The St. Louis Blues head into the 2026-27 season with a defensive group that mixes veterans and young talent. With Torey Krug unlikely to ever return, he will take his place on LTIR while the rest of the blue line features a wide range of veterans, rising stars, and newcomers to intertwine into the fold. This roster offers size, mobility, and upside, giving the team several options for how to deploy its defensemen.
Broberg - Mailloux
The top pairing should be Philip Broberg on the left with Logan Mailloux on the right. Broberg has established himself as the Blues’ best defenseman, logging 1,891 minutes (the most of any Blues player) with strong skating and two-way play. Mailloux has shown good chemistry with him and brings right-shot balance logging eight points, 32 shots on goal and 21:30 over his final 20 games. Together, they form a mobile, high-upside duo capable of handling top competition.
Lindstein - Parayko
For the second pair, pairing Theo Lindstein with Colton Parayko is the most logical choice if the team wants to develop its young prospect. That being said, given the talent on this roster, Lindstein is not a lock to start on the opening night. He looked promising in limited action last season (268 minutes over 17 games) and could benefit from playing alongside an experienced shutdown defenseman like Parayko. This arrangement gives Lindstein meaningful minutes with valuable structure around him.
Fowler - Carlo
On the third pair, Cam Fowler and Brandon Carlo provide veteran stability. Fowler’s puck-moving ability and power-play skills remain useful, while Carlo brings size, defensive reliability, and penalty-killing experience. This pairing offers balance without overtaxing either player. It's important to note as well that both players are capable of elevating their roles when called upon.
Tyler Tucker fits best as the seventh defenseman. He brings physicality and has earned NHL time, but in this setup he serves as valuable depth rather than a regular in the top six. Lindstein and Fowler can rotate on the left side of the second and third pairs as needed.This structure prioritizes chemistry at the top, development in the middle, and reliability at the bottom. Most importantly, it leaves room for adjustments based on performances and matchups.
Goaltending
In goal, Joel Hofer is the clear number-one starter, with Jordan Binnington serving as the backup. Hofer’s play over the past two seasons has earned him the top role, while Binnington provides steady veteran support when needed.
The Blues have the pieces to build a competitive and balanced defensive group. With Broberg and Mailloux leading the way, Parayko mentoring Lindstein, and Hofer in net, St. Louis has a solid foundation heading into next season.