Why The St. Louis Blues Should Commit To Contending, Not Rebuilding
The St. Louis Blues were perceived to be one of the league's biggest sellers heading into the 2026 NHL trade deadline, but they stopped well short of the total rebuild many anticipated.
The Blues managed to fetch a first and third-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for veteran defenseman Justin Faulk, and then got a similar package from the New York Islanders when they traded away Brayden Schenn.
Considering there were trade rumours surrounding other cornerstone pieces of the franchise like Colton Parayko, Robert Thomas, Jordan Binnington and Jordan Kyrou, this was far from the full teardown that many expected from Blues GM Doug Armstrong in his final season at the helm.
Playoff Team, Retool Or Rebuild? What Direction Are The St. Louis Blues Going?
The St. Louis Blues won a Stanley Cup in 2019, but they've also struggled mightily, including this past season. So, what's the right road ahead for incoming Blues GM Alex Steen -- a full roster rebuild, or a faster retool?
However, there are still some questions that come with this Blues roster that could ultimately dictate whether or not they realize their full potential.
Jordan Kyrou took a big step back this season, and it's unclear if he's already hit his ceiling as a point-producing right winger.
Pavel Buchnevich has been trending downward over the last four years and is older than the majority of the forward core.
Jordan Binnington was statistically one of the worst goaltenders in the NHL last season, and if that trend continues, there's no certainty that Joel Hofer can be the successor the team needs.
On top of all of that comes the unfortunate circumstance of playing in the Central Division, which has turned into a gauntlet headlined by the Colorado Avalanche, the Minnesota Wild, and the Dallas Stars.
The emergence of the Utah Mammoth and bounce-back candidates like the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets could provide some issues for them, too. The Blues' late-season surge would suggest they're a better team than their record suggests and can remain in the playoff race, but the race could end up being for a wild-card spot at best.
However, even if it doesn't happen right away, the plan for St. Louis should be to contend. Teams spend years trying to build the type of young core and organizational depth the Blues already possess, making a patient push forward a more sensible path than starting all over.
Should The St. Louis Blues Go Big-Name Hunting In NHL Free Agency?
Alex Tuch, Darren Raddysh, Rasmus Andersson, or John Carlson - do any of these names make sense for the St. Louis Blues to chase in free agency?
The only glaring need for the Blues to address would be a scoring defenseman, and fortunately for Steen, there are a couple of intriguing options set to hit free agency. One of those options includes John Carlson, who is testing the market for the first time in his career after proving his value with the Anaheim Ducks. However, it's been reported that Carlson would prefer a return to the Eastern Conference.
There's also the possibility of them leveraging one or two of the first-round picks they own this year to facilitate a trade, similarly to the Montreal Canadiens' acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson at last year's draft. If the New York Rangers are committing to a rebuild, Adam Fox would be an intriguing name to look out for.
There are still holes that need to be filled and questions that need to be answered, but the foundation of the roster, the wave of young talent, and the draft capital they have make it pretty clear they should push for another Stanley Cup in the near future.
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 9:59 AM.