Yesterday, we took a look at who we think will make the Blues' fourth line--and there should be quite a lot of competition in preseason camp to earn a roster spot there! Today, we're going to continue working our way up the lineup and project the third line. For the fun of it, we're going to take an optimistic approach and say one of the Blues' top prospects makes the lineup out of camp.
Center
First and foremost is the discussion of who will center the third line. The Blues got deeper at the position during the offseason, signing Nick Bjugstad and Pius Suter in free agency to play behind Robert Thomas and, ostensibly, Brayden Schenn. However, we feel that, at this point in his career, Schenn may not be best suited for second-line duties. As a result, we're going to make Schenn our third-line center. An important role for a veteran like him, though, as his wingers are going to be a rookie and a young player still finding his way.
The Wings
If that last sentence didn't give it away, we think Dalibor Dvorsky makes this roster out of camp. The 20-year-old prospect had a great rookie season in the AHL, and we think he's going to make a splash in preseason and earn a roster spot. He may not stick around for the entire season, but he'll get a pat on the head for a good camp and a couple of games in the NHL. Dvorsky may've been drafted as a center, and he'll likely play that position in his prime, but he may be on the right wing to start his career.
That leaves the left wing position, and it goes to another young player: Jake Neighbours. Neighbours had his ups and downs last season, but 22 goals and 46 points in 82 games in 2024-25 is nothing to shake a stick at for a player entering his age-23 season. If anyone can play their way up the lineup, it's likely Neighbours.
So there's your third line on opening night: Jake Neighbours at left wing, Dalibor Dvorsky on the right, and captain Brayden Schenn down the middle providing veteran guidance to two of his youngest teammates. Perhaps camp battles shake out differently and Nick Bjugstad pushes one of the two down (or up!), but we think it'd benefit Dvorsky and Neighbours to play with the captain of the team.