St. Louis Blues Rebuild or Contend with Key Trades

The St. Louis Blues didn't enter a full rebuild at last season's NHL trade deadline and instead got hot at the end of the year. St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made some savvy moves, trading away veteran defenseman Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings for a first and third-round pick. The Blues also traded Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders for a similar package. And with players like Colton Parayko, Robert Thomas, Jordan Binnington, and Jordan Kyrou still on the roster, the Blues have a solid foundation to build on. From March 1, the Blues managed to go 16-4-3 in their final 23 games of the season, which was the best record in the NHL in that span. The Blues have also been building a strong pool of prospects, including Jimmy Snuggerud, who finished fourth in rookie scoring with 51 points in 70 games. Dalibor Dvorsky, 21, also had a promising first season in the NHL and an even better appearance on the Olympic stage with Slovakia. The Blues have three first-round picks this year, over $14 million in salary cap space, and only two pending UFAs and two pending RFAs on their roster. With Alex Steen taking over as GM, the Blues have financial flexibility and a full cupboard of picks and prospects to make some key decisions. The Blues shed two of their worst contracts in Schenn and Faulk, setting themselves up for long-term success. Robert Thomas still managed to produce at a point-per-game pace on a Blues team that finished 24th in goals per game and was 26th on the power play. The Blues' strong finish to the season raises an intriguing question: are they closer to contention than we think? The answer will depend on how the Blues use their resources and which direction they choose to go. So the Blues will have to make some tough decisions in the offseason. But with their current roster and prospects, they have a good chance of contending. And with the right moves, they could be a serious playoff contender. The Blues' future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: they have the potential to be a great team.