Sometimes, it can be difficult to judge whether a player had a successful season when they join in the final act--and that's just what happened with Jack Finley. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues by the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Winter Olympic break, and played exactly 22 games with each team. A 2nd-round pick from 2020, Finley is a monster at 6-foot-6 and nearly 230 pounds; he brings the kind of size down the middle that teams covet when the games get tight, and Finley filled in admirably after Nick Bjugstad was moved to the New Jersey Devils.
Expectations for 2025-26
Finley wasn't even on the Blues' radar when the season started, because he was still a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, so it's hard to say what sort of expectations there were. Technically speaking, this ended up being Finley's Calder season: he turned 23 just before the regular season started, and his 44 games played made him eligible. However, two assists in 22 games with the Blues (and a total of two goals, three assists on the season) while averaging 11 minutes a night, Finley wouldn't have even been a down-ballot consideration for most voters.
Grade: C-
We're grading on a curve for a young player. Had Finley been a few years older, his time with the Blues would've garnered an "F," but we're going to go easy on the rookie. He's also solid at faceoffs (52.7 percent with the Blues), and that's a valuable asset to have in your lineup when someone has to take a high-leverage draw.
Where does he go from here?
There are two seasons remaining on Finley's contract so, unless he gets bumped down the depth chart at training camp or traded during the offseason, expect him to start with the Blues in 2026-27. He may ultimately be little more than an AHL call-up option but, given his age and the position the Blues are currently in, it's probably worth giving him another long look next year.
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