Amanda: Seven centers on the opening night roster. Six-year contracts. A division where nobody is giving up an inch. The St. Louis Blues are sitting fifth in the Central Division heading into training camp, but are they really that far behind the pack? We’re breaking down exactly where this team stands, who wins the battles we talked about yesterday, and whether those wild card predictions still hold water.
Paul: It’s a crowded house in St. Louis. You’ve got Robert Thomas leading the way, but now you’re adding Connor McMichael, Dillon Dube, Mason McTavish, Jack Finley, Dylan Peterson, Pius Suter, and Oskar Sundqvist all fighting for ice time. It’s not just a logjam; it’s a structural shift in how this team will forecheck and transition.
Amanda: That is right. Today on the Beatline Podcast Network, we are doing the deep dive power rankings. First, we look at where the Blues sit in the Central Division hierarchy and why fifth might be misleading. Second, we tackle the biggest strength of this roster—the center depth—and the biggest question mark, which is defensive pairing stability. And third, we give you our realistic season outlook and win projection based on these new acquisitions.
Paul: We also need to address the contract news. McMichael signed for six years and $40.5 million. That’s a massive commitment. And then there’s Dillon Dube, who joined us after being acquitted in that 2018 case, making him the second player from that situation to get an NHL deal since the trial ended. It’s a lot of narrative mixed with hockey.
Amanda: Exactly. So, let’s get into it. Where do the Blues rank in their own backyard?
Amanda: Alright Paul, let’s start with the standings. The data says the Blues are currently fifth in the Central Division. That feels... low? Or maybe high? Given what we know about the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars, where do you actually see them fitting in when the puck drops on October third against Dallas?
Paul: I think fifth is a fair reflection of the current perception, but I’d argue they’re playing like a top-four team in terms of talent density. The Central is brutal. You’ve got the defending champions, Carolina, though they’re in the Metropolitan now, so looking at the Central specifically, you have Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Nashville... and then this scramble. Being fifth means you’re on the bubble. But remember, we predicted fourth place and a wild card spot back on the twenty-seventh.
Amanda: Right, because we factored in the McMichael acquisition. But does a sixth-year, $40.5 million deal change the hierarchy? When you look at the other teams in the Central, do they have this kind of forward depth?
Paul: No, they don’t. Most teams have a number one and a number two center, and then they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for lines three and four. The Blues have seven legitimate NHL-caliber centers. McMichael brings size and skill. Dube brings speed and two-way play. Thomas is still elite. This isn’t just depth; it’s overload. If they can sort out the line matchups early, they should be challenging for that fourth seed immediately.
Amanda: So, if they’re essentially a top-four team talent-wise, why is the ranking fifth? Is it the defense? Because last time we talked, we were worried about the defensive pairings. Brandon Carlo and Colton Parayko are anchors, but Cam Fowler and Philip Broberg—how do those pairs function against someone like Dallas?
Paul: That’s the friction point. Carlo and Parayko can shut down top lines, but when you go to your third pair, you’re relying on Logan Mailloux and Tyler Tucker or Calle Rosen. Mailloux has the offensive upside, but defensively, he can be exposed in the neutral zone. Against a skilled Dallas team, that’s a liability. Until those lower pairings prove they can handle pressure, the team stays ranked fifth until proven otherwise.
Amanda: Fair point. So, the offense is loaded, the defense is solid at the top but risky at the bottom. That puts us squarely in Segment Two: Strengths and Question Marks. Let’s talk strengths. We’ve mentioned the center logjam, but is that actually a strength if it causes chemistry issues?
Paul: It’s a strength only if the coaching staff manages the minutes correctly. You don’t want Robert Thomas and Connor McMichael both killing penalties and taking heavy shifts. You need to separate them. Put Thomas with Pavel Buchnevich for pure scoring, put McMichael with Dylan Holloway for physicality and net-front presence. If you mix them haphazardly, you lose efficiency. But if you get it right, the Blues have the deepest forward group in the Western Conference.
Amanda: And what about Dillon Dube? He’s a free agent signing, recently acquired, and part of that complex 2018 case history. How does he fit into this specific strength? Does he add something the others don’t?
Paul: Dube adds versatility. He can play wing or center. He’s fast, he’s gritty, and he’s a decent penalty killer. In a lineup this crowded, having a player who can slide around without disrupting the structure is valuable. We predicted he’d score ten goals. If he gets consistent time on a line with Thomas or even McMichael, that’s very achievable. He’s the glue piece.
Amanda: Okay, so the strength is undeniable center depth. Now, the question marks. We’ve touched on defense. What else? Goaltending? Jordan Binnington is the starter, but Joel Hofer and Georgi Romanov are there. Is the backup situation a concern?
Paul: Hofer is the favorite to split time or serve as the primary backup. We predicted he’d start twenty games. That’s a healthy amount. If Binnington goes down, Hofer needs to step up. But honestly, the bigger question mark is the power play. With all these skilled centers—Thomas, McMichael, Dube, Buchnevich—can they connect? The power play has been inconsistent for St. Louis in recent years. Having the personnel isn’t enough; they need execution.
Amanda: So, power play execution is the X-factor. If the power play clicks, they move up in the rankings. If it stalls, they stay fifth. Got it. Moving to Segment Three: Season Outlook and Win Projection. Based on everything—the roster, the division, the injuries we saw in college hockey like Matthew Mayich’s collapse (though that’s ASU, not NHL), what’s the realistic win total?
Paul: I’m sticking with our original prediction. They finish fourth in the Central. That translates to roughly ninety-five to ninety-eight points. It’s a playoff team. Not a Cup favorite yet, because the goaltending tandem isn’t elite-tier like Florida or Carolina, and the defense has holes. But the forward depth gives them a ceiling that most teams in the West can’t match.
Amanda: And what about the McMichael goal prediction? Twenty-five goals. Do you still believe that with this competition for ice time?
Paul: Absolutely. McMichael is a scorer. Even if he doesn’t lead the team in points, twenty-five goals is a reasonable output for a top-six winger/center hybrid. He’s big, he’s physical, and he’s used to getting dirty in front of the net. The Blues need that grit. He’ll find the back of the net.
Amanda: Alright, so final thoughts before we sign off. The Blues are a playoff team, likely fourth in the Central, with a star-studded center group that could be their undoing if mismanaged, or their greatest weapon if optimized. Stick with us after the break—we’re going to break down the specific line combinations you should watch for in that opener against Dallas.
Amanda: Welcome back. We’ve ranked the Blues fifth in the Central, identified center depth as their superpower, and warned about defensive vulnerabilities. We predict a fourth-place finish, a wild card berth, and Connor McMichael hitting twenty-five goals. If you agree, hit subscribe, rate us five stars, and share this episode with a fellow Blues fan.
Paul: Don’t forget to check the lineup card on October third. Watch how they pair McMichael and Dube. That matchup against Dallas’ defense corps will tell you everything you need to know about their season trajectory.
Amanda: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. I’m Amanda, along with Paul. Go Blues!