© Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the St. Louis Blues.

The St. Louis Blues remain committed to their strategy of internal reformation and development to regain their familiar position in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a place they were comfortable with in previous years.

Despite making advancements last season by finishing 43-33-6 and ranking fifth in the Central Division, the Blues failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. This followed a period in which they had qualified for 10 of the preceding 11 seasons, even clinching their first Cup title in 2019.

General manager Doug Armstrong did not spend a lot of money and cap space in free agency, but he did raise eyebrows when he tendered offer sheets Aug. 13 to two players from the Stanley Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers: Philip Broberg (two years, $9.16 million; $4.58 million average annual value), who the Blues view as a top-four defenseman and Dylan Holloway (two years, $4.58 million; $2.29 million AAV), who St. Louis sees as a top-nine forward.

The Oilers were given a week to respond but chose not to. As a result, they received a second-round pick for 23-year-old Broberg and a third-round pick for 22-year-old Holloway in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Armstrong stated on Tuesday, “We’ve clearly been monitoring these two young players since their draft year and have witnessed their development. Over the past several years, they’ve been part of a highly competitive team, fluctuating between the American Hockey League and NHL as Edmonton managed its salary cap. Their substantial growth in the American League and their performance in last year’s playoffs were in line with their draft positions. This appeared to be a chance for us to maintain our commitment to recruit as many players as possible within a specific age group.”

The objective was clear.

Armstrong stated last month, “I believe our team has improved since the end of the previous season, particularly in the forward position with the addition of three new players. We’re now faster, more determined, and bigger.”

The Blues began their makeover June 28 when they acquired center Alexandre Texier in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. St. Louis then signed the 24-year-old, who could have become a restricted free agent July 1, to a two-year, $4.2 million contract.

“Texier fits into our age group,” stated Armstrong. “Given our cap space, we felt this was a risk-reward deal that was logical for us. It presents an opportunity for both him and us; he gets a fresh start and we gain a new player.”

On July 2, the Blues acquired forward Mathieu Joseph and a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Ottawa Senators for future considerations, and the same day acquired forward Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars for future considerations.

“We felt the need to become a more challenging team to compete against, one that can put up a stronger defense along the walls and in front of the net,” stated Drew Bannister, the Blues coach who signed a two-year contract on May 7, transitioning from his interim position. “That is an issue that was definitely addressed. We focused on increasing our speed and skating abilities. We’re a faster team today than we were yesterday.”

They excel in plays away from the puck and definitely in penalty kills.

After trading center Kevin Hayes and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations on June 29 to free up cap space, perhaps St. Louis’ most important commitment was keeping one of its own when it signed forward Pavel Buchnevich to a six-year, $48 million contract ($8 million AAV) July 2. It begins with the 2025-26 season and keeps the 29-year-old under team control for the next seven seasons.

“Our aim is for the players to reach their maximum potential, and ‘Buch’ certainly has the capability to do so,” stated Armstrong. “However, actuarial tables indicate that not everyone achieves this. Looking ahead, I believe that this is simply part of conducting business in the contemporary NHL.”

Last season, Buchnevich ranked third in scoring for the Blues with 63 points, made up of 27 goals and 36 assists in 80 games. This was his third season in a row scoring at least 25 goals and 60 points.

Armstrong expressed his belief that since his arrival, he has performed at the level he thought he could and has maintained a point-a-game status. He added that his multi-positional capabilities, strong hockey sense, and dedication to professionalism invoke confidence that this contract will age better than most.

St. Louis felt it had to address its defensive unit and did so beginning July 3, when it signed Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Mathieu Joseph’s younger brother, to a one-year, $950,000 contract. The Blues also signed 39-year-old Ryan Suter to a one-year, $775,000 contract on July 10 with the chance to make up to $3 million with performance bonuses.

The signing of Suter, who was bought out of the final year of his contract by the Stars on June 28, became insurance when the Blues announced July 16 that defenseman Torey Krug could miss the entire 2024-25 season after being diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle. His timeline to be reevaluated was 6-8 weeks, with Krug working to rehabilitate the injury through non-surgical interventions over that time. On Sept. 3, the Blues announced Krug would miss the season after surgery was required.

Armstrong didn’t confidently assert that St. Louis has finished modifying its roster, and there is cap space available if required.

“We can alter a little bit,” he said. “… I’m excited about our goaltenders (Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer), I’m excited about the depth on our roster now. But if somebody gets in a jam, we might be there to help them get out of their jam.”