51ºÚÁÏ

To get back into the Stanley Cup chase, the Blues will need these prospects to grow into key NHL roles during the next two to four years and join the long-term nucleus of Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Jake Neighbours, Dylan Holloway, Philip Broberg, Logan Mailloux and Jimmy Snuggerud.

How are these next-generation Blues shaping up? The hockey operation will gain a much better idea by the weekend after these prospects work with the team’s development staff and test themselves against rival prospects.

Dvorsky and Co. will be back in town for two days of work at Centene Community Ice Center, then they will head to St. Paul, Minnesota, for two games in the Tom Kurvers Prospects Showcase.

After that, top prospects will take the ice with veterans in training camp and against veterans in preseason play.

Dvorsky could help the Blues sooner than later, especially with his one-time shot on the power play. But the franchise needs him to become a true top-six forward at both ends of the ice.

The Blues don’t want to promote him into a sheltered role, playing on the second power-play unit while seeing limited action at five on five. Dvorsky can score goals, but he must push his game up to the NHL pace.

He reminds longtime Blues fans of Pavol Demitra with his ability to protect the puck, read the play and beat defenders one on one.

But we’ll remind current Blues fans that Demitra didn’t stick in the NHL until he was 23, after spending most of four seasons playing in the AHL and IHL. Dvorsky is still ahead of schedule. It’s going to come.

Carbonneau, the 19th overall pick in this year’s draft, looked like an NHL player when he overpowered his peers at Blues development camp. He is big and strong. He battles. He skates. He blasts the puck. He possesses swagger.

Ah, but what about his ability to read the play at both ends of the ice? Carbonneau can dominate the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with his physical ability, but let’s see if he develops a Snuggerud-like feel for the game.

Carbonneau could have jumped to Boston College, gained extra training time and competed against older players. But he returned to the Q instead, so this preseason will be especially important as he measures himself against adult players.

While the Blues got younger on the blue line by clearing out Ryan Suter and Nick Leddy and acquiring Mailloux, further transition will be needed given the advancing age of Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler and Colton Parayko.

This is a massive campaign for the injury-plagued Jiricek, the 16th overall pick in 2024. His goals for this season are simple: stay healthy and play lots of hockey.

If Jiricek can do that — then follow up a full campaign with another summer of weight training to fill out his frame — he could step up in the AHL in 2026-27 and perhaps get some NHL time.

Lindstein played two full seasons in Sweden after the Blues drafted him 29th overall in 2023, so he’s ready to move on to the smaller North American rinks for a full AHL season.

There is nothing flashy about his game. But given his heady play under pressure on the international junior hockey stage, Lindstein could emerge as a reliable puck mover in another year or two.

He makes good decisions with the puck, but he’ll need to make them quicker on this side of the Atlantic.

This is a big season for several other prospects too. Otto Stenberg, the 23rd overall pick in 2023, got a half-season of AHL experience last year after coming over from Sweden.

Like Lindstein, he excelled against his age group in international play. Now that Stenberg has adjusted to the smaller rink and embraced the AHL grind, he should be poised for take-off in this campaign.

He could blossom into a middle-six winger — and the Blues must give him the time needed to fulfill his offensive potential before graduating him to the NHL. Otherwise, the franchise risks lowering his ceiling.

Meanwhile Zach Dean, who came to the Blues in the Ivan Barbashev trade more than two years ago, could provide more near-term depth if he can advance his game in the AHL. He got his first NHL look two years ago, then he lost most of last season to injury.

Dean, the 30th overall pick in the 2021 draft, must regain developmental traction to move into line for a bottom-six forward role.

Over the longer haul, the Blues would love to see forwards Adam Jecho and Jakub Stancl and defensemen Lukas Fischer and Colin Ralph join the scene. All four are rangy players who are still early in their development.

They look good stepping off the bus, as the saying goes, but will they look good on the NHL ice some day?

The growth of these four and the others must continue this week, this fall and the next few seasons for the Blues to ultimately get where they want to go.

tylerg: I want to thank you for your recent articles leading up to camp, Matty D! I know this time of the year isn’t the easiest for hockey reporting and all of us see you and thank you for the work you’re putting in. Anyway, obviously there are a lot of contributing factors but, just for fun, please rank the following statistical achievements from most likely to happen to least likely to happen this upcoming season in your opinion: 1.) Thomas cracks 90+ points 2.) Mailloux cracks 40+ points 3.) Holloway hits 35+ goals 4.) Snuggerud hits 25+ goals 5.) Binnington ends the year with a save % of .910 or better…thanks again for doing this my man!

