The St. Louis Blues are going to have a very busy offseason. The 2025 NHL draft is coming up very shortly, and then it is onto one of the most exciting days of the hockey year, free agent frenzy. There are already three players that will likely be entering that pool from last season's miracle team, and there are plenty of free agents out there to take as an upgrade.
These three players could push the Blues over the top and into the playoffs once again in 2025-26. Spoiler alert, there is a trend with these players that should be pretty obvious.
Aaron Ekblad
The Blues are in desperate need of re-shaping their defense. There is a good chance that the same defensive core that scored the third-most goals as a group from last season will not be the same in 2025-26. Changes must be made this offseason to better this group.
Grabbing Aaron Ekblad from the Florida Panthers is a great start to doing so. The 29-year-old is playing the best hockey of his career and is still keeping the Panthers in an exhilarating playoff run. With three goals and 30 assists in the regular season, and then another goal and three assists this postseason, he has proven to be a valuable upgrade the Blues desperately need on the blueline.
However, he will come with a hefty price tag. But, it is one that the Blues could afford given the right circumstances. In addition to the Blues, as well as the rest of the NHL, getting a salary cap increase, if Nick Leddy could be moved with no retention, this can certainly happen. At the moment, they have $7.752 million in salary cap space for Ekblad.
Ivan Provorov
A slightly cheaper option to Ekblad, but just as valuable. Ivan Provorov has been electric for the Columbus Blue Jackets and can be a great addition to a highly productive offensive d-core. Having him alongside Colton Parayko or Justin Faulk would be very interesting to watch.
In 82 games last season, he scored seven goals and added 26 assists for 33 points. Provorov is an iron man, appearing in every game over the previous three seasons with Columbus and Philadelphia. With the Blues being a fringe playoff team, it might be enough to sway him to the 'Lou since he has not stepped on the ice for a playoff game since the 2019-20 season.
Ryan Lindgren
Another solid choice for a nice defensive upgrade is former New York Rangers and now Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Lindgren. "The Warrior", as he was nicknamed by the Rangers faithful, is the roughest and toughest d-man in today's game. He plays a hard game and gives 110% with every stride on the ice.
This has gotten him in a bit of trouble in the past, as it has painted him as injury-prone. The Blues can still very much use him, as this team is built upon rough-and-tough players that will run you through the boards and into the front row for the puck. Lindgren would be an excellent fit, for a reasonable price as well.