The St. Louis Blues could be compelled to sell off assets sooner rather than later this upcoming season.
A piece by Marco D’Amico published by RG Media on July 19 looked at how the trade market could heat up very quickly this upcoming season.
In particular, the piece set Thanksgiving as an unofficial trade deadline.
Why Thanksgiving?
Conventional wisdom around the NHL suggests that teams outside of a playoff spot by Thanksgiving are unlikely to make it.
The 2019 Blues were an exception to that rule. But, generally speaking, clubs well out of a playoff spot at that point have too much ground to make up, even if more than half of the season is yet to be played.
So, D’Amico argues that if the Blues find themselves out of the playoff picture by Thanksgiving, the club could be prompted to start selling off assets.
Namely, players like Jordan Kyrou and Brayden Schenn have been the ones gaining the most attention this summer. Another notable name is Pavel Buchnevich. He’s still a legit top-six forward who could deliver solid secondary scoring for a contending club.
It’s worth pointing out that the Blues are nowhere near a teardown. If anything, the Blues have undergone a successful retool over the last couple of seasons. But one has to wonder if a poor start could motivate GM Doug Armstrong to recoup pieces in exchange for veterans with high-priced contracts.
St. Louis Blues betting on youth movement
The Blues are betting on their youth movement. Players like Jake Neighbours, Dylan Holloway, and Philip Broberg look like the real deal. Also, Logan Mailloux adds to the influx of young talent to complement the veteran core.
But as the retool progresses, the Blues will be looking to add more young talent. That situation means that, if the Blues are in a position to earn a lottery pick, they may take that opportunity.
The rationale is that the 2026 NHL Draft class is one of the deepest in recent history. As a result, several teams are motivated to land a lottery pick in hopes of getting a high-end player.
That could mean the Blues might “tank” if they have a poor start. A shot at a top-10 pick might not be the worst thing in the world, in addition to bringing in more pieces to bolster the club’s future.
It’s a risky move, but one that could pay off if the Blues find that their current core is incapable of replicating last season’s playoff appearance.