The Blues are finally back on the ice, and their preseason opener against the Dallas Stars comes with a few roster questions already hanging in the air. With a shortened preseason, every game matters a little more than usual, and this first one gives general manager Alexander Steen an early look at where a few young players stand.
Justin Carbonneau is one of the most interesting names to track. In his second preseason, he arrives after a big step forward in the QMJHL last season and after making the most of what he was given in training camp and preseason.
The next question is simple: how much more complete does he look now? If he can show a better handle on situations and stand out in this opener, it could add more momentum to the idea of an NHL debut in 2026-27.
Maddox Dagenais is another player worth circling. Drafted just a few months ago and expected to return to the QMJHL next season, he has a chance to make an immediate impression against NHL and AHL competition.
His goal-scoring ability has already drawn plenty of attention, and this is a chance to show that upside right away. He is expected to play four preseason games for St.
Louis, with this one serving as the first.
Theo Lindstein may be the most intriguing name of camp so far. Head coach Jim Montgomery has clearly liked what he has seen from the defenseman, and that praise has been tied to his puck-moving ability.
Montgomery said, "He might be our best defenseman at moving (the puck) up to the forwards and supporting it right away. As soon as someone’s open, boom, it’s tape-to-tape and it’s gone."
That kind of performance in a game setting could matter a lot. If Lindstein carries what he has shown in camp into preseason action, he could put pressure on Tyler Tucker and force his way into the conversation for one of the last spots on the opening-night roster.
In Other News...
Oskar Sundqvist Just Made His Feelings About The Blues Clear
Oskar Sundqvists decision to return to St. Louis says plenty about where he wants to be as training camp opens. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Blues, giving himself a path to stick in the organization while leaving him with plenty to prove, and he is now in the mix for a roster spot as the competition gets real.
For Jim Montgomery, the appeal is obvious: a veteran who is willing to fight for his place and, for the first time in a while, has a healthier body to do it with. Sundqvists choice to stay rather than chase a safer situation elsewhere adds another layer to camp, because it signals both loyalty to the Blues and confidence that he can earn his way back into the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Just Put A Young Defenseman In A Tough Spot
Marc-Andre Gaudets path through the Blues system has already taken him from junior hockey to the AHL, and the organization has now pushed his next step into a more uncertain space. The 22-year-old defenseman was drafted by St. Louis in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and spent last season with the Springfield Thunderbirds, continuing a pro career that has also included time in the QMJHL and ECHL.
For a young blueliner still trying to carve out an NHL role, waivers can be a sobering checkpoint, especially for a player with contractual control still in place through 2026-27. Gaudet had been part of the Blues camp mix, but the move underscores how crowded the road can be for depth defensemen trying to turn development into an opening with St. Louis. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Prospects Have A Real Chance To Change The Roster Race
The Blues are using their first preseason game to take an early look at the next wave, and the lineup should give fans a good sense of how much young talent is pushing for space. Recent first-round picks Justin Carbonneau and Maddox Dagenais are part of a prospect-heavy mix up front, while veterans such as Pius Suter and Jordan Binnington provide the kind of baseline that lets the organization compare where the kids stand against established NHL regulars.
There is real roster pressure attached to these games for players like Zach Dean and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who are trying to win jobs or at least put themselves in line for call-ups later on. The blue line will get its own test with recent draft picks Lukas Fischer and Colin Ralph in the mix, and Arseni Koromyslov brings another layer of intrigue as he begins his North American journey after coming over from the KHL. [Read more 🡒]