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How the Blues Can Best Use Underrated Pius Suter

St. Louis Blues center Pius Suter (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

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How the Blues Can Best Use Underrated Pius Suter

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Andrew Willis | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 9:35 AM ET

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When the St. Louis Blues signed forward Pius Suter in the summer of 2025, the organization was excited to bring in a defensive-minded forward who could play at both ends of the ice and anywhere in the lineup. For a team looking to speed up its retool, Suter was a great addition.

However, the Swiss native was coming off a career-best season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2024-25, scoring 25 goals and recording 46 points. Unfortunately, that offensive spark extinguished when he put on the Blue Note. He was still as reliable as always at both ends of the ice, but the offense was back to his regular production. However, he was still just as valuable to the Blues, even if we did not notice at the time. As we look towards the new season, how can the Blues best use an underrated Suter?

Suter’s Surge in Vancouver

Suter’s 25-goal outburst with the Canucks came from increased ice time. Quinn Hughes and other star players missed time with injuries, prompting then-head coach Rick Tocchet to increase Suter’s minutes. After averaging 15:30 of ice time the season before, Suter averaged over 17 minutes. Furthermore, after earning 1,038 minutes in 2023-24, he saw 1,404 minutes in 2024-25.

Suter also saw a lot of time playing alongside Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller (before his trade). This increase in talent on his line created more scoring chances. If he were not scoring the goal, he would be assisting on it.

Suter’s surge came from circumstance. Injuries and trades forced him to play more. He made the most of his opportunity.

Back to Reality in St. Louis – Yet Still Productive

Had Suter signed with a team that did not already have multiple playmakers, he may have seen similar minutes to his breakout season. However, for a team that already had players like Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Dylan Holloway in their lineup, Suter did not need to play the top-line minutes as he did in Vancouver. As such, his production dropped. He scored just 13 goals and 29 points in 64 games.

However, the 30-year-old continued to make an impact on the ice. He tied for fourth on the team with a plus-13 rating. Furthermore, he posted a reliable 51.26 expected goals for percentage (xGF%). His 48.4% faceoff success was also key to the team’s penalty kill.

In short, Suter did what the Blues brought him in to do. He provided depth at the center position, which was needed due to injuries and trades. No, he did not put up the flashy numbers from Vancouver, but his play did not decline from his normal self.

Expectations for 2026-27

When I projected the Blues’ lines in early July, I placed Suter on the fourth-line wing. With the moves the team made to improve the offense, it made sense to place Suter in a role that can let him showcase his defensive abilities.

Suter can play in any role. As a result, the team will use that to their advantage. While many want to see Dalibor Dvorsky play center on the third line, head coach Jim Montgomery will likely have Dvorsky and Suter compete for that role in training camp and the preseason. If Suter wins the job, Dvorsky could then move to the wing and play alongside a talented center. It is a win-win for Dvorsky’s development and an opportunity to utilize Suter’s ability to play anywhere.

Dalibor Dvorsky, St. Louis Blues (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Baring injuries, do not expect to see Suter in the top six. Thomas and Mason McTavish are locked in as the top two centers. Holloway, Snuggerud, and Connor McMichael are locked in on three of the four wings, with Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours likely competing for the other one.

When it comes to goals and points, expect similar totals to last season. Suter’s value may easily be found once again in the advanced stats and in the defensive zone.

Trade Bait?

With one year left on his contract, Suter could be on the trade block should the Blues underperform this season. If he continues to be as valuable as he has been, even taking his breakout season out of the equation, the Blues could get a decent return for a rental.

The Bottom Line

If you are wondering if Suter can return to his 25-goal self, it is not happening unless injuries happen. In that scenario, Suter, even with 25 goals, may not be enough to get the Blues into the playoffs.

A realistic expectation for Suter is that the Blues will utilize his versatility in the bottom six. No matter what line he’s on, expect Suter to remain an impact player, even if he flies under the radar.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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