Jake Neighbours' Breakout Season & Why Blues Could Be Interested in Jakob Chychrun
Also, a look back at the Vladimir Tarasenko trade from last season's deadline & more
Welcome to the THW St. Louis Blues Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Blues writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at the breakout season of Jake Neighbours, why the Blues could be interested in Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun, and more.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Blue Note Weekly Audio Report: Blues Come Flying Out of the All-Star Break
February 12th, 2024 by Ethan Carter (Premium THW Substack Content)
In this week’s edition, the St. Louis Blues come flying out of the All-Star break with wins over the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. The club went on national TV and beat the Sabres 3-1, and followed it up with a 7-2 win in Montreal.
Their schedule will be tough to navigate as they head toward the 2024 trade deadline (March 8), but the club is playing well and in a playoff spot.
Jake Neighbours’ Breakout Season Proving Blues Made Right Pick
February 13, 2024 by Ethan Carter
The St. Louis Blues didn’t have a first-round pick in 2019, so their first pick in round one since winning the Stanley Cup came in 2020 with Jake Neighbours. It was an important decision after the organization failed in 2018 with first-round pick Dominik Bokk.
In the era of general manager Doug Armstrong, the Blues have been hit or miss in first-round picks with the best being Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko in 2010, and Robert Thomas in 2017. Failures include Bokk in 2018 and Jordan Schmaltz in 2012 with others being mostly neutral. The club has a knack for finding quality players outside of the top 10 in most drafts under the guidance of Armstrong.There is no doubt that Neighbours has already made a major impact in a short period with the club. Let’s get into why Armstrong nailed it with this 2020 selection.
Blues News & Rumors: 2025 Winter Classic, Chychrun Rumor
February 12, 2024 by Mike Meyer
In a shortened week the St. Louis Blues have returned to action. However, despite a lack of games on the schedule, the team remained at the forefront of the news cycle. Here’s a look at the latest Blues news and rumors from the past week.
St. Louis Blues at the Winter Olympics: 2014 Sochi Games
February 10, 2024 by Anthony Testaguzza
After not being allowed to play in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympic Games, NHL players will participate in the 2026 and 2030 Games. NHLers did not represent their country in the 2018 Winter Olympics because the league was unable to reach an agreement with the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA), the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2022, players were originally permitted to go but couldn’t due to pandemic concerns.
Even with the 2026 Olympics in Milan two years away, there is a lot of anticipation about how each country will structure its team based on the talent that has developed over the years. In 2014, the Blues had nine players at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Only four of them are still active today, and they are no longer Blues. Here’s a look back at all nine players.
Revisiting the Blues’ Trade of Vladimir Tarasenko
February 9, 2024 by Mike Meyer
On Feb. 9, 2023, the St. Louis Blues agreed to a deal sending franchise icon Vladimir Tarasenko along with defenseman Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers for a 2023 first-round draft pick (Theo Lindstein), a 2024 third-round pick, defenseman Hunter Skinner, and forward Sammy Blais. The deal sent shockwaves through the city of St. Louis as the long-time rumored trade finally became truth.
Here’s a look back at what led to the deal taking place and a review of the trade one year later.