The St. Louis Blues announced today that forward Oskar Sundqvist sustained an injury during Sunday's practice and will miss the start of the 2025-26 NHL season. He was chosen for the opening night lineup, but is now considered week-to-week.
In the press release, GM Doug Armstrong says he doesn't believe the injury is that serious, but that it is a letdown for Sundqvist. The good news is that the Blues aren't worried about Sundqvist's long-term health and ability to play later in the season; the bad news is that he won't be able to play on opening night.
Sundqvist had six goals and 20 points for the Blues in the 2024-25 season; his average ice time was a bit over 13 minutes per night. He played a larger role for the team in their seven-game first-round loss to the Winnipeg Jets during the playoffs, averaging over 15 minutes a night and registering a goal and an assist in the process.
This injury also creates a hole in the bottom six for the Blues, but they're carrying 14 forwards on the roster into the season, which means there are plenty of replacements. It'll all come down to head coach Jim Montgomery's preferences, but any one of Nathan Walker, Alexey Toropchenko, Alexandre Texier, or Mathieu Joseph will be filling in for Sundqvist in some capacity. One of the big stories of the preseason was the battle for ice time at the bottom of the Blues' lineup, and a Sundqvist injury opens the door for a player fighting for a roster spot to prove they deserve to be on the team.