Stat Hockey’s St. Louis Blues 2023-24 Line Projections

This is a look at the St. Louis Blues 2023-24 line projections. It will cover all forward lines, defense pairings, goaltenders, and scratches.

Projected Lineup

F

Pavel Buchnevich – Robert Thomas – Jordan Kyrou

Brandon Saad – Brayden Schenn – Kasperi Kapanen

Jake Neighbours – Kevin Hayes – Jakub Vrana

Sammy Blais – Nikita Alexandrov – Alexei Toropchenko

S- Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker

D

Nick Leddy – Colton Parayko

Torey Krug – Justin Faulk

Scott Perunovich – Calle Rosen

S- Marco Scandella

G

Jordan Binnington

Joel Hofer

Forwards

With more depth down the middle again this season, I think it’s reasonable to think the Blues will load up the top line. This will see Buchnevich get to play alongside Thomas and Kyrou. Both of the two young first liners already have some great chemistry. It’s not a stretch at all to think they can all reach a point-per-game this season.

Schenn had an underrated and underappreciated season and I think he is rewarded with a permanent top-six role. When the Blues were very good in 2021-22, he was the third line center. The wingers aren’t anything special, but Saad and Kapanen will do. This gives Kapanen a chance to continue to be an impactful player for the Blues.

Hayes comes in and could either be a strong second line center or a very good third line center for the Blues. Either way, he gives the team great depth. While Hayes can pass the puck, Vrana can score if he remains in the lineup. This could be a good duo. There’s no use in playing Neighbours any lower than the third line, so he should fit right in here as well.

Blais should be a lock for the fourth line at the very least. He performed very well after returning last season. I would like it if the Blues go with younger talent instead of some of their veterans they have in reserve. This would give them a better look at Alexandrov and Toropchenko, but Sundqvist should still see some time in the lineup.

Defense

Not much changed with the defense this offseason despite efforts by the team. Leddy and Parayko should be a pairing once again while the same goes for Krug and Fualk. These two pairings need to play much better than last season. Faulk was the only acceptable player of the four and he will need to continue the good work.

Related: Stat Hockey’s Seattle Kraken 2023-24 Line Projections

The third pairing and extra will be interesting this season. Rosen has more than earned his spot on the team at the very least with his production when he’s given any sort of chance. The left side is a bit more interesting. Scandella is a top-six player, but with him in the lineup, there’s no opportunity for younger players. This means the likes of Perunovich and Tyler Tucker get left aside again. Tucker isn’t exempt from waivers anymore, so the team is at risk of losing him. As for Robert Bortuzzo, he is also a possibility to make the team, but I think he will be surpassed this season.

Goaltending

Goaltending might be a problem again this season for the Blues. Binnington’s numbers have gone downhill every season since winning the Stanley Cup. He doesn’t have an experienced backup to help him out either. The team will be expecting more from Hofer this season in the hopes he can challenge for the starting job and play well.