The St. Louis Blues have had a difficult start to their season, losing five of their first eight games. Entering a season in which the Blues were expected to take a significant step forward following the late-season spark provided by the line combination of Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Robert Thomas, expectations were high. And after the trio spent part of the offseason training together to develop further chemistry, the team’s lackluster start has been disappointing.
Now, the missing piece in the Blues’ lineup has become increasingly evident: They lack a true game-changing star.
The lackluster start
The Blues’ start to the season has been an unfortunate series of events. Beginning with the losses of Logan Mailloux and Alexey Toropchenko, the Blues were already without two key players to start the season. Since then, they’ve also lost Dillon Dube and Ross Johnston. And because of these injuries, it’s easy to say that they haven’t been healthy so we don’t really know the potential of this roster when everyone is back in the nightly lineup. However, the biggest concern isn’t necessarily the injuries themselves, but rather the role these players occupied. They aren’t the key building blocks, yet the Blues continue to struggle against teams with elite offensive talent.
Looking back at how the Blues have fared in divisional matchups, they currently hold a 1-4 record with a goal differential of minus-12. What makes that differential particularly concerning is that of the 12 goals scored by the Blues, only four have come from their first line, including an empty-net goal from Snuggerud in the season opener against the Dallas Stars. When considering the divisional opponents they’ll face regularly throughout the season, the lack of production from their top players raises concerns about their ability to compete consistently.
However, the problem extends beyond offensive production. Defensively, the Blues have struggled in shutting down and containing the opposing team’s top lines, regardless of who’s on the ice. A lot of that comes down their inability to control the pace of play or having a game-changing player capable of shifting momentum. Take the Colorado Avalanche for example. When Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar has the puck, anything can happen. That forces the Blues, with their lack of offensive production, to play a defensive game. Playing back and not pressing, not trying to cut out passing lanes, blocking shots, they become very conservative. With that, the Blues have to play to the mercy of the opposition which is not a winning formula.
A similar pattern emerged against the Minnesota Wild. Throughout much of the game, the Blues found themselves playing to Minnesota’s strengths rather than establishing their own pace of play and controlling possession of the puck.
When it comes to turning their season around, much of the problem comes back to the absence of a player who commands enough attention from opposing teams to force them into a more cautious approach. Without that threat, opponents can apply aggressive pressure, creating turnovers and odd-man rushes that puts the goaltender in a tough situation. It also leaves the coaching staff searching for solutions to a problem that goes beyond simple lineup adjustments.
The unfortunate realization
The Blues have several players they could leverage in a potential trade for a superstar. However, with how early it is in the season, there isn’t much room to negotiate with other general managers around the league, particularly when determining which players could become available.
Prior to his contract extension, the Blues could have explored conversations with the Detroit Red Wings regarding the availability of not only defenseman Simon Edvinsson but also Alex DeBrincat, who could have been a significant acquisition without necessarily costing the Blues an arm and a leg. However, following the signing of his long-term contract extension, Edvinsson’s availability has likely changed, potentially shifting the Blues’ attention elsewhere.
Another possibility would have been Kyle Connor, particularly if the Winnipeg Jets struggled to meet expectations early in the season. However, with Winnipeg’s strong start and Connor Hellebuyck’s return to the organization, the possibility of acquiring Connor has become increasingly unlikely. Not that it was a potential option in the first place.
With the season still in it’s early stages, it’s difficult to gauge which players could become available in trade discussions. However, there’s certainly reason to believe the Blues could become involved in conversations surrounding some of the league’s bigger names as opportunities emerge. If St. Louis hopes to take the next step toward becoming a legitimate contender, acquiring a game-changing talent could provide the boost this roster needs.
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