When the calendar turned to January, the St. Louis Blues were in the mix for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. January would provide key stretches that could have made or broken their season. The Blues are still in the Western Conference playoff picture as we wind down January. However, January has told us a great deal about the Blues.
The Blues in January
January Totals
The Blues have one more game to play in the month, so the information we give is incomplete, but it is close.
The Blues have played 12 games this month, and they have a 5-7 record in those games. In addition, the Blue Note went 4-5 on home ice while posting a 1-3 record on the road. There have been 24 points up for grabs, but the Blues have only gained half of those.
What Went Wrong?
The Blues could not sustain momentum. After a win on January 3rd, including a hat trick by Brandon Saad, the Blues went on the road and lost two games. After winning three of four games from January 14th to 20th, the Blues lost three in a row, which is the current streak they find themselves on in the month’s final week. Furthermore, their latest loss came against a Vancouver Canucks team the Blues are chasing in the standings.
MILLER ALL ALONE!
pic.twitter.com/VI5LvI4oPR
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 28, 2025
Goaltending also did not have the best month. In six of the 12 games the Blues have played this month, goaltending has allowed three goals or more, and three of those six saw five or more goals against the Blues.
However, Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer should not shoulder the blame themselves. The offence scored three goals or less in six of the 12 games. It is hard to win when you are letting in many goals. It is just as hard to win when you are not scoring.
The Verdict: Who the Blues Are, According to January
The Blues are an inconsistent team. No, that is not a shocking revelation. Some of you who are reading this (thank you for your support, by the way) may be rolling your eyes at what most have known for a while.
However, January allowed the Blues to show they were genuine contenders for the playoffs. It was an opportunity for the Blues to make up some serious ground in the standings and send a message to the rest of the Western Conference. Instead, the Blues are basically in the same spot they were when the month started.
The Next Step
The Blues are still in the playoff picture as far as points go. They are just a few points out of the final wild-card spot. However, to get an idea of the Blues’ direction, take a look at what has happened this week.
On Wednesday, the Blues announced that Brandon Saad will be placed on waivers for contract termination. Saad will no longer be a Blue. A roster spot will be open for one of the young Blues players to get some time on the ice. This will open more opportunities for someone like Zachary Bolduc to play more often. Dalibor Dvsorky could even make his NHL debut at some point this season. How likely is that? Well, it is more likely now that a spot will be open.
The Blues are focusing on evaluating their youth and roster. What will happen to other veterans like Cam Fowler, Radek Faksa, and Ryan Suter? They may get traded to contenders. If so, that opens up even more roster spots for the young talent to get NHL experience.
The Blues Are Making the Right Choice
General manager Doug Armstrong deserves credit for what he has done this season. He brought in a new head coach, Jim Montgomery, who has helped this team improve. He brought in Cam Fowler to add depth to the defence. These moves are not going to go to waste. Fowler was a low-risk, high-reward trade. Montgomery’s five-year contract shows the Blues are willing to let him be the coach who oversees the remainder of this retool. Armstrong has always played chess, while others have played checkers.
Although January may not have produced the result the Blues wanted, it has given them insight into what to expect next.
Main Photo: Jeff Le- Imagn Images
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