Jake Neighbours
Jake Neighbours will enter the 2024-25 season in the final year of his entry-level contract, but the 22-year-old may sign an extension before the puck drops about five months from today. Neighbours deserves it more than anyone else on this list, as despite putting up just 38 points in 77 games, his 27 goals and 18.6 shooting percentage made him the Blues breakout player this season.
Neighbours also brings more than just an offensive game that will continue to improve as he enters his prime. He was physical with opponents this year, finishing the season with 1.79 hits per game, and his presence on the power play showed us the Blues have at least one viable player in the unit.
If he signs an extension, either a bridge or a long-term deal, depending on what Doug Armstrong’s approach is, don’t let it surprise you. Neighbours has earned it, and his productivity should take a massive leap as he heads into his age-22 season.
My projection is if an extension indeed occurs this offseason, it will likely be a bridge, just to see if Neighbours can repeat what he had going for him this season. He wasn’t known as a big-time scorer before 2023-24, so it wouldn’t hurt if Armstrong took a more prudent approach here.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)