The St. Louis Blues' power play has gotten off to an abysmal start this season, with one (1) power play goal in the early days of the 2026-27 campaign. That is simply not good enough to be taken seriously as a contending team in a competitive Central Division--and head coach Jim Montgomery has shaken up the units to try and spark something.
There are still the usual suspects on the top unit (Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud), but there's one notable new face in particular: Adam Jiricek. The rookie wasn't even meant to start the season with the Blues, but as the injuries have piled up, he's been playing with the big club--and now he finds himself on the top power play squad. That's a big step for a young defenseman, and there are pros and cons for Jiricek being put in that new role.
The good
Any time a young player is given ample opportunity at the NHL level is helpful to their development. Jiricek has the added bonus of veteran players around him like Colton Parayko and Brandon Carlo--even 25-year-old Philip Broberg's entering his sixth season--which means he doesn't have to be "the guy" straight out of the gate. Finding out now if Jiricek has power play potential is a great step in the process and, when the Blues inevitably get healthier, something for Jiricek to work on when he rejoins the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL.
Power plays are a great way to build confidence, too. Typically, that's where teams score a fair number of points, and Jiricek would likely pick up a couple of assists here and there. Registering a few points builds confidence, and that can carry over to play at even strength.
The bad
The Blues are trying to make the playoffs and be taken seriously as Stanley Cup contenders--and they've just handed the reins for their first power play unit to a 20-year-old rookie who doesn't have a reputation for being a strong quarterback on the man advantage. It does not bode well for the Blues' defense group that neither Broberg nor Cam Fowler could lock down that role. Logan Mailloux would probably not have been optimal, either.
While power plays can build confidence, they can also put players under a lot of pressure. The Blues have already struggled on the man advantage this season, and a rookie could take a lot of heat for the continued lack of success. If Jiricek gets taken off the power play for one bad game or one bad play, that can break a young player's confidence and seep into other aspects of his game.
Generally, the positives of giving Jiricek some runway to run the power play outweigh the negatives. It's an opportunity he may not have had otherwise. If he succeeds, the Blues know they've got a very good defenseman to anchor the blue line for years to come.
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