The St. Louis Blues are in a healthy situation with their salary cap, and that is with an increase once again on the horizon after the 2026-27 season. Relatively all of their “big-time” contracts are in the green in terms of cost-of-return.
But there is one that could potentially become an issue. Pavel Buchnevich narrowly avoided this list from Bleacher Report on “nightmare contracts”, but another lackluster season surely lands him on this list.
Should the Blues be worried about their decision with Buchnevich?
Enough is enough
A downward spiral in point production and flipping the page into his 30s, there are plenty of reasons why Buchnevich could be a “contract nightmare”. Currently, he is on the hook through the 2030-31 season, at $8 million AAV. The 2025-26 season was the start of this new deal, and it is already looking very sour.
Last season, Buchnevich was not a noticeable factor. With 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points, it was one of the worst seasons of his 10-year career. Since joining the Blues in 2021-22, he has seriously fallen off the wagon in offensive production.
Even further than that, he is not helping the offense retain and advance the puck. Over the last three seasons, his CorsiFor%, which measures his team's ability to have control of the puck when he is on the ice, has gone down considerably. Since 2022-23, it has fallen from 55.5 to a lowly 49.5 in all situations.
No. 89 has always been a player in question, and now there is some depth behind him trying to fight for his spot. There is a very good chance that a new and dangerous second line could be forming, and Buchnevich is not a part of it. Newcomer Connor McMichael can replace him on that left side.
Next season is going to be an eye-opener for much of this roster, as very few are safe from being moved or traded around. The roster battles and youth fighting for their right to join the NHL ranks will make this training camp very competitive and interesting. Buchnevich should be on high alert.
The only way he can avoid being deemed as a player with a disastrous contract would be to see an improvement in offense. Being within earshot of 30-goals is a start, and with the potential of a full season alongside Dalibor Dvorsky and Jonatan Berrgren, Buchnevich could very easily notch 40+ assists.
That is a step in the right direction, but consistency will remain as a precedent moving forward if Buchnevich wants to contnue to wear the Blue Note.
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