The St. Louis Blues are only days away from starting their 2025-26 campaign with high hopes and even higher expectations. There is a sense that this season will be a smooth transition from the success garneded in 2024-25, and another playoff appearence is on its way.
Here at Bleedin' Blue, we took our contributors thoughts and hopes for this team and laid them out here for you all to enjoy. Let's take a look.
Justin Bonhard
The Blues are going to be a powerhouse in 2025-26. Unlike the rollercoaster ride last season, this upcoming campaign will be steady and consistent, with wins being more prevelent than losses. Breakouts will be all over the roster, with some players who are making waves this preseason continuing to do so when the games actually matter. The best storyline of the season will be about the goaltending, and also the emergence of Jimmy Snuggerud and Dalibor Dvorsky. Both of those players will be leading this team and then ushering in the next era of Blues hockey.
Central Division top-3? Yes.
Past first round of Playoffs? Yes.
Stanley Cup final appearence? I'd take that bet.
Alec Gau
The St. Louis Blues are set up to be a major player in the Western Conference once again. They have the coaching, front office, and finally the depth of personnel to once again compete for the playoffs and a chance at the Cup. They have four excellent lines with star talent up and down the lineup, followed by terrific prospects waiting in the wings to fill in when injuries inevitably happen. The Blues have all the pieces to look for in a surprise/sleeper team, from youth to veterans to coaching and top-end talent. Don’t be surprised if the team makes some serious noise this season.
Matthew Clendenin
Last season, the Blues faced early struggles and mid-season challenges, then finished with a 12-game winning streak that propelled them into the playoffs. I expect a similar pattern this year, with the team adding new players and taking time to establish effective lineups, leading to early inconsistencies. However, I predict they will be fourth in the Central Division by Christmas and qualify for the wild card. It would be a storybook ending if they face the Jets again, this time winning a 7-game series. After a tough 7-game series against the Stars in Round two, they lose all four games to the Oilers in Round three, with Connor McDavid lifting the Stanley Cup.
Joseph DeMarini
As much as the Blues improved during the offseason, they still face quite an uphill battle within their conference and division. Looking at just the Central Division, the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Colorado Avalanche are three of the best teams in the league, which means the Blues will probably be battling for a wildcard spot with the Minnesota Wild, the upstart Utah Mammoth, and a Pacific Division team or two. The Blues showed last season they can hang with the top teams and, with reinforcements down the middle and a stronger defense group, should be able to make a push this year as well--but is it enough? I'm not so sure--the Blues will need a lot to break their way, including good health, steps from young players, and their best players elevating themselves further. There's a path to the playoffs for the Blues, but Championship aspirations may be too lofty a goal.