Last summer, the St. Louis Blues signed Pius Suter to a two-year, $4.125-million annual average value (AAV) contract. It was a smart move by then-general manager Doug Armstrong, as Suter's the kind of player that adds solid depth to the middle six, can play any forward position, and can provide support on either special team. Coming off a near-upset in the first round of the playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets, it's the kind of move a team on the cusp tends to make.
Unfortunately, the Blues faceplanted in 2025-26. The good news is, Suter can't really be the one to blame. He may've been coming off a career year with the Vancouver Canucks when he joined the Blues (25 goals, 21 assists, 46 points, and a 17:21 average time on ice (ATOI)), but that was due to nobody else on the Canucks being healthy enough to play top-line minutes. Suter was always just a good middle-six forward, thrust up the lineup due to dire circumstances, and the hope was that--with the Blues--he'd be more appropriately slotted.
Impact in 2025-26
For the most part, that is exactly what came to pass. Suter averaged 15:54 each night, much more in line with his career average of 16:01, and tallied a respectable 13 goals, 16 assists, and 29 points in 64 games played. He was the perfect middle-six forward and did exactly what he was signed to do.
The problem, then, was injury: Suter missed 18 games, many of them overlapping with Robert Thomas's absence. Suddenly, the Blues' depth--especially at center--was much worse than expected. Injuries are often random, though, and we can't really hold it against a player when they get hurt. Still, when the team really could've used Suter, he was unavailable; when he could play, though, he was rock solid.
Expectations for 2026-27
The Blues may have an influx of youth and new players on the way, but there is still a regular place for Suter in the lineup. Every team serious about contending would want a player like Suter on their roster (especially with his contract), and the Blues are lucky to have him available. If he spends the whole season in St. Louis--and stays healthy--it's easy to envision Suter scoring 15 to 20 goals and 30 or so points, while providing stability to his linemates.
"If" really is the question, then. The Blues are in a tenuous position, especially this season, and they could just as easily be a bubble playoff team as a lottery team. If it's the latter, you can bet that other teams will be calling GM Alex Steen to inquire about Suter's availability. Centers usually fetch a pretty penny at the trade deadline, even bottom-six centers--look no further than the trade from two seasons ago that sent Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, if the Blues are in contention for a playoff berth, and teams aren't stepping up to meet their ask on Suter, perhaps Steen will view Suter as a sort of "own rental." The Blues would miss out on selling high on Suter, but he'd play an important role in their own playoff push. That's many months away, though; in the interim, Suter should provide a reliable, veteran presence to the young players around him.
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