Things didn't go as planned for the St. Louis Blues this season, finishing in the middle of an exceptionally weak Western Conference with a 37-33-12 record. That put them at 86 points in the standings--fifth in a top-heavy but otherwise uninspiring Central Division.
You could point the finger at a number of players on the Blues' roster, but one of the team's highest paid players often takes the brunt of the heat: Jordan Kyrou. It's come out now that something was bothering his knee, and he recently had surgery to set it right, which could explain the downturn in his overall play. That isn't enough to excuse the entire season, though.
Expectations for 2025-26 season
Kyrou was coming off a strong 2024-25, finishing with 36 goals, 70 points and a plus-23 goal differential, playing in all 82 games--that set the baseline for expectations for this season. He needed to be a top-line, star level winger on a team with playoff aspirations.
Unfortunately, Kyrou failed to match last season's output, and regressed significantly. It was his weakest season since the covid-shortened 2020-21 season.
In 72 games, Kyrou managed only 18 goals, 28 assists, and 46 points--not the kind of production a team needs from a player carrying a $8.125-million AAV cap hit. He struggled all season, and a 10.4 shooting percentage (down from his career average of 13.2) likely played a role in his decreased goal scoring.
The good news is that, under the hood, this was the best statistical season of Kyrou's career. Per Natural Stat Trick, Kyrou led the team 59.74 xGF% and a 54.62 CF% at 5-on-5; he was generating chances at a prolific rate and one of the Blues' most dangerous players on the ice. If he keeps playing that way, the pucks will start bouncing in his favor and he should rebound next year.
Where does he go from here?
In light of the surgery Kyrou recently had, it would be unwise to trade him now, as he's at his absolute lowest value when you factor in the down season. It's unlikely he goes anywhere, except training camp at the start of next season.
Given the strong underlying numbers, a major bounceback is certainly in play for Kyrou; he just has to deliver on that potential. If the Blues want to turn things around quickly with a retool, rather than a total rebuild, they'll need their star winger scoring like one.
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