Blues’ Big Day: Trading Bolduc, Signing Veterans, and More

As the St. Louis Blues gear up for the 2025-26 NHL season, General Manager Doug Armstrong is making strategic moves to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term potential. In a flurry of transactions, the Blues acquired defenseman Logan Mailloux from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for winger Zachary Bolduc, re-signed forward Matt Luff to a one-year deal, signed center Nick Bjugstad, and saw center Radek Faksa return to the Dallas Stars. In an interview with media present, Armstrong detailed the Mailloux trade and shed light on his vision for the team’s future. 

Mailloux Trade: A Bold Move for Defensive Depth

The centerpiece of the Blues’ offseason activity is the acquisition of Logan Mailloux, a 6’3” defenseman from the Montreal Canadiens, in exchange for 22-year-old winger Zachary Bolduc. Armstrong described the deal as an “old-fashioned hockey trade,” with both teams leveraging areas of surplus to address needs. The Blues, rich in wing talent with players like Jake Snuggerud, Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway Pavel Buchnevich, and Jake Neighbours, could afford to part with Bolduc, who scored 19 goals last season. Montreal, meanwhile, has a surplus of right-side defensemen, making Mailloux available.

Armstrong praised Mailloux’s potential, calling him an “excellent skater with an excellent shot” who is NHL-ready despite needing to refine his defensive game. With just under 200 AHL games at Laval, Mailloux earned All-Star honors, played deep into the playoffs, and was voted a top prospect by AHL coaches and managers. “He has a job now—it’s his to keep at camp,” Armstrong said, projecting Mailloux as a future top-four defenseman.

Addressing Mailloux’s controversial 2021 draft year, during which he requested not to be drafted due to off-ice issues, Armstrong noted that the Blues conducted thorough research. 

“He’s a young man who made a mistake,” he said. “The league has done their due diligence, and we believe in second chances.” The trade reflects Armstrong’s commitment to strengthening the Blues’ defense, which now includes Mailloux, 6’3” Philip Broberg (acquired last year), and recent draft picks. 

“Our defensive outlook is much better than a year ago,” Armstrong said, signaling optimism for the future.

Trading Bolduc was a tough decision. “It’s like trading a child,” Armstrong admitted, reflecting on Bolduc’s growth through the Blues’ system. However, the opportunity to acquire a defenseman of Mailloux’s caliber was too rare to pass up. Armstrong expressed confidence that Bolduc would thrive in Montreal, potentially softened by returning to his home region.

Nick Bjugstad Signed to Replace Faksa

To address center depth, the Blues signed Nick Bjugstad to a two-year, $3.5 million contract ($1.75 million AAV), after his 2024-25 season with the Utah Mammoth. The 32-year-old, 6’6” center recorded 8 goals and 19 points in 66 games with Utah, adding to his career total of 330 points (157 goals, 173 assists) in 760 NHL games across multiple teams. Bjugstad is expected to slot into a third- or fourth-line center role alongside Oskar Sundqvist, bringing size, defensive reliability, and depth scoring.

Armstrong highlighted Bjugstad’s remaining potential, stating, “He still has good hockey left in him.” The signing directly replaces Radek Faksa, who left as a free agent and signed once again with the Dallas Stars with a three-year, $6 million contract, ensuring the Blues maintain a strong bottom-six forward group. 

Bjugstad’s versatility aligns well with Armstrong’s strategy of balancing experience with youth, complementing prospects like Dvorsky and the newly acquired Mailloux. Although, the ‘WTF’ line will be missed. 

Matt Luff Re-Signed for Depth and Leadership

On July 1, 2025, the Blues signed forward Matt Luff to a one-year, $775,000 contract, with the expectation that he will primarily play for their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Luff, a 27-year-old winger from Oakville, Ontario, had a standout 2024-25 AHL season, scoring 18 goals and 45 points in 50 games with the Thunderbirds. With 106 NHL games (27 points) across the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, and Detroit Red Wings, and 279 AHL games (212 points), Luff brings veteran experience and scoring prowess.

Luff’s role with the Thunderbirds will be to bolster their offense, which has relied on prospects like Dalibor Dvorsky, Nikita Alexandrov, and Hugh McGing. His 0.9 points-per-game production last season positions him as a top-line contributor in Springfield, with the potential for NHL call-ups if needed. “We’re building depth across the organization,” Armstrong noted in the context of young players like Dvorsky, and Luff’s signing supports this goal by providing leadership and stability for the Thunderbirds’ prospect-heavy roster.

Armstrong’s Vision: Balancing Youth and Experience

Acquiring Mailloux addressed the Blues’ defense needs, utilizing their surplus of wingers. Luff’s signing strengthens the Thunderbirds, supporting prospects like Dvorsky, whom Armstrong sees as crucial to the team’s future. Bjugstad’s addition fills the void left by Faksa, ensuring depth at center.

Together, these transactions create a balanced roster that blends veteran experience (Bjugstad, Luff) with emerging talent (Mailloux, Dvorsky). As Armstrong noted, “We’ve been able to revamp the outlook of our D, and we’ll continue to see how we can improve.” 

Now, the question is how they’ll reach Armstrong’s goal of being 5% better by the end of the 2024-25 season. Will these moves actually make them 5% better? With a surplus of defensemen still on the roster and Torey Krug headed to LTIR before the 2025-26 season, it seems like Armstrong has more moves up his sleeve this offseason. 

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