The Blues’ blue line is starting to take shape, and the long-term value picture is pretty clear at the top. St. Louis has a mix of veterans, rising pieces and one major cornerstone, but not every defenseman carries the same weight when you zoom out beyond this season.
At the bottom of the list is Brandon Carlo, the lone new face on the defense this year. That alone makes him something of a wild card.
He’s under contract only through the end of the 2026-27 season, and plenty of people see him as a stopgap until a younger, more talented option is ready. It wouldn’t be a shock if Tyler Tucker takes his spot in some games this season, which is part of why Carlo doesn’t project as a major long-term piece for the organization.
Cam Fowler lands just ahead of him, and that placement reflects the way his second season in St. Louis went.
His first partial year after arriving from the Anaheim Ducks was a real jolt, especially offensively, as he piled up 36 points in 51 games during the 2025-26 season. But last year brought a step back, with Fowler finishing at 30 points in a full 82-game schedule.
For a veteran on a three-year deal carrying a $6.1 million AAV, that kind of regression doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, and he could be a frequent target for fan frustration if the production doesn’t rebound.
Logan Mailloux comes next, and his ranking is more a reflection of the players above him than any lack of faith in his trajectory. He was rough early last season, then returned from a short stint in Springfield looking much more settled.
The defensive game tightened up, he looked more comfortable carrying play, and he started jumping into offense at the right moments. The mistakes were still there, but that’s part of the learning curve for a young defenseman taking on a bigger role than he’s ever had.
The Blues clearly view him as part of the future, and the big question is whether that future means top-pair status or something closer to a second- or third-pair role.
Colton Parayko checks in at No. 3, and his value is tied to both what he does on the ice and what he means to the room. He was the subject of premature trade reporting this season after being said to be headed to the Sabres, but he ultimately chose not to waive his NTC and stayed in St.
Louis. That may turn out to be a major boost for the Blues, who will need veteran leadership this year.
As an Alternate Captain and a career Blue, Parayko brings that in spades. He’s also still a legitimate top-pair defenseman with a booming slap shot, and his $6.5 million AAV with four full years left makes him a strong asset whether he stays or eventually becomes a trade chip.
The surprise name near the top is Theo Lindstein, though maybe not for long if he keeps playing like he did in his brief NHL run last season. He looked remarkably polished, especially on the defensive side, where he carried himself like a veteran and rarely looked out of place.
He also showed good timing with the puck in the offensive zone and held his own while paired with veteran defensemen. For a late first-round pick who was just getting his first NHL minutes, that kind of poise stands out.
A little regression is possible, even likely, but the upside is obvious.
And at No. 1, it’s Philip Broberg, no debate. He was the Blues’ best player last season and is signed for the next six years at an $8 million AAV, a deal that could look even better as the salary cap rises.
Broberg is the model of a defense-first blueliner, though he’s far from one-dimensional; he has offensive instincts and a strong shot, too. Still, his game is built around doing the right things everywhere on the ice.
Acquired via offer sheet from Edmonton two years ago, he has already outperformed expectations. St.
Louis would be wise to hold onto him, because his age, leadership, contract and performance make him the most valuable defenseman on the roster by a wide margin.
In Other News...
One Former Blues Name Still Feels Impossible To Ignore
The Blues still have a familiar cluster of former faces in the free-agent conversation, and it is not hard to see why those names keep coming back up. Vladimir Tarasenko, Brandon Saad, Jonathan Drouin and David Perron are all sitting without contracts for the 2026-27 NHL season, which makes each one a reminder of how much St. Louis has changed even as it continues to shuffle through roster decisions of its own. Their career paths since leaving town have been different, but they remain connected by the same basic question of where they fit next.
For St. Louis, the more relevant issue is which of those reunions ever made real sense in the first place. The Blues are juggling roster considerations that make some potential returns look unlikely, even with the comfort level that comes from knowing what these players have meant before. Perron in particular still feels like the kind of name that can stop a conversation in its tracks, but the market and the Blues own needs will decide whether any of these old ties become more than just background noise. [Read more 🡒]
Alexander Steens First Blues Test Is Coming Faster Than Expected
Alexander Steens first real test as Blues general manager is arriving sooner than anyone in St. Louis probably expected, and it comes in a season where front-office turnover around the NHL has been unusually heavy. Seven teams have already changed GMs since the start of the 2025-26 season, but the Blues situation stands out because Steen was elevated into the job without Doug Armstrong being pushed out, giving the franchise a different kind of transition than most.
That makes every early decision feel a little more loaded, especially with future roster moves already looming in the background. A potential trade target like defenseman Alexander Nikishin would be a significant swing, and contract calls around Jimmy Snuggerud will matter just as much for how quickly Steen can shape the team in his own image. St. Louis may not have forced a full reset, but the next few choices will say plenty about how aggressively its new GM intends to operate. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Thomas Is Chasing A Place Few Blues Ever Reach
Robert Thomas has already put himself in rare company for the Blues, tying for 11th on the franchises all-time scoring list with 460 points in 530 games. For a player still in his prime and under contract for five more seasons, that kind of climb is worth watching closely, especially in a team record book that has been shaped by decades of steady scorers and Hall of Fame talent.
Bernie Federko remains way out front at 1,073 points, which gives the chase a long way to go and a high bar to clear. Still, Thomas has the time and the runway to keep moving up, and if he stays healthy and productive in St. Louis, he could spend the next few years turning a solid spot in the rankings into something much more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]