The St. Louis Blues projected first line should be a given, but the second line is where things may get murky, or at least that could be the case as the 2024-25 season wears on. Below, the likeliest candidates to earn a spot on the second line are a pair of seasoned veterans and one youngster looking to make another big jump.
But because the Blues are going through a rather lengthy transition period, there’s a chance that the second line could look different by the end of the season. Or, it could remain as is, but there may be some foreshadowing involved if the Blues were to add in a few prospects at forward during the last dozen or so games of 2024-25.
Brandon Saad
A 26-goal season was one of Brandon Saad’s finest, and it also marked his best campaign with the St. Louis Blues, at least from a goal-scoring perspective. Despite his encouraging play last season, Saad could end up giving way to younger talent as the 2024-25 campaign progresses, as it’s mainly a question of who will be in the Lou when the Blues start winning consistently again, and he likely won’t be one of those players.
Saad was one of the three Blues I did say will leave Gateway City following the 2024-25 season via trade - his full no-trade clause will get slashed to 12 teams starting in the 2025 offseason - but it will also come down to readiness for any youngster who could end up replacing him. Should a prospect prove themselves ready to take the next step, Saad’s time in the top-six could be even more numbered than his days in St. Louis.
Brayden Schenn
It will be Brayden Schenn’s 14th season in the NHL in which he’s played in 47 games or more, and while he remains one of the more pivotal pieces to the Blues puzzle, he’s in a position similar to Brandon Saad - the Blues best days will likely come when he’s either A) playing elsewhere or B) taking a back seat.
Schenn’s contract runs through 2028, but that full no-movement clause will cut to 15 teams starting next season, so that’s something to be aware of. He will be entering his age-33 season, so while he will start the year in the top-six, there are no guarantees he will end the campaign there.
That said, if there’s one player it would be tough to see the Blues moving in the offseason, it’s Schenn. Therefore, he’s more likely to see his ice time slowly scale back, especially if his points total continues to stagnate.
Jake Neighbours
Jake Neighbours is one name who should claw his way into a top-six spot, and there may be some fans who want to see him on the first line. Hey, I won’t rule out anything, but logistically, Neighbours will likely sidle in with a pair of seasoned veterans as he enters only his second full season.
Neighbours is one player who should build on what he was successful in last season, which included 27 goals and an 18.6 shooting percentage. But his ability to be disruptive, land checks, and record takeaways was also attention-grabbing, so giving a youngster who could be a threat at both ends of the rink with more ice time makes sense.