Jake Neighbours

May 2023 – Neighbours was selected to represent Team Canada in the 2023 World Championship. He has started the tournament as the 13th forward, but since then earned 2 points in three games, quickly gaining the trust of his coaches. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte 

November 2022 – After making the big club out of camp, the Blues sent down Neighbours to their AHL affiliate last week. In 11 games with the Blues, he registered one goal. Despite not producing, head coach Craig Berube said he was happy with his play. Jeremy Rutherford of the Athletic quoted him as saying “We’re not doing very well right now, but he stands out to me.” About the demotion, Berube also said “Right now the situation we’re in, it’s tough on a kid like that” and “He’s going to play lots of minutes down there, get going, get more puck touches, power play. He’ll play all situational plays.”

Based on his comments, it seems like the Blues’ rationale is that Neighbours would benefit more from being a top player in the AHL than a depth player on a struggling NHL team. Before his demotion, Neighbours averaged 12 minutes of TOI on the season, mainly at even strength. As Berube said, in the AHL he will play all situations and be a top-six player for the Thunderbirds. In his two games so far that has been true: he has played on the second line both nights. Gordon Munro

June 2022 – After being sent back to the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, Neighbours was named captain and continued his stellar performance from the previous year. Overall, in 30 games he scored 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in the regular season. Despite being injured for over a month leading up to the playoffs, Neighbours has not missed a beat there either. Tallying 15 points in 17 playoff games so far as the Oil Kings battle for the WHL championship in the finals against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Gordon Munro

November 2021 – The St. Louis Blues announced on November 10th they’d be sending Neighbours back to the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings for another year. After an incredible COVID-shortened 2021 season in the WHL, the Blues gave their former first round pick a nine-game cup of coffee in the show. He didn’t get much ice time, usually playing in a fourth line role, only breaking 10 minutes of TOI three times. However, he was still able to pick up one assist and score his first and only goal two games later against the LA Kings on October 24th. He showed some good flashes but the Blues’ choice of sending him back to the Oil Kings for another season is ultimately the right move. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off last season and play a key role on a stacked Edmonton team that’s surely poised to make a deep run. Gordon Munro

October 2020 – Neighbours was drafted 26th overall by the Blues. Neighbours could push for an NHL job after another year or two in the WHL.  Jokke Nevalainen

January 2020 – Jake Neighbours is a solid 200-foot winger who likes to play with a bit of an edge. He already has a sturdy frame at 5-11 and over 200lbs which allows him to engage physically and win battles with a high rate of efficiency. He has no problem going through a defender rather than around but he has good enough hands to make a move in space. His skating is good but he does lack high-end top-speed. His first-step quickness is the difference-maker with Neighbours as the young Oil Kings’ winger consistently beats players from a standstill position and then has a good enough top-speed to stay ahead in the race. His shot is above average because of his deceptive release. The puck jumps off his stick, elevating it from in tight with ease. Neighbours vision and playmaking lack creativity at times but he makes passes look effortless in the offensive zone. As a player who plays on both special teams, he should be able to find a role on just about any team fairly quickly. Tony Ferrari