5 St. Louis Blues Players to Watch This Preseason – Hockey Writers – St Louis Blues

The offseason is over, and the St. Louis Blues will begin their preseason opener tomorrow (Sep. 21) against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. From there, the Blues will play six more preseason games (one on the road, three at home, and two at neutral sites). With the regular season just a few weeks away, there are five players to keep an eye on during the preseason.

Dylan Holloway

After a smooth start to the offseason, the Blues shocked the hockey world when they sent offer sheets to the Edmonton Oilers for restricted free agents Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. There is no comparable contract, and the Blues have since acquired two first-round picks.

Holloway joins a forward core with plenty of uncertainty, and he’s not an outsider. He is a defenseman who has spent time as a center but is expected to play left wing, and has never had a chance in a top-six role in the NHL. He has talent, evident in his 10 goals in 18 AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors last season, but he has yet to translate his talent onto the score sheet in the NHL.

It will be interesting to see how head coach Drew Bannister uses Holloway this preseason, whether he gives him a higher chance with the team’s top players such as Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, or Pavel Buchnevich, or if Holloway is relegated to the bench. six. Also, it will be important to watch how aggressive Holloway is on the offensive end. If he plays with a chip on his shoulder as the Oilers management proves, he could force his way into the Blues’ top six without looking at his teammates.

Philip Broberg

Broberg arguably has more to prove than Holloway, given the investment the Blues have made in him. His max two-year, $4.58 million per season contract came at the cost of a second-round pick, giving him a hefty price tag to live with. Fortunately, he’s positioned to make the jump and establish himself as a top-four defenseman in the NHL.

Related: Oilers Fans Need to Upset Philip Broberg’s Expectations This Season

With Torey Krug’s season-ending injury, the St. Louis blueline Louis is very weak. The left side now features only Nick Leddy as a regular, while Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Scott Perunovich, and Ryan Suter compete for spots, creating a greater opportunity for Broberg to get ice time.

In the preseason, Broberg must show that he can develop chemistry with defensive partners like Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk and excel on special teams. With the Blues needing someone to step into roles on both the power play and penalty kill, Broberg’s experience in these areas makes him a prime candidate. Although the preseason is short, his flexibility will be key as he heads into the all-important, make-or-break season.

Zack Boldic

Zack Bolduc had two strong games in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase against the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks. He captained the Blues and achieved success in all aspects of the game. He was a vocal leader who rebounded well and wasn’t afraid to be physical during Sunday afternoon’s game against Minnesota.

Related: Blues & Blackhawks Standouts at Prospect Showcase

In this preseason, Bolduc is fighting for an NHL roster spot. He played 25 games for the Blues at the end of last season, registering five goals and four assists, but his place in the team is not secure. He will be fighting for roster spots against Alexei Toropchenko, Kasperi Kapanen, and Nathan Walker, a tough road. But, it becomes even more difficult for Bolduc to find a place on the list for an additional reason.

The Blues will not play Bolduc on the fourth line or as their 13th forward, meaning he must play in the top nine to secure a roster spot. Unfortunately, the Blues don’t have any third-line forwards, which means Bolduc has to take a roster spot from someone like Holloway, Alexandre Texier, or Mathieu Joseph. This is possible, but it will be important to see how these forwards stack up during the preseason.

Joel Hofer and Jordan Binington

While Jordan Binington had an outstanding 2023-24 season at the crease, Joel Hofer had a great year, too. As the regular season approaches, Binnington is the presumptive starter, but that could change. From March 6 through the end of the season, Hofer finished with a higher goals-save-above-expectation (GSAx) than Binnington, according to Evolving Hockey. Also, Binnington finished with just 0.0867 higher GSAx per 60 minutes than Hofer all season, meaning the two weren’t far behind in their performance.

No amount of preseason performance will stop the Blues from starting Binnington early in the season, but Hofer could make it closer than fans realize. If he does, expect him to net a starter for the rest of the season as he enters the contract.

All New Players

After missing the 2024 Playoffs, the Blues have made changes to their depth. Along with Holloway and Broberg, the team added five new players: Suter, Texier, the Joseph brothers, and Radek Faksa. As they begin their journey in St. Louis, it will be important to see how they adapt to the team’s plans. Neither of them have earned a spot on the roster yet, so tracking their potential roles during the preseason will provide valuable insights into the regular season.

The Blues will begin the regular season on Oct. 8th against the Seattle Kraken, with the home opener a week later on October 15th against the Minnesota Wild.