St. Louis Blues: Can Oskar Sundqvist become a mentor for a young team?
Oskar Sundqvist is one of the last 2019 Cup winners on the roster for the St. Louis Blues. Does he have the potential to be a leader for a team with promising prospects ahead?
It may be hard to believe, but Oskar Sundqvist is 30. It feels like yesterday when he was a young skater on the Cup-winning team that won the trophy in 2019.
After a short stint in Detroit and Minnesota, Sundqvist returned to St. Louis for the 2023-24 season.
He’s locked into a two-year, $3 million contract ending after the 2025-26 season.
“It’s crazy how it turned out. I’ve always been happy to be here and playing for the Blues. That was my goal to stay here.”
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 7, 2024
- Oskar Sundqvist on his new two-year, $3 million contract https://t.co/tGtJ5buOQu #stlblues
Bringing back Sundqvist was strategic. While he’s not a prime offensive threat, he has the opportunity to play quality minutes in the later lines and is familiar not only with the city of St. Louis and the fanbase but also with star players Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou.
Sundqvist is also a two-time Cup winner, with an additional championship title from his 2016 win with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Oskar Sundqvist can assist the up-and-coming talent for the St. Louis Blues
Sundqvist’s numbers aren’t going to make a big splash. He earned 21 points, notably 15 assists, in 71 games with the Blues last year.
His highest point total came in 2018-19, when he recorded 31 points.
In 2023-24, he won 41.9% of his faceoffs, ranking him eighth on the team.
Sundqvist, standing at 6'3" and weighing 220lbs, is a formidable presence on the ice. His physicality is evident in his ranking as the eighth player on the roster with 82 hits.
Sundqvist is a good-sized center who can definitely make a statement with his aggressive play.
With a team expecting young players such as Dalibor Dvorsky, Zack Bolduc, Otto Stenberg, and even the 2024 draft selections to perhaps enter NHL play sooner rather than later, Sundqvist’s experience could serve as a reassuring guide in mentoring the young skaters.
His experience, highlighted by his 2 Cup wins, is a crucial asset for the Blues.
Sundqvist may be transitioning into a somewhat different role, one he may very well welcome as he enters the last stages of his career.
Not many holdovers exist from the 2019 Cup team, but Sundqvist can continue to make his mark in St. Louis Blues history.
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