Star power exists in the NHL's Central Division, from the Colorado Avalanche, led by Nathan MacKinnon's 51 goals and Mikko Rantanen's 42, to the Nashville Predators, led by Filip Forsberg's 48.
While the St. Louis Blues might not have had a 40-plus goal scorer, a unique stat set the Blues apart in 2023-24, one the team could build upon in the upcoming season.
The St. Louis Blues Fared well in scoring as a team
Jordan Kyrou–31 goals.
Pavel Buchnevich–27 goals.
Jake Neighbours–27 goals.
Brandon Saad–26 goals.
Robert Thomas–26 goals.
Brayden Schenn–20 goals.
Outside of Kyrou, all other skaters put up numbers in the 20s.
Some hockey fans might not be jumping for joy, but the numbers speak for themselves, especially in the Central Division.
Central Division Leaders in 2023-24:
Dallas Stars–8 goal scorers recording 20 or more in regular season play.
Winnipeg Jets–6 goal scorers recording 20 or more in regular season play.
Colorado Avalanche–4 goal scorers recording 20 or more in regular season play.
Nashville Predators–4 goal scorers recording 20 or more in regular season play.
St. Louis Blues–6 goal scorers recording 20 or more in regular season play.
The Dallas Stars set the standard, showcasing a dominant, powerful unit of players who could score goals. However, the St. Louis Blues tied for second among the top teams in the Central Division with six 20-plus goal scorers.
This might seem irrelevant since the Blues didn't make the playoffs. But it really shows how the team can put points on the board, especially under new coach Drew Bannister.
With only four players in the top category of 20-plus goals, the Avs still have two superstars, which offsets their ranking.
The Blues have several reasons to be excited about their ranking. First, their two top players, Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, finished in the top six in goal scoring, but so did veterans such as Brandon Saad and Brayden Schenn. More promising are the numbers from Jake Neighbours, a 22-year-old known for scoring and aggressiveness. The young players on the current roster, including Thomas, Kyrou, and Neighbours, are impressive and projected to improve further.
The Blues fared well in goal scoring, and given an entire season under coach Drew Bannister in 2024-25, fans should expect even better results.
Scoring is the name of the game, and the Blues proved their talent in this category. Now, they need to add to the win tally to return to the postseason.