St. Louis opens the 2026-27 regular season on Sept. 29 with a short runway to fit several new pieces around a club that finished 37-33-12 last season, placed fifth in the Central Division and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Jim Montgomery’s third year behind the bench, the Blues will be looking for a cleaner identity in goal, on special teams and through the middle of the lineup.
Key takeaways
- Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael arrive as trade additions expected to help reshape St. Louis’ forward group.
- Joel Hofer posted a 24-13-5 record and six shutouts in 43 starts last season, while Jordan Binnington went 13-20-7 in 39 starts.
- The Blues ranked 26th on the power play at 17.6 percent and 25th on the penalty kill at 76.7 percent.
- Defenseman Adam Jiricek, the No. 16 selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, could force his way into the NHL picture with a strong camp.
- Theo Lindstein is positioned to push for a regular blue-line job after seeing late-season time alongside Colton Parayko.
New centers, a new blue-liner and a camp battle
The forward changes begin with McTavish, acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on June 26. The 23-year-old center is coming off a 41-point season, producing 17 goals and 24 assists over 75 games. It was the lowest offensive total of his four full NHL seasons, and his average ice time fell to a career-low 15:19.
St. Louis has a significant opening for him: McTavish is projected to skate as the second-line center behind captain Robert Thomas. McMichael, acquired after a 46-point season with the Washington Capitals, gives the Blues another versatile option. The 25-year-old had 14 goals and 32 assists in 78 games last season.
On the back end, Brandon Carlo joins the group following an offseason trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old defenseman recorded seven assists in 55 games last season and is projected to pair with Cam Fowler.
The more intriguing camp story could be Jiricek. The 20-year-old defenseman put up 19 goals and 40 assists in 55 Ontario Hockey League games for Brantford last season, then appeared in six Calder Cup playoff games with Springfield. The Blues have veteran options on defense, but his offensive production and draft pedigree give him a real chance to make the roster difficult to finalize.
Lindstein also enters camp with momentum. The 21-year-old spent time beside Parayko late last season and looked at ease in 17 NHL games, registering two goals and two assists while averaging 15:46 per night. Before that call-up, he had six goals and eight assists in 59 regular-season games with Springfield, followed by three assists across nine AHL playoff outings.
Goaltending and special teams set the playoff standard
For the Blues to climb back into the postseason, the crease needs to deliver steadier results. Hofer earned four more starts than Binnington last season and was markedly stronger statistically. His 2.61 goals-against average and .910 save percentage came with six shutouts, second-most in the NHL behind the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin, who had seven.
Binnington’s season went in the other direction. He finished with a 3.33 goals-against average, an .873 save percentage and one shutout. Hofer, 26, has compiled a .909 save percentage over 115 NHL appearances and closed last season in particularly sharp form after play resumed following the Winter Olympics.
From Feb. 25 through the end of the schedule, Hofer was tied for the League lead with 12 wins. Among goaltenders who played at least 10 games in that stretch, his .933 save percentage ranked third and his 2.04 goals-against average also placed third. His puck-stopping profile was strong at every depth last season: a .984 save percentage on long-range shots, .906 from mid-range and .915 at 5-on-5.
The decision on the starter may not be made in September, but Hofer has put himself in position to claim a larger share of the net if Binnington cannot rebound. He was being selected outside the top 100 overall in average draft position, at 123.8, entering the season.
Special teams remain another non-negotiable area. A 17.6 percent power play and 76.7 percent penalty kill left too many points on the table last season. With McTavish, McMichael and Carlo added to the mix, Montgomery’s staff will need those units organized quickly during a compressed training camp.
Projected opening lineup
| Unit | Projected players |
|---|---|
| First line | Dylan Holloway — Robert Thomas — Jimmy Snuggerud |
| Second line | Connor McMichael — Mason McTavish — Pavel Buchnevich |
| Third line | Jake Neighbours — Dalibor Dvorsky — Jonatan Berggren |
| Fourth line | Ross Johnson — Pius Suter — Alexey Toropchenko |
| Defense pair 1 | Philip Broberg — Logan Mailloux |
| Defense pair 2 | Theo Lindstein — Colton Parayko |
| Defense pair 3 | Cam Fowler — Brandon Carlo |
| Goaltenders | Joel Hofer; Jordan Binnington |
