Summer keeps on rolling along, and it is time for another expectations piece about the St. Louis Blues. This time, it is one of the best acquisitions of the year in 2024-25, and his performance really turned the tide.
Cam Fowler came over in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks on December 14, 2024, and was an immediate hit. He finished last season with nine goals and 37 assists in 51 games with the Blues.
Can he replicate his successful year in 2025-26?
Aging like fine wine
Entering his 16th NHL season, Fowler has proven that age is nothing but a number. After seeing the ups and downs of being with the Ducks franchise, he finally got to see some playoff action with the Blues last season. It was the first time since the 2016-17 season that he suited up for a playoff game, and he nearly helped the Blues defeat the Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets in the first round.
He was one of the reasons that they got there in the first place, being a perfect match to defensive partner Colton Parayko. The pair saw 484 minutes of ice-time together and had a xGoals% of 55.5%. Next season's rendition of the Blues will heavily rely on them to not only be great d-partners on the first pairing, but also mentors to a new defenseman who has a big expectation on him, Logan Mailloux.
At 34 years old, it looks like the aging defenseman has a lot still in the tank. The question is whether he can replicate what he just did, again?
Even better in 2025-26?
Can Fowler be even better with an offseason under his belt with his new team? It is amazing that he was able to just hop right into the Blues lineup and succeed the way that he did. With very little practice time, he flew in under 24 hours from his trade announcement and suited up in his first go-around with the Blues.
51 games later, and he is going to be the first-line defenseman alongside Parayko in 2025-26. Of all the players on this roster, Fowler arguably has the biggest expectations of him. The expectation is for him to hit double-digit goals and approach the 50-point mark in a full 82-game slate. He also has to retain his strong defensive game that he showed last season as well, as both Fowler/Parayko allowed 1.99 xGoals against per 60 minutes. That was the 6th best in terms of defensive partners playing at least 450 minutes together last season.