Could the Blues success last season been a fluke?

May 4, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot by Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) in first overtime in game seven of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
May 4, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot by Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) in first overtime in game seven of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images | James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

With a ton of momentum at their backs, there is no way that the St. Louis Blues are poised to have a down year in 2025-26. There is no way that their unexpected success last season was a fluke, was it?

Is this roster for real?

Despite having a solid lineup, up and down the lines, there is still a sense of uncertainty. Namely, with the big stars like Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, and the projected superstar Jimmy Snuggerud. Can those three build off of their great 2024-25 seasons and be even better this upcoming year?

Another player that is on the fluke list is breakout star Dylan Holloway, who was sensational in 2024-25 with 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points. His injury was both a blessing and a curse at the end of last season as it paved the way for the emergence of the aforementioned Snuggerud. He was a big absence in the first-round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Can he come back from a pretty significant injury and be a top performer next season?

Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad joined the Blues this offseason to help down the middle. With the loss of Radek Faksa and the second-line center position seemingly in a battle between Suter and captain Brayden Schenn, those two players were desperately needed. Can they insert themselves into a new team and hit the ground running?

Destined to return to the playoffs?

Are the Blues really destined to make another run at the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025-26? More likely yes than no. This is a great team, and even with the variables listed above, there is more than enough reason and validation to assume that the Blues will once again be in the running for a Stanley Cup next season.

One thing is for certain: they have to have a complete 82-game season and not be hoping for a last-second miracle. It might have worked last season, but it will not happen again.

It is safe to assume that last season was not a fluke, and instead, the start of a solid playoff run, mirroring that of the 1980s and 1990s. The question is if they will make it all the way to the end of the line this time.