Amanda: It’s a cold morning in St. Louis, but the stakes are already heating up for the Blues. We’ve got three captains on deck—literally and figuratively—and one center position battle that could define the entire season before puck drop.
Paul: That’s right, Amanda. Robert Thomas is officially the 25th captain in franchise history, but don’t think for a second that the locker room hierarchy is settled. With a roster full of new faces and old questions, the depth chart is wide open.
Amanda: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we break down every angle of your favorite teams. I’m Amanda, and this is Paul. Today, we’re diving into the biggest roster battles ahead of the October 3rd opener against Dallas.
Paul: We’re talking about who wins the third-line center job, which defenseman pairs with Brandon Carlo, and whether Jordan Binnington’s spot is truly secure against Joel Hofer.
Amanda: Here’s what we’ve got: First, we’ll tackle the most critical positional battle—the center group. Second, we’ll look at the defense corps and the rookie watch list. And third, we’ll make our final roster cut predictions. Let’s get into it.
Amanda: Let’s start with the heart of the lineup: centers. We have eight names on the roster competing for spots. Robert Thomas is the anchor, obviously, but who runs lines two through four?
Paul: It’s a crowded house, Amanda. You’ve got Oskar Sundqvist bringing that reliable two-way game, Pius Suter with his playmaking vision, and then you have the young guns like Dillon Dube, Jack Finley, Connor McMichael, Mason McTavish, Dylan Peterson, and Pavel Buchnevich sliding over from wing.
Amanda: Buchnevich moving to center? That’s a bold experiment. Does he have the face-off skills to hold down a top-six role there?
Paul: I’m skeptical. Buchnevich is a winger’s player. His strength is reading the ice in transition and finishing chances, not dropping down for a draw against a defensive specialist. If he plays center, it’s likely in a bottom-six role where he can use his speed off the cycle.
Amanda: So, who do you see winning the third-line job? Sundqvist seems like the safe bet, but McTavish has been talked about as having top-six upside if he develops his face-off skills.
Paul: McTavish is the wildcard. He brings physicality and net-front presence, which Coach Yzerman loves. But if he struggles on the dot, he gets pushed back. I think Sundqvist starts on the third line because he’s a known commodity. He kills penalties, he backs out of trouble, and he doesn’t need the puck to contribute.
Amanda: And what about the fourth line? That’s where Dube, Finley, and Peterson are going to fight it out.
Paul: Dillon Dube has had some ups and downs, but his skating is elite. If he can stay out of the penalty box, he gives you speed. Finley is younger, rawer, but has high-end skill. Peterson is the grinder. I think Dube edges it because you need that secondary scoring threat even on the fourth line.
Amanda: Right. So Sundqvist on three, Dube on four, and Buchnevich probably stays left wing unless injuries strike. That leaves McTavish, Finley, and Peterson battling for the last two spots.
Paul: Exactly. And don’t forget, this all happens while the team deals with the heavy emotional weight of the Matthew Mayich situation. It adds a layer of complexity to camp that goes beyond just hockey tactics.
Amanda: Absolutely. The community support around Mayich is huge, and it’s setting the tone for how this team operates. Now, let’s take a quick breath before we move to the blue line.
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Amanda: Alright, let’s shift gears to the defense. This group looks surprisingly deep. You’ve got Brandon Carlo, Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, Philip Broberg, Calle Rosen, Logan Mailloux, and Tyler Tucker.
Paul: It’s a mix of veteran stability and youthful energy. Carlo and Parayko are your anchors. They’re the ones you trust in tight games. But the battle for the other three spots is intense.
Amanda: Cam Fowler is a big acquisition. How does he fit in? Is he pairing with Carlo or Parayko?
Paul: Fowler brings mobility and puck-moving ability. He’s not a shutdown guy like Carlo, so I see him pairing with Parayko sometimes to balance the pairings, or maybe taking shifts with Broberg. Fowler needs the puck; he’s an offensive defenseman at heart.
Amanda: What about Logan Mailloux? Last time we talked, we predicted he’d play 60 games. Do you still stand by that?
Paul: I do. Mailloux is a massive kid with a great shot. If he can handle the pressure of camp, he’s going to win a spot. He’s too talented to sit in the AHL when you’re looking for size and power on the backend.
Amanda: But he’s young. Does he have the defensive awareness to play alongside someone like Parayko?
Paul: Not initially. He’ll likely start paired with Fowler or Rosen, who can cover for his mistakes. But his upside is high. If he shows he can read the neutral zone and make simple breakout passes, he’s staying.
