The Blues’ 2026-27 forward group is shaping up to be a different animal, and Jordan Kyrou is no longer part of the picture. St. Louis has brought in Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish, and the idea is simple: those two are supposed to help fill the void and maybe even push the team past what Kyrou gave them.
That’s the case for why the Blues could actually be better without him.
Kyrou spent eight years delivering quality hockey in St. Louis and was the club’s top goal threat for a long stretch.
His best season came in 2022-23, when he scored 37 goals. But the bigger issue was never whether he could flash talent.
It was the night-to-night inconsistency, along with a contract that never quite matched expectations.
Now the Blues are asking McMichael and McTavish to stabilize the second line and give it more punch. The third spot there is still unsettled, with Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours set to compete for it in training camp.
That matters because the top line finished last season strong. Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Dylan Holloway gave St.
Louis a look that worked. If that unit keeps rolling, the bottom half of the top six has to be much better than it has been in recent years for the Blues to move forward.
Kyrou’s departure also closes the book on a rough ending. During the 2025-26 season, head coach Jim Montgomery benched him for a game to send a message to Kyrou and the rest of the team that performance would determine ice time.
It sparked about two games of better play, but the inconsistency returned quickly from No. 25.
At that point, moving on made more sense than trying again.
There’s also a sense that this roster simply fits together better now. Snuggerud and Holloway are both in line for breakout seasons, and McTavish could be right there too, with a real chance to push toward 30 goals in 2026-27. Those players bring more than scoring, and that’s part of the appeal compared with what Kyrou offered.
St. Louis is not expected to be a playoff team, but over an 84-game season, things can still swing. There’s already debate over which of the two new additions will post more points next season, and the edge is expected to go to McTavish.
Meanwhile, Kyrou is headed to Washington, where the Capitals paired him with Alex Tuch from Buffalo as they try to speed up their climb back to the top of the Metropolitan Division.
The Blues believe they can win a few more games in 2026-27. How many more is still to be seen, but part of the reason for that optimism is the decision to move on from Kyrou.
In Other News...
Robert Thomas Faces Three Early Tests As Blues Captain
Robert Thomas is stepping into the spotlight at a moment when the Blues are asking for more than just points and playmaking. The club has handed him the captaincy, making him a central figure for a roster that has changed around him and for a season in which his leadership will be measured as much by presence and tone as by production. For a player long viewed as the engine of the offense, the next step is carrying that role into something bigger.
The early standard in St. Louis is pretty clear: set the pace, help define the teams toughness and push the group back into the playoff picture. Thomas does not need a perfect first year to validate the choice, but the expectation is obvious, and it comes with the weight of a franchise that remembers how quickly previous captains made October hockey part of the conversation. What matters now is whether he can turn that responsibility into the kind of start that keeps the Blues relevant when the standings tighten. [Read more 🡒]