最新杏吧原创

Across a career that spans more than 1,000 NHL games and four franchises, there are sure to be many that dot Leddy鈥檚 history. But this one comes at the start of a season, and brings with it the amplified scrutiny that arrives with a small sample size in October.

Leddy has been on the ice for eight goals against (the Blues have allowed 14), including three on Tuesday night. Only two NHL defensemen have been on the ice for more goals against: Colorado鈥檚 Cale Makar and New Jersey鈥檚 Brenden Dillon, though the Devils have played six games. On average, Leddy has been on the ice for two goals against in each game, which is tied with Brayden Schenn (eight total goals against) and behind Robert Thomas (nine).

On Tuesday night, Leddy was victimized by a Minnesota power-play goal in the first period, an even-strength one in the third and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson鈥檚 empty-net goal in the final minute.

Ryan Hartman scored on the power play for Minnesota by sneaking behind Leddy and the Blues penalty kill, and receiving a pass from Kirill Kaprizov before beating Jordan Binnington.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see him,鈥� Leddy said of Hartman. 鈥淚 think originally, I thought it was offsides. Kaprizov made a good play, and (Hartman) scored.鈥�

Marco Rossi scored 46 seconds into the third period on a Leddy turnover caused by Kaprizov, who batted an attempted Leddy breakout pass. Mats Zuccarello鈥檚 drop pass also deflected off Leddy and caromed to Rossi on the backdoor.

鈥淚鈥檝e just got to make a stronger play,鈥� Leddy said.

Leddy was on the ice for Gustavsson鈥檚 goal, but there was nothing he could do to prevent the goal, as Pavel Buchnevich鈥檚 slap shot found Gustavsson鈥檚 glove, and he dropped it and shot it without any involvement from Leddy.

On Leddy, Blues coach Drew Bannister said 鈥渨e鈥檙e talking about four games.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to make too much about one mistake,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淥bviously, I鈥檓 sure he鈥檇 be the first to admit that he has to make a play there. He鈥檚 going to be a better player for us. I believe he will be. It鈥檚 a mistake. There鈥檚 a lot of mistakes in that game. He鈥檚 not just the only one that made mistakes.鈥�

In the third period, Leddy was demoted to the third pairing to play with Matthew Kessel as Ryan Suter took Leddy鈥檚 place alongside Colton Parayko. Leddy took four shifts with Kessel in the third period.

Suter also took Leddy鈥檚 spot on the penalty kill with Parayko as the first two defensemen on the ice while shorthanded. Instead, Leddy was part of the second group and came out with Justin Faulk.

鈥淵ou want to give him some time to work it out, but in the same sense, you can鈥檛 keep losing games or continue to make the same mistakes,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淚 believe he鈥檒l work himself through it pretty quick. It鈥檚 a game of mistakes, he wasn鈥檛 the only one that made a mistake. I know it鈥檚 magnified because it ends up in the back of your net and it鈥檚 a (3-0) game at that time.鈥�

In San Jose, Macklin Celebrini鈥檚 assist to Tyler Toffoli slipped under Leddy鈥檚 stick. Fabian Zetterlund snuck behind Leddy to the backdoor for a Sharks power-play goal. Leddy鈥檚 failed clearance in Vegas turned into Shea Theodore鈥檚 goal in the second period.

Then came Tuesday. Asked about his and Parayko鈥檚 struggles as a pair, Leddy said: 鈥淚 think you鈥檙e watching it too. Sometimes, the puck goes your way. Sometimes, it doesn鈥檛. One hits off a skate here, one hits off a skate there, and it goes the other way. There鈥檚 luck involved in the game, too. Unfortunately, on some of these plays, I鈥檝e just got to make stronger plays.鈥�

The 5 on 5 analytics offer mixed opinions on Leddy, according to Natural Stat Trick. His effect on shot attempt share is about in line with his impact since he arrived in 最新杏吧原创 in 2022. He鈥檚 had a positive impact on the Blues creating and preventing shots on goal. Same with high-danger chances (and scoring chances, too, to a much smaller degree).

The Blues, though, are generating fewer expected goals and allowed more expected goals with Leddy on the ice than with him off it.

Add that in with Blues goalies owning a .844 save percentage at 5 on 5 with Leddy on the ice, and the goals against will pile up quickly.

Other models have graded Leddy as the worst Blues defenseman on the ice in losses to Vegas and Minnesota.

Leddy has been a constant on the ice for 最新杏吧原创 since he was traded from Detroit in March 2022. Only Parayko has more time on ice and shifts than Leddy. This season, Leddy led the Blues in ice time in both of their wins.

Leddy is in the third season of a four-year contract worth $4 million, and he has a full no-trade clause.

鈥淗e鈥檒l be fine,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e just got to get him out of here. The group, we can all help him out. There鈥檚 four other guys on the ice. For him, he understands what he did. He鈥檒l be the first one to say that that was on him. There鈥檚 a lot of other things in the game that happened. It鈥檚 not just that one mistake.鈥