The St. Louis Blues are approaching a do-or-die gauntlet of games to either get into the Stanley Cup playoffs or not. With five games remaining, all of them are important.Â
What is even more important are the couple of players that have the most to prove in their last games of 2025-26. Let’s talk about who has to really put up or shut up.Â
Dalibor DvorskyÂ
After having one of the best Olympic tournaments ever by a rookie, Dalibor Dvorsky came back to the Blues with some new confidence. After the regular season started back up again, it did not correlate with his NHL team.
In the last 19 games, Dvorsky has only been able to contibute a pair of goals and a pair of assists for four points. Not ideal for the up-and-comer, and a valid reason why he needs to treat these final games as a tryout for his placement for next season.
Dvorsky is continuing to fall deeper and deeper into the shadow made by the brilliance of Jimmy Snuggerud.
Colton Parayko
Funny enough, another Olympian on this Blues roster will be a key player to watch for the rest of the season. Colton Parayko has to try and salvage whatever he can from this lackluster year.
Luckily, there seems to be a new top-pair defenseman in Philip Broberg that has softened the blow of Parayko's misfortune this season.
Jordan Binnington
We might as well add one more Olympian, right? Jordan Binnington is, of these three, the player that has to prove the most in the last couple of games. Not only for a chance to be named as this team's starter should they defy the odds and make the playoffs, but also for his job security next season.
Joel Hofer will likely be named the starter for next season, regardless, but a strong showing from No. 50 as this season consludes at least opens the door for conversation.