We're into the second round of the playoffs, the draft lottery is behind us, and the St. Louis Blues are in offseason mode. They missed the playoffs in a disappointing season after last year's near-upset of the Winnipeg Jets (who missed the playoffs this year too, for what it's worth), and all eyes are looking towards the NHL draft at the end of June. The Blues have three picks in the first round, which could be used to fortify the prospect pipeline or to reload the current roster for another crack at the postseason in 2026-27.
If the Blues opt to make all of those picks--and not use them in trades for players that can help the team right now--then the writing may be on the wall for the Blues core, namely Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Both players are in their primes and on great contracts as the cap is set to balloon again this summer, but they may no longer make sense if the front office decides to pursue a long-term rebuild.
Robert Thomas had a difficult season, and was nearly moved at the trade deadline alongside Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn. While that deal never came to fruition, deadline talks often set the table for moves in the summer, and a Thomas trade could still be on the table. The Blues' surge up the standings at the end of the season was nice and all, but it doesn't outweigh how underwhelming the rest of the year went. It would be painful to move on from Thomas but, if incoming general manger Alex Steen wants to execute a rebuild, the Blues would get some premium assets in a trade.
As for Kyrou, who's seemingly been in the rumor mill forever, trading him would speak more to the Blues' intended direction than anything, because moving him now would almost certainly be a trade the Blues lose. It would clear the way for Jimmy Suggerud, Dylan Holloway, and hopefully Justin Carbonneau to take over top-line duties, as well as prospects not even on our radar yet. Kyrou would not net the return that Thomas would, but it would still be quite future focused.
Trading these two players could set the Blues up for a ton of success years from now, given what they'd bring back in trades. If management elects to blow it all up, then perhaps we've seen Kyrou and Thomas suit up for the Blues for the last time.
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