While NHL coaches consistently switch up lines every time there is a hockey game about to be played, or even during the game, we also see predominantly one trio of players grace the top line. That said, when it comes to the St. Louis Blues lines and pairings, these projections aren’t about what the lines will look like in every matchup, but instead, in most matchups.
It also means that these projections are a product of ‘all other variables being equal,’ so factors like injuries, bad fits, or tanking performances are excluded here. Now that we got the technicalities out of the way - if you can call them that - let’s get on with who will likely grace the Blues top three in 2204-25.
Robert Thomas
While the Blues weren’t consistent with about anything offensively last season, Robert Thomas was their best bet to score, and that will be the same this season. Thomas has been sensational despite the Blues lack of fire on offense, putting up 65 and 86 points over the past two respective seasons, and let’s be real: He hasn’t reached his threshold yet.
Add in the fact that Thomas will once again play well not just in the offensive zone but also when the Blues are looking to steal the puck back; nobody else provides more value to the team overall at the forward position. Therefore, if there was ever a shoo-in for someone who will undoubtedly get at least 19 but more likely 20 minutes of ice time, it’s Thomas.
Pavel Buchnevich
You don’t re-sign someone to a six-year extension who had also garnered nearly 20 minutes of ice time in each of the last two seasons and not put them onto the first line. That said, Pavel Buchnevich will be present, and with that new contract, we can all expect him to live up to it even before it kicks in next season - 2025-26 in case you’d like some clarity.
If Buchnevich can get his shooting percentage back between the 15.1 and 21.1 percent mark, which was the case between 2020-21 (while still in New York) and 2023-24, he could set a new career-best in goals scored. That could easily come this season with more improvement from Robert Thomas getting even better, but that will also be the case if someone else has a more consistent campaign.
Jordan Kyrou
While his 2023-24 season was mired in up-and-down play, we can’t be overtly hard on Jordan Kyrou, who still ended the year with 31 goals and 67 points across a career-high 18:20 of average total ice time. As a good player who has yet to live up to expectations, that could happen in 2024-25 with a surging Robert Thomas and a happy Pavel Buchnevich.
Kyrou only needs to focus on hockey, and in doing so, each individual game and each individual shift. If he puts together such a blueprint, you can be more than rest assured that we’ll see the player who found the net 37 times with the potential to perhaps hit his first-ever 40-goal season arrive in 2024-25.