Blues Signal They're Open for Business - But Only for the Right Price
The St. Louis Blues may have just tipped their hand.
With Nick Bjugstad heading to the New Jersey Devils, the trade itself might not have turned heads around the league - no blockbuster headlines here - but don’t let the lack of sizzle fool you. This move could be the first domino in what might become a much broader shake-up in St.
Louis. The message?
The Blues are listening. And if you’ve got a compelling offer, they just might be ready to talk.
Let’s break it down.
A New Era Begins in St. Louis
This isn’t just about one trade. There’s a bigger shift happening behind the scenes.
Longtime GM Doug Armstrong is preparing to hand over the reins to Alex Steen next season. That transition alone signals a new direction for the franchise - and with it, a willingness to re-evaluate the roster from top to bottom.
Bjugstad’s departure - he’s got another year left on his deal at $1.75 million - shows the Blues are willing to move players with term remaining on their contracts. And it’s not just depth pieces.
The front office is reportedly open to discussions around some of their core veterans, including Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk. Both have another year on their deals and carry 15-team no-trade clauses, but the Blues have been fielding calls.
Translation: St. Louis isn’t holding a fire sale, but they’re certainly not hanging up the phone either.
Who’s Safe - and Who’s Not
The Blues’ approach seems to be centered around a clear age line. Players 25 and under?
Those guys are sticking around. Everyone else?
The front office is at least picking up the phone.
That doesn’t mean they’re actively shopping the likes of Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou - far from it. But if a team wants to talk about one of those names, they better come correct.
We’re talking serious assets in return. The kind of deal that forces a GM to sit up, take notice, and maybe even re-think the long-term blueprint.
Thomas, in particular, is drawing interest. The Blues have made it known to a few teams that they’re willing to have the conversation - but only if the return is significant enough to justify it.
This isn’t about moving a piece for the sake of change. It’s about weighing whether a foundational shift makes sense at this point in the franchise’s evolution.
So yes, Thomas is technically “available,” but it comes with a giant asterisk. You want him? You better bring the kind of offer that makes Doug Armstrong pause - not one that makes him throw his phone across the room.
What This Means for the Market
With the Bjugstad trade now in the books, the rest of the league is officially on notice: the Blues are open for business. And not just for rentals or expiring contracts. They’re willing to talk about players with term - and even some of their marquee names - if the deal is right.
That could shake up the trade market in a big way. Teams looking for playoff reinforcements or long-term building blocks now know that St.
Louis is a potential partner. But they’ll need to come with more than just picks and prospects.
The Blues are holding firm on their prices - and those prices haven’t budged since last year’s trade deadline.
This isn’t a team desperate to sell. It’s a team with leverage, a deep pool of talent, and a clear vision for the future.
And if that future includes moving on from some of the current core, it’s going to be on St. Louis’ terms.
Final Word
The Bjugstad deal might not have dominated headlines, but it’s the kind of trade that signals something bigger. The Blues are recalibrating - not rebuilding, not tearing it down, but reassessing what their next era should look like.
With a leadership change on the horizon and a willingness to listen on almost everyone not named “under 25,” St. Louis just became one of the most intriguing teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
They’re not just open for business. They’re open for the right business.