Well, Blues fans, we made it! The rookie games are behind us, and preseason games with the full roster are just around the corner. It's time for the 2025-26 season to begin in earnest, which includes a number of battles at training camp for a limited number of roster spots.
The St. Louis Blues are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to their forward group: there are only 12 spots in the lineup, but they have 14 forwards signed, two prospects with a real chance to make the team, and Milan Lucic on a PTO. That's 16 players (17, if Lucic earns a contract) competing for those 12 spots--and most of that competition will come to a head on the fourth line.
With that in mind, trying to predict what the Blues' fourth line will look like is a bit of a fool's errand--we haven't even seen how anybody looks at camp yet! However, we're going to do our best based on usage and production from the previous season.
Center
At center, the Blues have a pretty clear picture of who can play that role on the fourth line: Nick Bjgustad, Oskar Sundqvist, and maybe Alexandre Texier. Any of those three would be a fine option, and whoever's left could kick out to wing. Perhaps the most effective choice would be the new addition, Bjugstad, so we'll go with him down the middle.
Choosing two wingers is far more complicated, as there are five (5!) options for two spots: Sundqvist, Texier, Nathan Walker, Mathieu Joseph, and Alexei Toropchenko--and a sixth option in Lucic if he makes the team. That's a lot of players! How can you pick just two??
The Wings
First, we're going to rule out Lucic. At his age, it seems unlikely that he can hold down a regular NHL role and will probably be released at the end of training camp. Next are Joseph and Texier, both of whom found themselves out of the lineup with relative frequency--it'll be an uphill battle for them to both prove they deserve a roster spot.
That leaves Sundqvist, Walker, and Toropchenko. At 26 years old, there's reason to believe Toropchenko could have a bit more in him than Walker and Sundqvist, and he had four points in the playoffs--he'll play left wing. Then it comes down to Walker or Sundqvist for right wing, and we're going to give it to Sundqvist as he's a bigger body and managed a few more points in the regular season.
Projection
So, that's our fourth line to start the season: Alexei Toropchenko at left wing, Nick Bjugstad down the middle, and Oskar Sundqvist on the right wing. Three big bodies who can play physical and chip in some offense.