The early days of Blues preseason have already started sorting the hopefuls from the almost-there names, and after two 2-1 losses to the Dallas Stars, a few players have clearly moved their stock in different directions.
For St. Louis, the roster picture is already tightening.
A handful of players have been sent back to the AHL level, while others have headed back to their junior hockey team in Canada. With the group shrinking and only two games in the books, there are already two standouts who have helped themselves and two who have taken a hit.
Theo Lindstein has been the clearest success story so far. He has looked exactly like the kind of defenseman head coach Jim Montgomery has been asking for, and his spot on the opening-night roster looks close to a lock.
Compared with his 17-game tryout last season, Lindstein has taken a noticeable step forward. He spent the summer sharpening his game, and that work is showing in the way he’s playing now.
The Blues have liked him for a long time, and he’s starting to show why.
Zach Dean has also made a strong case to stay in the conversation. One of the bigger unknowns heading into camp was how he would look in this setting, and he has answered that question well through two games and a couple of practices.
He has been fast, inventive with the puck, and has flashed plenty of upside. Dean is not guaranteed a spot for opening night, but he has put himself in position to be called on later in the 2026-27 season if an injury or poor play opens the door in the bottom six.
On the other side, Otto Stenberg has not had the kind of preseason he needed. This was supposed to be a meaningful year for him, and the added attention around his brother being drafted with the second-overall pick only raised the pressure.
Through two games, the results have been pretty ordinary. He did collect an assist on Jonathan Berggren’s goal in the second preseason game, but it was not a performance that moved the needle much.
Theo Lindstein, though, has done the opposite. He has checked all of the boxes.
In Other News...
Blues Fans Finally Have A New Way To Watch That Could Matter
For Blues fans who have spent the last few seasons juggling different ways to find games, the launch of Blue Note+ gives the franchise a more direct answer. The clubs new fully owned multimedia network will handle local broadcasts, and the setup keeps a familiar feel by retaining the same broadcast team while adding distribution through Spectrum and Prime Video inside the market.
The move matters because it changes how many of the teams home dates are delivered to local viewers, even as out-of-market fans will keep relying on the NHLs existing platforms. In practical terms, the Blues are trying to make their games easier to find without changing the voices or presentation fans already know, and the real test now is how smoothly the new system fits into everyday viewing habits. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Face A Tough Forward Decision Before Opening Night
The Blues spent the summer reshaping their forward group, highlighted by the trade of Jordan Kyrou and the arrivals of Mason McTavish and Ross Johnston, and the roster now looks a little crowded as opening night approaches. It has left St. Louis in a familiar but uncomfortable spot for a contender trying to balance talent, depth and salary-cap realities, with a veteran surplus that could still change before the regular season begins.
Alex Steen is sorting through the options with the calendar tightening, and the next move matters because the Blues do not want to lose useful experience for nothing. Some of the veterans in that mix carry enough value to draw interest if St. Louis decides to move them, but the alternative is exposing them to waivers and hoping the numbers work out in the clubs favor. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Roster Battle Just Got Tighter Before Final Cuts
The opening-night picture is getting clearer for St. Louis as the club trimmed part of its camp roster and sent a group of young players to Springfield. Among the reassigned are forwards Justin Carbonneau and Nikita Koromyslov, along with defensemen Quinton Burns, Arseni Koromyslov, Colin Ralph and goaltender Will Cranley, a sign that the Blues are beginning to sort out which prospects are closest to NHL-ready.
Felix Trudeau was also moved out of the mix, though his situation is tied to recovery from an upper-body injury. With just two preseason games left, the remaining battles are only getting tighter, and the final decisions will hinge on how the last round of auditions plays out before the roster is locked in. [Read more 🡒]