September 18, 2025
St Louis blues news
Jake Neighbours to Miss Start of Blues Training Camp Due to Family Matter
The St. Louis Blues will open training camp this week without one of their young cornerstones. The club announced that forward Jake Neighbours will miss the first three days of camp while tending to a personal family matter. The organization has requested privacy and offered full support as he addresses the situation.
Neighbours, 23, is entering his fourth season with the Blues and is widely seen as a rising leader within the locker room. Coming off his strongest year yet, he posted career highs in goals and points while embracing a larger role in the team’s forward rotation. His physical style of play and relentless energy have quickly made him a fan favorite in St. Louis.
While his absence is only expected to be brief, it does come at a time when camp is especially competitive. With several young players fighting to secure roster spots and veterans looking to reestablish their roles, every day of preparation carries weight. Still, head coach Craig Berube expressed confidence that Neighbours’ short time away will not hinder his readiness for the season ahead.
“Jake is an important piece of what we’re building here,” Berube said. “He knows what’s expected, and we know he’ll be ready to go when he returns. Right now, the priority is giving him the time and space he needs.”
Neighbours is expected to rejoin the team later in the week, giving him ample opportunity to get back into rhythm before preseason games begin. For fans, his return will mark not only the continuation of his personal growth but also a chance to see how he meshes with new teammates and line combinations being tested early in camp.
The Blues open their preseason schedule next week, and while the forward group remains deep, Neighbours’ presence is viewed as vital. His ability to play in multiple roles — from a checking winger to a top-six contributor — gives St. Louis valuable flexibility.
For now, the organization and fan base alike will await his return, hopeful that this brief pause only strengthens his focus as the team prepares for the grind of the NHL season.
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