The St. Louis Blues have a big decision to make regarding the future of Cam Fowler in St. Louis. Fowler is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 season, but is also set to enter his age-34 season. Should the Blues get a deal done to keep Fowler for another year or two, or does the timeline match up better to let him walk?
Let's analyze both perspectives surrounding the future of Cam Fowler as a Blue.
St. Louis and Cam Fowler: a match made in heaven
As a Blue, Cam Fowler made an instant impact in his 51 games, registering 36 points. This puts his per-82 game pace at 58 points, which would have put him 10th in the NHL among all defensemen.
Under Jim Montgomery and with a young and revitalized team, Cam Fowler saw some of the best heights of his career and really settled in as a true puck-moving offensive threat, serving up dimes to assist the already talented forward core.
Fowler filled a massive hole on the top line, serving as an effective top-pair partner to Colton Parayko's excellent defensive game. The two worked together in beautiful sync, and their strengths complemented each other perfectly. Parayko and Fowler became the top pair St. Louis had been waiting for several years, offering both high-level offense and defense.
Therefore, it makes sense that Fowler has earned another contract in St. Louis to remain a Blue for seasons to come. A long-term deal would not make sense as he is going to be 34 years old, but a 1- or 2-year extension would set up both Fowler and the Blues for mutual success.
Doug Armstrong and his aging defenseman
The case against Fowler does heavily circle that age number as a problem for the Blues and their window of contention opening up.
Fowler would have to sign until he is 35 or 36 years old, which would mean regression could come at any moment. There's always the chance it comes this coming season before any theoretical extension.
While the aging curve is more forgiving for defensemen as compared to forwards, Fowler is getting up to the age where that too goes out the window, and he is fighting Father Time week to week and month to month.
Jim Montgomery loves to use his defenseman as part of the offensive play, and part of that is a baseline of athleticism and speed to pinch up in the offensive zone and play closer to the net. This also makes getting back on defense a much more challenging task, since there's more ice to skate. At Fowler's age, there's no guarantee that he can continue to perform at the same level year in and year out.
Furthermore, Doug Armstrong has been burned by signing aging defensemen before. The closest case in age would be Nick Leddy, who was released by the Blues this offseason due to performance; a deal for Fowler could end up perhaps not so bad, but not good enough to play on the top pair where he's needed.
Finally, a potential extension for Fowler could block playing time for a young and upcoming Blues defenseman, Philip Broberg. Broberg received some top-pair minutes, and while he wasn't ready for it last season, at any moment now, Broberg could break out into the excellent top-pair defenseman that Blues fans all know is in there.
A Fowler extension is a move that comes with a lot of risk that he could fall off at any moment, and there is no guarantee he can play on the top pair. Furthermore, in a potentially best-case scenario where he does stay partnered with Parayko, this blocks ice time from one of the Blues' developing stars in Broberg. There are a lot of moving parts that can't all be satisfied with Fowler on the roster beyond this coming season.
Both stances have legitimate points for and against their case. There is no doubt that Fowler was awesome last season, but Doug Armstrong, Alex Steen, and the Blues have a crucial decision to make this coming season. Should they extend Fowler? Or were you convinced that there is too much risk involved? Whatever the case may be, I think Blues fans can all agree this is a big season for #17 on the Blues.