Matthew DeFranks: I'm going to say ...

1. Binnington ends the year .910 or better

Of the things on this list, that one has actually occurred already. He's done it four times in his career, and most recently in 2023-24. The league average was .893 last year, so this would mean he's comfortably above average, which I believe is still possible.

2. Thomas cracks 90+ points

Across the last four seasons, per 82 games, Thomas is averaging 85 points. So he's not that far off and that's a big sample size. Last year was his biggest offensive step forward, particularly down the stretch, and he would have hit 90 if he stayed healthy the entire season.

3. Holloway scored 35+

He scored 26 last year, and that was with a pretty slow start and an injury at the end of the year. He could have season-long chemistry with Schenn and Kyrou, depending on what the Blues want to do in their top-six. And he'll have the power-play time and confidence to think he can at least hit that mark. Likely? No, but on this list more likely than others.

4. Snuggerud scores 25+

In that last four seasons (all 82 games), there have been 17 players aged 21 or younger to score 25 goals. It's a list that includes Cooley, Fantilli, Boldy that made the jump from college, but not always producing in their rookie seasons. So I think Snuggerud's contemporaries are not far from that group of players.

5. Mailloux posts 40+ points

Meanwhile, in the last four seasons, there have been 15 defensemen aged 22 or younger to have 40 points. And I'm not sure Mailloux fits into that group as cleanly as Snuggerud does his. It includes Luke and Quinn Hughes, Lane Hutson, Owen Power, Moritz Seider, Rasmus Dahlin.

Plus, I think he'll be protected on the third pair and his power play usage may or may not come along this season. We'll have to see what offensive role he gets.

Easy Ed, fan since 1967.: Hey Matt, hope you and your family are well. Looking at the third-line wing, besides the vet signings, which prospect is most likely to come out of camp with a job? Also, how good does Dvorsky have to be in camp to have a chance? Mark it: Maileaux will be all the Blues hope by mid-year or so and the Blues make the playoffs (not especially as risky as that same prediction I made early last year!). Also, how can we watch the Blues in the prospects tourny? Is there any way to record it or watch it later? Fanatic minds want to know. Thanks.

Matthew DeFranks: I think Dvorsky will have the best chance of the prospects, followed by grinder-style, energy guys like Kaskimaki, Robertsson (if healthy) or Peterson. Then I think Pekarcik has an outside chance if he's able to flash enough skill consistently in camp.

For Dvorsky, I think it's about consistently impacting games, and showing that he can keep up with the NHL pace. He's going to have to steal a roster spot from guys like Texier or Joseph, and a lineup spot from a guy like Sundqvist. So it's doable, but he needs to show he's the better option.

As far as the prospect tournament, it will be streamed on the Blues website and through their app. Not sure about any recording options.

rabidmonkeyfish99: Are there any fast skating Blues Dman prospects on the horizon? Being able to add another speedy and bigger than average dman to Broberg and Fowler (to a lesser degree) would make this a pretty mobile unit, which is great as long as size isnt compromised (no more Perunivichs).

Matthew DeFranks: There's a little bit of everything in the Blues defensive pipeline right now. But it terms of skating, I think Theo Lindstein is the smoothest mover on the back end as it is. Not super fast, but really poised and mobile.

The Blues really like the way Colin Ralph moves as well, particularly for a big man. They've comped him to a left-handed Colton Parayko before.

OneNationSTL: My co worker dared me to ask if you could give her a shoutout - Can you please? Kim Triplett and Let's go Blues!!!

Matthew DeFranks: Kim, I don't know who you are, but OneNationSTL wants you to be recognized.

Barry-Blues Fan in Orlando: Happy Wednesday to you Matt and all the chatters out there. I noticed D-man prospect Colin Ralph won't be in the Kurvers Prospect Showcase or the Blues training camp.....what gives? Is he injured or just a "not ready for prime time" prospect?

Matthew DeFranks: He's in college, and college players don't participate in these showcases because they're already in school.

Easy Ed, fan since 1967.: Thanks. Matt, are you going up to report on the prospects tourny? If so, will you file daily reports or a summary at some point? Which Blue(s) will you be particularly interested in? Why?

Matthew DeFranks: Yes, I will be going up there. We'll have a few items after each game, and we'll see how they unfold to see who I'm writing about.

