If you were to just go on projections, the 2026-27 season seems pretty bleak for the Blues. All the power rankings and season previews have them at the bottom of the league. Instead of contending for a playoff spot, they will be vying for the best lottery odds. While the media is low on the Blues, if you were to look at the roster, you'd see a lot of talent on the team. You would see a path for this team to be a playoff contender. Sure, they will not be a Cup favorite, but they could make the playoffs. But why should fans be optimistic for this upcoming season?
The Blues have one of the best young cores in the NHL. Guys like Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud, Mason McTavish, and Connor McMichael have all established themselves as solid NHL players. They are also all 25 or younger. There is every chance that they can take the next step in their game. There are also the wild cards of Jake Neighbours and Dalibor Dvorsky. Both players are set to be in the Blues' third line, but could quickly earn a top-six role with strong play.
Guys like Holloway and Snuggerud were part of the reason the Blues got hot after the Olympic break. Both of these players averaged nearly or over a point per game during the last two months of the year. If they can continue that type of production this season, they can be the main drivers of offense. Add the production of McMichael and McTavish, plus whatever the veterans and the other young players can do, and the Blues could have an explosive offense.
There is a lot of promise on this Blues roster
There is also the emergence of Joel Hofer. Over the last few seasons, Hofer has turned himself from a solid backup into a good starter for the Blues. In 46 games last season, he recorded a .909 save percentage and a career-low 2.61 goals-against average. It seems like every season he's been in the league, he has been improving. It's safe to assume that with him taking on the full-time starter role this season, he will take another step.
They also have a solid backup in Jordan Binnington. Sure, he is not the goalie who carried this team to the Stanley Cup in 2019. However, he can be a great option in a goalie tandem or as a backup. While he struggled in the beginning of the season, he had a .921 save percentage and a 1.62 goals-against average in five starts during the month of March last season. In a limited role, Binnington can likely show more flashes of the goalie he used to be.
With a strong goalie tandem and a young core with a ton of upside, there is a clear path for the Blues to be a competitive team in 2026-27. This could be the start of a new era of Blue dominance.
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