While players like Justin Faulk may've seen better days in their advanced age, that's not the case for all St. Louis Blues defensemen. Cam Fowler came in last season from the Anaheim Ducks and was more than a stellar fit, racking up 40 points and nine goals in 68 games to go with a plus-12 between his time in Southern California and Arch City.
As for his stint with the Blues? He put up all nine of his goals while in Arch City, and 36 points in 51 games, and a plus-19. Saying he was a good fit for St. Louis was an absolute understatement, and he did all of this without playing a physical brand of hockey. Positioning and knowing where he needed to be on the ice paid dividends, and it's why he'll see just as much if not more time this year.
He won't find himself on the first pairing; that's reserved for Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko. But he'll log ideal second-pairing minutes with Faulk alongside him early, but I can also see Logan Mailloux getting in on the action if and when he shows us all why the Blues traded for him.
Or, if and when Faulk's perpetual decline reaches the point where the Blues must look in another direction, and that day's not far off. But that shouldn't discourage Blues fans, considering how good of a mentor Fowler could be if paired with Mailloux.
Logan Mailloux may benefit more than anyone else from Cam Fowler's presence
Often, you see youngsters paired with seasoned vets who are past their prime, and the vet takes on the "old, wise mentor" role. That's neither the case with Broberg on the top line with Parayko, nor potentially with Mailloux should he fit with Fowler.
You got a guy who can still play like he's in his 20s, and his playmaking continues to be one of the best in the league among forwards in his age group. But like I said earlier, positioning, more than anything else, defines Fowler's game, and what a young player who should go full-time in the NHL this season can use a helping hand with.
It's also why I'd, if I'm head coach Jim Montgomery, "experiment" with Fowler and Mailloux in the same pairing even if things are going well. And if it accelerates Mailloux's game, keep everything 'as is,' and watch the seasoned vet keep playing his brand of hockey on the middle pairing while Mailloux enjoys accelerated growth.
Not saying that Mailloux will go a full season without making mistakes. But what I am saying is, Fowler's impact should go well beyond just his on-ice performance. And that's an intangible that could have a long-last effect on a player like Mailloux.