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.