Blues 2025–26 Midseason Breakdown

The St. Louis Blues are now a little past the midway point of the season, and the same questions keep coming up about where this team really stands. Injuries have been part of the story, but they can’t be the entire explanation anymore. The Blues have had enough games, enough different lineups, and enough chances to show who they are — and right now, they look like a team stuck trying to justify results instead of fixing them.

Robert Thomas missing time and playing through injury has mattered more than anything else. He drives the offense, controls possession, and sets the pace for this team. When he hasn’t been at full strength, the Blues have struggled to generate sustained pressure. Jordan Kyrou has also dealt with bumps along the way, and while his speed and scoring touch remain important, injuries have disrupted any real consistency in his game night to night.

Depth players have felt it too. Dylan Holloway has been in and out, slowing what was supposed to be a key stretch of development and impact. Nathan Walker’s absence took away energy and reliability from the bottom six, and Nick Bjugstad missing time hurt the Blues down the middle, especially in defensive situations. Oskar Sundqvist’s injuries have been another blow, removing a trusted, physical presence that this team leans on when games get tight.

Still, this is where the excuses have to stop. Injuries don’t explain repeated defensive breakdowns, missed assignments, or the lack of urgency that shows up far too often. Other teams deal with similar issues and still find ways to adapt. The Blues haven’t adjusted enough, and leaning on who isn’t available ignores the bigger structural problems that remain regardless of who’s in the lineup.

Jordan Binnington’s season reflects that reality. Despite being named Team Canada’s starting goalie for the Olympics, his play with the Blues has been inconsistent. He’s had strong moments, but he hasn’t been able to consistently cover for the mistakes in front of him. With the trade deadline approaching, the direction feels unavoidable. The Blues are going to have to sell, be honest about where they are, and stop treating injuries as the reason the season slipped — because at this point, accountability matters more than explanations.

There’s been rumors about potentially trading Robert Thomas per the ‘Athletic’, and trading Thomas would be a major mistake for the St. Louis Blues and one that could set the franchise back rather than help it move forward. He is one of the few true top-line centers the organization has developed, and players like that do not come around often. Thomas drives play, creates offense for his linemates, and consistently takes on tough matchups, which is something the Blues already struggle to replace internally. Moving him would open an even bigger hole down the middle, forcing the team to either rush prospects or overpay on the open market for a lesser player. Beyond the on-ice impact, trading Thomas would also send the wrong message during a period where the team is searching for identity, signaling instability instead of committing to a core piece who should be part of the solution, not the problem.