Blues Lose Young Defenseman At Worst Possible Time

With Tyler Tucker sidelined following knee surgery, the St. Louis Blues will lean on their veteran defensemen to fill the gap as they await his re-evaluation in six weeks.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker will be out for a stretch after knee surgery, and the team won’t know more for six weeks.

General manager Alex Steen said Wednesday that Tucker had a successful procedure on his right knee and will be re-evaluated in six weeks. The arthroscopic surgery came after Tucker was injured in practice during training camp. He was placed on injured reserve Monday, along with fellow defenseman Logan Mailloux.

It’s a frustrating setback for Tucker, who had just put together his first full season as an NHL regular. In 2025-26, the 26-year-old dressed for 69 games, scored three goals, added 14 assists and finished with 17 points.

He also logged a minus-4 rating while averaging 14:22 of ice time per game. That marked a real step forward after he had played fewer than 40 games with St.

Louis in each of the previous three seasons.

With Tucker and Mailloux sidelined, the Blues are set to lean on a blue line heavy with experience to open the season. Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler and Brandon Carlo are among the veterans expected to anchor the back end, while Theo Lindstein and Philip Broberg are also projected to handle significant minutes.

Tucker is entering the final year of his two-year contract, which carries a $925,000 AAV.

The Thunder Bay, Ont. native has played 159 regular-season games for St. Louis, producing eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points.

He also skated in three games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and scored once. In the AHL with the Blues’ affiliate, Tucker has 11 goals and 45 assists for 56 points in 167 regular-season games, plus two points in 20 Calder Cup Playoff appearances.

The Blues drafted Tucker in the seventh round, 200th overall, in 2018.

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