The St. Louis Blues are going to have a very big season ahead of them in 2026-27. It may not be a successful one, but there is a sense that this should be the start of the next great era of hockey for this franchise.
With the old regime just about all gone, it is now up to some newer faces and potentially some prospects to bring a new energy and fire. For this upcoming season, that has to be a point of emphasis.
If there was one goal for this team to try to achieve with the upcoming 84-game gauntlet, what would it be? Let's talk about it.
Embrace the newness, and establish a foundation
The Blues, while under the direction of head coach Jim Montgomery, changed their identity around a lot in 2025-26. With new line combos almost on a nightly basis, there was no real chance for chemistry and laying down a solid foundation. At least until it was the final stretch of the season, and then the pieces started falling into place.
For the 2026-27 season, this team has new faces entering the fold. Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael, as well as Ross Johnston, are going to be shaping up and enhancing the forward group. Brandon Carlo has been brought in to add another security blanket for the assumed new starter, Joel Hofer.
With all of this newness, this team needs to make themselves comfortable early and stick to that plan. Laying down the foundation early allows that chemistry to build and blossom, and it also brings the team closer together.
This is going to be imperative, as there is very likely not going to be a captain named for the 2026-27 season. Instead, a couple of alternate captains will dictate the pace and lead the younger generation of hockey players that will inevitably enter the NHL this season.
The Blues may make a big enough stink to try and enter a playoff race, and the new additions make that dream a reality. But to be safe, they'll likely end up just a few points out in the Central Division, as well as the wild-card race.
Which is completely ok when we are talking about a team that has completely stripped itself to the roots and has built it all back up again in the past couple of years. There are a lot of "ifs and maybes" with this group; thus, directing them as a playoff contender would be a false label.
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