# @puckempire on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcE3ndiD11J
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69149853-puckempire-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/20ccb2d5cb.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-15T21:36:41.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Puck Empire 👑 (@puckempire) — https://gondola.cc/puckempire

## Caption

Continuing on with our 2026-27 standing projections, we've got the St. Louis Blues at #18.

I think this is a team many are sleeping on. St. Louis has sold off assets to get younger, but still have went and acquired win-now talent at the same time.

For starters, their offense is really quite good. Thomas is a true 1C that can easily be a PPG talent. Dylan Holloway is also a near PPG talent. The additions of McMichael & McTavish add ~80-90 points of talent. Jimmy Snuggerud & Dalibor Dvorsky should continue to take steps forward in their development and could both be top-six forwards at the NHL level by the end of this season. St. Louis has centre depth. Although McTavish isn't a surefire good 2C yet, he's at bare minumum a great 3C that CAN play 2C. Suter is a great 3C. Do not sleep on this STL offense whatsoever.

Defensively is where it gets... iffy. Phil Broberg is a true 1D imo. Parayko & Fowler are good supporting cast guys and fit their 2D/3D roles. After that... I really don't like Mailloux nor Carlo. Mailloux at least has room to grow but Carlo is just not a good NHLer, awful skater. The emergence of Theo Lindstein should be nice however, he is ready to be a good NHLer.

In net, I expect another 50/50 split for Hofer & Binner. Hofer probably regresses just a little bit but will still be above average. Binnington will progress, no shot he is as bad as last season again. 

This St. Louis squad won't shake up the league. They're very likely an easy R1 out if they make it. But they're not bad either, this team will be competing for a Wild Card spot.

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