The St. Louis Blues were among the big sellers at the trade deadline, moving on from some notable veteran names. Perhaps the biggest stunner was the Blues trading team captain Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders in exchange for 2026 first- and third-round picks, forward Jonathan Drouin, and goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof. It's one thing to move on from a veteran player, it's another that that player was the captain.
For Blues fans, they were left wondering who could be the next team captain with Schenn now in New York. One name that has been gaining traction is forward Jake Neighbours, their 2020 first-round selection.
During a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas discussed the potential of Neighbours as the next Blues captain. While Bukauskas said he's received no intel on where the Blues are leaning, he did mention what Neighbours' former head coach Craig Berube said about him, and that's his leadership.
32 Thoughts Podcast posits Jake Neighbours' potential to be next Blues' captain
"I didn't get any intel on this. I have no idea what they're thinking moving forward, but how would you feel about Jake Neighbours as the next captain of the St. Louis Blues," said Bukauskas. "...I think he's got all the hallmarks. And even we asked Craig Berube about him because he, of course, coached him the first couple of years in St. Louis. And that was the first thing he said, leadership."
Berube, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has gushed about Neighbours in the past. Back in 2024, the former bench boss praised Neighbours, who then received a two-year contract extension, saying that the forward is someone you want on your team.
“I like him a lot. He is a player you want on your team. Any team would take Jake Neighbours on their team," said Berube, h/t The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford. "Heart-and-soul guy and he gives you everything he’s got every game. That’s the type of guy you want on your team.”
When a team is searching for a new captain, eyes will initially focus on the star player on the team. For the Blues, that is center Robert Thomas. But the Blues were openly shopping Thomas at the trade deadline, considering he played a position of value at center, and was under contract for multiple years. The Buffalo Sabres were reportedly in discussions with the Blues, seemingly on the verge of acquiring him. However, the Sabres backed out due to the Blues' high asking price for Thomas. Even though Thomas wasn't moved at the trade deadline doesn't mean that it won't happen in the offseason, especially as the team looks to retool.
With Neighbours, he is just 24 years-old, and has one year remaining on his contract before becoming a restricted free agent. In all likelihood, Neighbours will remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
This season, Neighbours has 14 goals and 16 assists to his credit through 60 games, while averaging 15:17 of ice time. In his career thus far, Neighbours recorded 70 goals and 56 assists in five years (271 games).
The decision to name a new captain will likely happen at some point in the offseason, whether that's after free agency or during training camp. The call will ultimately fall upon head coach Jim Montgomery and general manager Alexander Steen. But if there is one person that is gaining steam in terms of talk, it's Neighbours.