The St. Louis Blues were unable to capture the second point, losing to the San Jose Sharks in overtime, 3-2, in their home opener. It was definitely a different game compared to the 5-0 blugeoning to the Minnesota Wild a season ago on opening night at the Enterprise Center, but the same kind of result.
Following the game, the Blues have now played four full games, and already, some players can be thrown on the hot seat. This team desperately needs these three players to step it up, and fast.
Robert Thomas
The hottest seat on the Blues roster is the one that the captain is sitting in. Robert Thomas has been a shell of his usual self, with very little momentum or positives generated when he is on the ice. It has not been an easy go in his first 30 seconds as the 25th captain in franchise history.
Ultimately, as the first-line center, he usually has to face off against superb talent. But that has not been the case as of late, with Connor Bedard of Chicago and Macklin Celebrini of San Jose being hurt.
No excuses here.
Jake Neighbours
Another player who has started inching his way onto the hot seat is Jake Neighbours. He is doing all of the physical parts of the job right, but the results are not there on the scoresheet. After having such a hot start in 2025-26, this is a stark difference at the opening gate of 2026-27.
Neighbours has to pick up the pace, but cannot completely "X" out all of the other things that he does so well.
Dylan Holloway
The first line for the Blues has not been great. Thomas was mentioned above on the hot seat, but you can also throw Dylan Holloway on that list as well. Jimmy Snuggeud has shown up in all four games, putting in an effort that trumps his fellow linemates.
Holloway, like Neighbours, has added much-needed physicality. But the scoresheet sometimes means a bit more for a guy who is averaging over 17 minutes of ice time a night. If No. 81 cannot score goals in that allotted time, then what is the point of a couple of extra hits?
The Blues desperately need this first line to get it together, as the rest of the three forward lines are thankfully picking up the slack. It will not last much longer. If they want to be competitive in the Central Division, they cannot rely on secondary scoring to lead them back to the playoffs.
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