It's easy to forget that Jake Neighbours only just turned 23 at the end of March, considering he's played over 200 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues. Some may've expected more from Neighbours this season after a breakout 2023-24, but even steady progress is better than no progress--and steady is precisely what Neighbours gave us.
2024-25 Season Grade for Neighbours
Grade: B+
Neighbours played all 82 games of the regular season this year, and though he scored fewer goals than last year (22 instead of 27), he set a career high in assists (24) and points (46), which means he's adding new elements to his game. He also finished with a +/- of 0 which, as flawed of a stat as it is, points to defensive improvements when you consider the minus-16 he posted the season prior. Neighbours finished sixth on the Blues in 5-on-5 points with 31, which is right where you'd hope a growing top-six forward would end the season.
It's fun to watch a young player develop in real time, and we saw year-over-year improvements to Neighbours's underlying statistics as well. He finished 2024-25 with a 46.98 Corsi-for percentage and a 45.91 expected Goals-for percentage at 5-on-5 which, on the surface, isn't all that impressive. However, in 77 games the previous season at 5-on-5, Neighbours had a 42.57 CF% and a 41.91 xGF%; he may still be below where you'd like him, but that's a significant improvement any way you look at it.
Then, there's the playoffs, and Neighbours showed promise under the big lights, too. His six points tied for third on the team, and five of them came at 5-on-5. Like the regular season, however, his underlying metrics were less than impressive: a 44.29 CF% and a 43.48 xGF% aren't acceptable long term, but a player can do a lot worse in their first NHL playoff experience.
What to Expect from Neighbours in 2025-26
Hopefully, more of the same: gradual improvements in his underlying metrics and more scoring. A 30-goal season isn't out of the realm of possibility and, if Neighbours's playmaking continues to grow, it's easy to envision him cracking the 60 point mark. His two-year bridge deal kicks in next year and carries a $3.75-million AAV; time to show management and the fans that he's the real deal and cement a role in the Blues' top six.