For a forward who's had three straight 30-goal seasons--scoring over 35 in two of them--and consistently threatens to be a point-per-game player, it's sure is odd that Jordan Kyrou always seems to be in the rumor mill for a potential trade. The St. Louis Blues' winger is a clear top-six forward, and it would be silly to force him to waive his No-Move Clause and accept a trade.
However, with his contract and cap hit, he can't just be a top-six winger--he needs to be a top-line winger, a borderline star player. That means actually scoring at a point-per-game pace, and ideally breaking the 40-goal threshold in the process. Both of those outcomes are within Kyrou's reach this season, and it's where we should set the bar, in terms of expectations.
We've heard that all before, though: that this is the year Kyrou breaks through and cements himself as a true, top-of-the-lineup star NHL forward. Every year, Kyrou falls just short of those expectations; he has a great season by most measures, but doesn't quite live up to what everyone hoped for at the start.
Kyrou, at 27 years old, is in his prime now. The Blues made a surprise playoff run last season and will need him to produce to get back there. This year, he needs to show that he can be the driver of a line, and not just a complementary piece--perhaps new center Pius Suter can unlock something in Kyrou, or more time with Robert Thomas will keep Kyrou productive. Jim Montgomery has a lot more flexibility now after Doug Armstrong's off-season additions, and that may give Kyrou a jolt--not to mention the youth movement coming up behind him that's going to start fighting for his ice time.
In any case, the expectations for Kyrou are basically what they've always been: crack 40 goals in a season for the first time in his career, and leave no doubt that he's a point-per-game player. Shy of that, he may find himself back in the rumor mill again next summer.