The St. Louis Blues are looking to get back into the postseason in 2026- 27. That’s the goal, and it was apparent in the moves that Alex Steen made in his first offseason as GM.
But beyond the moves made by management, the on-ice product needs to reflect the philosophy set by the organization.
That thought brings three things that the Blues must do to contend in 2026-27.
The Blues need to fully embrace the Robert Thomas era
This season marks the official beginning of the Robert Thomas era. Naming him captain was the right move, but it should go beyond a mere formality. The club needs to rally around him and embrace his leadership as the direction the team will go.
Of course, there is no indication that the team is not behind him. But things do change once a player gets the “C” on his jersey. And as long as the club rallies around him, the on-ice product should see a major improvement.
The only issue would be if Thomas runs into injury issues like he did last season. If he misses some time, the Blues may end up adrift. That situation will force the other members of the official leadership group to pick up the slack.
Let’s hope it just doesn’t get to that.
The young guys need to take a step forward
It may sound like a cliché, but the young guys really need to take a step forward this season. Specifically, we’re talking about guys like Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorsky, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Theo Lindstein.
Perhaps the most important young player that needs to make the leap is newcomer Mason McTavish. The 23-year-old came under fire last season in Anaheim regarding his inconsistent play. That situation led to the trade to St. Louis, opening the door to even more scrutiny
As such, McTavish needs to prove that Anaheim was the problem, not him. And if he can thrive in St. Louis, any questions about his viability as a top-six center will be laid to rest.
As for the other rising stars, you have to think that Snuggerud has to prove he’s the real deal on the team’s top line. Similarly, Neighbours has to show he’s a true all-around forward, while Dvorsky needs to show he belongs in the NHL.
If all of these prospects can shed that label, they will become full-time NHLers. That’s the goal the organization wants to see fulfilled this season.
The blueline needs to keep it together
Much has been said about the Blues’ goaltending situation. But the bottom line is that if the defense isn’t up to snuff, it won’t really matter who’s in the crease.
That’s why the blueline has to keep it together. The Blues have assembled a collection of prospects and veterans, one that might yield some interesting results.
Perhaps the only sure thing at this point is Philip Broberg. Nevertheless, he needs to show he’s ready to become a true number-one defenseman.
But vets like Cam Fowler, Colton Parayko, and Brandon Carlo will have to prove they can handle the rigors of this season. Assuming they do, the blue line could come down to younger guys like Lindstein, Logan Mailloux, and potential Adam Jiricek.
Particularly, Mailloux will be under the microscope. If he can’t lock down a full-time role, the organization might not waste too much time looking for alternatives. While Lindstein would have a much longer runway, the fact is that the Blues don’t really have anyone who can come up through the system and take over.
Ultimately, the younger guys have to work out on the back end. If that doesn’t work out, the Blues may need to go shopping for another defenseman.
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