St. Louis Blues fans entered this season with plenty of hope after the 2025-26 season. Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud emerged as offensive stars after the trade deadline, and many believed they were about to take an even bigger step this season. However, over four games, Snuggerud has two assists, Holloway has no points, and their first-line center Robert Thomas joins him with a bagel next to his name.
We can sit and argue whether the biggest concern with this team is the powerplay or the first line, but obviously the problems go hand-in-hand. Fans will clamor for the first line to part ways, but they may need to work through it, and if they do, St. Louis will look like a completely different team in no time.
Like a struggling three-point shooter, the Blues' first line just needs to see one go through the hoop. If they can build some offense at either five-on-five or on the powerplay, their confidence will grow, and the goals will come in bunches. The season's first four games are the worst time to go through a slump, but there is time to figure it out, and three of a possible eight points to start the season isn't insurmountable.
Blues' first line is going to be okay, eventually
The worst thing to say to a fan who is frustrated with their team is that the advanced stats show they are playing better than their eyes are seeing, but that is the case for the first line. They may be getting outscored 2-0 through 39 minutes of five-on-five time, but they do have an expected goals percentage of 69.6%, which would put them among the NHL's elite lines.
They've spent time putting each player in different combinations, but that also hasn't worked. Right now, the goals just aren't going in, and the only player who has seen success is Snuggerud, as he was on the ice for a five-on-five goal without his two linemates.
It's hard to tell a fan to look at the spreadsheets and hope it turns around, but if they do keep playing the way they are at five-on-five, the goals are going to come. If they don't, the first line becomes one of the unluckiest trios in hockey history, because a group of players with a Corsi above 65% should find a way to succeed.
Power play woes
You also have to believe that Jim Montgomery will find a way to unlock the offense, as he has been able to do at every stop of his coaching career. Most of the power play units in his career have operated at above 20%, until last season, when the Blues finished at a 17.6% clip. The last time one of his power plays has been as bad as St. Louis this season was in 2023-24, when the Boston Bruins started the year at 11.7% through the first 20 games, and he was promptly fired.
The Blues currently have an 8.7% shooting percentage. Their first line combined for two assists through the first four games, and neither came when they were on the ice together. It has gotten very ugly. However, there are still 80 games to go; Joel Hofer has a .930 save percentage and a 1.68 goals-against average, and the advanced stats say the offense should turn around.
Panic is okay, but the rest of the league should be wary that if the first line turns it around, the St. Louis offense could explode at both five-on-five and on the power play. If that happens, and Hofer continues playing the way he has, the Blues will return to being playoff contenders.
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