqvist
Sanford-Bozak-Kyrou
Clifford-Barbasshev-Blais
St. Louis Blues left wing Kyle Clifford, front, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington sprays water from his bottle during a timeout in the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube directs calls out to player during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn stands on an image of former Colorado Avalanche president and general manager Pierre Lacroix projected onto the ice during a tribute Lacroix before an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. Lacroix died from complications of COVID-19 last month. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou, left, looks to pass the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar reaches for it during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou, front, struggles to direct a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche player stand for the national anthem before an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues center Tyler Bozak, front, runs Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost against the boards in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, back, looks to pass the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer, right, stops a shot by St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz, left, as Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog, front, and St. Louis Blues center Ryan O'Reilly watch the puck the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer sends out a stream of water after taking a drink during a timeout in the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog, right, picks up the puck as St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist loses his footing and slides against the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues left wing Zach Sanford, back, works the puck past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky, left, and St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron reach for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri, right, checks St. Louis Blues left wing Kyle Clifford during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug, front, tries to fend off Colorado Avalanche left wing Andre Burakovsky during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist, back, drives past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Conor Timmins, left, to score a goal against goaltender Philipp Grubauer in the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. The Blues won 4-1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist, right, is congratulated, after scoring a goal, by center Robert Thomas, left, and defenseman Torey Krug during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. The Blues won 4-1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, left, drives with the puck between St. Louis Blues left wingers Sammy Blais, top right, and Kyle Clifford during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Denver. The Blues won 4-1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jim Thomas
Jim Thomas covers Blues hockey for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
