As the St. Louis Blues navigate the early stretch of the 2025–26 campaign, one theme has emerged with unmistakable clarity: the heavy lifting on the blue line is being done almost exclusively by the top four. Justin Faulk, Colton Parayko, Philip Broberg, and Cam Fowler are each averaging over 23 minutes per night, carrying the bulk of the defensive workload while also contributing significantly on special teams. With that kind of ice time distribution, the importance of reliable depth defensemen becomes critical and right now, all eyes are on Logan Mailloux to take that next step.
Mailloux opened the season in a depth role but struggled to find rhythm and confidence. His reads were inconsistent, his breakout execution wavered, and his defensive timing lagged behind the pace of play. The Blues ultimately assigned him to the Springfield Thunderbirds for additional reps—and the 21-year-old responded with a productive stretch. Across five AHL games, Mailloux recorded two goals, a -2 rating, and two penalty minutes, showing flashes of the assertiveness and offensive touch that make him a long-term project worth investing in.