I want to see Lindstein on the smaller ice, and I want to see the feistiness that Dvorsky and/or Carbonneau bring. Honestly, any of the five first-rounders will draw the attention.

Barry-Blues Fan in Orlando: Thanks Matt. What is your opinion of the "young Squire" Ralph? Maybe a Blues blueliner in 2-4 years?

I would love to see the name RALPH on the back of a blues jersey someday, it was my dad's first name.

Matthew DeFranks: I think that's a fair timeline. I haven't watched a ton of game footage of him, so hard to say outside what I've seen at development camps. And there, he's physical, moves well and defends hard.

Barry-Blues Fan in Orlando: I read a few weeks ago "Snuggy" commented he picked up 12-14 lbs of muscle from his summer training. It will be interesting to see if he looks bigger or it relates to him winning more puck battles.

Matthew DeFranks: Sure can't hurt, right? I think that may show more in the regular season than in training camp.

Barry-Blues Fan in Orlando: Matt and chatters: What is your most bold prediction for the upcoming season?

Matthew DeFranks: I'm not in the business of bold predictions because they're always wrong.

Easy Ed, fan since 1967.: Matt, will pre-season scrimmages and practices be open to fans this year?

Matthew DeFranks: Yes. Sessions at Centene will be open to the public.

This is the schedule for the first three days

Thursday, September 18 & Friday, September 19

Early Group

9:30 a.m. (USA Rink)

10 a.m. (NHL Rink)

Late Group

11:30 a.m. (NHL Rink)

Noon (USA Rink)

Saturday, September 20

Non-Playing Groups

9:30 a.m. (Group A – NHL Rink, Group B – USA Rink)

10:15 a.m. (Scrimmage – NHL Rink)

Game Group

11:30 a.m. (NHL Rink)

6 p.m. – Blues at Stars

Zoogie: What chances do you give Nikta Alexandrov making the big club? I really like his game. I'm afraid he might be a potential top six player somewhere. He needs to play with skilled pkayers!

Matthew DeFranks: If he does make it, it'll be either as an extra forward or in the bottom six. I don't see him moving up to play in the top six despite his AHL production.

I also think that if he doesn't make the NHL roster, he could be one of the first recalls from Springfield.

Matt L: Is Snuggerud really ready for first line minutes over the course of a whole season? I know that's where he played last year, but that was a small sample. An NHL schedule is much more taxing than college, and asking him to play first line volume and quality for 82 seems like a stretch.

Matthew DeFranks: It is a big ask, and I think there will be times this season when the Blues move him off the top line when he runs into the proverbial rookie wall. As you mentioned, playing 40 games in college with a lenient schedule of two or three games a week is far different than the grind of the NHL.

But they've got to try, right? And they always have the Neighbours-Thomas-Buchnevich line they can go back to if they need to.

Matt L: Were there any changes to the coaching staff that flew under the radar this offseason?

Matthew DeFranks: Not that I know of, but I wonder what kind of changes or added emphasis is placed on both the penalty kill, which was bad for most of the season, and the 5v6 situations, of course. We don't need a refresher on that one.

Matt L: Are their any officiating "points of emphasis" this year?

Matthew DeFranks: I don't know, but will ask when camp starts.

OneNationSTL: My coworker loved the shout out. Thanks!! Can I ask what are you most looking forward to this Blues season? For me, it is the excitement that we are building and unfisnished business from that round 1 exit.

Matthew DeFranks: Seeing what the Blues look like for a full season under Jim Montgomery. He changed the way that they played after he took over, and while I don't expect the same run they went on after 4 Nations, I think they'll have similar qualities of being tight defensively and balanced offensively.

OneNationSTL: All quiet now. Thank you again for your chats. We do appreciate them and the way you present the info to us!!

Matthew DeFranks: You're welcome! Thanks for stopping in.

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In 2024, there was chatter about the Blues moving Pavel Buchnevich for a high price, but nothing materialized. In 2025, rumors swirled around captain Brayden Schenn, but his no-trade protection perhaps factored into no deals coming together for the Blues. Now, looking ahead to next spring and the trade deadline on March 6, things could look differently for 51ºÚÁÏ.

They could be in a position to add at the deadline.

The Blues enter the season looking at the possibility of having plenty of cap space to work with during the year. As it stands right now, with a projected roster of 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, plus Torey Krug on injured reserve, the Blues are under the $95.5 million salary cap. They can create more space during the year by placing Krug on long-term injured reserve, allowing the Blues to exceed the salary cap.

