The St. Louis Blues are set to open their 2025-26 season with a Central Division battle with the Minnesota Wild. There is a lot to look forward to, and there are high hopes and expectations from players, as well as the head coach.
With the season ready to begin and the preseason behind them, the Blues are going to take the ice with their full roster, and there are no injuries besides Oskar Sundqvist, who will be out for a few weeks.
Let's see who needs to perform at a high level in the first game of the year, and who is going to be a must-watch against the Wild.
Pavel Buchnevich
After not seeing any action in the preseason, Pavel Buchnevich makes his Blues debut this season. On a brand new contract, worth an AAV of $8 million, there are some new expectations for him as well.
Last season, his downward spiral continued with another decrease in point production. Buchenvich scored 20 goals and added 37 assists for 57 points, which is not ideal for the first-line winger spot. This has to be a solid first game, as he will be in the spotlight this season.
Jimmy Snuggerud
Now entering his first full season as an NHLer, Jimmy Snuggerud looks to keep the momentum gained from last season's final few games and the first-round playoff appearance.
Snuggerud is going to be alongside Buchnevich and Robert Thomas on the first line. Head coach Jim Montgomery and General Manager Doug Armstrong have high hopes for this kid to fly right out of the gates at an elite level.
Jordan Binnington
It is time for Jordan Binnington to reclaim his rightful place as an elite goaltender in the NHL. Last season was not terrible, but it wasn't great until the end of the season when the Blues hit that miraculous stretch.
Binnington has some competition behind him, with Joel Hofer signing a two-year bridge deal. If Binnington can get off to a great start against Minnesota, after having a near-perfect preseason, the Blues are going to have a fantastic season ahead of them.