"What we need to do is make sure we're giving him the ability to create a foundation to have a solid career," Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong said. "Last year, because of COVID, he didn't get to play a lot of hockey. We don't want him to miss any steps in his growth. I think going back and being a leader on his junior team, playing well and getting an opportunity to represent Canada [in the World Juniors] if asked, that's a big step.
"I think he could have survived this year, but when you have a prospect you're going to count on for more than that, I think surviving isn't enough," Armstrong added. "It was important for us to maybe bite the bullet this year as far as our team to give him the best chance to have the best career. We didn't want to be penny-wise and pound foolish. He could have stayed with us and continued down the path of (being) in and out of the lineup with limited minutes, but I just didn't think that was smart for the medium and long-term plans for our organization."
"Overall, I think he did really well," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said of Neighbours. "He's a smart player like I've always said, he's killed penalties for us in these games, done a great job, he's scored a goal, he's around the puck all the time, has a nose for the puck. (This is all) going to be a learning process for him, a kid that young coming into the League."
With a roster spot opened up, the Blues recalled forward Dakota Joshua from the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds.
