The St. Louis Blues prepare for their next rendition of preseason hockey, with the Chicago Blackhawks coming to town. On a Saturday night at the Enterprise Center, it is surely going to be a rough and rowdy contest.
With the roster set for the Blues, there are some big names on there that will be key players to watch for. Let's highlight a few here and show why they are so crucial to this game.
Justin Carbonneau
With every passing game, Justin Carbonneau is becoming more and more of a pivotal part of this franchise. Even more so, some are calling for his name to be introduced on opening night.
He should get reps in every one of these preseason games, and it might not be a bad idea for him to start his nine-game stint under the limitations of his Entry-level contract at the beginning of the 2025-26 season and not the end. Let's see if the prospect can continue being a superstar in the making.
Jimmy Snuggerud
In his first appearance of the preseason, Jimmy Snuggerud is going to be a highlighted player for tonight's matchup against the Blackhawks. After his successful finish to last season, the expectations for him are continuously rising.
Snuggerud suffered a bit of an injury during practice this week, so it will be interesting to see how much game time he sees. Either way, he should have a direct impact on this game.
Brayden Schenn
Speaking of making their first appearance of the season, captain Brayden Schenn also makes his 2025-26 debut. Eyes are on him more seriously these days as the Blues have elevated themselves from being a wildcard team to being a serious contender in the Western Conference.
That starts tonight in a heated rivalry game against Chicago.
After all of the trade rumors and discussions behind the scenes last season, which were stopped fully by Schenn and his willingness to stay on as a Blue, the focus now is on the game itself. Can Schenn motivate this team back into the playoffs?