We are just hours away from the 2025 NHL Draft, and the entire National Hockey League is buzzing. There are trades, signings, rumors, and smokescreens. This is turning into chaos, and it is becoming a beautiful day for armchair General Managers.
That said, the St. Louis Blues nearly had a part in it, but were pushed out at the last minute. In the sweepstakes for Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders, the Blues missed out to the Montreal Canadiens. Despite the rumor of Jordan Kyrou being on the table, they could not get the franchise defenseman and are now in a scramble to find the next best player.
Who else should the Blues be looking at?
K'Andre Miller, New York Rangers
The Blues could use a player like K'Andre Miller from the New York Rangers. He is a left-handed d-man who is excellent at carrying the puck up the ice. Miller is due for a new contract before the start of next season, meaning that the Blues will have to shell out some cash to keep him. Not to mention, he is an RFA, meaning the Rangers have a chance to keep him. If the Rangers want to take back a first-round pick, the Blues could oblige with the 19th pick.
With the rumors swirling of Cam Fowler getting an extension before his contract ends at the end of next season, as well as the situation with Philip Broberg, the Blues have a big decision to make, and Miller needs that decision on July 1, not next year.
Thomas Harley, Dallas
Another defenseman who would make a lot of sense in St. Louis is Thomas Harley of Dallas. He is an up-and-coming defenseman who is desperately needed for an aging group that occupies the Blues' blue line. Harley had 16 goals and 34 assists last season, and is going into the last year of his two-year, $8 million deal. The Blues can get him for a reasonable price, likely without using Kyrou as the large bait, and if things go well, sign him long-term if it comes to a toss-up with Broberg at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Simon Nemec, New Jersey
Another solid up-and-coming defenseman is Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils. Nemec is finishing up his rookie contract, and it will take a lot to pry him out of the Garden State. But, this is where the prospect of trading Kyrou comes into effect, as it could be a package deal with the Blues getting much more than Nemec.
Even though Nemec has not proved nearly enough to warrant a trade with a superstar-caliber player like Kyrou, the Blues can get some more draft stock or a veteran forward in the deal to help round out the bottom-six.