Inside Look at the St. Louis Blues’ 2025-26 Outlook…

After returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season for the first time in two years, the St. Louis Blues are aiming to maintain their playoff form while continuing a gradual roster retool.

The Blues finished the 2024-25 regular season with 96 points (44-30-8), a 5% improvement from the previous year. Team President of Hockey Operations Doug Armstrong, entering his final season as general manager, said he believes another similar step forward could push the team toward the 100-point mark.

“Building in the NHL is a slow process, like turning a tanker at sea,” Armstrong said. “You improve by small percentages. If we improve again like we did last season, we’ll be right where we want to be.”

St. Louis clinched a playoff spot with a strong finish (20-4-3 in their final 27 games), edging out Calgary for the final Wild Card spot via a tiebreaker. However, their postseason ended in heartbreak. The Blues led 3-1 late in Game 7 against the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets before giving up two goals in the final two minutes and losing 4-3 in double overtime.

Captain Brayden Schenn said the team is determined to grow from the experience. “You’re never a playoff team until you are again,” he said. “It’s a tough league. We know we’re in a better spot now, but we also know how hard it is to get there.”

Offseason Moves and Roster Additions

To address key needs, the Blues made several offseason moves:

Pius Suter was signed to a two-year, $8.25 million contract after posting a career-high 25 goals and 46 points last season.
Nick Bjugstad also joined on a two-year, $3.5 million deal to provide depth at center.
St. Louis traded for 22-year-old defenseman Logan Mailloux from Montreal, sending forward Zack Bolduc the other way. In the process, they moved on from veterans Nick Leddy and Ryan Suter.

Mailloux will join a defensive group that blends experience (Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk) with youth (Philip Broberg, Tyler Tucker, Matthew Kessel). Armstrong said the team believes Mailloux is NHL-ready and will have the opportunity to earn a full-time role out of training camp.

Offensive Core and Emerging Talent

The Blues’ top-six forwards are expected to include:

Robert Thomas (81 points)
Jordan Kyrou (70 points)
Dylan Holloway (63 points)
Pavel Buchnevich (57 points)
Brayden Schenn (50 points)
Jake Neighbours (46 points)

Promising winger Jimmy Snuggerud, who made his NHL debut late last season, is also a candidate for a larger role. Armstrong praised the team’s depth on the wings, calling it an area of strength.

Behind the Bench

Head coach Jim Montgomery enters his first full season with the team after replacing Craig Berube in November 2024. Under Montgomery, the Blues went 35-18-7.

Montgomery emphasized the need for continued growth. “We’ll tweak some things and learn from the league’s best. We’ve got to improve areas like our 5-on-6 play and come into camp with a high standard,” he said. “We want to compete, have fun, and embrace the grind from the start.”