Tyler Tucker Perseveres Through Mental Process Of Shuffling Back And Forth From AHL To NHL, Making Most Of Recent Opportunity With Blues

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Last Oct. 6, by his own admission, was not a day that the St. Louis Blues defenseman enjoyed.

Once again, the seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft was on the outside looking in as far as the Blues’ depth chart was concerned. He was literally ninth on the list, behind the likes of Scott Perunovich and newly-signed Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

But this was was different. Instead of just being assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League, the 24-year-old had to be exposed to waivers first.

“Obviously not what you want to hear coming out of camp,” Tucker said on Wednesday.

Did he have to prepare himself for a change of scenery should be be claimed? Was Tucker actually looking for this after what seemed like the umpteenth time he couldn’t crack this lineup or be on the opening night roster? Nobody could blame him if he was.

“I wouldn’t say I wanted a change of scenery,” Tucker said. “It was a stressful day, obviously, my first time kind of going through it. Doug [Armstrong] called me the next day and told me that I’m going down. All you can do is go get back to work, control what you can control, put the work in and good things will happen.”

Since signing his three-year, $2,424,999 entry-level contract on March 2, 2020, Tucker was either called up or assigned to the AHL six different times before signing his latest contract, two years and $1.6 million ($800,000 average annual value). The contract was a one-way deal, so that was a perk.

But since signing that contract June 30, 2023, Tucker has either been recalled or sent down two more times for a total of eight times.

Eight. In a span of four years. That’s a lot of ups and downs, taking a toll on the mental side of one’s career.

Having played 52 games over two seasons, Tucker was hoping this was the time.

Until it wasn’t. There was too many instances where the play was inconsistent, and the Thunder Bay, Ontario native never really grabbed the moment. It weighed on him.

“I think so, obviously mentally,” Tucker said. “You feel like you could have done something better, been better, but I think there’s so many guys that go through it. You’re not the only one. It happens every day. You look around, you look at yourself in the mirror, continue to work, continue to enjoy the process and stick with it and good things come from it.”

So Tucker was sent to Springfield and things drastically changed. Thunderbirds coach Steve Konowalchuk implemented the blue liner (6-foot-1, 204 pounds) in all situations, playing big minutes, being part of all phases of special teams and building confidence, which was most important. He had 10 points (four goals, six assists) and was a plus-6 in 19 games.

“I played every situation,” Tucker said. “I was fortunate enough to be on the power play down there, which was new to me in pro hockey. It was a pretty cool experience, but I played a lot of big minutes, just every kind of situation whether it was the penalty kill, 6-on-5, power play, I think that goes a long way and just the staff. The staff did a really good job. They’re trying to improve guys and get them here as fast as they can. I think they did a really good job. … You’re learning from everyone, whether it’s five years younger than you, four years younger than you. I think everyone’s got the same end goal and I think everyone’s pushing to be here right now.”

When the Blues traded Joseph to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 18, Tucker was called back up the following day. There were no expectations. This was more a depth addition to keep the Blues from being shorthanded on the blue line.

He’s averaging just 11:50 ice time per game in 11 games (one goal, one assist), but nobody’s talking about Tucker’s inconsistent play, or making mistakes on the ice. Now, he’s just out there making plays. When a defenseman isn’t the focal point, that player must be doing their job right. And Tucker was involved on Tuesday in the game-winning assist in a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames, putting a puck towards the net that was redirected in by Radek Faksa.

“I wasn't here when he was playing for the Blues previously,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “But I just see a guy who's making a lot of plays. He's breaking up plays, he's physical and then offensively he's in good support position. That's a real smart shot that he takes. He gets it and he knows right away what he's doing, putting it at the net."

The current Blues’ blue line consists of Ryan Suter (1,489 games played), Cam Fowler (1,006), Justin Faulk (943), Colton Parayko (704), injured Nick Leddy (1,015), Philip Broberg (113), Perunovich (97) and then there’s Tucker with his 63 NHL games. But Tucker doesn’t seem to be in awe playing in a lineup that had a combined 4,255 regular-season games.

“He’s just playing really well,” Parayko said. “He’s seeing the ice well, just making plays, poised, confident with the puck, just getting pucks to the net. … Just all-around, he’s a great player. Just glad to have him because he stuck with it, up and down, maybe not necessarily easy but he’s a warrior. It’s good to see he’s getting rewarded. It’s well-deserved.”

Tucker has partnered with Suter but is soaking in as much information as possible.

“He talks to me a lot,” Tucker said of Suter. “After every shift, he’s always talking, whether it’s a good play or whether I need to fix something, what I can do to get better. I think a lot of the guys are communicative. You open your ears and take whatever they give you.”

Tucker knows he could be on borrowed time. When/if Leddy returns, he is likely to be bumped out of the top six. But at the moment, he’s just taking every day as if it matters and growing himself into someone he hopes the Blues can trust to be a mainstay in the NHL after practically being ridden off just three months ago.

“You can’t jump too far forward,” Tucker said. “Obviously you want be here as long as you can. One day at a time, keep trying to get better, bring something to these guys and help this team win.

“I know what I can bring to the table. It’s a two-way hockey game, hard defensively, physicality. I think every team needs some of that and I’m happy to bring it.”

And now that he understands and knows what his calling is – being physical, making smart, quick plays with the puck, moving it up ice and pinching offensively when opportunity presents itself, this stint has obviously been Tucker’s best.

“Obviously everyone coming into camp knew how many guys, how many bodies there were, especially on ‘D,’” Tucker said. “It’s not something you can focus on though. Obviously you want to come into camp and impress, put your best foot forward. I think that’s what I tried to do. Ultimately coming up short earlier in the year, but I’m just happy to be back here. Obviously put some work in down in the minors this year.

“You just keep looking forward, putting your best foot forward. It’s not going to just be handed to you. I’m just happy to be here working hard and hoping to continue to be here.”