"Get Joel Hofer out of this s**t show": St. Louis Blues fans react to goalie being assigned to AHL team Springfield Thunderbirds

By Saurabh Saini

Modified Mar 27, 2023 17:52 GMT

In the latest news, the St. Louis Blues have re-assigned goaltender Joel Hofer to the Springfield Thunderbirds.

It was seen as a knee-jerk reaction to Hofer's performance against the Los Angeles Kings, as he allowed five goals in 17 shots. The Blues have clarified that the move was predetermined and not an afterthought.

Jeremy Rutherford tweeted:

"The Blues have re-assigned Hofer @ThunderbirdsAHL. In the press release, the club says this was the original plan, so not a reaction to Hofer giving up 5G on 17 shots in last night's 7-6 loss to LA."

NHL fans gave mixed reactions to this news. While many fans took a dig at the franchise for their past claims, few felt that the franchise was too harsh on the player and justified the action due to his performance in the game.

Joel Hofer's 2022-23 NHL season overview

Joel Hofer in action during the St Louis Blues v San Jose Sharks

The 22-year-old had a brief stint with the club and played only five games, averaging 53 minutes on the Ice. Hofer did well in the limited opportunities, winning three games during this period. He allowed 2.79 goals per game while saving 0.915 percent of the shots.

How has Joel Hofer performed this season in the AHL?

Joel Hofer has been involved in 40 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the 2022-23 season. He has allowed 99 goals while saving 1144 at a save percentage of 0.920. Hofer has a win-loss record of 22-18, including four shutouts.

What's next for Joel Hofer?

Hofer will represent the Thunderbirds for the rest of the AHL season. The Thunderbirds are fourth in the Atlantic Division at 73 points, 12 points behind the playoffs spot. There's an opportunity for him to make his mark by helping his team qualify for the playoffs and get his place back for the next season of the NHL.

How have St.Louis Blues performed this season?

The St. Louis Blues are sixth in the Western Conference Central Division with 72 points. They are 13 points behind the fourth spot and need to win every game from now on to have any chance to qualify for the playoffs.

On the offense, they have done well to score 233 goals this season. Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich have contributed 53 goals to the team and will play a crucial role in the upcoming games. The defense has conceded 3.64 goals per game which is one of the negatives for them.

The Blues have lost two of their last five games and will look to be better in the future, starting with their game against the Vancouver Canucks on March 28, 2023.