The St. Louis Blues are not going to be participating in postseason hockey. It is a shame, but it was destined a while back now.
They were able to get the job done in Chicago, and if that was the only thing to keep them in the playoff hunt, they would have been looking forward to another do-or-die game for the rest of the season. But the Los Angeles Kings took care of business themselves, effectively knocking the Blues out.
Now, it is time to start looking at the season that will soon expire, and what went wrong. What deterred this team from their second straight playoff appearance? How far back did this season push this franchise back from being an annual contender? What needs to change this summer to ensure a result like this doesn't happen again?
A lot of questions, but there is one that holds a little more weight than the rest. Is there any kind of heat under Jim Montgomery's seat this summer, following the missed playoff appearance?
Let's talk about it.
Monty's heat index is ice, ice cold
The Blues have their leader behind the bench, and he wants to be with this team for the long haul. Even with a mashed-up roster of youth and regulars, Montgomery tried to motivate this group to a playoff appearance and nearly made it.
As a retool is on the horizon, this upcoming offseason is going to be crucial for Montgomery. He gets to create this group, and after a full season of mix-ups and line shuffling, these past couple of weeks of successful hockey creates a blueprint for 2026-27.
Montgomery should have no worries with the General Manager transition, as Alexander Steen will need the seasoned coach, with a Jack Adams Award to his credit, behind the bench. Even with the insane head coach firings of Bruce Cassidy and Patrick Roy, there is no doubt that the Blues will not be on that list for coaching changes this offseason.