As the offseason drifts toward August, the St. Louis Blues appear to be mostly finished adding to their roster. At this point, the focus shifts to training camp, preseason, and the prospects who will try to force their way into the picture.
That makes the remaining free-agent market worth a look, especially when it includes a few familiar names tied to St. Louis. Four former Blues are still without contracts for the 2026-27 season, and while a reunion is unlikely in most cases, the list does raise a few interesting possibilities.
Vladimir Tarasenko is the biggest name still out there, and he may also be the one former Blue the organization should seriously consider. New General Manager Alexander Steen could use a veteran with playoff experience, and Tarasenko still brings that kind of presence.
Since leaving St. Louis in 2022-23, he has bounced around to Detroit, Minnesota, Ottawa, Florida, and the New York Rangers.
He also scored 23 goals last season at 34 years old.
Brandon Saad is another former Blue looking for his next deal, though a return to St. Louis does not seem likely.
Vegas claimed him after he was released during the 2024-25 season, and he helped the Golden Knights reach the playoffs over the last two years. At 33, he remains a useful player, but his fit with the Blues is questionable because he would simply take up a roster spot.
Saad finished with nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 78 games, and while he may make more sense for a team like Minnesota or Buffalo, St. Louis probably has younger players it would rather keep developing.
Jonathan Drouin is also on the market after being released, even though his time in St. Louis was brief.
The reason the Blues moved on was simple: his $4 million buyout was too expensive, leaving the club on the hook for $1.33 million over the next two seasons. Drouin is 31 and still has plenty of hockey left, so he will likely want to land a contract that matches that level.
A return to Montreal could be the next step for him.
David Perron rounds out the group. The former Blues alternate captain is still producing and still worth watching, even as he moves through the twilight of his NHL career.
Like Tarasenko, he has continued to move around the league to fill needs wherever he lands. Now 38, he is looking for what could be his final contract.
St. Louis could use him, but the same issue applies as with Saad: another veteran would only add to the crowd in front of younger talent.
When Perron’s playing days are over, though, the expectation is that he will eventually join Steve Ott and Steen on the Blues’ coaching staff or in the front office.
In Other News...
Blues MVP Debate Is No Longer Just About Robert Thomas
Robert Thomas has long been the obvious answer whenever the Blues most valuable player conversation comes up, and for good reason. He has been the sort of steady center around whom the roster has been built, but the outlook for 2026-27 suggests the debate could get a little more interesting if St. Louis younger core keeps taking shape the way the organization hopes.
Jimmy Snuggerud is expected to skate with Thomas and get first-line minutes, Joel Hofer is lined up to take over in goal, and Philip Broberg is moving into a bigger role on the blue line. Thomas still looks like a strong MVP candidate, but the point is no longer whether he matters most. It is whether the next wave of Blues talent can make a real case to share, or even steal, that spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Pavel Buchnevich Enters A Make Or Break Year For The Blues
Pavel Buchnevich arrives at next season at something of a crossroads for the Blues, with his game no longer looking quite as sharp as it did before his move out of New York. St. Louis still views him as a candidate to anchor the second line, but the margin for error is getting slimmer as the club tries to sort out its forward mix and decide which players fit its long-term plan.
The pressure around him is only growing because the Blues have other options pushing for those same minutes, including younger forwards Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. Add in the wave of prospects waiting in the wings, and Buchnevich is not just trying to hold a job, he is trying to re-establish himself as a player the Blues can trust in a meaningful role. [Read more 🡒]