The St. Louis Blues finished the 2025-26 season with a 37-33-12 record for 86 points. It was a disappointing season for the Blues, who failed to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and ended up selling at the trade deadline.
As we continue to wrap up the Blues’ season, it’s time to hand out awards and distinctions that reflect the highs and lows of the year.
Team MVP – Joel Hofer
Joel Hofer was the team’s best and most consistent player. After a rough start, Hofer settled in for a career season. He played a career-high 46 games (43 starts), set a career high with 24 wins, and his six shutouts ranked second in the league.
Hofer’s breakout season contrasted with Jordan Binnington’s struggles for much of the year. Hofer’s strong, consistent play was critical to keeping the Blues competitive while Binnington struggled to perform at the same level. In a season marked by injuries and ineffectiveness across the roster, Hofer remained the one constant.
Regardless of Binnington’s future in St. Louis, there is no denying that Hofer should be the starting goaltender heading into 2026-27. The net now belongs to him.
Best Forward – Robert Thomas
Things were not looking good for Robert Thomas early in the season. After just nine goals from October to December, Thomas went on a tear and scored 16 goals from January to April, including two hat tricks.
Thomas only played in 64 games this season. The numbers he put up in those 64 games put him on a pace for 32 goals and 82 points. It would have been his third-straight season with 80-plus points.
Thomas continues to show he is an elite center in the NHL. The numbers consistently speak for themselves.
Best Defenseman – Philip Broberg
Philip Broberg‘s season was not a statistical spectacle by any means. In fact, he only recorded five more points than he did in 2024-25. However, his game evolved in many ways this season.
For starters, he played in 81 games. This was a sizeable increase from 64 games the season before. In the three seasons before then, the most games the Swede had played were 46.
It is clear that the Blues see Broberg as a part of their top pairing. This was highlighted by the contract extension he received in January. The season saw significant growth. Like Hofer, Broberg was a beacon of consistency on a team that was lacking it throughout the season.
Biggest Disappointment – Jordan Kyrou
I typically do not like jumping on the anti-Jordan Kyrou bandwagon. However, this season was a rough one for him.
After three seasons of 30-plus goals, Kyrou managed just 18 in 72 games. Early injuries meant different linemates, making chemistry harder to develop. Regardless, given Kyrou’s scoring ability, 18 goals is low.
Kyrou’s future with the Blues remains unknown at this time. If the front office decides to shake up the roster this summer, Kyrou is someone who could be dealt. He would be an asset to any team that trades for him, and the Blues would get a nice package in return.
If Kyrou does return to the Blues next season, there is every reason to expect he will bounce back. The Blues do have some current coaching vacancies, so the organization may look to bring in some hockey minds who can help the 2022 All-Star find his scoring touch once again.
Most Improved – Logan Mailloux
The Blues knew that they were acquiring a project when they traded for Logan Mailloux last summer, but they also knew they were acquiring someone with high upside.
The season started rough for the 23-year-old. From October to December, he averaged 12-13 minutes per night and spent time in the American Hockey League (AHL). After New Year’s, Mailloux found his rhythm and earned more ice time. Furthermore, the Blues reinforced their commitment to Mailloux by giving him a contract extension.
After Justin Faulk was dealt at the deadline, Mailloux saw an increased role. He averaged 22:11 of ice time in March and 21:00 in April. He finished April as a plus-8, his best plus/minus month of the season.
Mailloux’s improvement as the season progressed stands out as a key development. Like Broberg, Mailloux can be projected into a top-pair role next season. It will be notable to observe what contributions he makes moving forward.
Rookie of the Year – Jimmy Snuggerud
Multiple rookies stood out this season for the Blues, but Jimmy Snuggerud was by far the best. His 51 points rank him seventh on the franchise’s list of most points by a rookie. He was one of the best rookies in the league during the final few months of the season.
Perhaps the most important part of Snuggerud’s season was his establishing himself on the Blues’ top line. He profiled as someone who would take that role, and seeing him take it on so early in his career is a great step forward.
Snuggerud will likely not get much attention in the Calder Trophy race, given Matthew Schaefer’s stellar rookie campaign. However, that does not take away how good Snuggerud was this season.
What This Tells Us
A big takeaway is the number of young contributors. Hofer, Broberg, Mailloux, and Snuggerud are establishing themselves as the team’s future. There are definitely brighter days ahead for the Blues.
This list also poses some questions. What is next for Kyrou? What are reasonable expectations for Mailloux as he steps into the top-pair role?
The 2025-26 Blues may not have been a playoff team, but there is no denying they were an interesting team worth watching.
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