Jim Montgomery, a former Jack Adams winner, is one of the most well-respected coaches in the league. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that when he pushes a button, it's usually the right thing to do.
Monty switched up the lineups based on performance, elevating players like Dylan Holloway and demoting some of the struggling stars in Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich.
After struggling on home ice, the St. Louis Blues are shaking things up with the lineup in tonight’s tilt with the Dallas Stars. Let’s go Blues!#stlblues #texashockey pic.twitter.com/0LsWNd8VTg
— Note News Podcast (@NoteNewsPod) October 18, 2025
This new-look lineup worked to great effect against Dallas as the Blues won a commanding 3-1 over their division rival. Kyrou scored, proving his demotion was not enough to hold him back and just the right amount of discipline to demonstrate that he had to play better.
Is this model sustainable?
Can the Blues win by simply riding the hot hand all season? I would certainly think so.
The strength on the Blues roster right now is the depth of their talent. They have players with complimentary skillsets up and down the lineup who can all be deployed to great effect.
Take Jake Neighbours, for example. Neighbours started his career firmly in the bottom six, but eventually he excelled and earned his way onto the second line where he continued to play well. Last season, Neighbours was almost exclusively a third liner, and his grit and physical edge brought an injection of energy to the bottom six. Now we know Neighbours can also play on the top line and still be a goal scorer, as he had a good game against Dallas.
Neighbours is exemplary of this effect on the Blues roster, with pieces that can be mixed and matched depending on the lineup. And there is arguably no one better in the NHL to handle those changes than Jim Montgomery.
Trust in Montgomery
Jim Montgomery has more than proven his worth as a head coach, and his decisions have led to some already historic moments for the Blues.
A surprise playoff berth coming off a historic win streak last season should be more than enough convincing to Monty's effect, and so far this season he has some big wins over competitive teams. The Blues are playing to an above .500 points percentage and look to continue improving on that mark tonight against Los Angeles.
I would expect more similar changes coming for the lineup tonight. As the old adage goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Montgomery is not one to shy away from riding the hot hand and has earned his success so far this season, so I'd expect players like Buch and Kyrou to remain more in the middle six and have to earn their way back up the lineup.
The Blues have a big test this week, with three teams they could realistically beat, so this is theirs and Monty's chance to make a statement to the NHL that the Blues are here to stay for the 2025-26 season.
I have all the faith in the world in Jim Montgomery as a former Jack Adams award winner and after what he led the Blues to last season, and I'm looking for that streak to continue this week of hockey.