One of the biggest storylines for the St. Louis Blues in the early going has been the benching of Jordan Kyrou. After losing to the Washington Capitals 6-1 in a lackluster fashion, head coach Jim Montgomery decided to scratch Kyrou as well as Oskar Sundqvist and Logan Mailloux in the following game against the Buffalo Sabres. This was done to send a message to the locker room that their play has been unacceptable. The team as a whole needs to start playing better, and no one is safe.
One player who needs to step it up is Pavel Buchnevich. In 18 games this season, he has registered two goals and five assists for seven points. This is nowhere near the level of production the Blues were expecting from him. He was supposed to be one of the key contributors on offense. With how bad he's looked, it's time to take him out of the lineup for a few games.
Benching Pavel Buchnevich could be what he needs to get going
Buchnevich's struggles are not the result of him being unlucky. His metrics indicate that he's not as affected as he has been. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a Corsi percentage of 48.64% and an xGoals percentage of 44.69%. While his Corsi is similar to last season, his xGoals percentage has dropped by roughly five points. This indicates that he is not generating offense and is not receiving the same scoring chances.
While taking him out of the lineup will be seen as a punishment, it could serve as a rest for Buchnevich. Given how long he has struggled, there is definitely a mental aspect to it. He knows he's better than he's playing this season, and with the team's struggles, there is a lot of pressure on him to play better. Taking a few games will allow Buchnevich to relax and get into a better headspace. The less pressure he feels, the more likely he is to return to the player he's been.
This strategy has worked with the other players Montgomery has benched this season. Kyrou has racked up a goal and two assists in the three games since being benched. Sundqvist has also impressed, tallying three assists in two games since returning to the ice. Although this is a short sample size, it shows the benching work. It allowed the players to clear their heads and get back to playing up to expectations.
If the Blues can get Buchnevich going, it will help the season get back on track. Getting him back to that 60-70 point player will help mask some of the defensive problems the Blues have had. It will also help the Blues' offense live up to what the metrics suggest it should be. Although it may seem harsh to bench one of your better players, it's the smart move for the team.