Future Outlook

Équipe: 2023-24 Blues de St-Louis

Date de création initiale: 27 mai 2023

Publié: 27 mai 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

The Blues goal is to have a solid future set heading into the 2026-27 season.

2023 Offseason Goals
#1 - Draft Well
- Blues should take a Top 6 Center for the future with the 10th pick. I really think Oliver Moore would fall right into that spot and we would be so set with one of the quickest lines in the NHL with Bolduc - Moore - Kyrou
- Blues should take a solid RD with the 25th pick. I think Oliver Bonk or Tom Willander will be available with that selection and I don’t see why the Blues would not take one of them
- Fork in the road for the final 1st round pick. Either use this pick to acquire a 24-27 year old LD or draft Saad’s replacement in 3 years. I think a RW like Jayden Perron or Ethan Gauthier would not be a bad decision

#2 - Acquire a 24-27 year old LD
- I really think the idea of targeting Mario Ferraro is smart. He is really sound defensively, would make a great partner for Parayko, has term left on his current contract, and fits our target age range. To acquire him I think the Blues either send that 29th overall pick or we package a prospect with a 2024 second

Along the Route to 2026-27
- Vrana is either a TDL move or a free agent following 2023-24, but will be replaced by Bolduc either way
- Perunovich extends for 2 years beginning in 2024-25
- Blais extends for 4 years beginning in 2024-25
- Kapanen is replaced by Snuggerud in 2024-25
- Buchnevich will extend for 6 years beginning in 2025-26
- Neighbours will extend for 3 years beginning in 2025-26
- Hofer will extend for 2 years beginning in 2025-26
- Moore & Dean would make the NHL in 2025-26, while Schenn slowly moves down the C depth charts
- Saad and Leddy will be replaced by prospects in 2026-27

Projected 2026-27 Line-Up
Buchnevich (5U) -- Thomas (5U) -- Snuggerud (1R)
Bolduc (RFA) -- Moore (2R) -- Kyrou (5U)
Neighbours (2R) -- Dean (RFA) -- [RW Prospect]
[FWD Option] -- Schenn (2U) -- Blais (2U)

Ferraro (UFA) -- Parayko (4U)
Perunovich (UFA) -- [RD Prospect]
Krug (1U) -- Faulk (1U)

Binnington (1U)
Hofer (1R)

FWD Options: A. Toropchenko, A. Heim, N. Alexandrov, D. Peterson
RW Prospects: S. Robertsson or J. Perron or E. Gauthier
RD Prospects: O. Bonk or T. Willander