The barrage of rumors surrounding St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou is hardly news. Over the summer, the talk had been that Kyrou was part of a purported deal with the Montreal Canadiens.
Nothing really came of that. If anything, the Blues doubled down, saying that Kyrou was a major part of the team. But now, it seems that Kyrou is singing another tune.
Insider David Pagnotta claims that Kyrou is ready to move his no-trade clause at the NHL trade deadline. Kyrou has a full no-trade clause, making it impossible to trade him without his full consent.
That said, Kyrou appears to be willing to jump ship, but that situation depends on one thing. If a trade involves Kyrou finding the “right situation,” the 27-year-old would be amenable to approving a trade.
Now, as for what the “right situation” may entail, that’s another story. The rationale would be Kyrou agreeing to go to a contending team where he could play a top-six role. That possibility is somewhat difficult, considering that not too many contenders have top-six openings.
Then, there’s the matter of his contract. Kyrou’s current deal might make it extremely hard to move him at this year’s NHL trade deadline.
Kyrou contract biggest obstacle for Blues
There’s no question that the biggest obstacle staring at the Blues in the face in a Kyrou trade is his contract. Kyrou has five more seasons at $8.125 million per year. That’s a tough fit for the average contending club. Just about every contender is up against the cap.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming contenders like the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks have been protecting their cap space as young stars on entry-level deals will eventually need new contracts.
If the Blues keep their asking price low enough, a deal might work out. But as it stands, that may not be likely, either. It’s worth pointing out that things can change in a heartbeat. So, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see a trade go through when least expected.
Perhaps a team that’s already kicked the tires on Kyrou circles back and makes a deal happen. That’s essentially speculation at this point. But injuries and momentum change shift things quickly.
NHL rosters will unfreeze on February 23. Considering the flurry of activity last year following the 4 Nations Face-Off, activity could shoot through the roof once the Olympics are over.