The Blues’ season opened with a split, a 1-1-0 record and 2 points against Central Division opponents, but the first week already gave St. Louis a few names worth highlighting.
Joel Hofer headlined the group after a strong start in net. He opened the trip with a statement shutout against a Dallas offense the Blues clearly respected, then stepped into a bigger spotlight after the Binnington blunder in Colorado.
With that kind of start, the idea of No. 30 handling more than 50 starts this season suddenly does not sound so far-fetched. Hofer looked calm, cool, and collected for much of the road trip, and the Blues will be leaning on that steadiness again when they face the Chicago Blackhawks on October 6.
He’s also already picked up an assist this season.
Jimmy Snuggerud came next after a two-game opening stretch that showed both his upside and a little bit of the week-to-week swing that comes with a young player finding his footing. He finished with a goal and an assist, both coming in the game against Dallas, and looked more comfortable on the ice overall.
Playing with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway, Snuggerud should help give that first line real juice once everything clicks. His finishing ability is going to be the loudest part of his game.
Dalibor Dvorsky rounded out the stars after scoring twice on the road trip. The fresh No. 15 found the right spots against Dallas and then followed it up in the 6-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, where he jumped on a loose puck and put a backhand on net that somehow found its way in.
Both goals had a similar feel: Dvorsky being around the play and making the most of it. For a player with other young centers pushing for ice time, these are the kind of games that matter as the season starts to define where he fits in Steen’s vision.
In Other News...
Blues Could Help Solve An Oilers Problem With One Depth Move
The Oilers are still sorting through a forward group hit by injuries, and one idea floating around is the kind of lateral swap that tries to fix one problem without creating another. Edmonton has been exploring defense-for-forward trades instead of chasing a splashy addition, with Ty Emberson, Spencer Stastney and Shakir Mukhamadullin among the blue-line names in the mix and Mark Kastelic, Oskar Sundqvist and Kevin Stenlund listed as possible targets as teams weigh cap space and roster balance.
From the Blues side, that type of deal has some appeal because it could address a need on the back end without forcing a bigger shakeup elsewhere. St. Louis has its own blue-line injuries to consider, which makes a depth defenseman part of the conversation rather than just a throw-in, and the structure of these talks leaves enough room for a tidy fit if the sides decide the math works. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Already Face A Bigger Early Problem Than Their 1-1 Start
A 1-1 start usually feels manageable in October, especially when one win comes against a division rival like Dallas and the lone loss comes against a Colorado team that can pressure anyone. The Blues have already seen both ends of their goaltending picture too, with Joel Hofer looking sharp in the opener before Jordan Binnington had a rougher night in the setback to the Avalanche. Add in Adam Jiriceks NHL debut and the steady buzz around prospects such as Justin Carbonneau, and there were at least a few early signs of depth and promise.
The bigger concern is the health picture, because the Blues have already had to shuffle their lineup before the season has settled in. Alexey Toropchenko is now on injured reserve, joining a growing list of absences that can quickly test a roster built to stay competitive over a long year. For a club trying to sort out its early rhythm, the challenge is no longer just about points in the standings - it is about how long the lineup can keep absorbing these hits before the margin gets a lot thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Power Play Problem Could Force A Change Fast
The Blues opened their 2026-27 season on a mixed note, beating the Dallas Stars before getting handled by the Colorado Avalanche, and the early concern has already shifted from the results to the power play. St. Louis went through the preseason without a goal on 18 chances, and the drought has carried right into the regular season, where the first two games have not produced a conversion.
At some point, the frustration can stop being a short-term slump and start becoming a lineup issue, which is why the Blues may have to look at their top unit if the trend continues. Philip Broberg is the name to watch as a possible answer, with his role potentially growing at Cam Fowlers expense if the club decides it needs a different look quickly. [Read more 🡒]