Throughout the summer, it has been widely reported that the St. Louis Blues are at risk of missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. They need their key players to perform well in order to make a comeback.
The organization has remained committed to staying competitive rather than rebuilding, and several new players have been brought in to strengthen the lineup. However, three players have been around the organization for numerous years and need to kick it into high gear in 2024-25.
Below we break down those three Blues players who need to step up this season to increase the odds of the team getting back into the dance.
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Jordan Binnington
Let’s state the obvious. If the Blues are to make the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it will most likely be because of their 2019 Stanley Cup Champion goaltender returning to form.
Jordan Binnington improved his goals-against average (2.84) and save percentage (.913) last season after he had back-to-back underwhelming seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Ironically, those two poor years came right after he had signed his six-year extension at $6 million per year.
When you’re making that kind of money, you are supposed to perform like a starting goaltender, and Binnington hasn’t done his part for the last three seasons. 2023-24 was a step in the right direction, but he can’t have stretches of starts where he’s allowing four or more goals and costing the team games.
Additionally, the potential challenge from backup Joel Hofer should fuel Binnington to up his game. We made a bold prediction last month that the younger netminder will steal more starts away from the Cup champ and form more of a tandem in St. Louis this season.
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The team may be fine with that, especially if their starter struggles, but the Championship-caliber goaltending within Binnington needs to be unleashed and earn his money.
Jordan Kyrou
The other Jordan on the team — Jordan Kyrou — is another player who needs to elevate his game in the upcoming season, and not just for the team’s sake of getting back into the playoffs, but potentially for his future with the organization.
Last season was a year full of ups and downs for the Blues top-six winger. After beloved Head Coach Craig Berube was fired, the fan base turned on Kyrou, pointing at him as one of the main reasons he was fired.
Before Drew Bannister’s coaching debut against Ottawa on December 14, 2023, Kyrou spoke to the media prior to the game. When asked about his relationship with Berube, he replied, “I’ve got no comment. He’s not my coach anymore.”
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That comment struck a nerve with Blues fans, who proceeded to boo Kyrou every time he touched the puck that game. He fought back tears speaking to the media after the game, saying, “It’s just tough, right? I love playing here. It’s tough to hear the fans booing me.”
At that point of the season, the Blues speedster had only five goals and 18 points in 29 games. Well, he turned it on after all the drama, scoring 26 goals and 50 points in his next 54 games.
This stretch of 54 games is what Jordan needs to do all season long, essentially performing how Robert Thomas did last season.
He’s an eight-million-dollar player and needs to justify his salary by staying consistent and ideally, carry the offense for his line without the help of Thomas. 40 goals is asking for a lot, but that may be what he needs to do.
Nick Leddy
The final player is 33-year-old defenseman Nick Leddy, who will be entering his third season with the franchise after they acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings during the 2021-22 season.
First off, Leddy is not and most likely will never be the same defenseman he once was during his prime years with the New York Islanders. However, if he is to continue to play in a top-four role for the team, he cannot let his age show and derail his play.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs last season saw what can happen when age catches up to a veteran defender of over a decade with T.J. Brodie. Eventually, Brodie was excluded from Toronto’s playoff lineup in their once again first-round exit to the Boston Bruins. Hopefully, the Blues and Leddy won’t experience that same fate.
Leddy is slotted to start the season alongside the Blues’ number-one defenseman Colton Parayko, a spot he held for the majority of last season. Alas, the two together weren’t always good.
Parayko and Leddy had the challenging task of going up against their opponent’s top players at even strength every night, and it showed with their lowly analytical statistics. The two as a pair had a corsi percentage of 43.37%, shots for of 45.21%, scoring chances for of 43.27%, and high-danger chances for of 41.81%. All below 50% is not what you want to see out of your top pair.
Leddy’s foot speed has started to slow down and it’s noticeable when he goes back to retrieve pucks. Forecheckers are getting to him quicker and forcing him to make faster decisions with the puck.
The veteran of over 1,000 NHL games and a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 needs to ensure that his first passes on breakouts remain accurate and don’t have to be rushed all the time
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