Jake Neighbours is giving the Blues a chance to put a new mark in the record book.
St. Louis has opened the season in uneven fashion, and this five-game homestand has the feel of a stretch that could swing the year one way or the other. Vegas comes in as the NHL’s top offensive team, which makes this the Blues’ toughest assignment so far.
But the number that jumps off the page isn’t about the opponent. It’s Neighbours’ hit total.
Through nine games, the winger has 30 hits, putting him on pace for 280 this season. That would match the franchise record Nathan Walker set in 2024-25. Because this season includes two extra games, those numbers are already in play, and Neighbours has a real chance to at least tie the mark - and maybe push beyond it if he keeps going at this rate.
That kind of production fits exactly what the Blues have needed from him.
Neighbours has been a physical force since arriving in the NHL in 2021-22. His style has meshed perfectly with St. Louis’ rough-and-tumble identity, and that same edge was part of his game even with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, where he was known as a "puck hound".
The timing matters even more with St. Louis dealing with a battered fourth line.
Alexey Toropchenko was injured in the very first game of the season, and Ross Johnston was hurt just a few games ago. That has left Pius Suter handling that spot alongside whoever General Manager Alexander Steen brings up from Springfield, currently Aleksanteri Kaskimäki and Otto Stenberg.
That means Neighbours has had to do more than just throw his weight around on his line with Dalibor Dvorsky and Pavel Buchnevich. He has done both jobs, producing three goals and two assists for five points while leading the team in hits.
The pace is simple enough to track. At 3.33 hits per game, Neighbours would land right on 280 if he keeps it up the rest of the way. And with key Central Division matchups waiting later in the season, there’s a good chance he ends up well beyond that.
Even with the noise around the extra two games, Neighbours is already on a path to challenge the mark well before the 82nd game. He has been a problem for opponents in every one of St. Louis’ first nine games, and there’s little reason to think that changes any time soon.
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 🡒]