The experiment might not be over, but it will be paused Saturday night when the Blues host the Washington Capitals.
That’s when the Blues will shift forward Pavel Buchnevich back to his natural winger position after playing him at center for the first 13 games of the season. Buchnevich practiced at left wing Friday morning, with Brayden Schenn at center and Jordan Kyrou at right wing on a new-look top line that made its debut late in a 4-2 loss to Utah on Thursday night.
Buchnevich had been acting as the club’s de facto No. 1 center with Robert Thomas sidelined until early December because of a fractured ankle. On Thursday, Buchnevich set up Kyrou’s game-tying goal in the third period by dancing through the Utah defense and dishing to an open Kyrou for a one-timer.

The Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich fights with Toronto’s Pontus Holmberg in the third period Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
“When we did it in the third period, they started to get a little bit of traction,†Blues coach Drew Bannister said of moving Buchnevich to the wing. “Obviously, they scored the one goal. (Thursday) was not a good game for us, so we have to make some changes. That was one of the changes we felt we’d make. Whether we stick with it, but as of (Saturday), we want to try something different.â€
Bannister later said the change is for Saturday’s game and then the Blues will “move forward as we see fit†after that. He said that “I still think (Buchenvich) can be a real good centerman for us.â€
The assist to Kyrou featured Buchnevich winning a puck battle in the neutral zone, pulling a puck off the wall, stick-handling between a pair of Utah players and then evading another two checkers.
“Finally get the puck with a little bit of speed, and find a way to make a play,†Buchnevich said after the game. “Still remember how to play hockey, so make a play, he score the goal. Happy for him.â€
Kyrou said: “That was all him. He made a great play, dangled two guys and set me up.â€
It was Buchnevich’s second 5-on-5 point of the evening — he also picked up the primary helper on Colton Parayko’s goal. But Buchnevich has not scored a 5-on-5 goal since the first period of a loss on Oct. 11 in Las Vegas. He also scored a power-play goal that night, and an empty-netter Saturday against Toronto, but nothing else.
Can a play like Saturday’s get him going again?
“We’ll see,†Buchnevich said. “I feel like I’m cruising in the middle and doesn’t affect any game a lot. Just trying to do my best defensively and play against top guys.â€

The Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich skates into the offensive zone in a game against Minnesota on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Buchnevich might have less responsibility to defend against top players now that the Blues shifted him to the wing. He won’t be expected to be the low forward in the defensive zone all the time, and he’ll execute different routes exiting his own zone than he did as a center.
Asked what kind of feedback or input Buchnevich gave the coaching staff, Bannister said Buchnevich “likes the opportunity†of playing center.
“He’s doing everything in his power to learn the position and I think the defensive part of the game comes very easily for ‘Buchy’ and he’s been really good and committed to that,†Bannister said. “The faceoff part, he’s been working at. He’s finding himself chasing a lot of pucks, but it’s not because he isn’t trying. He’s been working at it.
“The offensive side, he’s trying to find himself a little bit playing center ice and getting the opportunities and the touches he needs to feel involved in the game. I think that’s probably where he’s searching for his game a little bit is through the middle on the offensive side.â€
At 5 on 5, Buchnevich’s offensive contributions are down compared to his career benchmarks. Per 60 minutes, he’s attempted 9.25 shots, got 4.93 on goal, created 0.45 expected goals, 5.86 scoring chances and 2.47 high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. Those are all the lowest in his nine-year career.
For the first time since the Blues acquired him from New York, the club has controlled more possession with Buchnevich off the ice than with him on it, according to a variety NST’s numbers.
“He does put a lot of pressure on himself, especially offensively,†Bannister said. “But defensively, I think he’s played very well for us. He saw a lot of tough matchups playing against other teams’ top lines. He’s done a real good job, but I think the frustration for him is he wants to contribute offensively all the time, too. So he puts a lot of pressure on himself that way.â€
Buchnevich won one of his 11 faceoffs on Thursday, dropping his winning percentage to 31% this season.
“When you have somebody that hasn’t taken a lot of draws, it’s incumbent on the wingers to help out a little bit more,†Bannister said. “The communication of what you’re trying to do. If you are going to tie up the draw and create more 50-50s and help out on the edge battles instead of losing draws clean.â€
With Buchnevich back at wing, the Blues used Schenn, Dylan Holloway, Oskar Sundqvist and Radek Faksa down the middle during practice on Friday.