The 2025-26 St. Louis Blues season was not what we all expected. The false identity gained from the miraculous Stanley Cup playoff appearance was not able to be continued as the Blues were sent home after the final regular season game.
Now, it is the offseason, and the idea of bringing in some talent in free agency is always an open and often heated discussion. It will be General Manager-to-be Alexander Steen's first day when the free-agent frenzy begins on July 1.
There are some former Blues on the docket and up for a new contract this summer. One of which needs a new deal altogether, and one is entering the final year of his current contract, which could entice a trade-deadline bargain.
Let's talk about it.
Tarasenko and O'Reilly
Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly are both of these former Blues in question. Tarasenko was with the Minnesota Wild last season, as he continues to venture around the NHL with each passing season. O'Reilly has been in Nashville for the last three seasons, and is entering his final year of a four-year, $4.5 million AAV deal.
The Blues are getting younger, and much of their current core is going to be replaces with the next era. That was evident with the trades of both captain Brayden Schenn, and Justin Faulk. This team is moving in a different direction.
But both of these players would have been near the top of the Blues' scoring leaders list last season, despite both being labeled as "older veterans". Tarasenko had 47 points with 23 of them being goals for a very good Wild team, helping lead them into the Playoffs. And, O'Reilly exploded with 74 points last season on a Nashville team that finished behind the Blues in the Central Division.
Give either of them a go, and who?
Of the two players, it makes more sense to give O'Reilly a chance more than Tarasenko. The reason is that the center pipeline is not as flush as it is out on the wing. There is going to be an influx of talent on both sides of the centerman in 2026-27, with the possibility of Justin Carbonneau, plus Springfield standout Félix Trudeau, and whoever they select in the first round of this upcoming draft.
Tarasneko would just get in the way with taking up a spot.
Of course, O'Reilly might cost a bit more than Tarasenko would, as the Blues need to trade to acquire him. But, if it comes down to the Trade Deadline next March, and this franchise is in a position to be a playoff team, why not try to grab the former captain?
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