Jake Neighbours’ Struggles in the 2025-26 NHL Season
The 2025-26 NHL season has not been kind to Jake Neighbours, a forward for the St. Louis Blues, as he grapples with inconsistency on the ice. After being sidelined for nearly a month from late October through most of November, Neighbours faced a long road back. Upon returning to the lineup, he took eight games before finding the back of the net for the first time this season, accumulating only three assists during that stretch.
Recent Performance and Challenges
Despite displaying flashes of scoring prowess earlier, like his multi-goal games following lengthy droughts, Neighbours has struggled significantly since the Olympic break. In his last 12 games since his return, he has only managed to contribute a single assist, indicating a severe drop-off in offensive production. His ice time has also diminished dramatically, with Neighbours not exceeding 16 minutes in any game post-break. In fact, he has played under 14 minutes in six contests, dipping to as low as 11 minutes and two seconds against the San Jose Sharks on March 6, where he did manage to engage in a fight.
Currently, his average ice time sits at 15:18—his second lowest in four seasons. As the Blues attempt to gain momentum and vie for a potential playoff berth, Coach Jim Montgomery cannot afford to rely on Neighbours to regain his form quickly. Originally drafted 26th overall in 2020, Neighbours has tallied 14 goals and 26 points across 56 games this season, which puts him on track for a disappointing finish with only 17 goals and 32 points projected for 69 games. Such figures would mark a significant decline from his performance in previous seasons, particularly after he had impressive back-to-back campaigns with 27 goals in 2023-24 and 46 points in 2024-25.
Concerns and Future Outlook
Adding to the mystery of Neighbours’ struggles is his recent lack of impact in games. While he used to bring a physical edge and a knack for getting pucks on net, he has shockingly gone seven games since February 26 without recording a single shot on goal and has had four games without making a hit. This decline has raised eyebrows, especially as expectations were high for him this season to potentially capture his first 30-goal, 50-point year.
To complicate matters, the long-term absence due to injury has overshadowed Neighbours’ contributions at a crucial time for St. Louis, who look towards the future. Despite his struggle this season, the Blues foresee Neighbours as a key aspect of their future plans, naming him an alternate captain. Standing at six feet and weighing 201 pounds, Neighbours is viewed as an optimal middle-six winger when firing on all cylinders. He is currently in the first year of a two-year, $3.75 million deal and will still be a restricted free agent upon its conclusion, giving the Blues control over his future contracts, whether short-term or extended.
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