ESPN REPORT: Another Mega Star Commits To St. Louis Blues
Jake Neighbours of the Blues transforms from a role player to a role model, winning over fans along the way.
December 9, 2023: At United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, sixty-three-year-old St. Louis Blues forward Jake Neighbours plays hockey versus the Chicago Blackhawks. Required Credit: USA TODAY
Jake Neighbours, a forward with the St. Louis Blues, started the 2023–24 season on the fourth line. It wasn’t a given that he would play in the NHL the entire season; if not, he might have to travel to AHL Springfield. If he managed to score ten or fifteen goals, that would be encouraging for his future and a good sign for his progress.
Neighbours may never step foot in Springfield again, but four months later, he’s an anchor on the second line, and his next goal will be his 20th of the season, team-high.
Although Neighbours is only 21 years old and was selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, he has already established himself as a leader on the ice for the Blues, a quality that coaches and teammates commend for his unwavering perseverance.
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“That’s significant,” a neighbor remarked. “I believe that work ethic is something you can manage, and I take pride in it. I just want to win hockey games, so it means a lot to receive that acknowledgement from your teammates. Without everyone working, you can’t win, and I want to contribute to that work ethic each and every night.
Fans are lining up at the Blues team store to get his No. 63 jersey because of his attitude, which is palpable on television during the Neighbours interviews.
“Yes, it is fantastic!” said the neighbors. “Having your fan base’s support is really motivating for me. That people enjoy me is good. I make an effort to keep things simple and just give it my all. It means a lot to me that I believe they value that.
What a great interaction between a fan and Jake Neighbors 💙 #stlblues pic.twitter.com/773r6glCnr
— February 18, 2024, St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues)
So how did Neighbours transition from being a character to an exemplar?
He was on the fourth line with Oskar Sundqvist and Alexey Toropchenko on opening night in Dallas on October 12. He’s already settled in nicely on the second line with Brayden Schenn and Kasperi Kapanen, after shining earlier in the season on the top line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. Additionally, he went from having no ice time to being the top power-play unit.
“Accepting where you are and being a positive player, even though you’re not getting the minutes, and just work, is, in my opinion, the fastest way to move yourself up in the lineup,” Neighbours stated. “Make the most of your time on the rink by showcasing yourself as much as you can with the little space available. I believe I handled that well in the first part of the year. I felt as though I was winning because I was playing hard hockey.
With 19 goals, Neighbours is tied for the team lead. With six power-play goals, he trails Buchnevich in scoring position. Moreover, he hasn’t been a burden defensively in five-on-five situations; according to Natural Stat Trick, he has played in 28 goals for and 31 goals against.
