A preseason fight, a costly bill
One punch-up in the last preseason game, and the St. Louis Blues are down their top defenseman. The team announced Monday that Logan Mailloux needs hand surgery and will miss at least the first eight weeks of the season.
The 23-year-old hurt his right hand in a fight with Chicago’s Cole Smith on Saturday. He was slated to pair with Philip Broberg on the top blue-line unit. Now he starts the year on injured reserve, alongside fellow defenseman Tyler Tucker.
General manager Alexander Steen stayed calm about it. “He’s had a great camp, but that’s the game,” Steen said. “These things pop up, sometimes when things are going good and it’s not the right timing.” He added that the surgery went well and that Mailloux is in a good headspace. Mailloux will be reevaluated at the eight-week mark.
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How much St. Louis loses
Mailloux was the Montreal Canadiens’ first-round pick in 2021. Last season was his first full year in the NHL, and he put up five goals and eight assists with 48 penalty minutes in 67 games. Those minutes show the physical edge he brings to the pairing with Broberg.
The replacements
The Blues moved quickly to plug the gap. They signed Justin Barron off waivers from Nashville and recalled 20-year-old rookie Adam Jiricek from AHL Springfield.
Barron is 24 and already on his fourth NHL organization since 2021-22. He has 18 goals and 34 assists in 208 games for Colorado, Montreal and Nashville, including nine assists in 52 games for the Predators last season. Steen pointed to his mobility. “This is a fresh start for him,” he said.
Jiricek, the 16th overall pick in 2024, has not played an NHL game yet. With Mailloux out, that could change soon.
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