This offseason proved that there is a major shift happening to the St. Louis Blues. The new era of hockey about to be played is going to be a nice blend of new school and old school, and that makes them a very dynamic team going into the 2026-27 season.
Bringing in some new pieces like Mason McTavish and Ross Johnston gives this team a little bit of a new personality. It is no secret that this franchise was built on being bullies on the ice, and it has been present in recent years, though sparingly.
Now, there is a clear direction that former General Manager Doug Armstrong and now new head man in charge, Alexander Steen, are pushing the Blues to. Let's talk about it.
Went for size and grit
It was clear as day this offseason that the Blues went for size and grit. Johnston is a monster figure at 6-foot-5, and McTavish is a scrappy young player that is not afraid of a challenge. Connor McMichael is another player that has thrown some knucks around at the NHL level.
The draft also pointed in this direction as well, with the drafting of Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Dagenais in the first round. Both are relatively big centers, with Degenais being the taller prospect at 6-foot-4. Lawrence also brings a complete 200-foot game with him, which makes him a perfect choice for a pressure-focused team like the Blues.
Emphasis on physicality
Losing Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk erases a bit of the tenacity and aggressiveness from the lineup. But the hope is that adding both Johnston and McTavish gives it back, as well as Brandon Carlo on the defensive side. Expect the Blues to be amongst the hit leaders as a team next season, after they finished in 8th last season with 1,796 hits.
Head coach Jim Montgomery has already expressed that the training camp will be tougher. That should be a good indication as to what kind of game plan he will have for the opposition once the 84-game regular season rolls around.
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