The St. Louis Blues have crowded themselves right down the middle, and that kind of depth usually sounds like a luxury until it turns into a roster problem. By the time the 2026-27 season opens, somebody from that center mix could be the odd man out - and Pius Suter looks like the name that jumps out first.
Robert Thomas is firmly in place. Behind him, Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish are set to battle for the second-line job. Dalibor Dvorsky is in line for a real look at third-line center, while Jack Finley did enough last season to keep his spot on the big, heavy fourth line.
That setup leaves Suter, Oskar Sundqvist and Otto Stenberg on the outside looking in.
Among that group, Suter stands out as the most obvious trade candidate. Sundqvist is more likely to shift to the wing or head to Springfield, where his leadership can help the younger players. Stenberg, meanwhile, is expected to be in the AHL to begin and likely remain there through the middle of the 2026-27 season.
Suter’s case is a little different because he earned enough trust last season to have a real chance at holding the third-line center role if the Blues had not loaded up on more help up the middle. But with the roster continuing to tilt younger, Dvorsky deserves the runway to prove what he can do.
For new general manager Alexander Steen, moving No. 22 makes sense if the return is future draft help. The Blues already have 17 first-round picks in the farm system, but they do not have a second-round pick next season, so a Suter deal could help address that.
It is a complicated logjam, especially since several of these centers can also slide to the wing. Nathan Walker adds another obstacle for Suter, and new arrival Ross Johnston will bring a physical presence to the fourth line, which is not really the same lane Suter plays in.
That leaves St. Louis with a pretty clear fork in the road: buy out the $4.125 million Suter is owed next season, or trade him to a team looking for help down the middle. Suter can still push for a role, but his path got a lot narrower once Doug Armstrong brought in two top-six centers.
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Former Blues First Round Pick Leaves Montreal Fans Waiting
Zachary Bolducs first season stretch in Montreal gave the Canadiens enough to think about as they sort out their forward depth heading into the new year. The former Blues first-round pick came out of the gate well after arriving in the organization, and even as his production dipped later on, he still showed enough to keep himself in the discussion as Montreal looks for inexpensive help down the lineup.
Bolduc is still waiting on the next step, with his future tied to the Canadiens effort to bring him back before the season begins. He has made it clear he would like to stay in Montreal for the long haul, but for now the matter sits with his agent and team management, leaving one more contract question hanging over a club that could use another body up front. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Enter Camp With A Good Problem Jim Montgomery Must Solve
A strong prospect pool is giving the Blues something every coach wants heading into camp: real competition for jobs. St. Louis has a cluster of young defensemen and forwards pushing for attention, with Adam Jiricek, Tyler Tucker and Theo Lindstein among the blue-liners trying to separate themselves, while Otto Stenberg, Justin Carbonneau and others will be trying to force their way into the mix up front.
The most intriguing battle may come down the middle, where the second-line center spot has turned into a crowded race. Dalibor Dvorsky, Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael and possibly Pius Suter give Jim Montgomery plenty of options, but also a difficult call as the Blues sort through who is ready to seize a bigger role and who will have to wait for another opening. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Should Avoid Letting Patrik Laine Disrupt Their Young Core
Patrik Laine is still sitting in free agency, and with several teams keeping an eye on him, the conversation is starting to shift toward fit as much as talent. For the Blues, that makes this a worthwhile cautionary tale. Laine has the kind of name recognition that can tempt a team looking for a scoring boost, but his recent season was limited by injury and his offensive game has not looked like the same force it once did.
St. Louis is in a different kind of phase now, one that asks more from patience and development than from chasing a shortcut. Bringing in a high-profile scorer with recent performance concerns could complicate the path for the younger players the Blues are trying to grow into larger roles. If the organization wants to keep its young core moving forward, it has every reason to be careful about adding a veteran whose upside no longer outweighs the risk. [Read more 🡒]