St. Louis Blues: Three Players the Blues need more from
There are many reasons to remain optimistic about the 2024-25 season. The St. Louis Blues finished close to earning a playoff spot. Despite that, three players on the team must elevate their performance to have a chance at reaching the playoffs.
Welcome to the world of professional sports. Players are critiqued when they perform poorly and praised when they perform well.
The team has locked in contracts for three key players who need to step up in the upcoming season.
Jordan Kyrou
First, Jordan Kyrou led the team in goals and earned an All-Star appearance in 2022. However, his deflating statistics in the last three seasons are legitimate concerns.
Kyrou not only has genuine potential, but he has talent.
Some fans have criticized him for his lack of physical play.
Despite ongoing trade rumors, he remains an integral part of GM Doug Armstrong's long-term plans (at least for now).
Kyrou needs to discover his motivation and silence the skeptics in St. Louis. Head coach Drew Bannister can provide assistance, while the talented Robert Thomas can further strengthen and motivate Kyrou.
Armstrong bet on the future of a Thomas and Kyrou duo that has the potential to outmatch the 2019 combination of O'Reilly and Tarasenko. The keyword is potential.
Have Armstrong and Bannister given up on Kyrou? Only time will tell. Nevertheless, if he remains a member of the St. Louis Blues, he could be the most coveted piece for Bannister's development plans.
Colton Parayko
Fans love Colton Parayko. He's an excellent example of a leader and role model.
Standing at 6'6", he's a huge defenseman who hasn't lived up to expectations since his debut in 2015. His contract is a substantial $6.5 million. The situation could be worse, but the Blues need greater contributions from him.
The Blues lack defense, and they need help right away.
Arguably, this will be the one concern addressed in this upcoming free-agent market.
However, the Blues can't afford big names, and Parayko could be the top defender entering 2024-25.
Like Kyrou, his statistics have decreased yearly since his 35 points in 2021-22.
Brayden Schenn
Brayden Schenn, 32, is the team captain and played lights out in the 2018-19 playoff run.
2023-24 was a sharp departure from such figures.
This season, he played in 82 games and finished with 46 points. A 19-point decrease is tough, and certainly not a result GM Doug Armstrong or head coach Drew Bannister expected.
Despite being 32 and having endured several NHL seasons, which have had a physical impact on him, the Blues still depend on him beyond his role as a leader.
Leadership plays a part in success, but productivity has to be there.
In comparison, David Perron, who is older than Schenn, has managed to score 52 and 55 points in his last two seasons in Detroit.
Perron is older and getting paid significantly less than Schenn's contract of $8 million in 2024-25.
Armstrong might have pulled a head-scratcher by locking in Schenn for a long-term contract expiring after the 2027-28 season.
Fans adore Schenn, just like Parayko. However, expectations exist, and his contract is both lengthy and substantial. Schenn must tap into his abilities from 2019 or even surpass his potential in 2023.
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