The first preseason game did more than give the Blues a look at where things stand. It also made the opening-night picture a little clearer, and Theo Lindstein is right in the middle of it.
St. Louis lost 2-1 to the Dallas Stars, the same opponent it will face again on October 2, but the club will be at full strength for that one. Even with the season still a little ways off, Lindstein is already pushing his way into the conversation for that roster.
He has done it in camp and carried it into game action. Through both settings, Lindstein has put himself in position to make Tyler Tucker the odd man out. The 2026-27 season is still down the road, but the way Lindstein has shown up so far suggests he is trying to leave a real mark now.
The comparison that keeps popping up is Philip Broberg. Broberg is one of St.
Louis’ best players when he has the puck, the kind of defenseman who can swing a game with repeated rushes out of the back end. Lindstein is beginning to flash that same kind of speed, and that matters for a blue line that could look very strong on its left side for years if he keeps this up.
That fits especially well with where the roster seems to be headed. Cam Fowler is nearing the twilight of his career, and Tucker fits better in a third-pairing role anyway. With Broberg and Lindstein, the Blues could have a young left side that grows together instead of being patched together later.
That kind of move also lines up with the bigger picture for a young core still learning how to mesh. Getting Lindstein in the mix now, instead of waiting, would help both the player and the team. Jim Montgomery will eventually have to settle on the right combination, and No. 4 is making a strong case to be part of it.
There is still a fight at the bottom of the defense chart, though. Lindstein, Tucker and Adam Jiricek are all in the mix for the third pair with Brandon Carlo or for the seventh defenseman spot.
That battle has become a major talking point, and there are different opinions everywhere you look. Right now, before seeing what Jiricek does in his first preseason game, Lindstein has earned the edge. That could shift quickly, because the expectation is still that Jiricek will be on the opening-night roster.
Jiricek is set to get his chance in the second preseason game on Monday night, while Lindstein will sit that one out. If Jiricek falls short of the unusually high bar that’s been set for him, Lindstein could wind up playing the final two preseason games and force his way onto the opening-night roster. The answers should come soon enough.
In Other News...
Blues Prospects Are Forcing Attention Earlier Than Expected
September has barely settled in, but a few Blues prospects are already giving the organization something to track from afar. The update from Sept. 20 spans the KHL, VHL and junior ranks, with Dmitri Buchelnikov, Matvei Korotky, Lars Steiner, Ondrej Kos and Mikhail Fyodorov all showing signs of progress in their own lanes while the Ontario Hockey League season is beginning to stir for players such as Colin Fitzgerald and Nick Bogas.
Buchelnikovs early scoring with CSKA Moskva is the most eye-catching part of the overseas snapshot, and Korotkys stop-and-start path between the KHL and VHL is another reminder that development does not always move in a straight line. Add in the early contributions from the junior side, and the Blues are seeing more of their young depth than expected this soon, even if the bigger question is which of these starts can turn into something lasting as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Put Real Pressure On One Preseason Test In Dallas
The Blues head into their preseason game in Dallas with a lineup that looks a little more like October than September, as several NHL regulars are set for their first appearance of the season. It is the kind of test that matters more than the final score, especially for a team trying to get its top players, and its structure, moving in the right direction before the games start counting.
Adam Jiricek is among the names worth watching as he continues to push for a role on the blue line, while Robert Thomas anchors the first line and gives the club a familiar center to build around. Joel Hofer is also expected to get the start in goal, another reminder that the Blues are using this trip to Dallas to sort out the pieces they plan to lean on when the regular season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Still Face The Same Frustrating Question Despite New Additions
The Blues have spent the offseason trying to add more punch and balance, but the conversation around this roster keeps coming back to the same place. The Athletics early look at the 2026-27 picture still sees a team built around a strong top line, a promising starting goalie and a few new faces who could help reshape the middle of the lineup, with Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael among the additions expected to matter most.
Pavel Buchnevich also looms large as a possible rebound candidate, which only adds to the sense that St. Louis has enough talent to stay in the mix if the pieces fit. Still, the bigger issue is whether the Blues have truly solved the depth problems that have held them back, especially on defense and in net, where the margin for error remains thin and the path back to the playoffs still looks unsettled. [Read more 🡒]