The St. Louis Blues are falling in the standings despite grabbing a point against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday in the 5-4 overtime loss. After 52 games, there is a sense that this season has just about slipped away, as the wildcard gap has now become eight points, but it feels like forever to go.
Across the league, there is a big lottery going on over the next few weeks for one of the league's best players. The New York Rangers have announced that they are going to go into a re-tooling mode, and their star-studded roster will be moved around and shopped for the next step in their franchise. One of those pieces is forward Artemi Panarin, and he will be a heavy investment with a new contract needed once this season is over.
The Blues have not been named as one of the suitors for "the Breadman", and it might be best for them not to be in the running. Let's talk about why?
Good chance he goes to Central
There is a good chance that the Blues will not be getting Panarin, but of couse anything is possible. There is even more of a chance that a Central Division opponent might be able to get their hands on No. 10, as the playoff race continues. Dallas has been linked totrying to strike a deal, and reports of Minnesota trying to buy in as well.
If he were to go to the Central Division, the Blues would get pushed even further down the totem pole. Utah is on the rise, and Chicago is around the corner when considering the mid-tier of the Division, excluding the top-four teams in Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, and throwing Nashville in there.
Panarin would set this franchise even further back
If the Blues were to try to swipe Panarin away from the Rangers and use him as a lightning rod for this team, it would not work. His contract is too big, even if the current core group were to be broken down and moved. You also have to factor in that Panarin is going to be 35 once the season starts up again for 2026-27, so it would defeat the purpose of trying to get a bit younger.
Panarin is a fantastic player, and a generational talent, but eventually, Father Time always wins. Wind the clock back four years, and he would have been a perfect acquisition for the Blues.