Blues general manager Doug Armstrong took a chance on Nail Yakupov, and although the former No. 1 pick can't crack the lineup lately, the GM says he still has confidence.

In October, the Blues acquired Yakupov for forward prospect Zach Pochiro and a conditional third-round pick, hoping that a change of scenery would help the 23-year-old who floundered during four seasons in Edmonton.

Yakupov had a decent start with the Blues, with four points in his first six games, but soon his ice time diminished and he was dropped to the fourth line before becoming a healthy scratch for the first time on Nov. 5. He's sat out seven of the Blues' past 12 games and isn't expected to be in the lineup when they host Tampa Bay on Thursday at Scottrade Center. But apparently that doesn't have the club second-guessing the deal.

"We felt it was a worthwhile gamble," Armstrong said. "We gave up a third-round draft pick and he's come in, and quite honestly, someone like Dmitrij Jaskin is really playing great hockey right now and he's taken away his ice time. That's just the nature of competition. You've got to push and prod and find your way in, and other guys are trying to do it.