{"id":466875,"date":"2025-04-16T11:52:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=466875"},"modified":"2025-04-16T11:52:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:52:26","slug":"the-st-louis-blues-path-to-the-2025-stanley-cup-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/04\/16\/the-st-louis-blues-path-to-the-2025-stanley-cup-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"The St. Louis Blues Path to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time since 2022, the St. Louis Blues have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blues clinched their spot with a convincing 6-1 on <\/span>Tuesday night<\/span><\/a> in their season finale. The Blues will have a few days to rest and prepare for their round one series against the President’s Trophy-winning <\/span>Winnipeg Jets<\/span><\/a>. Before the Blues try to ground the Jets, we will look at the team’s regular season and determine just how the Blues found a path to the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Blues Path to the Playoffs<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pre-Season Expectations<\/span><\/h3>\n

After missing the playoffs back-to-back seasons, including one in which the team was <\/span>an active seller<\/span><\/a> at the trade deadline, the <\/span>Blues did not carry much expectation into the regular season<\/span><\/a>. The best thing that could be said about them was that they could make some noise in the Western Conference. However, it would be a season in which the organization would be looking to continue retooling and improving the team for future seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

How They Got In<\/span><\/h3>\n

Despite low expectations, the Blues are indeed in the playoffs. So, how did they do it? What happened that made this possible? How did a team in the middle of a retool find its way into the postseason?<\/span><\/p>\n

Low-Risks, High Reward Acquisitions<\/span><\/h4>\n

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, general manager Doug Armstrong attempted to keep the Cup window open by offering large contracts to players. The first was <\/span>Justin Faulk<\/span><\/a>, who came <\/span>via trade and signed an extension right away<\/span><\/a>. The following off-season, the Blues signed <\/span>Torey Krug<\/span><\/a> to a <\/span>long-term contract<\/span><\/a>. Then, in<\/span> the subsequent off-season, <\/span>Brandon Saad<\/span><\/a> joined the Blues via free agency.<\/span><\/a> All these moves resulted in just one playoff series win and the eventual transition into a retool. No one should blame Armstrong, however, as he did what made sense at the time to keep the Cup window open.<\/span><\/p>\n

This last summer, Armstrong made more acquisitions. However, this time, he made low-risk, high-reward acquisitions. Veterans <\/span>Radek Faksa<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Ryan Suter<\/span><\/a> joined the team via <\/span>trade<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>free agency<\/span><\/a>. In perhaps Armstrong’s boldest move as general manager, he tendered offer sheets to <\/span>Dylan Holloway<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Philip Broberg<\/span><\/a> and brought them to the Blues from the <\/span>Edmonton Oilers<\/span><\/a>. All four played significant roles for the Blues, with Holloway and Broberg emerging as some of the top players on the team. It cost little from Armstrong, but these acquisitions helped put the Blues on the path to the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recognizing Opportunity<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Blues named <\/span>Drew Bannister<\/span><\/a> as the <\/span>head coach<\/span><\/a> after he finished last season as the interim coach. This made sense. The Blues were in a retool and were looking to see what would work best for the future. As a result, signing Bannister to a two-year contract allowed the organization to assess the team during the retooling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then <\/span>Jim Montgomery<\/span><\/a> was <\/span>fired<\/span><\/a>. Montgomery, a former Jack Adams-winning coach, would be a significant addition to any team. The Blues understood this and recognized the opportunity they had. In a move that was a clear pivot from their original plan, the <\/span>Blues fired Bannister and hired Montgomery<\/span><\/a>. Furthermore, Montgomery agreed to a five-year contract. In the blink of an eye, the Blues had a head coach who would get them through the retool and be with them when they were ready to contend.<\/span><\/p>\n

Montgomery was just what the Blues needed to contend this season. When the time comes, <\/span>Montgomery should be in the running for another Jack Adams award<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Armstrong also recognized the opportunity when it came time to decide what to do at the trade deadline. Armstrong could have taken advantage of <\/span>interest in some Blues players<\/span><\/a> and gained assets for the future. Instead, Armstrong recognized that this team wanted to stay together and compete for the playoffs. Once again, Armstrong went against the initial plan, and the Blues are better off for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Core Performed<\/span><\/h4>\n

