St. Louis Blues Re-Sign Young Defender

St. Louis has signed defenceman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, one-way contract extension. The contract will run through the end of the 2026-2027 season, and it is at the price of $850,000.

St. Louis Extends Logan Mailloux

Logan Mailloux arrived in St. Louis in July of 2025 when general manager Doug Armstrong sent forward Zachary Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens. Fans in both markets were confused by the sudden trade. Both players looked poised for strong careers that were just beginning.  Armstrong felt the organization had plenty of depth at the forward position and found a willing partner with the Canadiens. 

Mailloux is only 22 years old and currently playing in his first full NHL season. Over the course of two seasons in Montreal, Mailloux played seven games, scoring two goals and two assists. In 32 games played with St. Louis this year, Mailloux has one goal and one assist. The contract is a strong sign he is doing the little things right. 

What It Means

This contract can be viewed as a smart decision for both sides. In Mailloux’s corner, he knows he has one more year to prove himself. If he can be the defenceman that Montreal thought and St. Louis thinks he can be, he has one year to show that. In the 2022-23 OHL season, Mailloux led all defencemen in goals and was selected to the second team all-star team. He followed that up with two American Hockey League All-Star appearances with the Laval Rocket. The talent is not the question here. The question is how soon will this talent carry over to the NHL? Since this contract is a one-way deal, Mailloux has a much higher chance of staying at the NHL level, albeit with the Blues or a team that could potentially claim him off of waivers.

For the Blues, the new contract for Mailloux is very low risk. Under the new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the players union, a minimum salary on a contract beginning in the 2026-27 season is $850,000. For now, St. Louis knows what he can provide this season.

Unfortunately, St. Louis is still on the outside of the Stanley Cup Payoff line halfway through January. Usually this means that more veteran players get traded for future draft picks or prospects. Another trade for Mailloux is unlikely, but with an additional year on his contract will allow the Blues to possibly move on from veteran defencemen Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko. Prospects Leo Loof and Michael Buchinger are waiting in the minor league, and allowing them to get playing time with Mailloux and Philip Broberg this year can start to shape the core of the next Blues defence for years to come. 

Moving Forward

At this time next season, Mailloux will be looking for another contract. At 23 years old with two full NHL seasons, a long-term deal worth more than the league minimum is a must. Mailloux has approximately 115 games to show the NHL and other general managers why he belongs in this league.