By Shannon Moon| FNHL Network Contributor

Fourteen games into the FNHL season, the St. Louis Blues remain a mystery wrapped in balance: 34 goals for, 34 goals against. A .500 team on the scoreboard, but far from a finished product on the ice.

This year was never going to be about instant success. It’s about growth, patience, and figuring out how the puzzle pieces fit. And no piece is more important right now than veteran center **Michael Sgarbossa.

With 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points, Sgarbossa is doing his part offensively, though his minus-2 rating underscores the challenge of anchoring a line full of youth and inexperience. He’s been tasked with mentoring two rookies on the fly: Carter Verhaeghe and Macklin Celebrini a trio loaded with potential but still searching for chemistry.

All eyes are on Celebrini, the first overall pick from this past FNHL Draft. While the raw talent is undeniable, the early returns have been modest: 2 goals, 4 assists, and a minus-3 rating in 13 games. The kid’s still adjusting to the pace and physicality of the pro game—but there’s no concern in the room. Everyone knows it’s only a matter of time.

Verhaeghe hasn’t fared much better. With 3 goals, 3 assists, and a minus-5 rating through 14 games, the winger was recently bumped down to the second line. The hope is a change of scenery and softer matchups will help get him going.

“These kids are young,” said GM Mackenzie, addressing the media earlier this week. “They’ll probably be moved up and down the lineup several times this season. The coaching staff is just looking at different combinations—seeing what works and what doesn’t. Jordan Eberle has played well enough to get promoted to the first line. Maybe he and Michael will find some chemistry.”

Eberle, who’s provided a reliable veteran presence, now joins Sgarbossa on the top unit—an adjustment the coaching staff hopes brings some much-needed stability to the forward group.

One area that hasn’t required any fixing? Goaltending. Devan Dubnyk has been nothing short of rock solid. With a 5-7-2 record, a tidy 2.40 GAA, and a stellar .919 save percentage, he’s been the lifeline for a team still finding its legs. On nights when the Blues can’t get the offense clicking, Dubnyk has been the reason they’re still in games.

If St. Louis can get their top line firing and the rookies begin living up to their potential, there's reason to believe they could land on the right side of .500 and stay in the playoff conversation.

For now, the Blues are learning shift by shift. It's not flashy, and it’s not always smooth. But it’s the kind of grind that lays the groundwork for something bigger.