The St. Louis Blues are set to take on their second opponent of the 2025-26 season, the Calgary Flames, in an afternoon contest on the road. This is a great chance for this team to try and pick up the pieces of the opening night disappointment, losing 5-0 to Minnesota.
One of the pros of the opening game was the play from the fourth line, consisting of Nick Bjugstad, Alexey Toropchenko, and Nathan Walker. The trio was electric in the first game, with an xGoals % of 97.4%. Walker led the way on the line with seven hits, and Bjugstad shined in his Blues debut with two shots on goal.
The story here is about Toropchenko, who sat out of practice on Friday with an injury. An injury that might sideline him for the game Saturday against Calgary.
Jim Montgomery on Alexey Toropchenko: “He’s sore, and I would say he’s questionable to play tomorrow.”
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) October 10, 2025
Upper or lower? “It’s both.”
Who replaces him?
Although it is not confirmed that he will be missing the game against the Flames, there is every indication that he could be. If that were to happen, who gets the nod in his stead on the left side of that fourth line?
That honor would belong to Alexandre Texier, who was a scratch for the first game of the season. No. 9 had a good preseason, but the momentum from last season and Toropchenko's stellar camp and preseason himself, there was just no room for him.
This is a big blow, but it is a manageable one. There is a chance that it can be a better outcome for the Blues, but after the success shown in the first game of the season, it might hurt the line's chemistry.
The injury to Toropchenko was not an ideal start to the year. The Blues are going to play a rough-and-tough playstyle, so injuries are bound to happen. But the fact that it happened in the first game of the year is just bad luck.