Last summer, the St. Louis Blues signed Pius Suter in free agency. We kind of predicted the move a few days before it happened, and were excited about what he could bring to the Blues lineup. After one season in St. Louis, he did exactly what was expected of him, and he's got one year remaining on his $4.125-million AAV contract. The Blues made plenty of moves this summer, but Suter should still have an everyday role in the lineup.
The rest of the lineup
Suter is one of those true, jack-of-all-trades forwards. He can play either wing or--most importantly--down the middle, and is usually good for about 15 goals and a 30ish point pace per season. That's solid middle-six value; the problem is when Suter's expected to play above his head, like during the 2024-25 season in Vancouver when everyone else was hurt or traded, and he had to play on the top line. That sort of usage for Suter will burn a team.
Luckily for the Blues, they don't need to play Suter in a top-line--or even top-six--role. Robert Thomas is the de facto top center for the Blues, and acquiring Mason McTavish this summer could solidify the second-line center position. If you've got Suter and Dalibor Dvorsky battling for the 3C role, you've got decent depth, as either one could kick out to wing when necessary.
Where Suter's best suited
For head coach Jim Montgomery, the main decision on Suter will come down to how much the Blues want to focus on the development of Dvorsky as an NHL center. It's a tough position to acclimate to in the pros, especially as a 21-year-old, but it's also one of the most valuable positions in the league, and making sure Dvorsky succeeds down the middle is going to be critical for the Blues' long-term success.
Suter, then, profiles as a third-line winger, with Dvorsky at center and probably Jake Neighbours on the opposite wing.
There's always the chance the Blues flop again this season. That would be a disappointment, but the good news is that Suter's positional versatility, expiring contract, and low cap hit could make him one of the most tantalizing trade deadline players available. Even if the Blues are in the playoff race, they could cash in on Suter and elevate a prospect into his role--a win-win scenario.
For now, though, expect him to be a reliable veteran on a young third line.
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