The start of free-agency is scheduled for July 1. The St. Louis Blues have limited cap space, albeit enough to add a quality-friendly contract or two.
The Blues will have about $16.3 million to spend in the market. The Edmonton Oilers boast a talented roster and one that is set to perhaps lose several key players.
These are the current unrestricted free agents for the Oilers:
Connor Brown, Sam Carrick, Warren Foegele, Sam Gagner, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry, Vincent Desharnais, Troy Stecher, Calvin Pickard.
Blues fans are probably familiar with several of these names, including Connor Brown, Warren Foegele, Sam Gagner, Adam Henrique, and Corey Perry.
There are three players worth considering for the Blues.
Connor Brown
Brown played this last season on a one-year contract at $4 million. He’s been a bit of a journeyman but experienced success in Toronto from 2015 to 2019 and Ottawa from 2019 to 2022.
His name came up several times in the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring in an impressive breakaway.
Although he’s only 30 years old, he brings a wealth of experience from competing teams in Toronto, Washington, and Edmonton.
If the Blues are looking for additional veteran leadership, and are willing to pay for his services, he would be a reasonable consideration. His speed was on full display in the finals. He had a shooting percentage of 14.3% in the playoffs.
Adam Henrique
Henrique moved to the Oilers from the Anaheim Ducks through a trade, and he is a little older than Brown, at 34.
Similar to Brown, he possesses a wealth of experience in the league and is considered a greater scoring threat.
His latest contract paid him a little under $6 million per year. However, his contract, which was for five years, has now lapsed.
The idea is that, given his age and the current market, he could be a steal for $4 million or less on a short contract.
If the Blues were interested in scoring assistance, Henrique would be a good choice. This season, he scored 24 goals with the Ducks and Oilers.
Warren Foegele
Foegele is the youngest of the three and perhaps the one who will receive a more lengthy, higher contract.
He’s 28 and recorded 41 points in regular-season play.
His expiring contract was a three-year $8.25 million deal.
Did he play above expectations? Or will he garner similar numbers? If the Blues could pay him around $2.75 million for a one-to-three year deal, he should also be considered.
He’s coming off his best statistical season, which will assist him in the open market and perhaps even find a team willing to pay more for his services.
While the Blues need defensive help, none of the Oilers defensemen in the UFA class are noteworthy names or talent.
Winning is contagious. If the Blues allow a few offensive players like Sammy Blais to depart, Armstrong should consider one of the players mentioned above.
We left out Corey Perry, who’s 39 years old, mainly because of his age. But some fans might worry about his losing streak and the superstition around him being on losing Stanley Cup teams lately. All kidding, of course. It’s his age.