After taking a look at which three free agents the Blues should be going after this summer, when the free agent frenzy hits, let's discuss the three players they should avoid. Missing out on these three could keep this ship afloat, but giving in to temptation could lead to a catastrophic setback after just returning to prominence.
Mitch Marner
This is an easy one, avoid Mitch Marner and his record-breaking new contract. Leave it alone. Don't even think for a second that is a good idea.
The way that the salary cap will be set up in 2025-26 is that every team will be getting a little more cash to play with. Marner will be the first "big fish" to get this nice shiny new bonus, and he will likely be walking to his new team with a record-breaking amount of cash. Leon Draisaitl is the highest-paid player in terms of Average Annual Value at $14 million. Do not be surprised to see Marner get about a million dollars more than that per season, at $15 million.
This would set the Blues back to the Stone Age, not to mention that they can't even afford it. They would have to restructure all of their deals, and even though Marner is a generational talent, he is not worth that kind of cash for just one superstar player.
Jaime Benn
Jaime Benn, the Captain of the Dallas Stars should be avoided at all costs. The Central Division rival would be a nice addition in terms of his aggressive play style coinciding with the newly formed identity of the Blues which is to make the other team hurt as badly as possible. But his age and projected price could be an issue.
Benn is entering the endgame of his career, and the lifelong Stars player should end his historic career with the team that made him who he is. Not to mention, the Stars could retain their captain for a hometown discount, something the Blues cannot offer him. If he were to jump ship, the Blues should stay away from him.
Brad Marchand
Another rough and tough player that could fit in nicely with this Blues team, but should absolutely be avoided, is Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand. There is no denying that Marchand is a successful hockey player, with his stoic and memorable run in Boston for 16 years. Now, he is trying to lead the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cups and is a driving force in that series.
But, at 37-years-old, he is not worth anything more than $3 million AAV, which is half of his previous contract. Plus, that is something that the Blues cannot even afford, if they want to try and get some help on the defensive side this offseason. The Blues should be out on the Marchand sweepstakes at the end of this season.