With the NHL trade deadline approaching on March 10, the St. Louis Blues find themselves in a familiar but uncomfortable middle ground. They’re competitive enough to hang around the playoff bubble, yet inconsistent enough to remain firmly in the conversation for a top lottery pick. That tension creates a unique deadline dynamic: the Blues aren’t tearing anything down, but they’re also not in a position to ignore opportunities to reshape the roster for the future.
Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong has never been afraid to make difficult decisions, and this year’s roster presents several paths forward. Some players are natural trade chips. Others would require a significant offer. And a few sit in that gray area where the right deal could accelerate the Blues’ long‑term vision.
Here’s a tiered look at who could realistically be moved and why.
Tier 1: Most Likely to Be Moved
These are the players whose roles, contracts, and market demand make them the most logical candidates to be moved before March 10. They’re valuable to contenders and replaceable for a Blues team trying to build toward its next competitive window.
Oskar Sundqvist
He fits the mold of a classic playoff‑ready depth forward. He’s not the type of player a coach elevates to the top line, but he’s the kind of player every coach trusts. Sundqvist brings veteran experience, kills penalties, can play in all situations, and willingly sacrifices his body for the team. His style translates perfectly to postseason hockey, and contenders know exactly what they’re getting. For the Blues, he’s a luxury, a useful piece on a roster that needs to prioritize youth and flexibility. A return, while modest, is essentially free capital for a team in transition.
Mathieu Joseph
The veteran offers a different but equally appealing profile. He’s a strong defensive winger with speed, forechecking pressure, and penalty‑killing value. Teams looking to solidify their bottom-six for a playoff run will see him as a safe, stabilizing addition. Joseph doesn’t currently block many prospects in St. Louis, but he also doesn’t anchor the long‑term plan. Moving him now gives the Blues both cap flexibility and a mid‑round asset.
Justin Faulk
The most intriguing name in this tier because he’s not a declining veteran being moved for the sake of it. At 33, he’s still averaging over 22 minutes per night and playing in all situations. His offensive production this season of 11 goals and 30 points through 57 games is among his best since the 2022–23 season. He remains a legitimate top‑four defenseman on most playoff teams. The challenge is the contract, which could requires retention or money coming back. A lack of right-shot defenders on the trade market currently could boost Faulk’s value. However, if the Blues want to lean into a younger defensive core, Faulk’s value is high enough to justify a move.
Tier 2: Could Be Moved If the Price Is Right
These players are names that could be actively shopped, but they sit at the intersection of value, timeline, and opportunity. If a team comes calling with the right offer, the Blues have to listen.
Jordan Kyrou
The definition of a “wow‑me trade” candidate. The Blues could be looking to move him, and it would take a large return to move him. He remains one of the team’s most dynamic offensive players, and his defensive game has taken meaningful steps forward.
The Blues’ long‑term needs are clear: they need help on the left side of the defense, and they need it in a way that aligns with the next competitive window. If a team is willing to part with a young, top‑pairing‑caliber defenseman or a package that meaningfully reshapes the roster, Kyrou becomes the piece that makes it possible. Anything less, and he stays.
Jonatan Berggren
The 25-year-old forward has been an interesting addition. He’s a fast, skilled winger who can provide secondary scoring and push pace. But the Blues have several wingers knocking on the NHL door, and Berggren risks becoming a blocker rather than a building block. He’s not someone the Blues need to move, but he’s exactly the type of player other teams ask for in bigger deals. If he helps St. Louis acquire a dynamic forward or defenseman with more long‑term impact, he becomes part of the solution.
Brayden Schenn
Schenn remains one of the franchises most respected veterans, shifting between center and wing in a middle‑six role while providing the all‑situations reliability coaches trust. For a playoff team, he’d be an ideal third‑line stabilizer. He’s physical, responsible, and battle‑tested. As captain, he brings leadership and a willingness to empty the tank every night, traits that carry real value both on the ice and in the room.
A trade isn’t out of the question, but it would require the right offer. The Blues clearly value his presence, and moving him would be more about long‑term roster shaping than short‑term gain. With two seasons left on the books at $6.5 million per season, he becomes an expensive third liner.
Robby Fabbri
The winger’s contract makes him one of the most affordable depth scorers available at the deadline. When healthy, he brings energy, secondary-finishing ability, and a competitive edge and depth that playoff teams value. For the Blues, he’s a complementary piece who remains helpful, but not essential. If a contender wants cheap scoring insurance, Fabbri is an easy move.
Pius Suter
The center has been with the Blues for less than a season but already could be on the move with the direction the club is moving toward. He brings versatility that coaches love. He can play center or wing, move up and down the lineup, and contribute on both special‑teams units. His contract isn’t ideal for a pure rental, but the extra term could appeal to teams looking for stability beyond this season. He’s not part of the Blues’ long‑term core, but he’s also not someone they need to rush out the door. If a team offers a meaningful pick or prospect, perhaps part of a deal that brings in valuable goaltending depth of the future, he becomes expendable.
Tier 3: Wild Cards (Unlikely but Not Impossible)
These moves would signal a major philosophical shift. They’re not expected, but they can’t be ruled out.
Jordan Binnington
The ultimate deadline wild card. His playoff résumé is unmatched among available goaltenders, and his competitiveness is tailor‑made for high‑pressure environments. If a contender loses a starter or wants a proven postseason performer, Binnington’s value skyrockets.
The emergence of Joel Hofer gives the Blues flexibility, but moving Binnington would require the right team, the right timing, and likely some salary retention. The biggest hurdle becomes the goaltending depth. The Blues would need to secure an additional netminder for their NHL squad who could be a 1B option to Hofer, or someone to become the starter in the event of an injury. It’s not impossible, just complicated.
Colton Parayko
The Blues number one right side defenseman has quietly put together a strong season, reestablishing himself as a reliable, defense‑first presence capable of handling heavy minutes. His size, reach, and shutdown ability make him appealing to contenders, and right‑shot defensemen with his profile are always in demand. But the contract is long, and his no‑trade clause limits the market. A Parayko trade would require a perfect storm: a contender desperate for defensive help, a willingness to take on term, and a return that justifies moving one of the team’s most stable defenders. It’s unlikely, but not unthinkable.
The Blues aren’t in a complete teardown mode, but they’re also not in a position to ignore opportunities to reshape their roster. The next two weeks will reveal how aggressively Armstrong wants to push toward the future, and how much the market is willing to pay for players who can help contenders now.
Some moves feel inevitable. Others depend entirely on the offer. But one thing is clear: this deadline will help define the next chapter of Blues hockey.