Blues retool on the fly after sneaking into playoffs

The Blues squeaked into the playoffs at 86 points and fifth in the Central, then made a flurry of moves to reshape the roster. Trading Jordan Kyrou to Washington brought back Connor McMichael and the 16th overall pick, while deals for Brandon Carlo and Mason McTavish added size and depth. It's a gamble that the new pieces gel quickly, but general manager Alexander Steen is clearly trying to win now while keeping the pipeline stocked.

Last season in review

St. Louis finished 37-33-12, outscored 258 to 231, and leaned on Robert Thomas's 64 points to carry the offense. Dylan Holloway and rookie Jimmy Snuggerud each posted 51 points, giving the Blues three legitimate scoring threats but not much after that. Joel Hofer went 24-13-5 with a .910 save percentage in his first full season as the starter, solid enough to keep games close but not elite. The underlying numbers were mediocre: a negative goal differential and a fifth-place finish in a loaded Central suggested this was a bubble team that caught a break.

Ins and outs

• Out: Jordan Kyrou (traded to Washington)
• In: Connor McMichael (acquired from Washington)
• In: Rasmus Gastrin (acquired from Washington)
• In: 16th overall pick (acquired from Washington, used on Lawrence)
• In: Mason McTavish (acquired from Anaheim)
• In: Brandon Carlo (acquired from Toronto)
• Out: Jonathan Drouin (bought out)
• In: Seth Johnston (signed to three-year contract)

The Blues also made nine selections at the 2026 NHL Draft, including first-rounder Lawrence on day one, and announced front office changes on July 1, per nhl.com.

The big question

Can the new additions replace Kyrou's production? The 26-year-old winger has been a point-per-game threat in recent years, and while McMichael and McTavish bring upside, neither has proven he can carry an offense night after night. If Thomas has to do even more heavy lifting, the Blues could stall out.

X-factor

Connor McMichael. The 25-year-old center has flashed skill in Washington but never stuck in a top-six role for a full season. St. Louis is betting he can be a second-line producer alongside Thomas or Holloway. If McMichael takes that step, the Kyrou trade looks shrewd. If he doesn't, the Blues gave up their best pure scorer for a collection of maybes.

Bold prediction

St. Louis finishes fourth in the Central and wins a first-round series. Carlo stabilizes the blue line, McTavish gives them a net-front presence they lacked, and Hofer takes another step. The pieces fit better than the sum of their parts, and the Blues become a tough out in April.

The outlook

The Blues are threading a needle, trying to stay competitive while restocking the cupboard. The Kyrou trade was a clear pivot toward a different identity: more size, more two-way responsibility, more draft capital. Whether it works depends on how quickly the new faces adapt and whether Thomas can anchor a revamped top six. St. Louis should be in the playoff mix again, but the margin for error in the Central is razor thin.