Blues recall Logan Mailloux from conditioning assignment ahead of potential season debut

It appears the St. Louis Blues are set to welcome a blueliner back into their lineup.

On Friday, the Blues announced that defenseman Logan Mailloux has been recalled from his conditioning stint with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Mailloux, 23, is in line to make his season debut in Saturday’s road matinee game againt the Nashville Predators.

The Belle River, Ontario native was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hand injury during a fight with Chicago Blackhawks forward Cole Smith in St. Louis’ final preseason game on September 26.

Last season, Mailloux had five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 67 games for the Blues, while averaging just under 17 minutes of ice time.

Mailloux was selected 31st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft amid controversy. With the 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was loaned to the Swedish club SK Lejon. While in Sweden, Mailloux was fined for secretly taking pictures of a woman engaged in a sexual act and sharing them among his teammates. He was then suspended for the majority of the 2021-22 OHL season as a result of this act.

Following his junior career with the London Knights, Mailloux played in just eight total NHL games over two seasons in the Canadiens’ organization, notching two goals and three assists for five points. In 135 games for the AHL’s Laval Rocket, he registered 26 goals and 54 assists for 80 points.

The 6’3″, right-shot defenseman was acquired by St. Louis ahead of last season in exchange for forward Zachary Bolduc.

The Blues sit sixth in the Central Division with 16 points through 16 games.

After Saturday’s game in Nashville, St. Louis will host the Detroit Red Wngs on Tuesday before visiting the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.