It has been a few days since the St. Louis Blues season came to an end in a chaotic Game 7 of the first round. We know the story. The Blues led 3-1 with under two minutes left and lost. Multiple factors led to the Blues elimination, but one that cannot be overstated is the absence of forward Dylan Holloway.
Holloway’s Absence Factor in Blues Elimination
Holloway got hurt in the April 3rd game and did not return for the remainder of the regular season or the playoffs. At the time of his injury, Holloway was having a breakout season, having scored 26 goals. Had it not been for the injury, he may have reached 30 goals.
Holloway was one of many factors that helped the Blues reach the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Holloway’s acquisition via offer sheet was a bold move by general manager Doug Armstrong, but one that paid off. Holloway was so valuable to the team, that once he went down, things changed. That, among other things, led the Blues elimination.
Holloway Injured = Late Season Slump
Following Holloway’s injury, the Blues finish the regular season in a small slump. After a 12th-straight win, the Blue Note finished the regular season on a 2-2-1 record that nearly saw them nearly lose their playoff spot. The offence did not seemingly struggle in that stretch, as they scored at least three goals in all but one game. However, the injury did insert youngsters like Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud into the lineup.
It may not have been noticeable, but Holloway’s injury did throw off the chemistry of the forward lines, playing a part in the late-season slump.
No Holloway in the Playoffs = Top-Six Production Dip
With a healthy Holloway in the lineup, the Blues would have gone into their first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets with their normal top-six forward group. Holloway, Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbours, Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Kyrou would have made up the top-six. With Holloway out, Snuggerud played in his spot on the second line alongside Schenn and Kyrou.
At first glance, it does not seem like the top-six struggled. They scored 13 goals in seven games. However, when you look at it per player, there is a discrepancy. Buchnevich, outside of Game 3, did not score in the other six games of the series. Thomas and Schenn each had two goals in the series. Neighbours scored just once, albeit it was a timely one. Kyrou scored three goals, one of which being a garbage-time goal in Game 3.
Holloway’s absence also forced Snuggerud into a top-six role. Snuggerud had his good and bad moments in the series, which is to be expected by a player making his playoff debut. What may be missed though is the experience Holloway would have brought to the Blues lineup. Just a season ago, Holloway played in 25 games for an Edmonton Oilers team that reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. While the Oilers lost, the experience Holloway had gained would have been beneficial for a Blues team that does not have much playoff experience aside from a few players.
Kyrou Missed His Teammate
Kyrou struggled in this series. The Blues needed more from him, and while did play well in Game 7, someone of Kyrou’s ability should have been more of a difference maker. Some believe Kyrou was playing injured as a result of a hard hit he took from Logan Stanley in Game 2.
While that is possible, it is also worth noting that Kyrou and Holloway were on the same line most of the season. Kyrou had another productive season, scoring 36 goals. However, Holloway and Kyrou were an excellent duo. Both fed off the other and complimented one another. This felt like watching Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron play together or a lesser but still fun version of Brett Hull and Adam Oates.
It feels it cannot be a coincidence that without Holloway, Kyrou’s production dipped in the playoffs. He played alongside Schenn and Neighbours. Schenn, who is still a productive forward, but may no longer be someone who can compliment someone like Kyrou. Neighbours, meanwhile, was playing in his first playoff series. Like Snuggerud, Neighbours had highs and lows.
Looking Ahead
The Blues expect Holloway to ready for training camp. That is a great sign for a team that will be looking to return to the playoff next season and go further than they did this year. This year may have ended sooner than many wanted, but the future is bright in St. Louis, and Holloway is part of that.
Main Photo: Steve Roberts- Imagn Images
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