There has been a combination of teams that have both been surprise Stanley Cup winners and some teams that have been hovering around that point.
The Florida Panthers won it in back-to-back seasons for 2023-24 and 2024-25, and then Carolina won it for the first time in 20 years last season. But is there another potential dynasty on its way?
Here come the Blues
Looking at the trajectory of the Blues, it is hard to tell when things will start to pick up speed. The 2026-27 season will be the sole indicator of whether the youth movement is ready now or needs some more time to bud before blossoming.
When that traction does start to happen, watch out for these Blues. Head coach Jim Montgomery has not won a Stanley Cup as a coach, but neither did Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper before their dynasty-esque run in the early 2020s. If there was any coach you would want behind your bench before a potential dynasty run, it is the coach who led the Boston Bruins to 65 wins in 2022-23, more than any team in NHL history in a single season.
The current Blues are led by a group of players under the age of 25, and it spreads throughout the roster. Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway, Jake Neighbours, and Dalibor Dvorsky highlight the offensive core. Which you could also throw in Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael in that group, though they are newcomers. And on the defensive side, Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux make up the next great first defensive pairing.
Finally, there is going to be a new starting goaltender. Though not officially announced, the fact that Joel Hofer will start over Jordan Binnington for the 2026-27 season and beyond should not be a shock to anyone. No. 30 earned his promotion, and with that comes a light of hope that he could continue to be a stellar NHL starter and bring this team some more Stanley Cups in the near future.
Let us also not forget about the future. Justin Carbonneau, Tynan Lawrence, Maddox Dagenais, Colin Ralph, Love Harenstam, and Adam Jiricek are just the tip of the iceberg for this pipeline of prospects. They will each play a key role in sustaining a winning hockey club for years to come.
The Blues are in a great position to be the next dynasty of the NHL, but it is all going to depend on how they do in 2026-27. Making positive strides now gives the future more focus.
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