Connor Hellebuyck is out of the Central, and that alone changes the shape of the division.
The Winnipeg Jets star has been dealt to the New Jersey Devils in the long-awaited blockbuster, with Sunny Mehta trying to turn New Jersey into a true Stanley Cup contender. The move came with some built-in complication: Hellebuyck’s contract includes a full No-Move Clause, which limited Kevin Cheveldayoff’s options when it came to where the goaltender could go. Reportedly, Hellebuyck was more flexible about a possible landing spot than fellow Team USA gold medalist Dylan Larkin.
The ripple effect reaches well beyond Winnipeg and New Jersey. It also gives the St. Louis Blues a little more breathing room in a division that has been tightening around them.
Hellebuyck has been a nightmare for St. Louis over the years.
In 27 games against the Blues during his 11 seasons with the Jets, he went 18-7-2 with a .929 save percentage and a 1.99 Goals Against Average. The only team he has been better against in both categories is the Columbus Blue Jackets.
For the Blues, that’s one less elite problem standing in their way.
The Jets are still standing in the Blues’ path, but they’re not quite the same team they were a couple of seasons ago. Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson have been fine against them, and Nico Daws is expected to move past Stevenson as Skinner’s backup.
Winnipeg also added Dawson Mercer and former Blue Nick Bjugstad up front, but the group still profiles as an aging team with a capped ceiling. That leaves St.
Louis a real opening to climb past them in the standings as the season goes on.
There’s another Central Division wrinkle tied to the Devils’ move-making: Quinn Hughes. New Jersey’s push toward contender status could become hard for Hughes to ignore, especially with the possibility of a USA reunion in New Jersey and the chance to play with his brothers. If the Minnesota Wild are pushed into trading Hughes instead of holding him as an own-rental and risking losing him in free agency next summer, that would take a major bite out of their Cup hopes.
For the Blues, the timing matters. They’re 5-4-1, tied for fourth in the division with 11 points, and quietly keeping themselves in the mix.
If more shifts come down the line, with the Colorado Avalanche also slipping in the standings, St. Louis could keep grinding and find its way into the playoff race in the spring.
In Other News...
Blues Are Already Getting Early Answers On A Tough Roster Debate
Ten games into the season, the Blues are already getting a clearer read on a roster question that was going to hang over them early. At 5-4-1, they have seen enough to start separating the players who are driving the team forward from the ones still fighting to hold their spots, and the performance gap has become hard to ignore. Dylan Holloway, Mason McTavish and Philip Broberg have given the club the kind of steady, energetic minutes that make lineup decisions easier, while the group around them continues to settle into the system.
The other side of that evaluation is just as important, because not everyone has kept pace as the roster has taken shape. Theo Lindstein and Dalibor Dvorsky have seen their roles shrink as the Blues look for more reliable answers, and the goaltending picture has added another layer to the debate. St. Louis is still early in the process of sorting out its best mix, but the first stretch of the season has already pushed some decisions closer to the surface. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Broberg Is Becoming The Blues Defenseman Theyve Been Missing
Philip Broberg has quickly gone from useful addition to essential piece for the Blues, giving their blue line a steadier, more modern look at a time when they needed it. His value has shown up in more than one area, too, with his play helping stabilize the defense while also adding something extra when the puck goes the other way.
Brobergs ability to fit beside different defensemen has made him even more valuable, because he has not needed a specific partner or a sheltered role to make an impact. The most interesting part is how his presence has changed the balance of the group, especially on special teams, where the Blues have been searching for a smoother blend of offense and responsibility from the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Catch A Break With Vegas Missing A Star Tonight
Vegas will be without Mitch Marner for its game against the Blues tonight, a development that changes the look of a matchup St. Louis already knew would be a tough one. Marner is away as he and his partner await the birth of their second child, leaving the Pacific Division leaders to adjust on the fly against a Blues team looking for every small edge it can find.
Alexander Holtz is expected to step into Marners spot and make his NHL season debut, giving Vegas a different kind of look in a spot usually occupied by one of its most dynamic forwards. The Golden Knights still have a busy stretch ahead with games against Columbus, Ottawa and New Jersey on the calendar, so this is a temporary wrinkle more than a long-term concern, but it gives St. Louis a clearer path than it might have had against a full-strength lineup. [Read more 🡒]