Two traits stand out to me with the St. Louis Blues: They’re young, and they’re good. That means, when we talk about making a dream, blockbuster trade or two, I’m not talking about mortgaging present or future assets to land a big-name player.
The Blues don’t need them, even if they’d be nice to have. Instead, you can ask yourself what’s necessary for the Blues to reach a greater level than what they were at when they took the Winnipeg Jets to the brink back in May.
Bringing in young players to complete this core and players who have, at varying levels, proven that they can contribute in the NHL. Below, you won’t find a list of ‘dream trades’ in a traditional sense, since there’s only one blockbuster name on the list. But all three of these players, ironically pending restricted free agents, would play important roles for the Blues.
Acquire Bowen Byram
Bowen Byram on the same pairing as an aging Justin Faulk (if he’s not traded first) or Colton Parayko, both of whom can still play, would be epic. Byram would give the Blues another two-way defenseman in the same age group as Philip Broberg, and one who showed more durability last season than he had in previous campaigns.
He’d also bring a moderate physical edge to a Blues rotation that could end up using more, especially as they gear up for an 82-game run at the postseason in 2025-26. Byram, despite his playmaking talent, saw the Blue and Gold score on 12.2 percent of their shots on goal when he was on the ice.
Byram is just now entering his prime and has the potential to put up 50-plus points; especially if he goes from one offensive-oriented team to an offensive-oriented team that’s brewing.
Acquire Nick Robertson
Nick Robertson’s situation is so eerily similar to what Dylan Holloway went through in his final season with the Edmonton Oilers. Robertson has everything one needs to become at least a full-time third-liner in the league; he’s just on a team with too much firepower.
Now, it’ll depend on what happens with the likes of Mitch Marner and John Tavares. If they don’t return to Toronto, it could open up the door for Robertson to slide into a more prominent role. But if one or both of them return, you can’t blame Robertson if he wanted to go elsewhere.
He’s versatile, elusive, and far more productive than what his stats give him credit for, evidenced by his 15 goals and 22 points in 69 games. Put him on a younger team coming into its own like the Blues, and that points total will double.
Acquire Zac Jones
Yep, three players listed, three restricted free agents. But for a young team that already knows it can make playoff runs, dream trades in this situation target younger talent. So, Zac Jones, someone who has yet to fit in with the New York Rangers, should be on Doug Armstrong’s radar.
Still, Jones has shown he can be a pure blueliner in the NHL with the occasional playmaking ability. What jumped out at me was his 94.0 on-ice save percentage at even strength, which came during a surprising down season for the Blueshirts.
No, Jones isn’t the flashiest player in a ‘dream trade’ article, but he’s a necessary addition for a team that must improve defensively. Jones can get in front of at least one shot per game, position himself well when opponents have the puck, and find ways to take puck possession. He plays a modest game that yields significant results.