After securing a point in their first game back from the 4 Nations Face-off break, the St. Louis Blues lost in a shootout to the best team in the NHL, the Winnipeg Jets. With 25 games to go in the regular season, and only a handful of days left before the March 7 trade deadline, the decision of whther the Blues buy or sell is close to being revealed.
Should the Blues look to buy, not only for this season but the immediate future, there are two superstar-level players out there in the rumor mill this week that could fix this franchise overnight. Can the Blues, and primarily General Manager Doug Armstrong, have anything to sway these two guys over to the 'Lou?
Seth Jones
This one is a bit of a stretch, but bear with me; it could be a plausible idea. The rumor is that Chicago Blackhawks franchise defenseman Seth Jones wants out of the windy city and onto a contending team at the deadline. The Blues are not a contender, a fringe playoff team sounds more like it. But, the brass of the Blues could show Jones and his team of decision-makers just how real-deal this team will become starting next season.
This season, and through the 2029-2030 season, Jones is on the hook for $9.5 million AAV. That is right in the wheelhouse for a superstar player that they desperately need. Plus, it helps the first-line pairing alongside Colton Parayko as one of the league's best. In 40 games this season, he has six goals and 20 assists on an abysmal Blackhawks team.
Jones helps the Blue's blue line, and for his price tag, he could be affordable. Of course, the repercussion is to alleviate some of the other expensive defensive contracts like Nick Leddy, for example.
Miko Rantanen
On the flip side, the Blues are in desperate need of a superstar on the front end as well. They need a bonafide goal-scorer, a point-per-game guy who can completely change the outcome of the game on his own. Miko Rantanen in Carolina is that player. Nearly like Jones, he is also worth $9.25 million a year until the end of this season, and then he will be a free agent.
That is where the Blues should swoop in and snag Rantanen, not the trade deadline, but the offseason when the dust has settled. It is unclear if Rantanen will still be in Carolina after March 7, as rumors are circling that he may be on his way back to Colorado or elsewhere at the trade deadline.
Rantanen, with both Colorado and Carolina, has appeared in 56 games, scored 21 goals, and added 41 assists. This guy is an x-factor and a difference-maker. Whoever gets him at the end of this season will have to pay more than $9.25 million, but not north of $10.5 million. Once again, it is right in the Blue's wheelhouse with the higher salary cap next season.
It is going to take a lot of convincing to get either one of these two players. There is a likely chance that the Blues aren't even considered by either of these two. But, if this team keeps trending toward a potential playoff berth, it could create waves that they will be the contenders very shortly. That is a selling point, for sure.