The Blues’ extension for Pavel Buchnevich is already looking like a risky bet.
St. Louis has spent years living with the consequences of big commitments to older players, and Buchnevich now fits that same uncomfortable pattern.
The winger’s six-year deal, worth an $8 million average annual value, was handed out on July 2, 2024, a full year before his previous four-year, $5.8 million AAV contract was set to expire. By the time the new money kicks in, he was already 30, with a full no-trade clause in the first four years and a modified one in the final two.
That kind of arrangement is the sort of thing teams usually reserve for stars in their prime. Buchnevich had certainly looked the part at the time.
Over the three seasons before the extension, he scored at least 25 goals each year. He reached 30 goals in 2021-22, piling up 76 points in 73 games, then followed it with 67 points in 63 games in 2022-23, once again producing at a point-per-game pace.
Even in 2023-24, when his overall production dipped to 63 points in 80 games, he still tied Jake Neighbours for second on the team with 27 goals on a roster that struggled badly to finish.
That was enough for Doug Armstrong to move early and lock him in, rather than risk losing him to free agency the next summer or spending a season fielding interest from other teams.
But the early returns have been ugly. In the final year of his old deal, Buchnevich produced just 20 goals and 57 points in 76 games.
Then came the first year of the extension: 20 goals again, but only 48 points in 81 games. He’ll turn 31 before this season starts, and the signs point toward a player whose game is already sliding.
That’s the problem with the number attached to the name. Even with the cap expected to keep climbing, $8 million is steep for a forward who looks more like a 50-point player than a top-line difference-maker.
St. Louis can soften the blow somewhat because of savings on the Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, and Philip Broberg contracts, but the Blues still have real business ahead.
Jimmy Snuggerud, Jake Neighbours, and Logan Mailloux all need new deals before the 2027-28 season, and Alex Steen will have to work around Buchnevich’s contract to make that happen.
There are still possible outs. Buchnevich could bounce back to the 60-point range, which would make the deal easier to stomach if the cap keeps rising.
A trade is another path, especially if St. Louis is willing to retain salary and a contender comes calling.
A buyout would bring relief in the short term, but it would also leave the Blues paying him for the next eight seasons.
However it ends, the Buchnevich extension is a reminder of how quickly a clean-looking decision can turn into a burden. If Steen has to untangle this one while trying to push the Blues back toward contention, he’ll likely want to avoid handing out this kind of money and term to aging veterans again.
In Other News...
Blues Keep Building Girls Hockey With A Weekend St. Louis Fans Should Notice
The Blues are putting another major push behind girls hockey this weekend, with the second annual Girls Tier 1 Ice Breaker Invitational set for Aug. 14-16 at the Centene Community Ice Center. The event brings together top 12U and 14U programs from around the country for a round-robin tournament, but it is built to be more than a showcase of young talent. The Blues have folded in mentorship sessions with professional women hockey players and off-ice activities aimed at helping players grow as athletes and people.
It is all part of a broader Girls Hockey Development Program that has become a real point of emphasis for the organization, especially as it looks to expand participation and create a stronger pipeline in the sport. For St. Louis fans, the weekend is another reminder that the clubs reach goes beyond the NHL roster, with the Blues trying to make the rink a more welcoming and productive place for the next generation of players. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Thomas Is Closing In On Rare Blues History
Robert Thomas has spent the last several seasons turning consistency into something close to franchise standing. The Blues center already sits fifth in team history in assists, and with 132 goals and 328 assists in 530 NHL games, he has put himself on the edge of climbing past some familiar names in the organizations record book. He is also moving into striking distance of the top six in career points, a sign that his production has not just held steady, but continued to stack up in a meaningful way for St. Louis.
What makes the climb feel especially notable is the timing. Based on his recent pace, Thomas could be knocking down those next milestones early in the 2026-27 season, which would push him even deeper into rare Blues territory. For a player who has become one of the franchises most reliable offensive drivers, the numbers now point toward a place in team history that keeps getting harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]