The St. Louis Blues have claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators, and they have recalled defender Adam Jiricek from Springfield in the American Hockey League. Barron, who is 24 years old, played the last two seasons with Nashville and still has one year left on his contract, which carries an annual cap hit of $1.575 million. He will become a restricted free agent at the end of this season if he’s not signed.
This move may be related to the injury sustained by defenseman Logan Mailloux during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, where Mailloux was involved in a fight and did not return to play. The Blues are already missing Tyler Tucker, who has a right knee injury that is expected to keep him out for about a week or potentially longer. To fill the gaps, the team has called up Calle Rosen, a 32-year-old defenseman serving as extra cover, and placed Rosen along with goalie Georgii Romanov on waivers.
Justin Barron stands 6-foot-2, weighs 198 pounds, and was drafted 25th overall in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020. Last season, he recorded nine assists in 52 games with Nashville. He also spent over two seasons with the Montreal Canadiens from 2022 to 2024. Throughout his career, Barron has accumulated 52 points — including 18 goals and 34 assists — across 208 NHL games. The team plans to finalize their 23-man roster by Monday, which will be submitted to the league, and Barron is expected to join the team for practice before they head to Austin, Texas, for a few days of team bonding ahead of their season opener against the Dallas Stars.
Depending on Mailloux’s recovery, the Blues are prioritizing experienced players but also promoting Jiricek, a first-round pick in 2024 who impressed during training camp before being reassigned to Springfield’s Thunderbirds last Friday.
Fan Take: This roster shuffle underscores how crucial depth and experience are at the start of the NHL season, especially when injuries strike early on. For fans, it’s a reminder that team adaptability in these moments often defines their shot at success throughout the demanding season ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
