The St. Louis Blues have a team that can win now, and the possibilities are endless. There is a veteran group that is hitting its stride in its prime years, youth that has begun to show signs of superstardom, and a front office that is making all of the right decisions.
But there is one area that might need to be examined—maybe not for the next few seasons, but for the future success of this franchise. And that is the continued success of Brayden Schenn as the franchise's captain.
One day, the time will come for the Blues to relinquish Schenn and promote another to the captaincy role. How things are going right now, the next in line can learn a Alot from the current leader, and this franchise will benefit from it for a long time.
How much does Schenn mean as captain?
Schenn was promoted to Blues captain before the 2023-24 season. Since then, he has been a focal point in growing these young prospects, most notably Jimmy Snuggerud this season. He has also let his on-ice play lead the way, which was prevelent in the first-round matchup against Winnipeg.
In the seven-game series, Schenn had a goal and two assists, amassed 20 hits, and was 56% from the faceoff circle. He set the tone with big hits and had his hand on a Jets player after every whistle. That also included his brother, Luke, who was a defenseman on the Jets.
Schenn made an impact on the series, and he showed every notion of being a leader and captain of this team. Even when the rumors were flying at the trade deadline and up until the heartbreaking elimination, he showed class and character.
Who else could step up in the future?
Say time passes and the Blues decide to pull a similar situation as the Toronto Maple Leafs and relinquish his captaincy for an up-and-comer, or if Schenn leaves the organization in any fashion, who could be the next in line? Who can learn from him now and be prepared to lead this organization after Schenn's departure?
The easy answer is Jordan Kyrou, as he is a blossoming star in his own right. He will be the foundation of this organization for a long time, and he will only get better as he reaches his prime years. But, there is one more name that might get his hat in the ring, depending on how far into the future it is.
That is Jimmy Snuggerud, who made his debut this season in the most crucial moments. He helped push the Blues into the playoffs and held his own in the hardest period of the season, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If he can learn under Schenn for a few years, it might be a seamless transition.