Not every hockey player makes the show right away. For many, before they wore the Note, they spent time developing in the minor leagues.

Of the 31 players that the Blues brought to the bubble for the 2020 postseason, 25 of them have played in the American Hockey League, including many with the team's most recent affiliate in San Antonio. With the Rampage being relocated to Nevada in 2020-21 as the Golden Knights' farm team, the Blues needed a new partnership. And they found one quickly, announcing an affiliation with the Springfield Thunderbirds in March.

With a number of exciting young prospects in the system, fans may be eager to keep tabs on the future Blues. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about our new AHL affiliation with the Thunderbirds.

Tweet from @StLouisBlues: We're excited to announce a new five-year affiliation agreement with @TheAHL's @ThunderbirdsAHL, which begins in 2020-21. https://t.co/hqMUKvAUrJ #stlblues