The Blues have already made their share of noise this offseason, but the move that could really change the shape of their roster might not even be on the table yet.
St. Louis has already swung big by sending Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and bringing in Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks. Even with those changes, the larger problem still hangs over the roster: the Blues need another difference-maker, or they could wind up trapped in that awkward NHL middle ground where a team is too good to truly bottom out and not good enough to chase a Stanley Cup.
That kind of talent is hard to find. It’s why the Philadelphia Flyers’ aggressive offer sheet approach turned into a matched deal, and why the trade that landed Quinn Hughes last year came at the cost of a massive pile of premium prospects and picks.
With the season nearly here, the market is thin. But one unsigned restricted free agent is starting to look like a possible opening.
Adam Fantilli’s contract talks with the Columbus Blue Jackets are moving at a crawl. An anonymous source told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic that negotiations between general manager Don Waddell and Fantilli’s agent Pat Brisson are " very slow." Waddell, speaking to Columbus’s beat writer, said the sides are still in contact but that they’re " not there yet."
For Columbus, the timing is already messy. Cole Sillinger and Jet Greaves both went to arbitration before eventually signing, with Greaves getting his deal done with minutes to spare.
Kirill Marchenko has also indicated he won’t be re-signing in Columbus, and Zach Werenski nearly being traded to the Dallas Stars only adds to the turbulence. Fantilli’s unresolved contract is another problem in a summer full of them.
From St. Louis’ perspective, Fantilli would represent a much bigger swing than the Blues’ recent McTavish addition.
He’s younger, has more upside, and comes with fewer questions about what he is and what he isn’t. If he reaches his ceiling, he could even challenge Robert Thomas for the top spot on the roster.
The two centers are different players, but together they’d give the Blues a dangerous one-two punch down the middle.
Training camps are opening this week across the league, and Fantilli appears likely to miss at least the first few days. If the delay stretches on, the possibility of a split between player and team only grows. It wouldn’t happen instantly, but history says these situations can sour quickly.
McTavish is the obvious reminder. He sat out training camp during contract talks, struggled through a down season and was soon traded.
Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras went through similar turbulence with the Ducks and are now with the Flyers. Columbus has seen this story before too, with Ryan Johansen more than a decade ago, and the relationship never fully recovered.
The Blues have the prospect depth and the draft capital to get involved if Fantilli ever becomes available. If that door opens, they’d have the ammo to make a real run at him - and that kind of move would be a major lift for their lineup.
In Other News...
Blues Face A Tough Call On Long-Term Deals For Young Core
Around the league, a handful of young players have already locked in eight-year extensions before the NHLs next labor rules trim that option down. That has put some pressure on front offices, including the Blues, to decide whether now is the time to go long on their own developing core while the chance is still there.
St. Louis has reason to weigh the gamble carefully. Long-term deals can buy cost certainty and reward upside, but they also tie the team to a player before the full picture is clear, which is why these decisions are so tricky for clubs trying to build sustainably. The question hanging over the Blues is whether the moment is right to push for that kind of commitment, or whether patience still makes more sense. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Binnington Is Entering Blues Camp With Real Pressure
Training camp opens with the Blues still sorting out their most important question in net, and the discussion has only intensified because of the way the last few seasons have unfolded. Joel Hofer has earned a larger share of the workload and looked steadier along the way, while Jordan Binnington remains in the mix as the veteran who has carried this team before and still has a chance to secure more of the starts.
The pressure is sharper now because new general manager Alex Steen appears to see Hofer as the goaltender who should grow into the role for the long haul. Even so, St. Louis also needs Binnington to show he can still be a dependable part of the picture in a contract year, which leaves the Blues with an unsettled competition and one of camp's most closely watched storylines still waiting to be resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Thomas Already Has A Chance To Make Blues History
Robert Thomas has spent his entire NHL career in St. Louis, and now he takes on a role that puts him in the middle of franchise history. Recently named the 25th captain in Blues history, the 27-year-old enters his ninth season with the club as one of the organizations most important players, with 460 career points and a long runway ahead of him to shape the next chapter.
The appointment gives Thomas a chance not just to lead the room, but to climb a list that has long been associated with the teams most durable voices. Brian Sutters captaincy mark has stood for decades, and Thomas is already positioned to put his own stamp on that standard if his tenure unfolds the way the Blues hope it can. [Read more 🡒]