The St. Louis Blues are further away from the playoffs than they were a month ago. They have not played well in their last 10 games with a 3-6-1 record. It’s time for changes to be made and it has to happen before the season ends.
The Blues should prioritize young players in the final stretch of the 2024-25 season. Some of them have had NHL success this season, but others haven’t gotten their opportunity just yet. With the trade deadline approaching, I am in favor of trading veterans away and getting even younger. Let’s get into the youth movement in St. Louis.
Young Blues Who Have Performed So Far
I will only count players who are 24 years old and younger here. The club’s roster has five players who fit that criteria and have played multiple games this season. The list includes Jake Neighbours, Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, Tyler Tucker, and Joel Hofer.
Let’s start with Neighbours, whose goal-scoring production has dropped slightly this season. He has scored 13 goals in 56 games after tallying 27 in 77 games last season. He provides in other areas for the club though. He’s a quality power forward who isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. Lastly, he’s the definition of a heart and soul type player. Next up is Holloway, who has broken out this season. He’s easily been one of the club’s best forwards overall. He has 40 points in 56 games and has grown in so many areas in his first season as a Blue. I’ve been super impressed with his play.
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Broberg got off to an elite start to this season. He got injured and his production slowed a bit, but he’s been really good overall in his first season in St. Louis. He will be a big part of the club’s defensive unit over the next several seasons. Future starting netminder Hofer is next up to discuss. He was terrific last season and has been solid this season, which is impressive for a 24-year-old goaltender. He has the necessary poise and ability that this team will need in net throughout this decade. Last up is Tucker, who is a heavy defender, but is unlikely to be a fixture of the club’s future.
Overall, the stock remains high for Neighbours, Holloway, Broberg, and Hofer. These youngsters will be a huge part of the franchise and its future.
Blues Must Give Dvorsky & Snuggerud NHL Time This Season
The Blues need to find room for Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud before this season ends. If things end up the way they’re trending when the trade deadline comes, then it’ll be easier to find space at that point.
Dvorsky has appeared in 44 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds this season at the American Hockey League (AHL) level. He has been great for a 19-year-old with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points. It’s his first full season in North America after he played 52 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Sudbury Wolves. He’s got a lot of potential being the Blues’ highest draft pick (10th) since they took Alex Pietrangelo fourth overall in 2008.
Snuggerud was thought to be joining the club last season but went back to the University of Minnesota for one last ride. He’s the best goal scorer in the club’s pipeline by a wide margin. He’s netted 20 or more goals in each of his three seasons at Minnesota. He won’t turn 21 years old until the summer as well. When the college season concludes for him, he should be thrown into the top six and on one of the power play units. When the time comes, the Blues must prioritize making space for these two.
Blues’ Youth Movement Needs to Grow
The Blues must embrace the youth movement as an organization. They need to clean up their salary cap table to make space for youth. If they don’t do it now, there won’t be a time as good as this to embrace it. They aren’t going to contend this season and that has to be understood.
