The NHL trade deadline is just two days away, at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6, and the St. Louis Blues stand to be active sellers. GM Doug Armstrong already made one trade ahead of the Olympic break, sending Nick Bjugstad to the New Jersey Devils, and there are quite a number of Blues on trade boards across the media.
At the time of writing, talks with the Buffalo Sabres on Robert Thomas have reached an impasse, though you never know: maybe a deal comes together at the wire, or the two teams start talking again in the offseason. Jordan Binnington, despite a down season, proved he's still got the chops at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and could make a Stanley Cup contender very happy. Teams are always craving reliable, right-handed defensemen as they gear up for their playoff runs, and Justin Faulk could entice a few general managers. Captain Brayden Schenn might not bring back a haul in a trade, but his playoff experience and leadership would be valued by young teams about to make their first playoff appearance. Finally, there's Jordan Kyrou, a winger that--despite a disappointing season--is still a high-end producer and steady top-six forward.
Those five are just the big names being discussed publicly--the Blues could be cooking up trades behind the scenes for other players that we might not even be aware of, like trading Matt Luff out of the Olympic break as a fringe transaction.
All of these players have been in St. Louis for quite some time, many drafted and developed by the organization. Several were here when the Blues brought home the Stanley Cup in 2019, and a couple are still in their prime. After last year's run to the playoffs and nearly winning around, this season was supposed to go so differently.
Instead, tonight could be the last time we see a few of them don the Blue Note. It's going to be a bittersweet moment for fans, but it's the right thing to do. Armstrong is retiring at the end of the season, making way for Alex Steen, and a clean slate and fresh start could be just the thing the new general manager needs. Saying goodbye to some long-tenured players is part of the process.
Change can be difficult, but it's time to look to the future of the franchise. If tonight is indeed the last time we see many of these players take the ice for the Blues, let's not forget all they accomplished while they were here--and wish them the best in the next stage of their careers.