The new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA is set to begin next season, but elements of it will go into effect this year. One of those is changing the way that teams use LTIR.

In the past, teams could place a player on LTIR and receive close to their entire cap hit in relief. Now, teams can only receive the amount of the average salary of the previous year. The average salary last year was $3,817,283, so that’s the amount teams can use in 2025-26.

The exception is if the player going on LTIR will not play the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. For Krug, that appears to be the case after surgery on his ankle in the 2024 offseason. He missed all of the 2024-25 season, and Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said he does not expect Krug to play again.

With Krug not expected to play at all, the Blues would be able to use close to his $6.5 million cap hit (depending on how tight the team is to the cap) in order to navigate injuries throughout the season or to add players via trade. It would just have to be formalized that Krug is unable to play.

Last year, the Blues had to place Krug on LTIR early in the season to navigate early obstacles brought on by Oskar Sundqvist’s recovery from knee surgery and Brandon Saad’s paternity leave. The extra cap space also allowed them to acquire Cam Fowler at a $4 million cap hit from the Ducks in mid-December.

With the LTIR rules changed league-wide, the Blues could be one of the few teams to benefit from being able to use it to its fullest extent.

Now, what does that look like for Armstrong?

Throughout their retool, the Blues have placed importance on acquiring players who fit the right age group. That’s why Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg made sense, or even a flier on Alexandre Texier. That’s why a hockey trade with Montreal brought in Logan Mailloux and shipped out Zack Bolduc. The Blues have targeted players in their early to mid-20s to help strengthen the next wave of NHL talent.

The Blues haven’t acquired a rental player at the trade deadline since Nick Leddy in March 2022, back when Armstrong was trying to fortify a 109-point team. Radek Faksa has been the only recent acquisition with only one year remaining on his contract. Fowler, Mathieu Joseph, Texier, Kevin Hayes, Jakub Vrana and Kasperi Kapanen all had multiple years left when the Blues acquired them.

So if those filters hold — and add in that a player is coming from a non-contending, selling team — the target gets smaller to hit. Of course, the Blues could also show to Armstrong with a strong start to the season that this team deserves reinforcements, regardless of how it fits into the long-term plan of the organization.

When Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg arrived in 51ºÚÁÏ last summer after Blues general manager Doug Armstrong pulled off a successful double-offer sheet maneuver, they were somewhat unknown quantities.

Broberg played 80% of his games in 2023-24 in the AHL. Holloway had 18 total points in 89 NHL games with the Oilers. Broberg’s minutes were limited to a third-pair role. Holloway was held at 11 1/2 minutes a night. Neither had taken on larger roles in the NHL, and both were being paid above market value, as is expected for offer sheets.

But both players turned those contracts into bargains during their first seasons with the Blues.

Holloway scored 26 goals to rank second on the Blues. He assisted on 37 others to also rank second on the Blues. In posting a career-high 63 points, Holloway transformed himself into a vital and indispensable part of the Blues’ offense. Together with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, he helped form one of the top lines in the league and his late-season injury impacted the Blues’ ability to beat the Jets in the first round.

Holloway ($2.29 million cap hit) was one of 15 forwards in the NHL with at least 25 goals and a cap hit under $2.5 million. Nine of those players were on cheap entry-level contracts, but Holloway (at 23 years old) was the youngest player in that group on a standard contract.

Broberg had eight goals and 21 assists in 68 games, falling one point shy of becoming the first Blues defenseman under 24 to rack up 30 points since Vince Dunn in 2018-19. Early in the season, Broberg and Justin Faulk formed the most effective defensive pairing for 51ºÚÁÏ, and they acted as the de facto top pair in March when Colton Parayko was sidelined by a knee injury.

At a $4.58 million cap hit, Broberg was one of 32 defensemen with at least 25 points and a cap hit under $5 million.

Now, the questions surrounding Holloway and Broberg are less about if they will be good, and more about how good they can be. Plus, there is the next contract situation.

Both Holloway and Broberg will become restricted free agents next summer and have been eligible for contract extensions since July 1. In June, Armstrong said extensions for them were not priorities since the Blues will own their rights as RFAs anyway.

With the salary cap rising, a new market has not been set for young to-be RFAs, outside of long-term bets on Frank Nazar (Chicago) and Jackson Blake (Carolina) that aren’t that applicable to the current Blues. The Blues don’t appear eager to set the new market themselves.

