The St. Louis Blues are expected to retool their blue line this offseason—particularly the right side. With Nick Leddy entering the final year of his $4 million deal, his contract may be easier to move than Justin Faulk’s ($6.5 million, two years remaining). That could keep Faulk in a reduced third-pair role alongside Tyler Tucker, who quietly posted a +10 rating and averaged over 17 minutes per night last season.
That strategy opens a critical need for a new second-pair right-handed defenseman (RD2). The Blues are working with just over $5 million in projected cap space, and Joel Hofer’s expected $2–3 million extension narrows that margin. Trading Leddy and either Mathieu Joseph ($2.95M) or Alexandre Texier ($2.1M) could boost available cap space to $11.975M or $11.125M, providing more flexibility.
With CapWages projections, here’s an estimated projected of contracts. I’ve compared top UFA RHD options to Faulk’s 2024–25 performance (4G, 28A, 32P, -9, 22:27 ATOI, 48.7% CF%, 1.1 PTS/60). Here’s how five key targets stack up.
The Target: A Reliable RD2 for Broberg or Fowler
Colton Parayko remains the top-pair RHD, but with Justin Faulk potentially shifting to the third pair, the Blues need a second-pair option who can contribute 25–35 points and handle 20–22 minutes a night. That player must complement Philip Broberg’s speed or Cam Fowler’s puck movement in Jim Montgomery’s fast-paced system.
Long-term, 2024 first-rounder Adam Jiricek could fill that role. The 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman has the two-way skill set to eventually crack the NHL blue line, but recurring injuries have delayed his development. He’ll need time to build his body back up and gain experience at the professional level, making a veteran stopgap a smart short-term solution.
UFA RHD Options
Aaron Ekblad | Age: 29 | Projected: 3 years x $7.93M
2024–25 Stats: 3G, 30A, +11, 23:31 ATOI, 55.9% CF%, 1.5 PTS/60
- Pros: Still a strong puck mover with top-four production and playoff grit.
- Cons: Unlikely to leave Florida after winning the Cup; 57 giveaways are high.
- Fit: The pipe dream. Ideal on paper, but likely unavailable.
Dante Fabbro | Age: 27 | 4 years x $4.528M
2024–25 Stats: 9G, 17A, +23, 21:39 ATOI, 47.4% CF%, 1.2 PTS/60
- Pros: Defensive stalwart (+23, 136 blocks), fits well next to Fowler.
- Cons: Lower offensive ceiling; longer-term deal.
- Fit: Solid two-way presence with manageable cost.
Matt Grzelcyk | Age: 31 | 3 years x $3.77M
2024–25 Stats: 1G, 39A, -6, 20:37 ATOI, 52.5% CF%, 1.4 PTS/60
- Pros: Highest point total among targets, strong possession game.
- Cons: Not very physical (43 hits), turnover-prone (85 giveaways).
- Fit: Great all-around RD2 option if available.
Nick Perbix | Age: 27 | 2 years x $2.645M
2024–25 Stats: 6G, 13A, +8, 14:41 ATOI, 51.0% CF%, 1.0 PTS/60
- Pros: Affordable, under-the-radar option with possession upside.
- Cons: Third-pair usage; not ready for RD2 minutes.
- Fit: Depth addition only.
Tony DeAngelo | Age: 29 | Projected: 1 year x $2.053M
2024–25 Stats: 4G, 19A, -11, 23:21 ATOI, 54.5% CF%, 1.4 PTS/60
- Pros: Solid offensive instincts and strong Corsi; affordable.
- Cons: Defensive liabilities (-11, just 42 blocks, 17 hits).
- Fit: Offense fits system, but defensive gaps are a concern.
Cap Strategy and Fit
- Cap Options: Grzelcyk, Fabbro, DeAngelo, and Perbix fit within the current budget. Trading Leddy and Joseph/Texier would make room for Ekblad.
- Contract Length: Grzelcyk (3 yrs) and DeAngelo (2 yrs) avoid blocking prospects like Matthew Kessel. Fabbro’s four-year term is tradable.
- Availability: Ekblad is the least likely to hit the market. Grzelcyk is most attainable due to Pittsburgh’s cap issues.