The Blues found offensive chemistry during their late surge into the playoffs. The fourth line of Radek Faksa centering Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko became the tempo-setter with its physical play.
Coach Jim Montgomery shuffled his other three lines, with Dylan Holloway’s injury and Jimmy Snuggerud’s arrival from the University of Minnesota impacting the Top 6.
Holloway’s breakout season and Zack Bolduc’s strong second half allowed Montgomery to divide his power play into two units and spread playing time. All in all, the Blues finished the season with a more consistent attack.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas celebrates his game-winning goal with Pavel Buchnevich on Thursday, April 3, 2025, after scoring in overtime of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Robert Thomas
After the 4 Nations Face-Off break, he was one of the NHL’s elite two-way centers. He produced 45 points in his last 30 games in response to his snub from Team Canada. Overall, Thomas finished with a career-high 1.16 points per game and a plus-20 rating. He was on the ice for 58.3 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5. Thomas drove play while factoring in 81.3 percent of the 5-on-5 goals scored while he was on the ice. He improved again in the faceoff circle, winning nearly 55 percent of his draws. Thomas capped his strong season with two goals and six assists during the playoffs.
People are also reading…
St. Louis Blues Dylan Holloway (81) celebrates his second period goal with teammate Justin Faulk (72) against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Dylan Holloway
His breakout was this team’s story of the year. After scoring just 18 points in his first 89 NHL games as an Edmonton Oiler, Holloway proved that the Blues’ offer sheet dollars were well-spent. He scored 63 points in 77 games with a plus-22 rating this season before getting hurt. From December on he scored at nearly a point-per-game pace. He scored eight goals and earned 11 assists in March. Overall, he earned a 42 percent share of power-play time and he clicked with Jordan Kyrou on the second line at even strength. His bulldozing style aggravated opponents, allowing him to draw 26 more penalty minutes than he earned. Holloway landed 165 hits and blocked 50 shots while emerging as one of the NHL’s most effective power forwards.
St. Louis Blues forward Nathan Walker (26) celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Nathan Walker
In his age 31 season he earned his biggest NHL workload, averaging a career-high 12:06 in ice time in 73 games and handling a 19.7 percent penalty killing share. Walker produced 281 hits, nearly triple his total from the previous season. He also blocked 61 shots on the tempo-setting “WTF Line.” Walker generated scoring opportunities off the rush with his speed and on the forecheck with his tenacity. He chipped in eight goals in the regular season – and scored three more in the playoffs to go with one assist and 40 hits.
St. Louis Blues forward Radek Faksa prepares for a faceoff in the first period of a game against the Los Angeles Kings at Enterprise Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Radek Faksa
Armstrong praised both Faksa’s play and his leadership during his postseason team assessment. Centering the “WTF Line,” he was effective on the forecheck and backcheck. He recorded 115 hits and 50 blocked shots. He handled a one-third share of the penalty kill. After scoring 15 points in 70 regular season games, Faksa had five points (goal, four assists) on the seven playoff games with a plus-7 rating. He won 56.4 percent of his faceoffs in the postseason and averaged 15:04 with the help of the double OT Game 7.
St. Louis Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko (13)celebrates his goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during second period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Alexey Toropchenko
He slid from 14 goals in 82 games last season to four goals in 80 games this season. Toropchenko’s shooting percentage dipped from 12.3 to 4.4. But he earned 14 assists, up from seven, and he used his speed to create chances off the rush. Toropchenko remained a willing body checker while delivering 223 hits. As the third member of the “WTF Line,” he had two goals and two assists in his seven playoff games.
St. Louis Blues Jordan Kyrou celebrates his second goal of the game with Pavel Buchnevich and the rest of the bench during their game against the the Utah Hockey Club in the third period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Jordan Kyrou
He reached the 30-goal mark for the third straight season, finishing with 36. While his shot volume declined slightly, his 15.1 shooting percentage was a career high. Kyrou finished strong with 12 goals and 11 assists in his last 22 games. He scored three playoff goals -– but two came on the power play and he didn’t earn an assist. He finished plus-24 this season after finishing a combined minus-50 the previous two years. Kyrou became more somewhat aggressive on the forecheck while landing 50 hits, double the total for the season before. His defensive play was much improved; Kyrou was on the ice for just 42.3 percent of the expected goals-against 5-on-5, which was his career low. But there is still room for improvement.
Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud, left, looks for a pass with pressure from Jets center Adam Lowry during the second period of Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Jimmy Snuggerud
He made a few overly ambitious passes here and there, but overall he transitioned smoothly from college hockey to the NHL. Playing a Top 6 role, Snuggerud produced a goal and three assists in seven regular season games and two goals and two assists in seven playoff games. At no point did he look out of place.
