The NHL’s trade freeze may be in effect, but that doesn’t mean roster moves have come to a complete stop. The St.
Louis Blues just made a quiet but intriguing addition, claiming 23-year-old center Jack Finley off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. And while he won’t officially report to the team until February 17 due to the current roster movement rules, this move could have longer-term implications for a Blues squad that appears to be shifting into retool mode.
Finley’s name might not jump off the page for casual fans, but there’s a lot to unpack here. Originally drafted 57th overall by Tampa Bay in 2020, Finley came into the league as something of a project.
He wasn’t putting up massive numbers in junior with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, but his six-foot-six frame and natural center position made him a tantalizing prospect. The Lightning were betting on his size and potential to develop into a reliable bottom-six contributor.
Offense was never going to be Finley’s calling card, and that’s largely how his development has played out. His draft year saw him post 57 points, and even with more experience under his belt, he never quite exploded offensively-his 2021-22 season ended with 50 points.
Still, he’s shown steady progress in the AHL, where he managed to hit double-digit goals in each of his first three full pro campaigns. Last season, he tallied 14 goals and 28 points in 40 games with the Syracuse Crunch, showing flashes of the physical, two-way game that teams covet in a depth center.
Tampa Bay, known for squeezing value out of their depth pieces, kept Finley around through training camp, slotting him in at the back end of their roster. But opportunities were scarce.
He appeared in just 11 games over the first couple of months this season, prompting a brief conditioning stint back in Syracuse. He made the most of it, picking up three points in three games, but even after returning to the Lightning, his ice time remained limited.
In total, he’s played 23 NHL games this season, notching two goals and one assist while averaging just 8:25 of ice time per night. He did manage to throw his weight around with 37 hits and held his own in the faceoff circle, winning 48.5% of his draws.
Now, he gets a new opportunity in his hometown. With the Blues sitting well outside the playoff picture and already beginning to move pieces-like the recent trade that sent Nick Bjugstad packing-Finley steps into a situation where there’s a real chance to earn consistent minutes.
He essentially slots into the roster spot vacated by Bjugstad, and if St. Louis continues to move veterans at the deadline, the door could open even wider for Finley to carve out a role.
What makes this waiver claim even more interesting is the contract situation. Finley isn’t just a short-term rental.
He’s in the first year of a three-year deal that carries a $775,000 cap hit-league minimum for this season. As the minimum salary increases next year, the average annual value of his deal will rise accordingly.
The final two years are on a one-way deal, meaning St. Louis is committing close to $2 million in real dollars over the life of the contract.
That’s not insignificant for a player still trying to establish himself, but if Finley can provide reliable depth and bring some physicality down the middle, it could turn out to be a savvy low-risk, high-reward pickup.
This isn’t the kind of move that makes headlines, but it’s the type that can quietly pay dividends-especially for a team in transition. Finley has the size, the pedigree, and now, the opportunity.
The next step is proving he can turn that potential into production with a fresh start in St. Louis.