The St. Louis Blues have added some bite to their lineup, signing forward Ross Johnston to a three-year contract worth $2 million per season, according to Jeremy Rutherford.
Johnston, 32, arrives after spending the last three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. In 62 games with Anaheim, he posted three goals and 11 assists.
Across his NHL career, Johnston has appeared in 307 games, scoring 14 goals and finishing with 46 points. Before the Ducks, he also played for the New York Islanders.
The move gives St. Louis the kind of physical edge it has been missing since the team traded Brayden Schenn last season.
Nathan Walker can bring that element too, but Johnston is a more natural fit for that job and is expected to land on the Blues’ fourth line. The question now is who comes out of that group, with Alexey Toropchenko mentioned as a possibility.
There’s more to Johnston than just his physical style. He has been described as an underrated two-way player who can contribute in the offensive zone, something the Islanders took advantage of during his time on Long Island.
With Alexander Steen now officially installed as the team’s new general manager, the addition also fits a broader vision. The Blues appear to be taking a page from their 2019 Stanley Cup blueprint, a team that had plenty of heaviness on its bottom six, with Pat Maroon standing out in that role. Steen seems to be aiming for more balance and a roster built to win puck battles with size and force.
It’s not the kind of signing that will dominate headlines, but it does give St. Louis a useful piece.
A three-year commitment at age 32 may raise an eyebrow, but for now it looks like a sensible addition. It also reinforces the idea that the Blues are pushing toward a playoff return in 2026-27.
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