As the St. Louis Blues are approaching a potential playoff appearance, they need to look at the Trade Deadline on March 7 with clear eyes. If they want to make an impact in the playoffs, they have to be buyers.
That must mean, that a few players with bad and expiring contracts must be traded to help bolster this lineup. There are three that stick out like a sore thumb, and with some luck, could bring some star talent to the Lou.
Matthieu Joseph
After dealing with his brother before the Winter Classic, it is now time to get rid of Matthieu Joseph as well. The fourth line needs some work, as they have been underperforming as a whole all season. Depending on how the Blues fair at the trade deadline, the bottom-three forwards could be used for some up-and-comers looking for NHL reps.
Joseph, who is slated to be a free agent at the end of next season with a hefty price tag of $2.95 million AAV, is not worth that kind of cash. The 27-year-old winger could land on his feet in another organization looking for a grinder that can play a physical game. He has a set of goals and assists on the season for four points in 29 games.
Radek Faksa
This only works with the following moves. Trade away Radek Faksa to a team that needs a bottom-six center with playoff experience, and bring up Dalibor Dvorsky or Jimmy Snuggerud for the final games of the year and potential playoff run.
Faksa is designated to be a Unrestricted Free Agent at the end of this season, and it should be the end of his tenure in St. Louis. He is a solid player, playing fourth-line minutes as well as being on the second penalty-kill unit. Another area that he has been adequate in is at the faceoff dot, with a 54.5% win percentage.
Currently, he is on the hook for $3.25 million for the rest of this season, and after only scoring three goals and five assists in 35 games, he is going to get a pay cut. Even still, the fourth-line will be completely new in 2025-26, with the emergence of several new players coming up the pipeline. It would be a a surprise if Faksa makes it past the deadline, no matter what the situation is with the Blues playoff hopes.
Brandon Saad
Despite pulling off a natural hat trick on January 3, Brandon Saad has had a rocky year. It is one extreme or another with him, as his seven goals on the season came across just three games. Of the three players on this list, he is the most likely to find a new home by the trade deadline.
Saad is a great asset to have, with a ton of playoff experience. He has won two Stanley Cups and has many incredible moments in the playoffs with Chicago. But, he does not fit the scheme of St. Louis, and he is up for a new deal that the Blues cannot afford. He could be the sweetener for a big trade that pushes the Blues over the top.