There wasn't much to smile about in last night's blowout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, though pulling your starting goalie with six minutes left in the third period is kind of goofy. The loss was a bleak reminder that the St. Louis Blues just don't seem to have what it takes to seize the present and make a playoff run.
The future, however, looks a bit brighter. If there's one thing from last night's game worth celebrating, it's the first NHL goal of 20-year old forward prospect Otto Stenberg. It was a beauty, too, with Stenberg picking the corner to beat Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight.
That first-career-goal feeling.
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 8, 2026
Congrats to Otto Stenberg, and here's to many more. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/IewlCTdtgm
This was the tenth NHL game of Stenberg's young career--and so far, so good! While last night was his first goal, he has five assists as well, good for six points on the season. He's currently on a line with fellow rookie (and Olympic bound) center Dalibor Dvorsky, and that could be a pairing we see together for years to come.
In the short term though, the Blues are struggling with a handful of injuries among their forward group: offseason additions Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad are on Injured Reserve, and so is Dylan Holloway. Stenberg has done an admirable job filling in for these players while they recover from their ailments, but that doesn't mean any of the injured Blues should automatically get their roster spot back.
With this season continuing to circle the drain, there's no reason to prioritize getting veteran players minutes; it's time for the Blues to look to the future--at least a little bit--and that means continuing to play Stenberg even when the roster's in good health.