Why Has Pavel Buchnevich’s Ice Time Not Been Reduced?

It’s safe to say Pavel Buchnevich has had a rough start to the season on both the offensive and defensive sides of the puck. Many fans have voiced their frustration and even called for Buchnevich to be benched to give him a reset and a chance to regroup.

But head coach Jim Montgomery hasn’t benched him, nor has he reduced his minutes. Buchnevich currently ranks 8th on the team in ice time (278:16), yet he’s still logging slightly more minutes than Jimmy Snuggerud (277:18) and Jordan Kyrou (274:46), who have been more productive. That raises the question: if he’s struggling this much, why hasn’t his playing time been reduced?

Buchnevich Hustle Is Still There

One thing that keeps him in the lineup is his hustle, and that’s likely a major factor in what Jim Montgomery sees in Buchnevich. He’s not struggling because he’s lazy or checked out — it’s clear he’s simply stuck in a slump. The effort is still there, and if you watch closely, there are still small positives in his game.

Even in Thursday night’s overtime loss to the Flyers, there were moments coaches tend to value. Buchnevich drew a tripping penalty created entirely through hard work. In the defensive zone, he pressured a Flyers player into losing the puck using his body and stick, recovered it, and was tripped while trying to skate it out. It’s the kind of sequence that shows he remains committed and engaged even during a rough stretch, and plays like that are likely a major reason Montgomery hasn’t reduced his minutes.

Successful History

Buchnevich hasn’t had a single bad season with the Blues, and this is likely a major factor that keeps him in the lineup, he’s proven he can be a legit player. Buchnevich was the sixth-fastest Blue to reach 100 points, doing it in just 97 games, and he has recorded at least 60 points in three of his seasons. He also signed a six-year, $48 million extension in 2024, showing the organization’s long-term confidence in him.

Part of the reason his minutes haven’t been reduced is likely Montgomery trying to turn things around with him and get the most out of that contract. All of this demonstrates that, even in a slump, Buchnevich has a proven track record of being productive and reliable, which helps explain why he continues to see significant ice time.

Looking Ahead

Even when considering the few positives, it’s clear that this season isn’t shaping up like Buchnevich’s past campaigns. Despite some hustle, his play is struggling, and his ice time hasn’t translated into production. Two goals and seven points in 21 games simply isn’t enough to satisfy the team or fans.

Some argue that a benching could serve as a reset, giving him time to refocus and process what’s going wrong, though there’s no guarantee it would immediately fix things. Even a proven player can hit a rough patch. At this point, it makes sense to reduce his playing time, this could help him regain confidence. It will be up to both him and Montgomery to find a way to turn things around. Or if things don’t improve, a trade could be considered to give both Buchnevich and the team a fresh start.