St. Louis Blues 2025-26 Mailbag: Kyrou Trade Rumors, Dvorsky Timeline, Byram’s Future to St. Louis

Blues fans, you’ve got questions so let’s get at it! In this Sports Hub mailbag, With questions regarding Jordan Kyrou trade rumors to Dalibor Dvorsky’s NHL timeline and Jake Neighbours’ ceiling, let’s jump on in.

@ash_gibbsblues - Who and what will the Blue’s do to help with PP and PK and 6 on 5 defence this season ? New specialty teams coach ??

The Blues likely focus on improving their power play, penalty kill, and 6-on-5 defense, without a new specialty teams coach. GM Doug Armstrong emphasizes addressing empty-net defense issues through strategic adjustments and leveraging players like Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux on the penalty kill. Pius Suter’s signing adds versatility to both special teams, while young players like Jimmy Snuggerud should change the look of the power play.

@HBLoomis Army talked about how the empty net defense was something he would address after the season. Did he do that?

I believe so, yes. Acquiring players like Suter, Mailloux, and Bjugstad are all players who can help in not just 6-on-5 situations, but in all situations. The team’s focus on younger, faster players suggests a shift toward better puck retrieval and defensive zone coverage.

@5MinuteMajorPod What’s a realistic timeline for Dvorsky this season? It seems like a wing spot might be available for the taking.

Dvorsky’s realistic timeline comes down to competing for a bottom-six wing spot at training camp, likely on the third line. This move could help ease his NHL transition. With 45 points in 61 AHL games last season, he’s close to NHL-ready. A strong camp could see him in the lineup by opening night, but I’d like to see him get top line assignments in Springfield first and then a call up option for injuries a few months down the road. Let’s see where he’s at come training camp for a better assessment.

@slimeballo7 What is a realistic ceiling for Jake Neighbours? And is it higher than the potential ceiling of Byram?

I like his ceiling as a consistent 20-25 goal, two-way middle-six winger who is capable of playing in the top-six. Bowen Byram, with his skating and puck-moving ability, has a higher ceiling as a potential top-pair defenseman, possibly hitting 40-50 points with strong defense. Neighbours’ grit complements Byram’s dynamic skill set, but Byram’s role carries greater impact potential.

@sam170552177004 do you think the byram deal is happening? will steen be a good gm? make lots of trades FA signings ETC

Byram’s trade is unlikely to happen at least for St. Louis. Buffalo has mentioned several times they are looking for NHL-caliber players and so unless Armstrong is ready to give up Jake Neighbours, it’s unlikely to happen.

As GM, I would expect Steen to expected to be very calculated, focusing on smart, low-risk moves at first given the roster he currently has in place. I expect he’ll prioritize prospect development over splashy trades or free-agent signings.

@DylanStorck Can you once and for all break down some of the kyrou stuff & tell people teams can ask but it would have to be a hell of a return to trade him. Compare is numbers to his contract and others around the league and how hard it would be to replace him. The narrative about him is old

Kyrou’s 31 goals and 67 points in 2024-25 make his $8.125M AAV a fair value compared to players around league like William Nylander ($11.5M, 98 points). Trading him would require a massive return—likely a top-six forward or high-end defenseman plus picks—due to his high scoring capabilities and difficulty replacing 30+ goals. I get entertaining a player like that to at least see what I can get for him, but would not entertain moving him just to move him. Give me fair value or he stays. Fair value was likely not returned and so he remains a Blue.

@Mark02289579561 What do you think about the depth of the goalie position within the system beyond the Blues. It seems like it’s a bit unsure in the AHL and ECHL. Ellis is the front runner but just barely. No one stands out and if the Blues have injury at the goalie position are they NHL ready?

Beyond Binnington and Hofer, the Blues’ goaltending depth has Colten Ellis, who posted a .922 save percentage in 42 AHL games last season. Behind him are now netminders like like Vadim Zherenko (.897 save percentage), Will Cranley (.896 save percentage) in 23 ECHL games and Love Harenstam (junior-level) is obviously not NHL-ready yet, so an injury to Binnington or Hofer would likely push Ellis to the NHL as a backup. He’s unproven in the NHL but looked very reliable in his time in the AHL. I wouldn’t underestimate Ellis’ capabilities.

