St. Louis Blues: Trade Deadline Preview

1 day ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

The 4 Nations Face-Off is in the rearview mirror, The Blues are stuck in a familiar spot—caught in the dreaded middle ground. They’re not strong enough to secure a playoff berth - currently eight points out of the 8th seed in the West, but not bad enough to tank for a top draft pick. Sound familiar? It’s the same boat the Pittsburgh Penguins are in. Both teams are recent Stanley Cup champions and are hesitant to fully commit to a rebuild. For St. Louis, this likely means shifting focus to the future as the trade deadline approaches. Will they sell off assets to retool, or hold tight and hope for a miracle? Let’s break it down.Record: 25-26-5, 6th in the Central DivisionDeadline Status: SellersDeadline Cap Space: $6.025MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 45/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.Upcoming Draft Picks2025: STL 1st, STL 5th, STL 6th2026: STL 1st, STL 3rd, STL 4th, STL 5th, PIT 5th, NYI 5th, STL 6th, STL 7thTrade ChipsThe Blues don’t have many notable pending UFAs, but they’ll look to move the few they do.Ryan Suter (40, D): Once a star, Suter is now a depth option at best. While he won’t fetch much, his veteran presence and durability could appeal to teams needing a reliable seventh defenseman.Radek Faksa (31, F): A defensive specialist with limited offense - 3 goals, 7 assists in 44 games, Faksa’s $3.25M cap hit makes him movable if the Blues retain his salary. A mid-round pick is a realistic return for the pending UFA, who’s earned Selke trophy consideration four times in the last seven seasons.Beyond UFAs, the Blues have veterans with terms who could be on the move:Brayden Schenn (33, F): Schenn’s name has swirled in trade rumors, but his $6.5M cap hit for three more years, and declining production limits his market. While his defensive game has slipped, a seller’s market could tempt a contender to overpay.Other big names like Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou have been floated as trade candidates, but their hefty contracts and no-trade clauses complicate deals. The same goes for defensemen Nick Leddy, Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, and Cam Fowler, all earning over $4M annually with term remaining. Moving these veterans won’t be easy, but the Blues may explore options to shake things up.Current Team Needs1. Offensive Depth: While the Blues boast scoring talent in Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, and Robert Thomas, their bottom six has been a black hole for offense. Ranked 25th in goals, St. Louis needs to add depth scoring to take pressure off their top forwards and force opponents to spread their defensive focus.2. Young Defensemen: The Blues’ blue line is one of the oldest in the NHL, with only two defensemen under 31. Philip Broberg shows promise, but prospects like Adam Jiricek, Theo Lindstein, and Lukas Fischer are years away. Adding mobile, young defensemen could help transition the puck more effectively and support the offense. While they’re not a terrible defensive team - 20th in the NHL, getting younger and faster on the back end is a clear priority.Image - Jerome Miron - Imagn...

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