ST. LOUIS — A strong finish to the 2024-25 regular season did more for the St. Louis Blues than just sneak them into the playoffs. It helped land them a couple forwards in free agency.

Pius Suter (then with the Vancouver Canucks) and Nick Bjugstad (then with the Utah Hockey Club) were on the losing end of games down the stretch. What they witnessed was a roster on the rise, which helped them make their decisions to sign in St. Louis.

On March 20, the Blues had won three straight games heading into a matchup with Vancouver. The teams were tied with 75 points apiece, but the Canucks had a game in hand, so they were the second wild card in the Western Conference. With Philip Broberg’s overtime winner in a 4-3 victory, though, the Blues jumped them in the standings and never fell out of the playoff picture again.

“I remember from last season when we were in that spot and the Blues were chasing us, and they went on that big run,” Suter recalled. “You want to be on a team that is on the way to something, making the playoffs and competing in the postseason. I felt like it was a team, especially with that run, I could be a part of and win more games. They had a lot of good players and coach, so it felt like a really good fit.”

On April 15, the Blues’ franchise-record 12-game winning streak had already been snapped when they hosted Utah to wrap up the regular season. However, they needed a win to secure their spot in the postseason, and they got it with a 6-1 thumping.

“I have a similar (perspective) as Pius as far as the Blues were a lot different team in the second half of the season,” Bjugstad said. “We were watching the standings and we were like, ‘They won’t lose.’ We played them our last game and there was no room on the ice. They were playing playoff hockey, and it was clear they were ready to take on the Jets.

“When you play a team like that, you know there’s things in the locker room that are being said, and they usually start with the coaching staff. It sounds like the culture is really good, and that definitely had a huge stake in me making my decision to go to St. Louis.”

In a pair of signings that should allow the Blues to remain competitive after last season’s surprising return to the playoffs, Suter inked a two-year, $8.25 million contract and Bjugstad a two-year, $3.5 million deal.

Suter, 29, is coming off a career-high 25-goal, 46-point season with Vancouver. He had never netted more than 15 goals in a season before, but in addition to being a trusted veteran, he believes he can produce like he did with the Canucks.

“I really worked on my shot,” Suter said. “I felt like I got quite a few chances (in the middle slot) every year, but really couldn’t connect. I also like to point out that when I had those 14-, 15-goal seasons, some of them were with quite a few less games.

“But looking at where I got my chances and working on my shot, I got a few extra goals from those positions. I can definitely get 20, and if I can get those extra opportunities and put them in, then suddenly I have three more and I’m closing in on 25.”

Pius Suter thinks his career high in goals last season wasn’t an outlier. (Cameron Bartlett / Getty Images)

Bjugstad, 33, had just eight goals in 66 games with Utah last season, but that was after having back surgery in training camp. Two years ago, he had a career-high 22 goals and 45 points in 76 games with the Arizona Coyotes.

“Last year was a tough year,” Bjugstad said. “I had a full summer of trying to rehab a back injury and it was unsuccessful, so I had the surgery. I wasn’t myself the entire year. I was trying to play catch-up. So I’ve been excited this summer to get back into it, really training hard, skating a lot and trying to get back to the physical form that I was two years ago.

“I definitely want to bring some offensive touch back to my game after a slow year last year. With a full summer and a healthy summer, I definitely have a way more positive outlook on what I can bring to the Blues.”

Blues coach Jim Montgomery said Suter and Bjugstad bring flexibility because of their ability to play center or wing up and down the lineup.

Suter, who’s also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, will open the 2025-26 season at center.

“We need him to be a center,” Montgomery said. “What I’ve liked about him, everywhere he’s been, it didn’t matter the role he was in, he makes those guys around him better because of how smart he is and how he understands the game and how the team wants to play. As a coach, you love that because you’re getting a glue guy, you’re getting a guy you can throw over the boards and it doesn’t matter with who, and he’s going to be able to make sure that they’re a reliable line.”

Suter could potentially play on the Blues’ third line, but Montgomery didn’t rule out a higher assignment.

