The Roster Crunch
St. Louis Blues fans know the drill. The team adds a veteran, and someone has to move. That someone looks like Tyler Tucker. The Blues signed Brandon Carlo to shore up the right side. Carlo is a big, right-shot defenseman who can eat minutes. His arrival shifts the math for the entire blue line.
According to Bleedin Blue, Tucker played 69 games last season. He chipped in 14 points during that stretch. He had a solid role. But Carlo’s signing changes the depth chart. The Blues needed a right shot, and they got one. Now the left side is the problem. Tucker is a left-shot defenseman. The team has too many lefts and not enough rights, yet the left side is crowded.
Theo Lindstein is the new name on the radar. He impressed in 17 games last year. He has the inside track on a full-time job. If Lindstein is ready, Tucker drops to the seventh spot. That is the odd man out position. It is a tough spot for a player who just proved he can play.
The Waiver Math
Here is where the story gets tricky. The Blues can send Lindstein down without a worry. He is waivers-exempt. The team can stash him in Springfield if he needs more time. Tucker is not so lucky. He has to go through waivers to leave the roster.
Per Bleedin Blue, Tucker’s contract is very team-friendly at $925,000. That low cap hit makes him a target for other teams. If the Blues put him on waivers, they will likely lose him. Contenders would scoop him up fast. It is a solid NHL player for a cheap price. No one wants to give that up for free.
This creates a strange dilemma. The Blues might need to keep Tucker just to avoid losing him. But they might not have room for him. Injuries always happen in the NHL. Tucker could be the first call-up if someone gets hurt. That is his best path back into the lineup. He sits in the press box until the need arises.
The Long Road Ahead
The future looks bright for the franchise. A survey of 20,000 hockey fans shows strong belief. According to reports, those fans think the Blues will win a second Stanley Cup by 2036. The team has a young core ready to take over. Jimmy Snuggerud and Dalibor Dvorsky are part of that group.
This long-term view matters for Tucker. The Blues are building for the next decade. They have time to fix things now. The old generation led by Doug Armstrong set the stage. New GM Alexander Steen is keeping the momentum. The prospects are leading the way. By the end of this decade, the Blues could be soaring in the Central Division.
Tucker’s fate hangs in the balance. He might not start the season on the roster. But his experience could save his spot. The training camp battle for the sixth and seventh spots will be fun to watch. Lindstein gives him a real run for his money. The Blues have a deep group. That is a good problem to have.
One thing is clear. The 2026-27 season could be the year the team takes the next step. Fans are counting on the young stars. They want another Cup. Tucker is just one piece of the puzzle. If he stays, he helps the depth. If he goes, the team finds another piece. The plan is set. Now they just have to execute.
