If the Blues needed anyone to step up this season, it was Brayden Schenn. No, he wasn’t their greatest points producer, and that’s okay. He didn’t need to take over games or score the game-winning goal if the job fell to him, or to play hero. And he didn’t.
Wow, look at me, telling the reader what didn’t happen, a cardinal sin in literature. So, let’s focus on what Schenn did. He stepped up, reminded everyone of the leader that he is, and he fueled the Blues to an unlikely playoff appearance. And to do this when so many in the NHL universe thought Schenn would end the year playing in another uniform is astounding.
Grade: B - Schenn’s leadership skills helped transform the Blues from a bland afterthought to a playoff team. No, his play isn’t what it was, and there was talk of general manager Doug Armstrong potentially moving Schenn at some point, but it never materialized, thanks in part to his ability to step up and guide the team to a record-breaking winning streak and playoff appearance.
Brayden Schenn ended the year as a strong all-around player
Brayden Schenn didn’t have flashy stats in the offensive zone, finishing the year with 18 goals, 50 points, a 12.5 shooting percentage, and a plus-3. Even in his age-33 season, Schenn’s 17:34 average total ice time showed us he’s still more than capable of skating top-six minutes.
He remains a force at the face-off dot, having won 52.3 percent of his draws, and 618 total. Schenn also remains a forward who opponents would rather not cross, given his 194 body checks. Oh, and his 61 penalty minutes indicate he’s still not afraid to mix it up with opponents.
On some teams, many teams, really, the captain is their best player. While Schenn’s not the top player in Gateway City, you can argue that few players wearing the Blue Note boasted a better all-around game. That said, Schenn may be heading into the advanced stages of his career, but you can’t deny that he still holds a lot of value.
Will Brayden Schenn continue his solid output in 2025-26?
The short answer is yes, look for Schenn to remain a solid player in St. Louis in 2025-26, and expect him to lead the Blues right back to the playoffs. As for his overall production, it goes like this I wouldn’t be surprised if he snagged 50 points and threatened 20 goals again, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if Schenn’s productivity waned a little.
He is heading into his age-34 season, so at some point, that production’s going to dip. But, I can also see it turning into a Patrick Kane situation, in which Schenn’s productivity slowly declines, yet he remains relevant well into the late stages of his career.
Like Kane, Schenn won’t be the player he was as the decade progresses, but expect him to keep playing at a moderate-to-high level. And if he can do that, he’ll continue to help the Blues while the youngsters in the pipeline take over if they haven’t already done so.