As the NHL regular season nears, the Blues’ defense is packed with questions, and the answers could shape how this group looks in 2026-27. After sorting through the goaltenders last week, the spotlight now shifts to the blue line, where St. Louis has a mix of established names, young talent, and a few major unknowns.
The biggest name at the top of the list is Philip Broberg. There’s no debate about whether he’s the Blues’ top defenseman; the real question is whether he can become one of the league’s true No. 1s.
Broberg has already shown he can be a strong defensive presence, and the offense has started to come with it. He should also be the favorite to anchor the top power play unit, since the roster doesn’t offer many obvious alternatives.
If he can get to 50 points without giving up much of his defensive value, that’s the kind of season that starts changing how he’s viewed.
Right behind him is Colton Parayko, who still looks like the partner most likely to line up beside Broberg on the top pair. The 33-year-old remains reliable in his own end, but the modest offense he once provided appears to be gone, and there’s no clear reason to expect it back.
He’s averaged 22:28 of ice time over his career, and that’s a lot to keep asking from a player in his 30s. For the Blues, the challenge is simple: he still has to handle tough minutes and handle them well.
Logan Mailloux brings a different kind of uncertainty. His finish to the 2025-26 season was excellent, but the early part of the year was rough enough to make the whole picture look uneven.
That kind of development is common for young defensemen, though, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he has another bumpy stretch before settling in. The Blues need him to keep building on what he showed late last season, but if he does slip, the key is getting him back on track quickly.
Cam Fowler might be the veteran who matters most to the entire defense group. If he can look like the player St.
Louis saw in his first half-season with the team, the whole unit gets a lot sturdier in a hurry. If last season’s disappointing stretch is the version that sticks, the Blues suddenly don’t have much behind Broberg and Parayko.
There’s also the Brandon Carlo angle, and it comes with a familiar face behind the bench. Carlo had what was arguably the best season of his career under Jim Montgomery with the Boston Bruins in 2022-23, when Boston was rolling all year before that Game Seven loss to the Florida Panthers in the first round.
Carlo finished that season with a plus-44 goal differential. His time with the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t go nearly as smoothly, but that came in a much messier setting overall.
He’s never been the kind of defenseman who drives offense, but a reunion with Montgomery could help him get back to being a high-end shutdown presence.
Then there’s the bottom of the depth chart, where the Blues have a real decision to make. Theo Lindstein impressed in his call-up last season, Adam Jiricek has an outside shot as a rookie, and Tyler Tucker is there if the staff wants more veteran stability.
It’s possible all three are in the mix and Montgomery uses a rotation on the third pair. Still, development has to come first, and that means playing time matters.
Tucker is what he is, so he can afford to sit at times while the younger players get minutes. Jiricek may be better off with heavy AHL usage in Springfield, while Lindstein looks like the one most ready to start transitioning to the NHL.
Of the three, Jiricek is the most likely to wind up with the Springfield Thunderbirds, though a strong camp could make that decision harder.
In Other News...
Blues Camp Injury Just Raised The Stakes For One Young Defenseman
Tyler Tuckers camp has taken an unwelcome turn after the defenseman went down with a knee injury during drills, forcing him to miss a preseason game and leaving the Blues without much clarity on when he might be back. Jim Montgomery said Tucker will be re-evaluated in a few days, which is the kind of update that keeps a spot on the blue line in flux this early in camp.
That uncertainty opens a door for Adam Jiricek, the Blues 2024 first-round pick, to make a real push for roster consideration. Jiricek is still expected to start the season in the AHL, but injuries have a way of reshaping camp competition quickly, and Tuckers absence gives the young defenseman a chance to show he can stay in the conversation a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Blues May Have Found A Goalie Answer Sooner Than Expected
Georgii Romanov has already given the Blues a little more than expected in the preseason, and not just in the box score. In two exhibition appearances, the goaltender has looked composed enough to keep the conversation alive about where he fits in St. Louis longer-term picture, especially after his strong postseason stretch with Springfield helped put him on the organizations radar.
Romanovs rise matters because the Blues are still sorting out their future in net, and depth at the position rarely comes easy. He is not being handed anything yet, but the early returns suggest the club may have a real option developing behind the current group, one that could grow into a backup role as other prospects continue to move through the system. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Fans Will Be Watching One Preseason Scare Closely
The Blues preseason reached its midpoint with a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, but there was still enough to like in the details. Mason McTavish made a strong first impression in his first game with St. Louis, and the top line of Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway showed encouraging chemistry even without finding the scoresheet.
Joel Hofer also gave the Blues a steady night in net, turning aside 17 of 18 shots before being pulled in the third period. The one item that will get a closer look from the St. Louis side came when Holloway briefly exited after stepping in for Snuggerud and did not return until later, a preseason scare that is unlikely to linger but will be watched closely as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]