Player To Watch vs. Stars: Tyler Tucker

The 23-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ontario and seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft enters his second season and for the time being, is expected to be in the lineup tonight playing on the right side, which is his off side, on the third d-pair with veteran Marco Scandella.

The Blues kept eight defensemen on the roster to open the regular season, meaning they have two extra blue liners just waiting anxiously to get into the lineup themselves. Those two extras include veteran Robert Bortuzzo and 24-year-old Scott Perunovich.

Tucker has 26 games' worth of experience, all last season, when he had a goal and three assists, but the Blues don't need Tucker (6-foot-1, 204 pounds) to be an offensive catalyst. They need him to play an abrasive, physical, checking, responsible in his own zone type of game.

I'll be anxious to see him go against some of the Stars' top weapons, namely Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene and others.

Can Tucker play a consistent game that can keep him in the lineup regularly, or will will he be looking over his shoulder wondering if somebody might take him out of the lineup? He beat out veteran Calle Rosen to be on the big club, and the Blues would like to see him make the most of earning that roster spot. Big test right off the bat tonight.