The Blues core includes players like <\/span>Robert Thomas<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Jordan Kyrou<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Jake Neighbours<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Pavel Buchnevich<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Colton Parayko<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Jordan Binnington<\/span><\/a>. All performed in significant ways this season for the team. All performed in substantial ways for the Blues. Thomas recorded 60 assists and had his second-straight 80+ point season. Kyrou scored 36 goals, one short of his career high. Neighbours took significant steps forward coming off a breakout season last year, doubling his assist total and scoring another 22 goals. Buchnevich, despite a slow start, finished with 20 goals. Parayko emerged as the team’s top defender, even giving the Blues the offensive and defensive production they had once enjoyed from <\/span>Alex Pietrangelo<\/span><\/a>. Between the pipes, Binnington was Binnington. There were times when he did hit a slump. However, when he did, <\/span>Joel Hofer<\/span><\/a> stepped in and carried the Blues in the net.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Blues were also helped by supplementary players, such as <\/span>Brayden Schenn<\/span><\/a>, Holloway, Broberg, and <\/span>Oskar Sundqvist<\/span><\/a>. This was especially true when Thomas and Parayko missed time with injury. However, in order to succeed, the Blues needed their core to lead the way. They did, and the results speak for themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Youth Movement<\/span><\/h4>\n

Part of any retooling includes seeing what the young skaters have to offer. The Blues saw production from their youth. <\/span>Zachary Bolduc<\/span><\/a> emerged in a big way in his first full season. He scored 19 goals and was a force on the power play. Likewise, Holloway and Broberg, getting extended time with the Blues as opposed to the Oilers, showed that they could bring to the table in a full-time role.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even <\/span>Jimmy Snuggerud<\/span><\/a> contributed in a limited role. After <\/span>joining the team late in the season<\/span><\/a>, Snuggerud was inserted into the lineup, mainly due to injuries to forwards such as Holloway and <\/span>Alexandre Texier<\/span><\/a>. Snuggerud has some growing to do. However, his offensive spark was on full display on Tuesday. The youngster assisted Schenn’s goal and later added his first NHL goal to help the Blues get out to an early 4-0 lead. If the Blues choose to keep Snuggerud in the lineup for the playoffs, he will have an opportunity to make quite the statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Blues Path to the Playoffs: Many Hands Made Great Success<\/span><\/h3>\n

There is not just one person or player responsible for the Blues reaching the playoffs. There is not one single moment. It took an entire front office, an entire coaching staff, and most of all, an entire team to accomplish what the 2024-25 Blues accomplished.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, the playoffs await. Is a repeat of 2019 in store? What about 2009? Or is their fate somewhere in between?<\/span><\/p>\n

We know that many people (including perhaps the reader of this article and the writer) did not believe the Blues could get here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hey buddy, they’re here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo: Jeff Le- Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the first time since 2022, the St. Louis Blues have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blues clinched their spot with a convincing 6-1 on Tuesday night in their season finale. The Blues will have a few days to rest and prepare for their round one series against the President’s Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3464,"featured_media":466889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,4547,4548],"tags":[505,718,2801,4241,4476,3265,7283,3855,3759,2344,905,2366,3803,1915,1310,240,6291],"class_list":["post-466875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blues","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-brayden-schenn","tag-colton-parayko","tag-doug-armstrong","tag-dylan-holloway","tag-jake-neighbours","tag-jim-montgomery","tag-jimmy-snuggerud","tag-joel-hofer","tag-jordan-binnington","tag-jordan-kyrou","tag-oskar-sundqvist","tag-pavel-buchnevich","tag-philip-broberg","tag-radek-faksa","tag-robert-thomas","tag-ryan-suter","tag-zachary-bolduc"],"modified_by":"Andrew Willis","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3464"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=466875"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":466890,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466875\/revisions\/466890"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/466889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=466875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=466875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=466875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}