“You could see Suter on the second line and you could see Bjugstad on the third or fourth line,” Montgomery said. “I don’t want to say it’s going to be one thing or the other. In the offseason, you get your new team and you start to put lines down. It’s part of the process, but once guys get on the ice, the chemistry is there or it isn’t.”

Suter said he had “a good talk” with Montgomery when he signed about playing center and realizes what the coach wants from him.

“It’s just important for me to help the team and be a guy that gets to go on the ice in those key situations,” Suter said. “If that’s going to be on the wing or center, it just helps my case to help the team and be available to get some looks. If you can do both, that was always my approach, whatever is needed. Obviously you still have to do the work in the games and earn the trust of the coaches.”

If Suter were to see time on the second line, that could put captain Brayden Schenn on the wing or move him down the lineup. If Schenn stays on the second line, Suter could center the third line alongside Bjugstad.

“Bjugstad, he’s primarily center too, but he’s going to get opportunities on the wing as well,” Montgomery said.

Bjugstad, who’s played with six teams during his 13-year NHL career, isn’t sure where he slots into the Blues’ lineup just yet.

“Being interchangeable, that’s been something that’s helped keep me in the lineup and be a better player,” Bjugstad said. “I’m not giving a cliche answer, but wherever they put me, I’m going to be ready to go and contribute in whatever way.”

Adding two of those types of players in Suter and Bjugstad “just gives us so much more flexibility, not only what we can do with the everyday lineup, but more importantly in-game,” Montgomery said. “It gives us a lot more versatility to win games in different ways because you’ve got smart, talented hockey players that understand the importance of being on the right side of the puck, the importance of the little battles that mean so much to victory at the end of a game. So their habits and details are really going to fit with the culture that we thought we were able to get to in the last 26 games last year and playoffs.”

After saying the Blues’ second-half surge was a selling point in their free-agent decision and crediting Montgomery for his impact on the team, both Suter and Bjugstad are looking forward to playing for him.

“I’ve got no past with him,” Suter said. “But I’ve played against a lot of his teams and I haven’t heard a bad word about him as far as systems and how he treats his players.”

“I’ve talked to many guys about him in the past and I’ve heard great things from the best players on the team and guys who are in and out of the lineup,” Bjugstad added. “When you hear that (from a wide range of players), you get excited to play for a coach like that.”

The two are also intrigued about stepping into a lineup with prospects such as Jimmy Snuggerud and others.

“I was in Utah-Arizona the last three years and got to play with a lot of good, young talent,” Bjugstad said. “It’s a long season and there’s a lot of stuff that comes with playing in the NHL. Yeah, for me, it’s fun to mentor these young guys and share my experience. That’s definitely an important element to have — a good older group and a good younger group that’s eager to be in the mix with the guys — and just create an environment that’s fun and willing to learn and grow from one another.”

Now Suter and Bjugstad just need their jerseys, which will come with new numbers for each of them.

“My two numbers that I’ve had in the past are (retired) under the roof,” Suter said. “I had No. 44 when I was back home in Zurich on the national team and I had No. 24 in the NHL. So it’s the first time I have to choose a number.”

No. 44 belonged to Chris Pronger and No. 24 to Bernie Federko, and as mentioned, both are retired. Suter has chosen a number, but didn’t want to say what it was until the Blues announce it.

Bjugstad wore No. 17 with Utah last season, but that number is worn by defenseman Cam Fowler.

“I had to go down the list, too,” Bjugstad said. “I went with No. 77 because two of my daughters are born on the 7th. I thought about going with No. 42. I always liked David Backes, but I figured I can’t because of the respect (factor). The guys who wore it before, if it’s a captain or a franchise player, you let it be.”

The team will make the numbers of Suter and Bjugstad, along with newcomer Logan Mailloux, official next week. In a month, both will be headed to St. Louis to join the team they admired from afar last season.

“When the decision was made, I got really excited,” Suter said. “It’s going to make summer run fast. I want to see the city and experience something new and meet the guys and get to work.”

(Top photo of Nick Bjugstad: Rob Gray / Imagn Images)