With the NHL preseason underway, uncertainty reigns supreme. The St. Louis Blues have a full season ahead of them, in which their feasible outcomes range from snagging a Wild Card spot, to finishing with a middling record, all the way to a disappointing finish towards the bottom of the Central Division. Who knows what will happen?
One uncertainty takes the shape of 6'1", 196 lbs. in Pavel Buchnevich. Will he be playing center for the Blues in 2024-25? Will it work? What does this demonstrate about the Blues organization? What does it mean for Buchnevich's Blues teammates?
Will Buchnevich play center in 2024-25?
By all indications, Drew Bannister and the St. Louis Blues intend to start with Buchnevich as the second line center in 2024-25. It won't be an entirely new experience for Buchnevich as he has bounced back and forth from the center and wing in the past. While player results have been mixed, the team as a whole has, for the most part, performed well with Buchnevich at center.
What does Buchnevich playing center demonstrate about the Blues organization?
Whether or not Buchnevich performs in the new position, the fact that St. Louis feels the need to start him as the second line center demonstrates one fact about the Blues: they lack the top six center talent of a contending team.
Beyond Robert Thomas, a surefire top line center, there is not much talent at the position to inspire confidence. Brayden Schenn is an option, though his performance has been somewhat underwhelming as of late. Radek Faksa was brought in this offseason, and he has the chops to be an effective bottom six center. Alexandre Texier and Zach Dean are intriguing young options, but they're largely unproven.
Hopes remain high among Blues fans that Dalibor Dvorsky could become the Blues' second line center. It will take some growth and development, including improvements to his skating and/or his compete level, but Dvorsky has the skill and the potential to get there. Perhaps Doug Armstrong and the Blues are hoping that Buchnevich can fill in until that time arrives. If Dvorsky doesn't get there, the Blues may need to use free agency or the trade market to fill the position.
What does Buchnevich playing center mean for his teammates?
Playing Buchnevich at center results in some shuffling of the forward group. The third line center job most likely belongs to Faksa, but Texier and Dean are in the mix for the fourth line center, along with Oskar Sundqvist once he returns from injury.
As for the wings, Jake Neighbours is all but certain to take over as the top line left winger, on a line with Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. The second line could feature veterans like Schenn and Saad, but Zack Bolduc, who has been impressive this preseason, could see some time. Perhaps, with some improvements, Dylan Holloway could crack the second line by the end of the season. A third line of Holloway, Faksa, and Mathieu Joseph seems like a solid bet, and could be a tough, gritty, physical line to play against for Blues opponents. Other names to keep an eye on in the bottom six include Saad, Nathan Walker, Alexey Toropchenko, and Kasperi Kapanen.
Will playing Buchnevich at center work?
Given Buchnevich's track record, it's fair to assume that he will play well as the second line center for the Blues this season. He may not perform as well as the top 2C's in the league, but he has the offensive and defensive skills to be successful, especially if he can improve his faceoff percentage. Surround him with experienced wingers, like Brayden Schenn and Brandon Saad, and it might just work for a full season.