General Manager Doug Armstrong said it himself: the "rewhatever" is over. The expectation moving forward for the St. Louis Blues is to make the playoffs every year, and Armstrong indicated that they intend to do so with at least 100 points in 2025-26.
To accomplish both goals, the Blues will need to add to their roster in order to fill key roles and address weaknesses. St. Louis doesn't exactly have a lengthy track record of spending big money, but there are a couple of fantastic free agents on the market - one defenseman and one forward - that would elevate the Blues without breaking the bank.
Check out this recent episode of Note News, where we discussed some of the UFAs, RFAs, and trade candidates we think the Blues should target this summer!
Vladislav Gavrikov - D
Team defense at 5v5 was a strength for the Blues this season. However, most of that value came from the forward group, which had some standout two-way players. Results from the blue line, on the other hand, were more mixed. There aren't enough quality options for the top-2 pairings. While Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, and Philip Broberg all had outstanding seasons, Justin Faulk and Nick Leddy underperformed for much of the year.
The salary cap is going up, and if the Blues are able to free themselves from one, or both of Faulk's and Leddy's contracts, they should be able to pay for another top 4 option in Vladislav Gavrikov. Gavrikov was one of the best players on the LA Kings this season, and one of the best defensive defensemen in the entire NHL. Signing him as a UFA would round out the top 4 and would significantly improve the defense provided by the Blues' top 2 pairs. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, Gavrikov is outstanding on the penalty kill. Bringing him in would address the Blues' biggest weakness.
Gavrikov is 29 years old, and CapWages projects that he will sign a 7-year x $7.6 million AAV contract. That would make him the highest-paid defenseman on the Blues, and while it is a bit pricey, it's also entirely reasonable given his production and the rising salary cap.
Pius Suter - C
Arguably, the biggest need for the Blues is a 2nd-line center. Beyond Robert Thomas, St. Louis's center depth leaves much to be desired. Additionally, Armstrong indicated that one key goal for the Blues this offseason would be to acquire a 200-foot forward. It's difficult to know whether the Blues should find a medium- to long-term option, or acquire a stop-gap until top prospect Dalibor Dvorsky is ready for the NHL. There's one player on the market that could provide both of those options.
Forward Pius Suter is a UFA, after finishing a 2-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. This season, he had 46 points between 25 goals and 21 assists, and took on top-6 center duties during a difficult season for the Canucks. This season, he stood out defensively, particularly on the penalty kill. Suter could be a natural fit as the 2C for the Blues and, like Gavrikov, could help remake their weak penalty killing units.
Suter will be 29 next season, and is projected to sign a 4-year x $4.98 million contract, per CapWages. That would be completely doable for the Blues. Suter would be an affordable, relatively young center option who could move to the wings or the 3C spot once Dvorsky is ready to take over. While he isn't much of a playmaker, a line of Suter, Dylan Holloway, and Jordan Kyrou would stand out defensively and, with two playmaking wingers, could still generate a lot of offense.