The St. Louis Blues have been described as having a sneaky good roster heading into the 2026-27 season, but that is only on paper. It might look more complete than it did a year ago, but there is no guarantee that all the parts are going to fit the right way.
These five players are going to have the biggest influence on how next season is going to go. Every night, their name will be under the microscope, and every decision or play they make will be called into question.
Let's talk about who these five are.
Joel Hofer
Unofficially, this is Joel Hofer's team now. With the impending move of goaltender Jordan Binnington, it only makes sense that all eyes will be on Hofer now to try and take the reins. He does not have to be better than Binnington's best, but rather, keeping to the pace he had last season is a great start.
Colton Parayko
Colton Parayko had the worst season of his career last season, and there is no room for a repeat performance. Former General Manager Doug Armstrong had a deal in place with Buffalo to rid himself of No. 55, but due to giving the players a little too much control over the future, Parayko denied it. Now, the hope is that he takes that loyalty to the next level in 2026-27 and gets back to form.
Jordan Binnington
All eyes are on Hofer going forward as the next potential franchise goaltender, but the spotlight is now on Binnington in a different light. He enters the last season of his current contract, meaning that he could be a key selling piece at the trade deadline in March for a team in need of a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. Of course, that all depends on how well he does in his presumably new role next season. Fans are either going to love this potential final lap for Binner or be glad that it is over and the franchise is moving on.
Jimmy Snuggerud
Following a perfect rookie campaign, Jimmy Snuggerud is going to have even more expectations next season as one of the first-line wingers. The Blues are going to be relying on that trio of Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway and Robert Thomas to really push the needle next season with the slew of new additions and prospects filling out the roster behind them. Could a 30 or even 40-goal performance be in store for No. 21?
Philip Broberg
Taking over for the role that Parayko has accompanied for years, Philip Broberg is now the top defenseman on this blueline. With a new extension set in place, and a few moves made to bolster the defensive unit with Brandon Carlo and the impending arrival of Adam Jiricek, it should not fall directly on Broberg to be everything all at once. Can he handle the pressure in 2026-27?
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