Amanda: And Philip Broberg? He’s been in the system for a while. Is he fighting for his NHL life here?
Paul: Broberg is on thin ice. He has size, but he’s inconsistent. If Mailloux impresses, Broberg might be the odd man out. Or, he gets sent down to the minors to start the year and work on his confidence.
Amanda: So, Carlo-Parayko on one line, Fowler-Mailloux on another, and Rosen-Broberg/Tucker fighting for the third spot?
Paul: That’s my projection. Tyler Tucker is the dark horse. He’s a steady, reliable defender who doesn’t make many mistakes. In a close-out game, he’s valuable. But Mailloux’s talent makes him harder to ignore.
Amanda: Interesting. So Mailloux is trending up, Broberg is trending down. Got it.
Paul: Right. And remember, this is all happening with the knowledge that the Blues are first in the Central Division on paper, but they haven’t played a game yet. The standings reset to zero on October 3rd.
Amanda: True. Paper rankings mean nothing until the puck drops in Dallas.
Paul: Let’s stick with us, because next we’re going to talk about who’s making the final roster cuts and who’s getting their shot at glory.
Amanda: Welcome back. Let’s talk goalies. Jordan Binnington vs. Joel Hofer. We predicted last week that Binnington would start the majority of games. Are we sticking with that?
Paul: We are. Binnington is the proven commodity. He’s been through the wars. He knows how to win. Hofer is talented, but he’s inexperienced. In the NHL, experience matters, especially early in the season.
Amanda: But Hofer has that rookie bounce-back factor. Sometimes young goalies thrive in camp because they’re hungry.
Paul: Maybe. But Georgi Romanov is also on the roster. If Hofer struggles, Romanov might be a better option than sending Hofer down. The coaching staff likes Romanov’s athleticism.
Amanda: So, Binnington starts, Hofer is the backup, and Romanov is...?
Paul: Romanov is likely the third goalie, or maybe he gets assigned to the AHL to start. He’s a project right now. He needs playing time to develop, and St. Louis doesn’t need him to carry the load yet.
Amanda: Okay, so let’s look at the wingers. We have Pavel Buchnevich, Dylan Holloway, Ross Johnston, Jake Neighbours, Nathan Walker, Jonatan Berggren, Dalibor Dvorsky, Julien Gauthier, Hugh McGing, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Alexey Toropchenko.
Paul: That’s a lot of bodies! Holloway and Berggren seem like locks. Holloway brings speed and size, Berggren brings finesse and scoring touch.
Amanda: And Buchnevich? Even if he’s not at center, he’s a top-nine winger.
Paul: Yes. Buchnevich is a top-nine asset. He creates offense. The question is who joins them on the second line. Maybe Dvorsky? He’s a skilled Russian forward with a good shot.
Amanda: What about the enforcers? Johnston and Neighbours. Do they have roles in today’s NHL?
Paul: Johnston is more of a energy forward. He sets the tone. Neighbours is younger, more skilled, but still physical. They’re likely competing for the same fourth-line spot. Neighbours might have the edge if he can score a few goals.
Amanda: So, who’s getting cut? Who’s making the team?
Paul: I think Gauthier and Toropchenko are on the bubble. They’re skilled, but they’re inconsistent. If they can’t prove themselves in camp, they’re headed to the minors.
Amanda: And Walker? He’s a veteran leader.
Paul: Walker is a lock. He brings toughness and penalty-killing ability. He’s exactly the kind of player you want in a playoff push.
Amanda: So, final roster prediction: Binnington starts, Carlo-Parayko on top, Sundqvist-Dube on the middle lines, and Holloway-Berggren-Buchnevich on the top six wings. Everyone else is fighting for the last spots.
Paul: Sounds about right. It’s going to be a wild preseason. Keep an eye on Mailloux and McTavish—they’re the players to watch.
Amanda: Agreed. One thing to note: the Blues will have their games produced by the NHL centrally this season. It’s a new era for distribution, and it means everyone will be watching closely.
Paul: That’s true. Centralized production raises the profile. Every shift matters more when the whole league is tuned in.
Amanda: Well, that’s a wrap on our roster battles breakdown. We’ve covered the center competition, the defense corps shakeup, and our final predictions for the opening night lineup against Dallas.
Paul: Remember, the record is 0-0-0. The only thing that matters is what happens on October 3rd. Until then, enjoy the preseason and keep those expectations realistic.
Amanda: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share it with a friend who loves the Blues.
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Amanda: From all of us here, thanks for tuning in. Go Blues!