Blues
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the St. Louis Blues, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Pius Suter, Nick Bjugstad, Logan Mailloux, Milan Lucic (PTO)
Key Departures: Zac Bolduc, Radek Faksa, Nick Leddy
Overview
A double-overtime loss in Game 7 to the Jets in the opening round had to be an absolute punch to the gut. The Blues gave up two goals in the final 1:56, including the tying goal with three seconds left in regulation before Adam Lowry scored the game winner 16:10 into the fifth period. After losing 13 of their first 22 games, Blues GM Doug Armstrong made a coaching change and hired Jim Montgomery. All Monty did was guide the Blues to 35 wins in their final 60 games (35-18-7), highlighted by a 12-game win streak.
St. Louis won just 7 of 20 games as the home underdog, compared to 15 of 20 as a home favorite.
Offense
St. Louis ranked 13th in goals scored and had the 16th-best power play, but ranked 29th in power play opportunities and 24th in power play goals scored. Robert Thomas led the team in points (81) and assists (60), while Jordan Kyrou’s 36 goals and 239 shots on goal (avg 2.39/game) led the team in those respective categories. In 49 of the 82 games Kyrou played, he had three or more shots on goal, including 26 games with at least four or more shots.
The Blues will be stronger down the middle this season with addition of 25 goal scorer Pius Suter, who played in Vancouver last season.
Defense
The Blues 231 goals against were tied for 11th-best last season and only seven teams gave up fewer goals at full/even strength. St. Louis had the 28th-ranked penalty kill, but ranked 13th when it came to total goals given up shorthanded. Colton Parayko’s 16 goals led all Blues defensemen, and he was tied for sixth among all NHL blueliners for goals scored. Philip Broberg scored more goals (8) and put up more points (29) in his 68 games with the Blues than his previous 79 games with Edmonton (2 goals,13 points). Cam Fowler, who came to St. Louis in a late-season trade from Anaheim, led the team in playoff scoring with 10 points.
Goaltending
Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer give the Blues one of the best goaltending tandems in the league. Binnington has his name on the Stanley Cup and he outdueled Connor Hellebuyck to help Canada capture the championship over Team USA last February at the 4 Nations Tournament. At 25 years of age, Hofer has served as the Blues backup for the past two seasons. He has won 31 of his 55 starts and taken four other games past regulation. His GAA over the past two seasons is a very respectable 2.64.
Not wanting to lose Hofer, the Blues signed him to a 2 year, $6.8 million contract in the summer. It’s a big ticket for a No. 2 goalie, but the Blues rely on Hofer more than other teams rely on their backup goalies.
Player to Watch
After scoring 24 goals in 40 games last year at the University of Minnesota, Jimmy Snuggerud joined the Blues, playing 14 games (seven each, regular season and playoffs) picking up four points in the regular season and four more in the playoffs. He is penciled in on the Blues top line and at 16/1 to win Rookie of the Year, I believe it’s a good value bet.
Outlook
Last season, the Blues finished with 96 points and oddsmakers are predicting regression for St. Louis, setting their Over/Under for the upcoming season at 92.5. I would play the Blues to go Over 92.5. I also played Jordan Kyrou’s season point prop to go Over 67.5 points (-115). Kyrou’s last four seasons have seen him only go Under his point projection once, and that season he landed on exactly 67.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 92.5
To Make the Playoffs: -115
To Miss the Playoffs: -115
To Win the Central Division: +1200
To Win the Western Conference: +2500
To Win the Stanley Cup: +5000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 44-30-8, 96 points (5th Central, #2 Wild Card)
Over/Under: 36-42-4
Home Favorite: 15-5 // Home Dog: 7-13
Road Favorite: 4-3 // Road Dog: 13-16
Win Score 4 or more: 30 of 44 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 24 of 38
Puck Line Wins: 22 of 44 // Puck Line Losses: 22 of 38
Front End Back-to-Back: 6-4 // Back End Back-to-Back: 4-6
Points Leader: Robert Thomas – 81
Goal Leader: Jordan Kyrou – 36
Assist Leader: Robert Thomas – 60
Shots on Goal Leader: Jordan Kyrou – 239
Blocked Shots Leader: Colton Parayko – 149
Depth Chart
Forwards
Pavel Buchnevich / Robert Thomas / Jimmy Snuggerud
Dylan Holloway / Pius Suter / Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours / Brayden Schenn / Matthieu Joseph
Alexey Toropchenko / Nick Bjugstad / Oskar Sundqvist
Defense
Cam Fowler / Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg / Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker / Logan Mailloux
Goalies
Jordan Binnington / Joel Hofer
Power Play Unit 1
Dylan Holloway, Pavel Buchnevich, Jimmy Snuggerud, Robert Thomas, Cam Fowler
