Leddy Questionable For St. Louis Blues On Thursday

Defenseman missed practice on Wednesday with lower-body injury; if he can't go, expect Ryan Suter to take his place on top defensive pairing with Colton Parayko

ST. LOUIS -- Nick Leddy has had a bit of a tough start to the 2024-25 season which was culminated by a turnover that put the final nail in the coffin of a 4-1 loss against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

Well, there's some substance to it now after the defenseman did not practice on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury and is questionable against the New York Islanders on Thursday in the second of a four-game homestand. 

Blues coach Drew Bannister said the 33-year-old was playing through something that occurred earlier in the day. Leddy finished the game minus-1 and played 20:57.

"It was something that kind of popped up yesterday afternoon and again this morning so we kept him off the ice," Bannister said after practice Wednesday at Enterprise Center. "I think he was focused on and ready to play [Tuesday]. I think he felt like the injury wasn't going to hold him back or hinder him in any way of being able to play, then he would have taken himself out but he felt that he could be a player for us.

"I think right now it's day to day. He could be questionable for tomorrow, but I won't know until tomorrow morning."

Leddy had a turnover early in the third period that led to a Marco Rossi goal 46 seconds in that gave Minnesota a 3-0 lead and was on the ice when Ryan Hartman skated by him that allowed Kirill Kaprizov to float a backhand pass in for a power-play goal in the first period.

"He made a mistake, he owned up to it," Bannister said. "It's up to us as a team, as a group to make sure we have his back and build him up. He's a good player for us. We've got to get him playing the way we know he can play."

Veteran Ryan Suter was skating in Leddy's spot on the top defensive pairing with Colton Parayko and could be the option in case Leddy can't play.

"I think he's just played really well right now," Bannister said of Suter. "He's a veteran player that's played in those situations before and I think he deserves the opportunity to go up there and play with 'Pary' if that's what happens here if Leddy's notable to go. I think that's a good pairing to have. A veteran player that has played in those situations. He'll be able to handle it, no question."