The Blues are back on the ice, and the early signs of a new season are already starting to show.
With the ice laid and the boards up, the 2026-27 NHL season is creeping into view. Around the league, teams have begun those informal skates with rookies, prospects and a few veterans mixed in, and the Blues have joined the party as training camp gets closer and the preseason draws near.
Over the past two days, St. Louis has offered a look at what this new group looks like together, and there’s been no shortage of quotes and clips coming out of practice.
The team posted video of the first skates, noting, “reporting live from informal skates: Buch is back on his Buch behavior pic.twitter.com/7tgHRTvaIk”
- St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 11, 2026
There’s a different feel around this group already. It’s a new era for the organization, and that means whatever came before is being left behind. The tone may start out loose, but camp will turn competitive fast, with roster battles set to take center stage.
A few new faces have already stepped in, including Dillon Dube and Brandon Carlo. Both spoke with the media after practice yesterday, and Cam Fowler also took part in the conversation. Fowler, who remains a major question mark for the 2026-27 season after his rough showing last year, had this to say:
"We understand the importance of coming in on the first day of training camp, making sure we're ready to go."
Cam Fowler, Dillon Dube and Brandon Carlo speak to the media following an informal skate at Centene Community Ice Center. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/Wa8PjGaaUZ
- St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 11, 2026
Mason McTavish also met reporters after today’s practice, speaking publicly for the first time since arriving in St. Louis this summer. The former Anaheim Duck, drafted third overall in 2021, sounded eager to get going after being moved on from the team that picked him.
That kind of edge is exactly what the Blues seem to want. McTavish is expected to be a key part of the regular season, likely centering the second line, and his fire fits the direction the team took over the summer: bigger, tougher, stronger.
The first real test is still a few days away. St.
Louis will head to Chicago for a rookie and prospect matchup against the Blackhawks’ future stars, and there are plenty of names worth tracking. Justin Carbonneau stands out as the one to keep the closest eye on.
For now, though, all roads lead to September 19, when the Blues open preseason play against Dallas.
In Other News...
Blues Prospect Adam Jecho Faces An Unexpected Pause At Camp
Adam Jechos start to camp has taken an unexpected turn, with the 20-year-old Blues forward suddenly away from the team as St. Louis begins its preseason work. The NHL and NHLPA announced that Jecho will be unavailable while receiving care through the Player Assistance Program, a development that removes one of the organizations young prospects from the ice just as camp gets underway.
For the Blues, the focus now shifts to managing his development path without him in the building for the time being. Jecho will remain away from on-ice competition until program administrators clear him to return, leaving the organization to move forward with training camp and revisit his next steps once he is eligible to rejoin the club. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Still Face One Big Dmitry Gulyayev Question
Colorados pursuit of Kirill Gulyayev hit a delay when the club tried to work out an entry-level arrangement that would have kept him in the KHL for another season before bringing him to North America. The 2023 first-round pick, selected 31st overall, has made it clear he still sees the NHL in his future, but for now his path remains tied to Avangard Omsk after signing a two-year extension.
Around the Central Division, training camps are also beginning to take shape, with the Blues and Stars unveiling their rosters for the week ahead. St. Louis added veteran goalie Parker Gahagen to its list of invitees, while Dallas brought in goaltender Matthew Humphries and winger Jack Becker on tryouts as clubs sort through the early stages of camp competition. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Top Line Could Reshape St. Louis Scoring In A Big Way
The idea of St. Louis getting a true top line centerpiece is starting to look less like a wish and more like a blueprint for the 2026-27 season. Robert Thomas has already established himself as the driver of the offense, and if the Blues keep him between Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud, the three could give the club a first unit built around skill, pace and finishing touch. Holloways playmaking and Snuggeruds growing offensive upside would fit neatly around Thomas vision, giving St. Louis a line that could set the tone for a much more dangerous attack.
What makes the projection intriguing is how much of the Blues scoring ceiling could hinge on that one trio clicking at the right time. Thomas is being viewed as the player most likely to pace the team in overall production, while Holloway could push for a strong assist total and Snuggerud looks like the kind of young scorer who might force his way into a bigger role. It is still all dependent on health and lineup stability, but if the alignment holds, St. Louis may finally have a top line capable of reshaping where the goals come from and how often they arrive. [Read more 🡒]