The St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings made a one-for-one trade for 25-year-old forwards who will report to their AHL affiliates. Los Angeles sent Akil Thomas to the Blues for Nikita Alexandrov. Thomas is expected to report to the Springfield Thunderbirds, while Alexandrov will head to the Ontario Reign.

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Thomas was a second-round pick by Los Angeles in 2018. He has appeared in 176 AHL games, all with the Ontario Reign. Last season, he played 25 games with the Kings at the NHL level, but ultimately was sent back to the AHL this year where he produced 13 points in 19 games.

Alexandrov, meanwhile, was a second-round pick in 2019 by St. Louis. He has appeared in 187 AHL games, all with Springfield, save for seven games with the Utica Comets at the very beginning of his AHL career. Alexandrov has gotten into 51 NHL games with the Blues. He was a point-per-game player in the AHL last season and has produced 14 points thus far in 18 games with the Thunderbirds.

This trade is going to give both players a change of scenery and perhaps a different path to playing games at the NHL level. If nothing else, both AHL teams got a proven veteran who can score and play a variety of roles. Both players are at a stage of their career where there's still time for them to find whatever gear it is they need to reach the NHL on a more permanent basis. Now they'll just have a chance to do it in a different organization.

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