The St. Louis Blues made a big splash on the first day of free agency and filled one big hole in their roster. In a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, Logan Mailloux comes to the 'Lou in exchange for Zack Bolduc. The trade angered fans, but it made complete sense.
What can we expect from the newest Blues blue-liner? General Manager Doug Armstrong has some early expectations for him to be thrown right into a big role, but it could be a sink-or-swim tryout for him.
Let's talk about it.
Mailloux for top-4
The early indication is that Mailloux will be added right into the lineup as a part of the top-4 defenseman. The first-line pairing of Cam Fowler and Colton Parakyo is set in stone for the 2025-26 season, but behind them, it gets a little muddier. Mailloux joins Philip Broberg, Nick Leddy, Justin Faulk, Tyler Tucker, and Matthew Kessel to round out the current defensemen on the roster. Obviously, Ryan Suter is still a potential here, barring his retirement.
Training camp is going to be the big tell here for what Mailloux can bring to the table. He is a big and bruising force, with an impressive repertoire of offensive ability. For Laval last season, the Canadiens AHL affiliate, he had 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points. As the Blues had the third-most goals for the entirety of the NHL for goal contributions from the blue line, he is another fantastic tool to have.
If he can have a great camp, show up in the preseasona and make an early impression, Mailloux would not only silence all the haters of the trade, but win them over. Many have labeled him as Parayko's clone, and if that reigns true, the Blues are in a very good spot for next season.
What are your expectations for Mailloux in 2025-26?