St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours and his reflections on the Year

At 22 years old, have we seen the beginning of Jake Neighbours?

Many St. Louis Blues fans consider Neighbours a fan favorite and a player with a promising future.

Following the end of the season, Neighbours spoke to the media about his thoughts on important subjects, particularly his performance and future expectations.

Jake Neighbours said all the right things

Neighbours implied that he knew head coach Drew Bannister well and was familiar with his coaching style from their time together in the AHL.

The young skater also mentioned that he was happy and even surprised by his own progress in 2023-24 and even commented that "he was still finding his way."

Admitting that the team was disappointed they didn't make the playoffs, Neighbours still focused on positives, including seeing Zack Bolduc and Zach Dean enter regular season play.

Neighbours emphasized that the team's success lies in their strong unity rather than relying on individual superstars.

Naturally, those comments weren't meant to criticize All-Stars Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. However, his remarks reinforce the argument that the Blues performed exceptionally well despite not having players like Nathan MacKinnon or Auston Matthews on their roster.

Naturally, fans are eagerly waiting for such a star to join or even be built within the current roster. Despite no superstar, the Blues had a fairly strong second half of the season but ultimately missed the playoffs.

Neighbours mentioned as much himself, noting that the Blues competed against the best in the league and even won several crucial games.

Once Drew Bannister replaced Craig Berube as the Blues coach, the Blues added to their win total and fixed some significant gaps in their play.

Neighbours knows Bannister well and highlighted one of his famous words, "accountability."

St. Louis is now acquainted with Neighbours.  Fans can expect to see more of him and witness his growth on the ice.

The power of words is often underestimated. If Neighbours words hold up, brace yourself for some exciting times.