The Blues don't actually need to add another top-six forward in near future

The St. Louis Blues went out and grabbed two solid top-six forwards so far this offseason. Both Conner McMichael and Mason McTavish will do nicely on the second line, in whichever position they end up. 

That being said, there is always the thought of adding more firepower with established talent. It is likely not going to happen for the 2026-27 season, but looking beyond that, it is a possibility in the future to do so. 

Or maybe Blues General Manager Alexander Steen doesn’t need to dip into buying a big-time contract. Let’s talk about it. 

Ride it out with this group and pending prospects?

It is unknown how the 2026-27 season will unfold. Either the newcomers in McTavish and McMichael come in and revolutionize this offense, or they keep to the same standard as years past. 

There is also the element of the youngsters making their way into the NHL. What kind of impact will they have out of the gate? Not to mention the sustainable growth of Jimmy Snuggerud and Dalibor Dvorsky, whom the Blues have a ton of stock in. 

But if all goes according to plan, there is no need for Steen to look externally for talent. He already has it on his payroll. 

Snuggerud and Dvorsky can be top-six talent on their own, and the foundation has been laid with them as two key one-timer artists on the power play. Additionally, Dylan Holloway could fit in as the other winger to make that a solid trio. 

Robert Thomas is poised for a great season, which could include a career-high. Watch for him to potentially have some votes for some key NHL awards at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Some prospects, including Justin Carbonneau, are awaiting their shot to enter the Blues' future top-six group. This is only going to get muddier when the two 2026 NHL first-rounders, Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Deganais, enter the fold.

No need to spend big money next offseason

Even with a rising salary cap, it may not be necessary to blow up your wallet after the 2026-27 season. It will be a big offseason for free agents, like Nikita Kucherov, Alex DeBrincat, and Jason Robertson, to name a very small few. 

The Blues are going to need to re-sign a bunch of their youth after this upcoming season, and that should be the top priority. If this retool was done right, keep what you have and let it continue. 

Snuggerud will need a new deal, as will goaltender Joel Hofer, following his first potential go-around as the starting goaltender. The same goes for Jake Neighbours, as he is also about to enter free agency as a Restricted Free Agent. 

Steen should be prioritizing keeping his core together and not swinging for the fences to bring in an external talent. 

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