@BleedinBlue89 If you were Walker, would you be concerned about losing your spot?

Personally, I think he's safe and should be for good reason. That 4th line lead the way multiple times against the Jets. And all three were top ten in points amongst the bBlues

Nathan Walker’s fourth-line role with Alexey Toropchenko provided grit and clutch scoring against this past season. His chemistry all-out play style make him invaluable to this lineup. I wouldn’t expect Walker’s role is secure for 2025-26. Though I could not say the same for a few other forwards in this lineup who could find themselves on the outside looking in…

@dbrownz28 If Jiricek can stay healthy, what is his ceiling and stylistic comparison? I remember before his injuries, he was viewed as a top prospect.

If Adam Jiricek stays healthy, his ceiling is a top-four, two-way defenseman with strong skating and puck-moving skills, comparable to a young Colton Parayko. Pre-injury, he was a projected top-10 pick in 2024, valued for his physicality and transition play. Defensemen take longer to develop but this season could be crucial for his long-term development after suffering multiple injuries this past season. This is where coaching and development will hopefully help refine his hockey sense, making him a potential NHL cornerstone.

@JordanHiser Is Carbonneau going to training camp

This will depend on his decision to go to NCAA or back to the CHL. If he goes the NCAA route, we won’t see him in camp.

@Galcian1995 Are Blues actually trying to trade Kyrou?

I do not believe the Blues are not actively shopping Kyrou, though I do expect they did listen to offers for a significant return. I don’t have any knowledge of this, just pure speculation.

@eph424 Do you think Alexandrov will get his shot to be an everyday player in the bottom 6

I really want him to be given a fair chance. If he re-sign’s, Alexandrov should have a chance to secure a bottom-six role, especially with the Blues’ focus on youth. His AHL production (49 points in 48 games) shows significant growth, but he’ll need a strong training camp to beat out competitors. A wing spot could open as he’s seen the highest level of production there this past season.

@Mac7715704455136 Given all the smoke around Kyrou- if he is traded for futures, I don’t see a world where this team would have any chance of making the playoffs. Is STL really prepared to punt the season away for high draft picks?

Trading Kyrou for futures be a massive step in the wrong direction. Army would likely never make this trade, only to help his team compete now.

@ibleedblue1968 Is the lack of recent info on Byram suggest it hasn’t worked out, or is it possibly because non-Buffalo team needs to negotiate new longer-term contract, or other?

The lack of Byram trade rumors is likely due to the pending arbitration hearing set. He’ll likely get a two-year deal set up that helps him walk to free agency after this. Teams want to know if they’ll get the chance to sign him or run the risk of losing him to free agency. That changes his value significantly.

@RichieSportsFan Which of the Springfield prospects could you see most likely making an impact on this team next season?

Prospects like Dvorsky, Aleksentari Kaskimaki, Otto Stenberg, and Dylan Peterson are poised to make the biggest impact from Springfield. Theo Lindstein could also contribute on defense given his SHL experience.

@sfcSpidey What can we expect for Zach Dean this year? Is he healthy actually?

From what I can gather, Zach Dean is healthy and expected to compete for a bottom-six role. His two-way play could see him as a fourth-line center or wing if he impresses at camp. I would expect we see him in a top-six AHL role though, rather than him actually make the NHL. Only 22 years old though and a chance to really turn things around. Expect a depth role with potential for growth.

@CartmanAJ Why does Frank Serevali think we’d move Kyrou?

Gotta follow the rumors. There’s likely some truth to it all and I would expect there were trade talks actually happening with a deal of some sort that likely never panned out.

@gallin_ben Who is more of a priority to extend? Holloway or Broberg?

I would expect extending Holloway is the priority over Philip Broberg, as his 63 point season last year and versatility as a forward are harder to replace. Broberg’s top-four upside is valuable, but the Blues’ forward depth is thinner, making Holloway’s re-signing critical. Both are RFAs, so negotiations will heat up post-season. I would expect both to get long-term deals done.

@ScoopTroop9 Can you bring back John Kelly?

:(