The St. Louis Blues have experienced a lot of change this offseason. A new General Manager has stepped in, some new assistant coaches have been added to the bench, and a new on-ice leader has been established.
Not to mention that this next era is afoot, with a younger core group and more prospects in the minors waiting for their chance. But have there been too many changes, causing more disturbance than needed?
Let’s talk about it.
New GM
Alexander Steen takes over for Doug Armstrong as the head man of the organization. We have yet to assume what his intentions are for the team’s expectations in his first year of tenure, or how much of a leash he will have.
Steen had a great summer, with the aid of Armstrong, to bring in Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael while also shredding the contract of Jordan Kyrou. This team has a new identity, with a championship window approaching.
This upcoming season is important for Steen to establish a benchmark for this team, and where they land at the end of it can set up the direction for next offseason. If they are a playoff team, expect not a lot of moves to be made, but if they are a lottery team once again, things might get a little crazy next year with the number of new contracts that need to be extended.
New captain
Another new thing to happen this offseason is the naming of the 25th captain and giving it to Robert Thomas. It was absolutely deserved, and this team will benefit from having its best player as the sole leader of this group.
What he brings to the table will likely be a lot different from when Brayden Schenn was the captain, and that will either enhance this team or hinder it. There are so many new pieces compared to the old regime in place that it might not even matter that a new captain is in charge.
Thomas has a new set of expectations for himself and this team, and he will have to do everything he can to try to achieve them in 2026-27. The potential for him to finally break the 100-point plateau and a date with the Stanley Cup Playoffs top the list, and he has one season to get it together.
New era
The Blues are entering a new era of Blues hockey, with a new look and feel to this roster. Moving forward with youth, the core group has been slated to be mostly under 25 years old, and that means two things.
Growing pains and the potential for a dynasty. All of these younger pieces that are in the NHL already, are going to experience a lot more pressure next season, as their training wheels have come off and been given to the influx of younger players in the AHL.
For the next 84 games, this franchise is going to be constantly adjusting and finding the right fit, and the hope is that they find it very early in the season. Are all of these changes going to stick immediately, or is all this newness too much too soon?
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