In a recent interview with the NHL Network, St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong all but sounded like he was done making big moves this offseason. While Armstrong said he'd keep, and I'm paraphrasing, "talking with other general managers," we can never forget about the good old smokescreen.
And Armstrong's known for making big moves when we least expect it. That said, it still wouldn't surprise me if he made another big roster transaction for the Blues before September hits, and it could easily involve a blockbuster trade that includes Jordan Kyrou.
While I'm sure people will tell me, "But Armstrong said..." I'm the believe none of what you hear and half of what you see type. I anticipate smokescreens, especially when Armstrong brought in two restricted free agents last summer, and they turned out to be outstanding moves.
Then, he fired head coach Drew Bannister early in the season and picked up Jim Montgomery. That said, Armstrong's the kind of executive who could lead you to believe one thing, then turn around and shock you with a big trade.
St. Louis Blues will be one team to watch even during the slow time of the year
We now know the 2025-26 season's opening up on October 7th in a game that'll see the Blues heated division rival, the Chicago Blackhawks, travel to Sunrise, Florida, and probably lose, so the rest of the summer can drag until then. Unless you're the type who follows the team during camp and the preseason.
But between now and at least early September, very few noteworthy things happen unless a big trade comes about or if someone like Doug Armstrong tenders offer sheets in the middle of August. And hey, bringing in Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg changed the entire trajectory of this franchise, along with the surprise hiring of Jim Montgomery.
We know Armstrong is an opportunist, and an unapologetic one. He makes the NHL fun to follow when there's absolutely nothing going on but counting down the days until at least the prospects show. And it's why I wouldn't rule out a trade, whether it involved Jordan Kyrou or maybe someone else.
Teams to watch for a potential Jordan Kyrou trade
I already talked about the Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres, and if I had to choose between the two, I'd lean toward Buffalo. While Kyrou could easily block this trade, I've also said that the Sabres are deeper than many fans think, but they're missing that starpower besides Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.
That's where Kyrou would come in. I also wouldn't rule out the Montreal Canadiens, another team known to make big moves lately. Armstrong already moved Zack Bolduc to Montreal, so there's a definite working relationship there. Maybe he again picks up the phone and sends the star winger to Quebec in what would probably be a more exciting trade.
We'll see if Armstrong holds true to his implications that he's finished making anymore major moves this summer or if he's throwing a smokescreen.
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