Mixed Feelings As One St. Louis Blues Forward Has Been a Shocking Disappointment In 2024-25

There has been a lot of good surrounding the St. Louis Blues early in 2024-25, but Jake Neighbours has been a disappointment through four games.

Jake Neighbours was expected to make strides in the 2024-25 season, but just four games in, he’s struggling more than anyone else on the St. Louis Blues roster. While players like Philip Broberg have emerged as surprises and continue to perform well, Neighbours has yet to impress.

After four games, he has no points, six shots on goal, and four turnovers in an average of 16:50 ice time. While six shots isn’t awful, you’d think he’d at least have an assist to show for it, but that’s eluded him thus far.

Moreover, his four giveaways put him on track for an unflattering total of 82 for the season. On a brighter note, he does have nine hits this year, indicating he’s been physical on the ice. But has that helped his performance?

When looking at possession metrics, the situation appears even worse. Neighbours has a minus-3 rating at even strength, suggesting his numbers could continue to decline. His on-ice save percentage is a low 77.3, and the Blues have scored only twice while he’s been on the ice, leading to a shooting percentage of just 6.5%.

With a PDO of only 83.7 and an offensive zone start percentage of 68.8, it’s clear that his physical play hasn’t translated into positive stats, except for his 67.0 Corsi For Percentage.

Though things look grim, there’s still time for Neighbours to turn his season around with a couple of solid performances. If you’re reading this on Friday, October 18th, perhaps he had a better game against the New York Islanders, making this article seem outdated.

Otherwise, I might be compelled to write a similar analysis if he continues to struggle. Honestly, I’d much prefer to focus on the positives rather than critique, but ultimately, it’s up to the players to determine the narrative.