When the St. Louis Blues opened training camp, head coach Jim Montgomery immediately placed Pavel Buchnevich alongside Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael on the second line. While that initial top-six deployment brings a certain level of predictable ice time and deployment, Buchnevich enters this campaign under pressure to rebuild his offensive profile.
The forward's point-per-game pace has steadily declined over the past three seasons, dropping from a career-high 1.06 down to a very concerning 0.59 last season. Expecting a return to his point-per-game production should not be anywhere close to the expectation for the Blues and Buchnevich at this point in his career. Getting his per-game production should not only be a point of focus for the Blues, but a requirement for Buchnevich if he plans to keep his place in the top-six of the lineup.
With the Blues intending to place an extensive internal competition among all of its players, the veteran winger is now under additional pressure with a wave of high-upside prospects knocking on the NHL door. Young talents like Otto Stenberg bring a relentless two-way speed that fits Montgomery's system perfectly, while snipers like Justin Carbonneau are continuing to develop until he can secure his spot in the NHL. Buchnevich cannot afford to float and needs to be more greedy with his shot during the 2026-27 season.
If Buchnevich intends to fend off the hungry youngsters, he must actively drive play, reclaim his scoring touch, and prove he can still outplay the organization's rising stars for prime top or even middle-six deployment.
Buchnevich's contract makes this a must-win season
Beyond what happens on the ice, the 31-year-old's situation comes down to money. The Blues committed big dollars to keep him around, signing him to an extension worth $8 million annually through 2031. On top of the heavy paycheck, his contract includes a full no-trade clause for three more seasons, until it becomes a 20-team modified no-trade clause for the 2029-30 season and a 15-team modified no-trade clause in 2030-31.
The front office cannot easily trade him or move his salary off the books if things go sideways and players start to outplay him. The Blues need him to play like a star because he is locked in as one of the highest-paid players on the team, and there is no simple backup plan if he doesn't.
If Buchnevich continues to score at last season's lower pace, that $8 million price tag becomes a huge financial burden for a team trying to find its way back to the postseason. A highly paid veteran struggling to produce takes up valuable ice time that could otherwise be spent elsewhere in the lineup.
Buchnevich will need to shoot the puck more often and find immediate chemistry with his new linemates. Training camp will not be just about getting back into game shape and preparing for the regular season. For Buchnevich, it should be about fighting to prove he is still worth the heavy investment and deserves to remain a core leader in St. Louis.
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