Two St. Louis Blues players have proven to be absolute ringers so far in 2024-25

The St. Louis Blues may not have won what was yet another thrilling matchup last night, but it didn’t come without a valiant effort from not one but two players. Now, with 79 games to go in the year, anything can happen regarding Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich, but fans have got to be impressed with them both in the early stages. 

Let’s start with Kyrou, who has become a dynamic playmaker thus far when he’s not scoring goals, with six points and four assists on the year. Kyrou is also playing at a plus-4, and if he cuts down on the turnovers, his best year yet may be upon us. 

Buchnevich may have faced some pressure following a long-term extension that will keep him around for when the Blues become one of the West’s most relevant teams again. He’s got four points so far, tying him for second on the team, but he’s also leading the herd with three goals. Buchnevich, like Kyrou, is pitching in all over the ice, sporting a plus-5 so far. 

Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich still have a lot to prove

While it’s great to see some magnificent returns from Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich, playing at an elite level early isn’t enough. We know how inconsistent Kyrou was last season, and it’s something no one in Blues circles should tolerate this year. 

For him, it’s not an option. He needs to enter every game with a chip on his shoulder because everyone from general manager Doug Armstrong to head coach Drew Bannister, and even the fans, will more than demand it. 

I don’t know about you, but I can count to a million in multiple languages, even if I’m not fluent in them. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because I’ve seen, and I’m using hyperbole here, about a million players in the NHL alone ink long-term extensions, then flop not long after they signed them. 

This can’t happen with a player of Buchnevich’s caliber, especially if Armstrong is trusting who is a middle-aged asset to remain an integral part of this team’s core. That said, Buchnevich must keep flooring the throttle and scoring goals. I’m not saying he needs to remain on pace for 82 this season, but a career-high shouldn’t be too much to ask for the longtime forward.