Off-season goals: Should the St. Louis Blues build through experience or go young?
By David Crum
Entering the 2023-2024 season, the St. Louis Blues had an average roster age of 28.3.
Looking at the contracts for each player, it is evident that general manager Doug Armstrong is building around right winger Jordan Kyrou and center Robert Thomas. Both players have contracts that keep them locked in until the 2030-2031 season. Kyrou turns 26 in the offseason, and Thomas will be 25 entering next year.
Fan favorites center Brayden Schenn's and defenseman Colton Parayko's contracts are also noticeably long, allowing them to provide veteran leadership.
Armstrong has completely transformed the team by building it around Kyrou and Thomas, resulting in an entirely different roster than the 2019 championship team.
Justin Faulk and Torey Krug, both defensemen, were expensive acquisitions who haven't lived up to expectations.
The question remains: Do the Blues go after youth to build around Kyrou and Thomas? Or do they need to secure more veteran leadership to emulate 2019's success?
Considering the contracts and commitment related to Kyrou and Thomas, the Blues should prioritize adding highly talented young defensemen to their roster. Whether they wait for the free agency frenzy to get underway or consider a blockbuster trade, building around the two young players will bring stability to the franchise and excitement to the fanbase.
Successfully pulling off a trade involving Faulk or Krug would demand a high level of genius from Armstrong, especially considering the presence of no-trade clauses. But he might have the incentive to do so to rebuild the fans' trust.
Blues fans desire the defensive aggression and highlight-worthy plays that former player Vince Dunn brought to the team. Armstrong's decision to let Dunn leave was highly questionable, given his electrifying energy.
Of course, there is no perfect formula to build a championship team, but clearly, a different approach needs to be considered entering next season. Blues fans miss the toughness of David Perron, Pat Maroon, and Vince Dunn.
While veteran leadership is essential, the Blues already have enough of it. The roster is all but screaming go young.