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.