Tyler Tucker’s 2025-26 season changed the conversation around him.
For years, he was the kind of player shuttling between the AHL and the NHL, waiting for a real chance to stick. Last season finally gave him that opening.
He entered the year projected as the seventh defenseman, but he ended up playing in 67 games and getting plugged into all sorts of different pairings as the Blues moved him around the lineup. That kind of workload marked a real step forward in his development.
The numbers were solid, too. Tucker finished with three goals and 14 assists for 17 points, while adding 100 hits, 51 blocked shots, and 13 takeaways.
He did all of that in just 14:22 of ice time per game. His underlying results backed up the eye test as well, with a 50.82 CF%, a 52.70 SCF%, and a 51.34 xG% according to Natural Stat Trick.
He also allowed only 163 high-danger scoring chances.
What keeps Tucker in the mix next season is pretty clear: physicality. His value isn’t built around flashy offense, but around the kind of heavy, disruptive game that can change the tone of a shift. He can throw a big hit, throw opponents off their rhythm, and give the Blues a player they can lean on when they want to send a message or push back against pest-type players around the league.
Confidence matters for him, too. Tucker said this season was the most comfortable he had felt in the NHL so far, and that comfort showed in his play. If he brings that same mindset back next season, he gives himself a chance to match what he did this year - and maybe even top it.
The challenge, though, is real. The addition of Brandon Carlo during the offseason makes the Blues’ top six look mostly settled, which leaves Tucker fighting for the seventh defenseman spot again. Still, if he keeps playing the hard-nosed style he showed in training camp and in his game appearances, he can keep building trust with the coaching staff and stay in the conversation for more minutes.
Tucker is still on the outside looking in, but he’s got a path to a permanent NHL role in 2026-27. The key is proving that last season’s physical edge and confidence were the real thing.
In Other News...
Blues Have An Early Edge In A Lineup Battle That Matters
Training camp is about to give the Blues a clearer look at several roster questions, and the one drawing the most attention is the second-line center spot. It is the kind of lineup decision that can shape both the top six and the broader feel of the forward group, especially with the club trying to sort out roles before the games start to count.
Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael are expected to head into that competition as the main names to watch, with camp and preseason performance likely to decide how the depth chart settles. For St. Louis, the appeal is obvious: finding the right fit there could give the lineup a steadier middle and make the rest of the forward combinations easier to balance. [Read more 🡒]
Blues May Need To Act Fast With Jimmy Snuggerud
Alex Steens first summer as general manager has already brought a different look to the Blues front office, while Doug Armstrong shifts into the president of hockey operations role and the roster gets another layer of intrigue. St. Louis added Mason McTavish and signed Connor McMichael, moves that suggest the club is trying to keep its young core moving forward instead of just waiting on it to arrive.
Jimmy Snuggerud fits right into that conversation. The winger is expected to take on a bigger role this season, and he is also the kind of player the Blues would prefer not to let drift too far into the future without a plan. With a contract extension already being discussed, his path over the next year will matter for more than just the lineup, because a strong season could quickly change the conversation around what comes next for one of the organizations more promising pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Maroon Leads A St. Louis Hockey Honor Fans Will Love
Pat Maroons name is headed back into the St. Louis hockey spotlight, this time for a different kind of honor. Maroon, along with Mike Zuke and Donn Lux, is set to be inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame at a ceremony Aug. 15 at the St. Charles Convention Center, giving local fans another chance to celebrate a trio of figures whose impact on the game in the area has been felt in different ways.
Maroons place on the list will draw the biggest familiar cheer from Blues fans, given his key role in the clubs Stanley Cup run. Zuke is being recognized for both his playing and coaching contributions, while Lux is being honored for his leadership and support of local hockey programs, a reminder that the sports foundation in St. Louis has long depended on more than what happens at the NHL level. [Read more 🡒]