After an underwhelming 2025–26 season that ended with a hot stretch, which also took them out of serious contention for a top-three pick, many Blues fans are excited about the opportunity to shake up the roster through free agency. However, the Blues have historically never taken big swings in free agency, and expecting them to pursue a player like Alex Tuch or John Carlson is likely both unrealistic and unwise.
With that being said, the Blues are still left with several holes that likely cannot be filled internally. Both Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou failed to crack 50 points despite being paid upwards of $8 million annually, and the team currently lacks a true second-line center to pair with them. Additionally, following the trade of defenseman Justin Faulk and the possibility of a Colton Parayko trade, the team needs more depth to support Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux on the blue line.
Despite a weak free-agent class, there are still three available players who I believe can help the Blues win now while also aiding the development of their young core for the future.
1. Anders Lee
One of the key areas for improvement that became apparent for the Blues down the stretch was their secondary scoring beyond Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud, and Dylan Holloway. Anders Lee could help fill their significant need for secondary scoring and would be a solid upgrade over options such as Dalibor Dvorsky or Pius Suter. Lee has put up 20-plus goals in four of his last five seasons and can also provide the veteran leadership that the team gave up at the deadline through its trades of Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn.
Lee's primary position is left wing, but he's still strong at the faceoff dot, winning 53.7% of his faceoffs last season. This versatility could also work to the Blues' advantage if Dvorsky has a breakout season and they want to put him on the second line while shifting Lee to the wing. For a team that ranked in the bottom five in shots on goal, Lee's ranking in the 92nd percentile in that category could provide a significant boost. Beyond improving their offensive volume, Lee recorded 91 hits, and his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame gives him a solid mix of scoring ability and physicality.
If I had to offer a ballpark projection, Lee will likely be seeking a two- or three-year deal worth around $5-6 million annually. This fits the Blues' timeline well because he could provide a veteran presence if the team winds up making a playoff run while also becoming a valuable trade asset at the deadline if they fall out of contention. The short-term nature of the deal would also give Dvorsky an opportunity to develop into a second-line center in the future.
2. Jacob Trouba
With the trio of Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov all coming up through the Ducks' defensive core, there's a solid chance the team wouldn't have interest in bringing Trouba back despite his success last season. Trouba bounced back from a rough 2024–25 campaign by recording 10 goals and 35 points while averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice time per night. His 143 hits would also have ranked well above any of the Blues' blue liners last season.
Trouba's shot remains well above average, and his offensive production this season surpassed that of every Blues defenseman except Justin Faulk before he was traded. Trouba could potentially be paired with Mailloux on the second pairing to help develop the young defenseman's physicality and offensive production to the level the organization hopes to see.
In an ideal world, the Blues would like Mailloux to develop into a player similar to Trouba during his prime years. Their identical measurements of 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds make that comparison relatively easy to envision. Bringing in Trouba could also allow the Blues to explore trade offers for Colton Parayko and Cam Fowler without leaving the rest of the defensive core too thin.
Trouba would likely seek a similar average annual value to Lee, but because he's still only 32 years old, a two- or three-year deal may not be realistic. The Blues would likely love to sign him to a contract similar to the one they gave Fowler last season—three years at a $6.1 million AAV—, but Trouba will probably be looking for a four-year deal at a slightly higher cap hit.
3. Jaden Schwartz
The Blues have already welcomed back several former players in recent years, and Schwartz could fit what the team is looking for in its bottom six. Although he may no longer be the 20-plus-goal scorer he once was, Schwartz still provides consistency in a third- or fourth-line role. He continues to possess an above-average shot while averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time with the Kraken last season. While he likely lacks the physicality typically associated with a fourth-line role, he can still provide veteran leadership and a scoring threat that the Blues' bottom six desperately needs.
Schwartz could pair well with some combination of Dvorsky, Jonatan Berggren, Otto Stenberg, or Justin Carbonneau. He could play a reliable role on the third line while helping those younger players develop into middle-six contributors for the Blues' future. If several of those players begin to demand more ice time than they're receiving, Schwartz wouldn't be a large enough financial commitment to prevent the team from making adjustments to the lineup.
With Schwartz's former teammate, Alexander Steen, taking over as general manager next season, it's not difficult to imagine Schwartz taking a solid discount for a reunion in St. Louis. Given his age and production, the Blues could likely bring him in on a one-year deal worth less than $4 million and potentially move him at the trade deadline for a middle- or late-round draft pick.
The reality is that the Blues would need a miracle to be remotely competitive for the Stanley Cup in 2026–27. Because of this, their free-agent decisions need to be made with the understanding that next season is likely more of a retooling year than a true championship window.
This is an offseason in which we could see key pieces such as Colton Parayko and Kyrou moved. It's also an offseason in which there will be significant discussion surrounding the draft and the possibility of trading up using the team's three first-round picks.
Regardless of their offseason decisions, it's clear that the Blues cannot afford to hand out contracts that could hurt them in the future. Instead, bringing in veterans who provide leadership while also serving as potential trade assets would be the wisest approach.
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