With the Olympic break approaching, the trade deadline is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We begin our look around the league with teams that have clear plans at the extremes of the standings, this time with Blues.<\/p>\n
The Trade Deadline will mark a fork in the road for the St. Louis Blues. The 2025-26 season has not gone according to plan, with the Blues sat last in the NHL Central Division and battling for last in both goals scored and goals allowed. Even with the bright spots of a solid blue-line and well-performing youngsters, the Blues have struggled to manage anything inspiring, sticking the team with the question of whether to replace or rebuild. The question will carry more weight than usual, as the answer will not only define the next few seasons, but also the first years of Alexander Steen<\/a>\u2018s reign as the Blues\u2019 general manager set to begin next season. With that change in sights, St. Louis will begin to blaze their trail this March.<\/p>\n Record<\/p>\n 20-28-9 (8th in NHL Central Division)<\/p>\n Deadline Status<\/p>\n Sellers<\/p>\n Deadline Cap Space<\/p>\n $20.52MM on deadline day, 0\/3 retention slots used, 48\/50 contracts used per PuckPedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Upcoming Draft Picks<\/p>\n 2026: STL 1st, STL 3rd, STL 4th, DAL 4th, STL 5th, PIT 5th, STL 6th, STL 7th Trade Chips<\/p>\n With a potential seller\u2019s market ahead, many of the trade rumors swirling around the Blues have focused on their top-line veterans. Franchise center Robert Thomas<\/a> has become a popular name, as teams wonder if the 26 year old\u2019s prime will be wasted on a Blues team years away from Stanley Cup contention. Thomas is a top-end playmaker who posted 60 assists in each of the last two seasons. He continues to lead the Blues in points-per-game this season, with 33 points in 42 games.<\/p>\n But moving Thomas would represent a monumental shift<\/a> for the Blues franchise \u2013 and leave them with a future search for a replacement first-line center. The team would be less scathed by moving scoring-winger Jordan Kyrou<\/a>, who ranks second on the team in points-per-game with 32 points in 47 games. Kyrou offers an explosive bit of tempo and play-driving that could entice needs in need of a boost on offense, while not dragging down the Blues\u2019 future structure. The same can be said for Pavel Buchnevich<\/a> \u2013 third in points-per-game \u2013 who has been on-and-off the trade block through the last few seasons.<\/p>\n The Blues\u2019 price on all three of their high-scorers is said to be sky-high \u2013 seen as the price to pay for breaking up the lineup, in addition to buying star talent. Costs might be a bit cheaper on the Blues\u2019 veterans who have dwindled in impact. Defenseman Justin Faulk<\/a> has continued to stand up to a nightly, number-one role with 11 goals and 30 points in 57 games. But at the age of 33, Faulk is a hard name to bet on through the next few seasons. The same goes for former Stanley Cup legend Jordan Binnington<\/a>, who has posted a dismal .864 save percentage in 32 games this season. A change of scenery could bring the best out of either player, while only costing a few future assets.<\/p>\n Trade Needs<\/p>\n Young Potential: No matter if their goal is to compete in one year or five years, the Blues\u2019 sights will be firmly on the future. Their new era is beginning to come into focus, built on the backs of budding potential like Philip Broberg<\/a>, Dylan Holloway<\/a>, Jimmy Snuggerud<\/a>, Dalibor Dvorsky<\/a>, Otto Stenberg<\/a>, and Joel Hofer<\/a>. But, even with a likely top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, St. Louis seems to lack a game-breaker to lead them into their new era. Finding that talent on the trade market could be enough to swing Thomas or Kyrou away from the only NHL club they\u2019ve ever played for. For St. Louis, trade talks should begin with the other team\u2019s top prospects and draft capital. Landing a hopeful star like centers Michael Hage<\/a> and Shane Wright<\/a>, or goalie Jesper Wallstedt<\/a>, would give the Blues lineup pieces to build around over the next few seasons. It would also take the weight off of the shoulders of Dvorsky, or a future draft pick, to try and carry the team through quiet years ahead. It seems clear that, no matter how the chips fall at the Deadline, the Blues\u2019 priority will be building up for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n A Massive Return: St. Louis is approaching the Spring with more on the trade block than they\u2019ve had in many years. Their focus will be on building up the first few years of Steen\u2019s reign, though more than that, the team feels on the precipous of a blockbuster deal. How high will the bidding war ride for a player like Thomas or Kyrou, two stars in their prime who would undoubtedly bring tough-to-find value to any new destination. Could the Blues land multiple star prospects to join an already-loaded pool? Or could they stock their cupboard of draft picks full. More than that, how will the heat of trades impact a St. Louis club that also has Brayden Schenn<\/a>, Cam Fowler<\/a>, Colton Parayko<\/a>, and Pius Suter<\/a> eyeing the tail-end of their careers? Even with an existing foundation for the future, now could be the Blues best chance to go full scorched-earth and tear down their existing structure \u2013 in the name of giving Steen plenty of firepower to build the team he wants to see through the rest of the 2020s.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the Olympic break approaching, the trade deadline is about a month away. 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2027: STL 1st, STL 3rd, STL 4th, ANA 4th, STL 5th, STL 6th, STL 7th<\/p>\n