Blues left wing Jake Neighbours (63) celebrates his game-tying goals during first-period action in Game 4 of a first-round Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Jets on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Jake Neighbours
After scoring 27 goals a year ago, he continued his development with 22 goals and 24 assists in the regular season and a goal and five assists in the playoffs. Neighbours drove more play, earning 12 primary assists at even strength this season. He factored in 67.4 percent of the goals scored 5-on-5 while he was on the ice. He earned a 49.5 percent share of the power-play time, up from 41,8 the year before. As a grinding complement to skilled linemates, Neighbours landed 173 hits and blocked 53 shots. The Scott Mellanby comparisons fit well.
Blues forward Brayden Schenn celebrates his goal against Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during second-period action of Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Brayden Schenn
As GM Doug Armstrong noted, Schenn has not had an easy ride as captain. His leadership tenure has spanned some painful transition featuring coaching changes and player turnover. But Schenn played a significant role in guiding the team’s collective growth. He landed 194 hits, his most as a Blue, and his 52.3 percent faceoff efficiency tied his career best. Schenn saw his power-play time on ice (1:47 per game) and power-play time share (45.1 percent) decrease. He had a hand in 60.8 percent of the goals scored 5-on-5, down from 80.4 two years ago. While he produced at closer to a third-line level with 18 goals and 32 assists this season, he finished plus-3 after finishing minus-22 and minus-27 previous two seasons. He had two goals and an assist in the playoffs, but finished minus-5.
An emotional St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich (89) celebrates scoring a hat trick against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Pavel Buchnevich
He opened the season playing center with then-coach Drew Bannister trying to balance his attack. The results were awful. Buchnevich looked lost and his big contract extension looked like a huge mistake. It took time, but he finally regained his form as a top line winger. He scored nine goals and earned 17 assists in his last 26 games, then he had three goals and five assists in the playoffs. Buchnevich’s poor first half dragged down his overall numbers. His shot volume decreased from 2.6 per game to 1.9. His penalty-killing share decreased from 38.4 percent to 27.8. He had produced 0.79 and 0.75 points per game the last two years, down from 1.04 and 1.06 in his first two Blues seasons.
The Blues’ Zack Bolduc skates to the bench after scoring his second goal in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Zack Bolduc
He emerged as an impact offensive player down the stretch, scoring 14 goals in his last 30 games. Bolduc’s deadly shot from the slot made him a power-play weapon. He scored seven goals and earned five assists with the man advantage after scoring no power-play points as a rookie. He picked up his physicality while landing 108 hits overall. Armstrong noted that Bolduc got to play through mistakes during his first full NHL season, but the Blues will expect more polish in the next campaign.
Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist, right, celebrates his first-period goal with Pavel Buchnevich, left, and Robert Thomas in a game against the Kraken on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
Oskar Sundqvist
For the second straight year he scored at a 24-point pace in a bottom six forward role. Sundqvist contributed a goal and an assist in the playoffs. He enjoyed an increased power-up role (from 22.4 percent last year to 30.1 percent) as Montgomery balanced two units. He saw a reduction in penalty-killing load (24.1 percent share, down from 33.2 percent.). His expected plus-minus improved from minus-11.5 to 2.6. Sundqvist almost improved on faceoffs, moving from 41.9 percent a year ago to 45.5 percent this year,
Blues forward Mathieu Joseph vies for possession of the puck with Stars defender Nils Lundkvist in the first period of a preseason game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Mathieu Joseph
Armstrong acquired Joseph to add speed to the lineup. He did so, but he failed to earn regular role. Joseph bounced in and out of the line while producing just four goals and 10 assists in 60 games -– down from his 11 goals and 24 assists in 72 games the year before in Ottawa. He averaged just 11:54 in playing time, down from 16:28 with Senators in 2023-24. Joseph had a 25.2 percent share of the penalty kill, down from 38.8 percent the year before in Ottawa. On the plus side, he delivered 122 hits, the second-highest total in his career
St. Louis Blues center Alexandre Texier (9) passes against Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde (37) as left wing Tye Kartye (12) looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Seattle. The Blues won 3-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Lindsey Wasson
Alexandre Texier
Armstrong hoped Texier would add speed and depth scoring. But after scoring 12 goals and earning 18 assists in 78 games for Columbus last year, he produced just six goals and five assists in 31 games this season. Texier averaged a career-low 12:29 in playing time, and he spent much of the season as a healthy scratch.
The 5% improvement: Blues made jump this season and look for another in 2025-26
One year into apprenticeship, Alexander Steen ‘eager’ to learn more, prepare for Blues GM role
Worthy: The Blues did the hard work of turning things around, now it gets even harder
Blues fall painfully short of advancing, but make great strides: Net Front Presence
Gordo: With retooling largely done, Blues raise expectations for Stanley Cup chase
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!