St. Louis Blues
· 2026-07-01
The St. Louis Blues have bought out the final year of Jonathan Drouin's contract, sending him to free agency on July 1st.
The 31-year-old winger appeared in 9 games for the Blues, posting 1 goal and 3 points, after arriving from the New York Islanders in a deal involving Blues captain Brayden Schenn.
The Blues have been active in the off-season, trading Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and acquiring Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks.
With one year remaining on his contract and a $4 million cap hit, the expectation was that Drouin could be traded, but the Blues have opted to buy out the final year of his contract.
The team is looking to get younger, with a promising core of players, including Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Dagenais, drafted at No. 11 and 16 overall.
Drouin could garner interest on the free agency market, having posted 56 points with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023/24, and bringing immense experience and leadership to his next team.
The Blues are currently 9th in the Western Conference, with a 37-33 record, on a W4 streak, and are looking to build on their young core.
The buyout of Drouin's contract is the latest move in the Blues' off-season, as they look to shape their roster for the 2026/27 season.
And with the arrival of McTavish and Connor McMichael, the Blues' forward group is looking crowded, making Drouin the odd man out.
But the talented winger will have plenty of options in free agency, given his history in the NHL, with 671 games and 43 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances under his belt.
So the Blues will be looking to move forward with their young core, while Drouin will be looking to find a new team to contribute to.
The Blues' decision to buy out Drouin's contract is a clear indication of their commitment to building a younger team, with a focus on the future.