Holloway, Tucker Were Never Options For Blues In Playoffs

St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway was not returning this season after injuring his left hip April 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS – Dylan Holloway and Tyler Tucker were never options to play for the St. Louis Blues during the Stanley Cup playoffs, general manager Doug Armstrong said on Tuesday.

Holloway, a forward who had a breakout season with 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 77 games this season after signing an offer sheet last summer while a member of the Edmonton Oilers, was injured April 3 in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Hockey News learned Holloway’s injury was to his left hip.

"Holloway and Tucker were done," Armstrong said. "Holloway got injured in that game. We didn't think it was going to be as serious as it was. He needed to get some work done, but he'll be 100 percent for training camp."

It was a tough blow for the 23-year-old who was also a plus-21 during the regular season and fueled the Blues’ second line with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou.

As for Tucker, he was injured late in the third period of a 5-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round, suffering a lower-body injury to his left leg that listed the defenseman as day to day.

He may have been an option later in the postseason had the Blues advanced, but they lost the series against the Jets in seven games and was never an option the rest of that series.

"Tucker's injury, we all saw in the playoffs," Armstrong said. "It was a non-surgical candidate, but he was going to be out a while."

There were other injury candidates, including to that of Robert Thomas, who had a lower-body injury he suffered in the regular-season finale against Utah Hockey Club that lingered at times in the playoffs. The center said he was fine.

"If you're healthy enough to play, then you're healthy, so we're not going to use anyone's individual ailments as an excuse for not playing tomorrow night," Armstrong said. "... We had two guys injured and that was it."

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