Of course, both players could increase their value with big seasons in 2025-26.

Holloway could become more well-rounded on the defensive side of the game. Or he could become an even more dangerous part of the Blues power play. Or more of a playmaker to boost his assist numbers.

Broberg could take a step forward on the offensive end of the ice, potentially stealing ice time on the second power play unit. Or he could be counted on more in occasional shutdown roles. Or he could emphasize his skating more to drive offense in transition.

Whatever they do, they won’t be surprising many this season.

They were trying to fill a hole left by the retirement of Jay Bouwmeester, trying to re-create a pairing that helped guide the Blues to a Stanley Cup in 2019. But they didn’t quite find it.

The Blues tried Marco Scandella, Torey Krug, Jake Walman and Vince Dunn in 2021. The next season brought an experiment with Niko Mikkola. For two seasons, Parayko was nearly inseparable from Nick Leddy, who was miscast in a shutdown role. Even when Leddy got injured last season, it was Ryan Suter who rode shotgun with Parayko on the top pair.

Perhaps the Blues have finally landed on a solution: Cam Fowler.

When the Blues acquired Fowler from Anaheim in mid-December, they took a shot on a defenseman who had lost ice time to younger players on the Ducks. They traded an ECHL defenseman (Jeremie Biakabutuka) and a 2027 second-round pick for Fowler and a 2027 fourth-rounder, plus Anaheim retained $2.5 million of Fowler’s $6.5 million salary-cap hit.

What Fowler gave them was much more than that.

From when the Blues acquired him on Dec. 14 through the end of the regular season, Fowler had 36 points in 51 games. That tied him with Adam Fox and Thomas Harley for the ninth-most points among NHL defensemen. Twenty-eight of those points came at even strength, which meant only Zach Werenski, Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar and Devon Toews had more than Fowler in the final four months of the season.

In the playoffs, Fowler posted two goals and eight assists. Despite the Blues’ first-round exit against the Jets, Fowler’s 10 points was for fifth-most among defensemen in last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The four players above him advanced to either the Stanley Cup Final or conference finals, as did the four players beneath him.

Fowler also gave the Blues memorable moments.

In the Winter Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, while celebrating his 1,000th NHL game, Fowler scored two goals. With the Blues’ nine-game win streak in jeopardy, Fowler had the game-tying assist late in the third period and the game-winning overtime goal in a win over the Red Wings. Then, his five-point night in Game 3 vs. the Jets was the most for a Blues defenseman in a postseason game.

Fowler and Parayko formed a balanced, mobile pair at the top of the Blues lineup. Both players skated pucks out of trouble, with Parayko bringing the defensive prowess and Fowler posting the gaudy offensive numbers.

From when Fowler joined the Blues until Parayko injured his knee in early March, they logged nearly 458 minutes together at five on five, ninth-most in the NHL. Overall last season, the Blues outscored opponents 31-18 with the pair on the ice, and owned 54.1% of the expected goals and 54.8% of the shots on goal, according to Natural Stat Trick.

They took on the hardest matchups, and both still delivered on the other side of the ice.

This season, where does that growth go? Can they still produce the tilted possession numbers they did a season ago? Will Fowler take on more penalty-killing minutes with Suter and Leddy gone?

Of course, the overarching question surrounding Fowler is his contract situation. He will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer and will be 34 years old when he hits the market.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said earlier this summer that signing Fowler to an extension was not a priority for the Blues, but should he depart, he will likely leave an offensive hole on the blue line.

The prospects will also practice at Centene Community Ice Center on Sept. 11 and 12, with both sessions beginning at 10 a.m.

Carbonneau, Adam Jirieck (2024), Dalibor Dvorsky (2023), Otto Stenberg (2023) and Theo Lindstein (2023) were all taken in the first round by the Blues, and all of them will play in the tournament. Zach Dean (2021 first-round pick by Vegas) will also be on the roster after missing most of last season with an injury.

Carbonneau wowed Blues management and onlookers during development camp in July with his snarl on pucks and stick-handling, and will play this season for Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL. He turned down the opportunity to play collegiately for Boston College.

Jiricek, Stenberg and Lindstein will also be making their prospect tournament debuts. Jiricek missed last year's because of a knee injury, and Stenberg and Lindstein will both begin the season in North America for the first times in their careers.

Jimmy Snuggerud (2022 first-rounder) was not included on the roster. Snuggerud, 21, made his NHL debut in the spring, and is expected to play a role in the Blues top-six forward group this season.

