Pavel Buchnevich is not and will never be the best player on any hockey team. But that’s okay, since he’s the model of consistency for the Blues. Buchnevich is one of those players who goes in there and plays a clean, steady game, guaranteeing you a solid performance that won’t earn him any honors, but also won’t force him onto the lower lines.
Since arriving in St. Louis, he’s routinely been a 20-goal scorer who, while selective, has always displayed an accurate shot. And this season, it was more of the same. So, if I were to give him a letter grade, what would it be?
Grade: B - I think I dropped a hint with that last word in the sentence above. B, as in ‘be.’ Buchnevich played well enough offensively to warrant an A-minus, but his defense was neither spectacular nor was it a liability.
Pavel Buchnevich played an important role on the Blues, but…
In his age-29 season, Buchnevich scored 20 goals and logged 57 points. He ended the year with a plus-10 and a 13.8 shooting percentage. Defensively, his numbers were forgettable, blocking just 32 shots and landing 44 body checks. He also had 15 takeaways and 70 giveaways.
At even strength, his Corsi For was just a smidge under 50 percent, and his on-ice save percentage clocked in at 89.4. Just above average, if you want my honest take. But Buchnevich nonetheless played a key role with the Blues and was always Mr. Reliable when they needed him to be.
That said, players like Dylan Holloway this season and, way-too-early prediction, Jake Neighbours next season, are ready and raring to pass up Buchnevich in productivity. Still, he’ll stay in the top six and keep playing his role for as long as he holds value.
He’s a player whose game flies under the radar at times, but has just enough productivity to where you can acknowledge it. There are few “what was he thinking” errors this season, and a lot of playing time, as Buchnevich’s 19:02 of average total ice time was second among all Blues forwards, behind only Robert Thomas.
Expect Buchnevich to keep playing his brand of hockey in 2025-26
Like I said, expect the youngsters to pass Buchnevich in productivity, but that’s what Blues fans should want. Players like Jake Neighbours are on the verge, while up-and-comers like Jimmy Snuggerud and maybe even Zack Bolduc will reach their respective primes at some point. But I wouldn’t expect them to outperform Buchnevich next season.
That puts the Blues in an ideal situation: A player like Buchnevich is more than a stopgap; he’s someone who will play a reliable game while those youngsters grow more acclimated to the NHL. Teams can only wish they had a player like Buchnevich, but in many cases, they’re forced to insert cheap, marginal talent instead of long-term guys who can actually play.
Overall, Buchnevich is a rather boring player when it comes to forwards. He’s not a high-scorer like Jordan Kyrou or a grinder who’ll land up to four body checks per game like Nathan Walker. Still, he warrants more than a passing grade.