3 St. Louis Blues players who are early-season front-runners for end-of-year awards

When I use the term front-runners, a more accurate phrase may be ‘among the front-runners,’ as nobody in a St. Louis Blues uniform has been exceptional in their respective positions this season. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a few players who could be in top-10, if not top-five, consideration for an award at this point in the young season. 

Now that we’re well into October and teams are starting to find their groove, let’s check out three Blues players who are more than, or should be more than, capable of challenging for an end-of-year award should they keep up and improve their current trajectory.

1 - Pavel Buchnevich, Selke Trophy

Three goals and four points across six games have players like Pavel Buchnevich trending in the right direction. But as of Tuesday afternoon, I’ve been beyond impressed with his ability to play more than just sound hockey in all three zones. 

Currently, Buchnevich has landed six body checks and two takeaways, and his on-ice save percentage at even strength is a perfect 100.0. Better yet, his on-ice shooting percentage in that same category is 20.5, giving him a PDO of 120.5 in this young season. 

2 - Philip Broberg, Norris Trophy

Philip Broberg jumped out to six points in his first six games, and while other blueliners out there are still ahead of him during the early stages of the Norris Trophy race, the steal of the offseason could at least finish with top-five consideration. 

Cale Makar will admittedly be tough to beat, but in the next batch behind him, it’s fair game. And it will only take one bad stretch from Makar, whose Avalanche are still struggling at times, for players like Broberg to have an opportunity to overtake him. If Broberg keeps playing well, it’s more than a sound possibility. 

3 - Joel Hofer, Vezina Trophy

Joel Hofer will, at some point this season, become the 1A in Gateway City, and that’s a fact. And as things currently stand, he looks like a player who has more than improved on last season with a 0.932 save percentage and a 2.32 GAA, plus a shutout. 

Hofer will have some bad games, as he’s in just his second full season and is still in that ‘transitioning role,’ so not every game will be a good one. But if he can keep his save percentage at 0.920 and higher, with a GAA of 2.45 or lower, he will more than find himself in the conversation to win the Calder. 

He’ll have to beat out the likes of Igor Shesterkin and Company, and that's easier said than done, but consistency will be key. And for Hofer, he may have an advantage with a lesser team than someone like Shesterkin.