St. Louis Blues
· 2026-06-29
The St. Louis Blues have seven restricted free agents to make decisions on this off-season, including Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel, after finishing the season with a 37-33 record and 9th place in the Western Conference.
The Blues' new GM, Alexander Steen, will have to make tough choices on these players, considering their performance and potential.
The team's standing, 9th in the Western Conference with a W4 streak, will also impact these decisions.
Jonatan Berggren, a waiver-wire pickup from the Detroit Red Wings, had a notable season with six goals and 16 points in 36 games.
Matthew Kessel played 29 games with the Blues, serving as a seventh defenseman when the team was shorthanded due to injuries.
The remaining five RFAs, including Dylan Peterson, Zach Dean, Thomas Bordeleau, Leo Loof, and Will Cranley, did not play any NHL games this past season, but still hold potential for the team.
Peterson, a 24-year-old forward, scored 12 goals and 24 points in 57 AHL games, showing his physicality with 85 penalty minutes.
Dean, a former first-round pick, played only nine NHL games and missed part of the AHL season due to the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
Bordeleau, acquired by the Blues during the 2025-26 season, scored seven goals and 13 points in 25 games.
Loof, a 24-year-old defenseman, took a step back in production, notching just two goals and six points in 47 games.
Cranley, a 24-year-old goaltender, split his time between the AHL and ECHL, posting a .892 save percentage in the AHL and a .915 save percentage in the ECHL.
The Blues' decisions on these RFAs will shape their roster and impact their chances in the upcoming season.
As the team looks to improve on their 37-33 record, they will need to make the most of these off-season decisions.
With the NHL draft and off-season underway, the St. Louis Blues are poised to make some key moves.
The team's fans will be watching closely to see how these decisions play out.