Ranking the St. Louis Blues forwards from worst to first for the 2024-25 season

The St. Louis Blues forwards didn’t always look consistent in 2023-24, but general manager Doug Armstrong added some help this summer, even if they weren’t what you would call “prize” acquisitions. Still, you don’t need to continually add elite talent to dramatically improve the team, not with solid scorers already in the lineup and more to come shortly. 

So, where do the current forwards rank in the Blues lineup, and how will they best serve the team in 2024-25? Note that this list will not include those who are still considered prospects, so Zach Dean and Zack Bolduc, for example, won’t be ranked even if there is a good chance they end up in the Blues lineup come the season-opener in October. 

15 - Hugh McGing

Let’s give the former fifth-round pick credit for at least working his way into becoming rather high-end organizational depth. But that’s about all you’re going to get from Hugh McGing in 2024-25, as Zach Dean and Zachary Bolduc will, without a doubt, rank higher once they’re both on the big club for good. 

14 - Nikita Alexandrov

Like Hugh McGing, Nikita Alexandrov will likely end up as organizational depth while Dean, Bolduc, and perhaps even Dalibor Dvorsky lap him in these rankings when we conduct them again. But for now, we’ll put him at No. 14 on our list. 

13 - Nathan Walker

If neither Dean, Bolduc, nor Dvorsky wind up with the big club, look for Nathan Walker to be that first extra forward on the team while McGing and Alexandrov battle it out to become the 14th forward should the Blues keep that number in the lineup. That said, Walker won’t serve in anything more than a part-time role while playing fourth-line minutes. 

12 - Alexandre Texier

Alexandre Texier may have logged middle-six minutes during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he figures to be more of a lower-liner with the Blues. He put up 23 goals over the past two seasons (114 games), including 11 in 36 contests in 2022-23, hinting that he could end up as a depth scorer in St. Louis.  

11 - Kasperi Kapanen

Like Sundqvist, Kasperi Kapanen’s numbers are nowhere near the most impressive of the lot, but if he logs quality shifts, that’s all the Blues need from who should be a lower-liner this season. That said, we shouldn’t be surprised if Kapanen works his way into a higher-quality role in Gateway City; he put up a promising 14 points and eight goals during the final 23 games of the 2022-23 season, so he’s shown some potential in this lineup. 

10 - Alexey Toropchenko

I didn’t want to rank Alexey Toropchenko so low, as few can play the same type of quality minutes, but a pair of recent acquisitions forced my hand. Still, the physical youngster - 165 hits last season - provided a sound depth scoring option with 14 goals, and he also pitched in for seven assists. A defense-first mentality may define Toropchenko’s game, but if his productivity increased offensively, should we be surprised?

9 - Oskar Sundqvist

Oscar Sunqvist is nothing more than a defensive forward who can give a team middle-six to bottom-six minutes, but he’s someone with plenty of championship-winning experience, imposing size, and veteran leadership. As the Blues get younger, look for Sundqvist to provide one of the most well-respected voices in the locker room, and that will serve the retooling roster well long-term. 

8 - Radek Faksa

Like Oskar Sundqvist, Radek Faksa also brings an imposing demeanor, and one who will more than fuel the Blues lower lines. Faksa has received numerous Selke votes in the past, including a seventh-place finish for the award in 2017-18. He brings a physical brand of play, and he’s more than reliable in the faceoff circle. 

7 - Mathieu Joseph

Mathieu Joseph was a sneaky good acquisition, and while you may think I ranked him too highly here, I like what he did last season with the Ottawa Senators. Joseph finished the year with 11 goals and 35 points, with 16:28 of average total ice time, plus 105 hits and 69 takeaways. He has more talent to work with in St. Louis, so if Joseph broke into the top-six, it shouldn’t surprise a single fan. 

6 - Brayden Schenn

Brayden Schenn has proven to be a consistent player over his seven seasons with the Blues, and 2024-25 should be no different. No, putting up 46 points last season was not his best outing, but Schenn remains a 20-goal scorer and one of the team’s most physical players who hustles in all three zones.