Blues Shake Up Lineup, Drouin and Sundqvist In, Buchnevich Out

Head coach Jim Montgomery makes bold moves, sending four players to press box and welcoming five new faces to the lineup.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:05am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and the ice broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the dynamic and shifting nature of the lineup changes.The Blues' lineup shakeup aims to inject new energy and strategic adjustments into the team's performance.Los Angeles Today

The St. Louis Blues are making major changes to their lineup, with head coach Jim Montgomery shaking things up after a disappointing overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Montgomery has sent four players to the press box and brought in five new faces, including the addition of forward Jonathan Drouin. The lineup changes signal the team's willingness to take risks and make adjustments to turn their fortunes around.

Why it matters

The Blues have been inconsistent this season, and these lineup changes are a clear indication that the team is committed to improvement. By bringing in fresh talent and making tactical adjustments, Montgomery is hoping to ignite a spark and get the team back on track. The upcoming games against Colorado will be a true test of the Blues' resilience and determination.

The details

One of the most intriguing changes is the addition of Jonathan Drouin, a versatile forward with a knack for scoring and creating opportunities. The removal of Pavel Buchnevich is also a strategic move, as Montgomery is choosing to rest him for back-to-back games against Colorado. The lineup changes also bring an interesting dynamic to the defense, with the addition of Tyler Tucker and the promotion of Logan Mailloux to the top pair.

  • The Blues made these lineup changes after a disappointing 2-1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
  • The Blues will face the Colorado Avalanche in their next two games.

The players

Jim Montgomery

The head coach of the St. Louis Blues, who is making bold moves to shake up the team's lineup.

Jonathan Drouin

A versatile forward who has been added to the Blues' lineup, known for his scoring ability and playmaking skills.

Pavel Buchnevich

A key player for the Blues who has been removed from the lineup, as Montgomery is choosing to rest him for back-to-back games against Colorado.

Tyler Tucker

A defenseman who has been added to the Blues' lineup, known for his physicality.

Logan Mailloux

A defenseman who has been promoted to the top pair, known for his offensive prowess.

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What’s next

The upcoming games against Colorado will be a true test of the Blues' resilience and determination, and these changes could be the catalyst for a much-needed turnaround.

The takeaway

The Blues' lineup changes signal the team's commitment to improvement and their willingness to take risks to achieve success. These adjustments could be the spark the team needs to turn their fortunes around, but the true test will come in the upcoming games against Colorado.