Blues prospect tournament roster

Forwards

No. 28 Otto Stenberg (2023 first)

No. 48 Dylan Peterson (2020 third)

No. 52 Zach Dean (trade from Vegas)

No. 54 Dalibor Dvorsky (2023 first)

No. 65 Aleksanteri Kaskimaki (2022 third)

No. 68 Justin Carbonneau (2025 first)

No. 76 Sam Stange (invite)

No. 80 Simon Robertsson (2021 third)

No. 84 Adam Jecho (2024 third)

No. 85 Juraj Pekarcik (2023 third)

No. 86 Antoine Dorion (2024 seventh)

No. 93 Jakub Stancl (2023 fourth)

Defensemen

No. 37 Adam Jiricek (2024 first)

No. 41 Theo Lindstein (2023 first)

No. 62 Michael Buchinger (2022 third)

No. 73 Marc-Andre Gaudet (2022 fifth)

No. 75 Anthony Kehrer (invite)

No. 87 Will McIsaac (2024 fifth)

No. 92 Quinton Burns (2023 third)

No. 94 Lukas Fischer (2024 second)

Goaltenders

No. 31 Will Cranley (2020 sixth)

No. 45 Matthew Koprowski (invite)

Prospect tournament schedule

Sept. 11: Prospects practice, 10 a.m. (Centene Community Ice Center)

Sept. 12: Prospect practice, 10 a.m. (Centene Community Ice Center)

Sept. 12: Blues vs. Wild, 7 p.m. (TRIA Rink, St. Paul, Minn.)

Sept. 13: Blues vs. Blackhawks, 6 p.m. (TRIA Rink, St. Paul, Minn.)

He’s now in control of his future.

After years of being included in trade rumors, and even a few weeks this summer of his name surfacing as a trade chip, Kyrou now knows he’s the one who decides the fate of his career. When his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1, the power shifted to Kyrou.

This upcoming campaign is the first season he was eligible for a no-trade clause (because he has now reached an age that would have qualified him for unrestricted free agency), and it is included across the next five seasons of the contract extension he signed two years ago. In 2030-31, that will drop to a 15-team no-trade list, and at that point, Kyrou will be 32 years old.

With that presumably handled, next up is Kyrou’s on-ice game.

In 2024-25, Kyrou took a larger step toward becoming a more complete player with a more concerted effort in the defensive zone, more tracking back for pucks in the neutral zone, harder board play and even a couple of hits. (Remember the one in overtime against Detroit that helped run the Blues’ win streak to 10?)

When Kyrou was on the ice at five on five, the Blues allowed 1.81 goals per 60 minutes, the lowest figure in his career. 51ºÚÁÏ also gave up 25.76 shots and 9.02 high-danger chances per hour with Kyrou on the ice, both also new career bests for Kyrou.

On the offensive side, Kyrou scored 36 goals, one away from tying his career high of 37, set in 2022-23. For many in 51ºÚÁÏ, though, his 37 goals in 2022-23 was overshadowed by his minus-38 rating.

Last year? He led the Blues at plus-23.

The 40-goal plateau has been an attainable target for Kyrou, who remains one of the best shooters in the league.

It’s also possible Kyrou returns this season as part of a line that was one of the most successful in the NHL last season. Playing right wing with Brayden Schenn at center and Dylan Holloway at left wing, Kyrou helped the line outscore opponents 29-14 at five on five. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Blues held a 56.29% edge in expected goals with them on the ice. Perhaps a full year with Schenn and Holloway could boost Kyrou’s numbers.

Analytics site MoneyPuck ranked Kyrou as the 13th-best shooter in the league last year, based on how often he converts his chances relative to the expected goal value around the league. Of the 12 players above him, seven have notched 40-goal seasons at some point in their career: Leon Draisaitl, Artemi Panarin, Jason Robertson, David Pastrnak, Mikko Rantanen, Patrik Laine and Alex DeBrincat. Elias Pettersson (39), Andrei Kuzmenko (39) and Cole Caufield (37) have come close. Trevor Zegras (23) and Daniel Sprong (21) have not.

If Kyrou reaches 40 goals, he would become the first Blues player to hit that mark since Vladimir Tarasenko in 2015-16 and the second since Brad Boyes in 2007-07. Since Tarasenko potted 40 in 2015-16, 23 teams have had a 40-goal scorer, including both expansion franchises.