As the NHL wraps up their pause for the holiday break, the St. Louis Blues find themselves in familiar yet frustrating territory. At 14-16-8 through 38 games, they sit near the bottom of the Western Conference, ranked 28th league-wide. It’s a far cry from the 2019 Stanley Cup standard. This version of the Blues is neither fully rebuilding nor truly contending, a roster caught in between, searching for structure, health, and identity.
Injuries to Jordan Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud, Nick Bjugstad, and Dylan Holloway have hollowed out an already thin forward group. Still, flickers of optimism remain. Jonatan Berggren and Otto Stenberg have added creativity and pace, while Logan Mailloux, following a brief AHL demotion, has shown signs of the dynamic defenseman he could become.
Where the Blues Stand
At the break, the Blues have 36 points in 38 games. That places in a tied position in points with Nashville and Seattle, one point behind San Jose, and three points behind Utah who currently occupies the final Wild Card position with 39 points in 39 games. The race behind the Mammoth is compressed: Calgary sits at 34 points (37 games) and Winnipeg at 33 points (35 games), with Vancouver hovering nearby all while the Blues continue to try and scrape and claw their way higher in the standings.
The Blues are not buried, but the math is unforgiving. St. Louis has played more games than several Wild Card competitors, shrinking the margin for error. With zero overtime or shootout wins, they’ve already left multiple points on the table that loom large in a race where two or three wins can shift the standings.
To close the gap, the Blues must meaningfully change how they win games. Incremental improvement will not be enough. They need more goals, fewer mistakes, and better results in high-leverage moments.
The Forward Corps: A Top-End Engine, Little Margin for Error
Everything offensively flows through Robert Thomas, who continues to both perform and underperform like a legitimate No. 1 center. In 34 games, he has nine goals and 18 assists, wins 53.4% of his faceoffs, and logs heavy minutes against top competition. He drives possession, entries, and chance creation, but he cannot do it alone.
Pavel Buchnevich remains a strong two-way winger (five goals, 14 assists in 38 games), but his 7.8% shooting percentage has been unkind to both bad luck and a lack of finishing talent around him. Jake Neighbours (despite time injured) has been the clear breakout, scoring 10 goals in 26 games, bringing pace, physicality, and relentless forechecking that the lineup badly needs.
The problem is everything underneath them.
Injuries have stripped the middle six of its structure. Kyrou’s absence removes the team’s best transition threat. Snuggerud was emerging as a legitimate shooter before being sidelined. Holloway provided rare stability and two-way reliability. Without them, St. Louis ranks 30th in goals scored (95) and 27th in shots per game (25.5)—a combination that simply does not support playoff aspirations.
Veteran decline has compounded the issue. Brayden Schenn (six goals, eight assists, minus-17) is no longer driving play, even if his faceoff ability remains useful. Depth forwards like Oskar Sundqvist and Mathieu Joseph are defending adequately but offering minimal offensive pressure.
The hope now lies with the youth. Berggren (two goals, two assists in four games) has instantly added deception and creativity. Stenberg (three assists in four games) has stabilized the middle six with intelligent puck support and defensive awareness. Dalibor Dvorsky continues to flash power-play value with five goals, four on the man advantage. Depth options like Aleksanteri Kaskimäki, Nathan Walker, and Matt Luff have provided more than energy, but lacked the offensive capabilities that the Blues need if they are to stay alive.
What must change: secondary scoring has to materialize. St. Louis cannot rely on Thomas and Neighbours alone while ranking near the bottom of the league in shot volume.
The Blue Line: Overworked, Inconsistent, and Leaking Goals
The Blues have allowed 129 goals, the most in the NHL, and much of that stems from structural breakdowns and unreliable depth.
Justin Faulk has carried a massive load, leading all defensemen with 10 goals and 10 assists, while averaging 22:43 per night. Philip Broberg has quietly emerged as a legitimate top-four defenseman, showing growth in puck movement and confidence. Colton Parayko continues to absorb the hardest minutes, blocking shots and anchoring defensive-zone starts with limited help.
Below them, volatility creeps in. Tyler Tucker’s physicality comes with turnovers and penalties. Matthew Kesselprovides competent depth minutes but limited impact. Logan Mailloux, after a brief AHL reset, has returned with more confidence and assertiveness. His stat line (one goal, one assist, minus-17) still reflects risk, but the flashes shown in his skating, shot, and offensive instincts hint at a much higher ceiling if his decision-making tightens. It is just going to take time.
What must change: defensive-zone execution has to improve. Fewer turnovers, better gap control, and more reliable bottom-pair minutes are non-negotiable if the goals-against number is to fall.
Goaltending and Special Teams: The Margin Killers
Jordan Binnington has started 23 games behind one of the league’s most porous defensive structures. While not solely responsible, he has not consistently masked the team’s issues either. Poor rebound control, lateral breakdowns, and net-front chaos have all contributed to costly goals.
Special teams have not helped, and in fact, amplify the problem. The power play ranks 22nd (18.0%), lacking Kyrou’s speed and a lethal finisher. The penalty kill sits 26th (76.3%), regularly breaking down under pressure and inability to clear the puck. In a Wild Card race this tight, these inefficiencies are fatal.
What must change: special teams must become average and quickly. Simply climbing into the middle of the pack could swing multiple games in the standings.
This is a transition year, but not a lost one. The Blues have foundational pieces: Thomas, Neighbours, Broberg, Berggren, Stenberg, and a glimpse of what Mailloux could become. They also have glaring shortcomings: no elite scorer, declining veterans, defensive instability, bottom-five special teams, low shot volume, and zero overtime or shootout wins.
At 36 points, St. Louis remains mathematically alive. But survival requires urgency. Points must be taken now, not hoped for later.
The holiday break has offered a pause but when play resumes, the Blues must decide whether this season is about development, or about chasing a postseason spot that still, barely, remains within reach.