Blues Send Mailloux to Springfield on Conditioning
St. Louis assigned defenseman Logan Mailloux to the Thunderbirds as he works back from hand surgery.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
The St. Louis Blues assigned defenseman Logan Mailloux to Springfield on a conditioning assignment after he recovered from a right-hand injury suffered in the final preseason game. Mailloux is on Injured Reserve and will return to the Blues roster in a few weeks.
Why it matters
The Blues have eight defensemen competing for six spots, so Mailloux's return will force a roster decision. The assignment lets him regain game readiness without occupying an active NHL spot.
Team roster records show eight defensemen for six spots, with Mailloux's 14-day assignment allowing up to five Springfield games before a return. The club has not said when he will be recalled or which defenseman will be moved out.
The players
Logan Mailloux
Mailloux is a defenseman who recorded 13 points in 67 games across the 2025-26 season and is working back from hand surgery.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues are an NHL franchise based in St. Louis that is managing a crowded right side of its defense.
Springfield Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds are the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts, where Mailloux will play his conditioning games.
The details
Mailloux injured his right hand in the Blues' final preseason game and underwent surgery on Sept. 28. He is now on Injured Reserve and will play up to five games in Springfield during a 14-day conditioning stint. Colton Parayko is listed as day-to-day, and Justin Barron, claimed off waivers from Nashville, has eight points in 11 games.
Timeline
Sept. 28: Mailloux underwent hand surgery.
End of September: The Blues claimed Justin Barron off waivers from Nashville.
Monday, Nov. 3: The Blues announced Mailloux's conditioning assignment.
Friday, Nov. 4: Mailloux's first possible Springfield game, versus Hershey.
Season Trajectory
Under NHL waiver rules, the Blues can move players like Adam Jiříček to Springfield without exposing them to claims, which shapes how the club manages depth. Mailloux's return and the pending restricted free agency of Jiříček and Barron will test how the roster balances before the season's midpoint.
Mailloux's return will likely push either Adam Jiříček or Carlo out of the lineup, affecting ice time for fantasy and roster watchers. Mailloux likely slots into a second or third pairing when he returns.
The takeaway
Roster depth on an NHL club can shift quickly, and conditioning assignments give injured players a controlled path back. Watch how the Blues handle their restricted free agents this summer.
What happens next
Mailloux is expected to return to the Blues roster in a few weeks, at which point the club must decide which defenseman sits out.
Further reading
For broader coverage of the club's roster moves, see Hockey news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bleedin' Blue.
