Projecting the St. Louis Blues 2025-26 Forward Lines

As the St. Louis Blues prepare for the 2025-26 NHL season, their forward group promises a compelling mix of star power, veteran leadership, and emerging talent. With Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway healthy and ready to go, Blues head coach Jim Montgomery has a versatile roster at his disposal.

In today’s NHL, success often hinges on dynamic player pairings rather than fixed trios, and the Blues are well-equipped with proven duos like Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, and Holloway and Jordan Kyrou. These projected forward lines showcase St. Louis’s potential to compete in the Central Division, with Montgomery’s ability to mix and match ensuring adaptability throughout the season.

From top-line firepower to bottom-six grit, here’s a breakdown of the Blues’ projected forward lines, their strengths and weaknesses, and why flexibility will define their campaign.

Projected Forward Lines

First Line: Pavel Buchnevich – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud

The first line of Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jimmy Snuggerud promises a high-octane offense for the Blues. Buchnevich and Thomas, a dynamic duo, form one of the NHL’s top duos, while Snuggerud, a rookie standout, showed his worth last season with 6 goals and 8 points in 14 regular-season and playoff games. Their chemistry, coupled with their defensive reliability, makes them capable of handling top competition. 

The former Minnesota Gopher, Snuggerud, adds a fresh scoring dimension, potentially turning this into a lethal trio. However, Snuggerud’s limited NHL experience (7 regular season games) could lead to growing pains, and if he struggles to sustain his production, the line may lean heavily on Buchnevich and Thomas. The trio’s chemistry, while promising, may also need time to fully gel in high-pressure situations.

Second Line: Dylan Holloway – Brayden Schenn – Jordan Kyrou

Dylan Holloway, Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Kyrou, a trio with potential to match the top line’s offensive output, formed an electric duo last season, combining for 62 goals and 133 points. Holloway’s intensity enhances Kyrou’s game, while Schenn, the Blues’ versatile captain, provides leadership and playmaking, rebounding with 50 points in 82 games last season. This line’s scoring depth and Schenn’s experience make it formidable, but Kyrou’s streaky tendencies could hinder consistency, and Schenn’s age may limit his impact if overtasked. This is where the fluidity to this lineup will likely begin. While Holloway brings tenacity, the line may lack the physical edge needed in grittier matchups, requiring careful deployment by Montgomery.

Third Line: Jake Neighbours – Pius Suter – Alexandre Texier

Jake Neighbours, Pius Suter, and Alexandre Texier form a well-rounded line with grit, skill, and versatility. Neighbours, a power forward, combines scoring and physicality, while Suter, a reliable center, provides consistency and offensive upside. Texier, a skilled winger, could get the first look on the third line as he aims to rebound after an injury-plagued season. 

This line scores, forechecks, and defends, with Neighbours’ growth and Suter’s reliability offering a high ceiling. Both Neighbours and Suter can move up the lineup, providing flexibility to spark offense or bolster defense. However, Texier’s injury history raises concerns about his durability, and the line’s offensive output may be limited compared to the top six, relying heavily on Neighbours. Though if Texier falters, depth players like Nick Bjugstad, Oskar Sundqvist, Mathieu Joseph, and Nikita Alexandrov should be ready to step.

Fourth Line: Alexey Toropchenko – Nick Bjugstad – Nathan Walker

The fourth line, featuring Alexey Toropchenko, Nick Bjugstad, and Nathan Walker, embodies the Blues’ physical identity. Toropchenko’s relentless forechecking, Bjugstad’s size and faceoff prowess, and Walker’s high-energy work rate create a line reminiscent of the 2024-25 “WTF” line. They excel in defensive situations and penalty killing, disrupting opponents and shifting momentum. However, their focus on grit limits scoring potential, and they may struggle to contribute consistently. Oskar Sundqvist remains a potential substitute after struggling late last season. The veteran winger could find himself more in the press box if his issues persist. 

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