When St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker went down with a knee injury, some fans thought it would open the door for Adam Jiricek to make the team.

The 16th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft has had an impressive camp following a strong 2025-26 season for the Brantford Bulldogs. A big, puck-moving, right-shot defenseman, Jiricek appears ready for the vacant 7th defenseman role.

However, the Blues sent Jiricek to the AHL on Friday, opting to keep veteran defenseman Calle Rosen for the spot.

This is the exact type of role that Rosen was brought back for. Rosen spent parts of three seasons with the Blues, bouncing in and out of the lineup. He’s shown he can come in ready to go when his name is called, a trait the Blues will need until Tucker is ready to return.

Jiricek Needs to Play Every Night

This is the right decision for the Blues because it gives Jiricek a chance to play every game. The Blues’ right side of the blue line is pretty set with Logan Mailloux, Colton Parayko, and Brandon Carlo. Injuries happen, and players struggle, but for now Jiricek doesn’t have a spot.

It’s not a good thing for young players to be forced to sit and watch games. The Blues cannot afford to have another slow start to the season.

Jiricek’s time is coming, and it’s coming soon. The Blues want to put him in a position where, when he gets a chance, he never gives up his spot.

The Blues Are Patient With Young Players

Jiricek isn’t the only top prospect the Blues are being patient with. Forwards Justin Carbonneau, the Blues’ 2025 first-round pick, and 2023 first-rounder Otto Stenberg, who played NHL games last season, will also start the season in AHL Springfield. Part of this is asset management; the other part is patience.

St. Louis has a deeper pool of NHL-caliber players than in years past. They wanted a more competitive camp, and they’ve gotten it. Last year, Logan Mailloux went into camp knowing the third-pair role was his, only for him to struggle mightily to start the season. This year, the Blues guaranteed a spot for young players looking to break in.

This mindset has forced players to rise to the occasion. This includes established veterans like Carlo and Cam Fowler, who have impressed on the third pair. It also includes young players like F Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who looks poised for another call-up this year.

There’s also Zach Dean, the return from the Ivan Barbashev trade, who went from a relative afterthought to making the team in an extremely competitive forward group.

A demotion for players like Carbonneau, Jiricek, Kaskimaki and Stenberg isn’t a punishment or a sign of discouragement. It’s an opportunity to work on some parts of their game so they’re ready when they get a look.

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