The St. Louis Blues may have bigger goals in 2026-27 than individual numbers, but their top line could turn into a fascinating stat race all by itself.
Robert Thomas is the obvious centerpiece. The Blues’ newly named captain should be locked in at center on the first line, with Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud expected to ride shotgun on the wings for most of the season.
Unless injuries or a major surprise change the picture, that looks like the trio St. Louis will lean on.
And if that line stays intact, there are three numbers worth watching closely.
Thomas is the safest bet to finish as the team’s points leader, and the bar is high. He was coming off consecutive 80-plus-point seasons before injuries cut him to 64 games last year.
Even with that missed time, he still produced at a point-per-game pace. If he stays healthy and settles in with the distractions behind him, a 100-point season is on the table.
His career high sits at 86, so topping that mark would already be notable. Reaching the century mark would be a different level.
Holloway might make the assist race more interesting than it first looks. He posted 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points in 59 games last season, but the year before he set a career high with 37 assists in 77 games.
Put him next to a 100-point Thomas, and a jump into the neighborhood of 60 assists does not feel absurd. It would also fit the way a top-line role can inflate playmaking numbers.
Then there’s Snuggerud, who may be the wild card with the loudest ceiling. He scored 21 goals in 70 games last season and finished third on the club in goals during his first full season.
That kind of start opens the door to a real leap in 2026-27, especially if he spends the whole year beside Thomas and Holloway. Clearing 30 goals would be a reasonable step.
Forty? Maybe not crazy, either.
Cutter Gauthier scored 41 goals in his second full season for the Anaheim Ducks after scoring 20 in 82 games in his first, and that kind of progression is the sort of comparison that makes Snuggerud’s upside feel even more believable.
If Snuggerud takes that kind of jump, the Blues could have a new leader in goals. And if Thomas stays healthy while Holloway keeps feeding the puck, this top line could end up deciding a lot more than just who wins the team’s internal stat races.
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 🡒]
Blues Roster Battles Are Already Taking Shape Around New Faces
Informal practices are already underway for the Blues as they start sorting out the shape of a 2026-27 roster that still has plenty of room for competition. Rookies, prospects and veterans have all been on the ice together in these early sessions, giving the coaching staff an early look at how the new mix fits before the real exhibition schedule begins.
Dillon Dube, Brandon Carlo and Cam Fowler were among the players who spoke with reporters after the workouts, while Mason McTavish also drew attention in his first public comments since joining the Blues this summer. With the club moving toward its first preseason game, the early conversations and on-ice reps are already starting to hint at where the roster battles may be headed, even if the most important questions are still waiting to be answered. [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 🡒]
