The St. Louis Blues are looking to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026-27 after missing the dance three times in the last four years — but that quest will get more difficult without a pair of defensemen to start the campaign.

Logan Mailloux and Tyler Tucker were both placed on injured reserve Monday, the team announced.

Mailloux underwent surgery on his right hand Sunday after suffering the injury during Saturday’s preseason finale against the Chicago Blackhawks. He will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. Tucker is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

“He's had a great (training) camp but that's the game,” general manager Alexander Steen said of Mailloux on Monday. “These things pop up sometimes when things are going good and it's not the right timing. But it's part of the game and Logan is in a good headspace, everything went well yesterday.

“Now his main goal is to rehab and get himself as prepared as he was for camp for when he's able to return. At that time, grab an oar and start rowing with the boys again.”

It’s an unfortunate blow to a blue line that was already looking thinner after the midseason trade of Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings last year.

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Mailloux appeared in 67 regular-season games for St. Louis in 2025-26, chipping in five goals and 13 points. The 23-year-old was originally selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round (No. 31 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He was traded to the Blues in July 2025.

Tucker, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, played 69 games for the Blues last season, adding three goals and 17 points. He’s recorded 30 points in 159 career regular-season games, all with St. Louis. The organization selected him 200th overall in 2018.

The Blues had already shored up their defensive depth Sunday, recalling Adam Jiricek from the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds and claiming Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators.

One or both defensemen could be in the lineup when St. Louis opens its 2026-27 season against the Dallas Stars on Friday night. That begins a three-game road trip that also takes the Blues to Colorado on Saturday and Chicago next Tuesday.

St. Louis’ home opener at Enterprise Center is scheduled for Oct. 8 against the San Jose Sharks.