Blues’ Jordan Kyrou Offers Unique Trade Value
The St. Louis Blues are caught in limbo, without much momentum driving towards either a rebuild or the postseason. That stasis landed multiple Blues stars on the trade market at the 2026 Trade Deadline. Defenseman Justin Faulk took the fall, headed to a playoff-hopeful Detroit Red Wings for a rich return, though both top center Robert Thomas and veteran defender Colton Parayko also garnered trade calls.
Also on the call list was scoring winger Jordan Kyrou in the midst of a down year. Unlike Thomas and Parayko – Kyrou has stayed in trade rumors as the summer has rolled around, with NHL.com’s Stefen Rosner pondering a fit with the New York Islanders in his newsletter. Kyrou would represent another grail for St. Louis to market as they look to reinvent the lineup under rookie general manager Alexander Steen. The Blues’ search for a new direction could mean a big reward for another team.
Kyrou’s ability to score is his defining trait. He has scored 149 goals in 389 games since the start of the 2021-22 season – ranked 37th in total goals and 43rd in goals-per-game among the full NHL in that span. Flashier than his goal-scoring is Kyrou’s knack for driving play. He serves as St. Louis’ spark plug, often stepping up as the once to kickoff a change in momentum even in the midst of an 18-goal performance this season. The Blues lean on Kyrou to bring energy into the rush – and an improved ability to keep that energy up without the puck on his stick has earned Selke Trophy votes in each of the last two seasons.
That energy is also the core of Kyrou’s trade value. He is one of the NHL’s few true spark plugs who don’t also carry superstar value. Of that subgroup, Alex Tuch may be the only other option on the open market. Kyrou could be a rare crop during a dry summer – but his recent decline is the mark of serious risk. The 27 year old scored just 46 points this season – recording a point on 20 percent of goals scored by a quiet Blues offense this season. That mark represents a major drop off from recent seasons. Kyrou has chipped in on at least 28 percent of St. Louis’ goals every season dating back to 2022-23, when he led the club in scoring with 73 points in 79 games.
Now, in what should be the prime years of his career, Kyrou is running into his toughest struggles yet. Part of that sudden change is his fit in the fundamental and by-the-books systems of Drew Bannister and Jim Montgomery. The speedster struggled to hang onto his top-line role under two styles that aimed for sustained and controlled possession in the offensive zone. That worked against the creative and explosive Kyrou, though his game-changing ability still earned him rotation onto the top unit nearly every game.
Kyrou has flirted with both 40 goals and 50 assists in separate seasons through his eight-year NHL career. At 28, his chances to reach those marks will soon become dim – but his existing potential speaks to a great amount of value potentially in trade conversations. Kyrou could be a value buy who could blossom in a new setting that better supports his fast-tempo offense. Much of the NHL’s up-and-comers are now built around those styles, thanks to the breakouts of stars Matthew Schaefer, Macklin Celebrini, and Lane Hutson. All three players could benefit from the complement of another strong play-driver, while Kyrou also offers young-but-promising clubs a bit of proven impact.
St. Louis will have a rich palate after receiving a first-round pick for aging defender Faulk at the deadline. That could quickly raise the cost of a Kyrou deal – and may even require a team to send one of their NHL-ready prospects in addition to draft capital. That could quickly price out most teams – but those who see negotiations to the end will be betting on Kyrou’s untapped potential. He is signed to a very reasonable, $8.13MM cap hit through the 2030-31 season. If he reaches the heights of his scoring and lineup potential – that cap hit could quickly turn into a bargain, especially as free agents like Tuch seek eight-figure salaries.
The veracity to Kyrou’s trade rumors could be thin – but his value on the market would certainly be high. Even after a down year, Kyrou’s potential to breakout in a new system – while wielding a cost-controlled contract – could make him one of the top names to monitor through the off-season.
Morning Notes: Ott, Puustinen, McIlvane, NHLPA Rebrand
The St. Louis Blues have signed Steve Ott to a two-year contract extension, securing the 43-year-old as the Springfield Thunderbirds head coach through the 2027-28 season and keeping him within the St. Louis Blues organization.
Ott took over as head coach on January 19, 2026, after the Thunderbirds were struggling midseason. In the club’s final 34 regular-season games, he guided the team to an 18-14-2 record, clinching a sixth-seed playoff berth in the Atlantic Division. Ott then led Springfield to the Division Finals, with a first-round series win over the third-seeded Charlotte Checkers and a historic upset victory over the Providence Bruins in the Division Semifinals. The win over Providence marked the single-biggest upset in AHL history, with the teams separated by 38 points in the regular season.
“It’s a great opportunity for myself, but not only that, I get to stay in an organization that I truly love,” Ott said of the extension. “To help develop our young guys with the development side of coaching, it’s really exciting for myself. … When you get asked to take that opportunity, I look at it as a big honor.”
Additional Notes
- The NHLPA has restructured and rebranded its commercial business unit as the NHLPA Player Collective. The move aims to expand global business opportunities and partnerships for NHL players, building on recent staff additions like Chief Commercial Officer Steve Scebelo (formerly of NFL Players Inc.) to enhance player-driven commercial initiatives worldwide.
- Forward Valtteri Puustinen has signed with Luleå HF of the SHL. The 27-year-old Finnish winger split time last season between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Colorado Eagles in the AHL after being traded from Pittsburgh to Colorado in January 2026. The 27-year-old recorded 77 goals and 189 points across 276 AHL games, seven goals and 24 points 66 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- The Boston Bruins are said to be hiring Matt McIlvane as an assistant coach. The 39-year-old spent the last three seasons as head coach of the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim’s AHL affiliate, where he earned a multi-year extension in April 2026 after previous success coaching in Europe.
Blues Linked To Sign Dillon Dubé As Depth Forward
As the Alexander Steen era officially begins on July 1, the St. Louis Blues appear poised to bolster their bottom-six forward group with a familiar face from their AHL affiliate.
According to a recent mailbag in The Athletic, a league source indicates there is a strong chance that 27-year-old forward Dillon Dubé signs a free-agent contract with St. Louis and plays in the middle for the Blues, likely as a fourth-line center option.
Dubé, originally a second-round pick (56th overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2016, brings 325 games of NHL experience to the table. He recorded 57 goals and 127 points during his time with Calgary, enjoying his most productive season in 2021-22 with 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games. After becoming a UFA and navigating the legal proceedings stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada case where he was acquitted of all charges in 2025, Dubé spent the 2024-25 season in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, posting 11 points in 42 games.
He joined the Springfield Thunderbirds on a professional tryout in December 2025 and made an immediate impact. In 46 regular-season games with the Blues’ AHL affiliate this past season, Dubé finished the regular season tied for second on the team in goals (20) and fourth with 37 points. He also contributed five goals and eight points in 12 games during the Thunderbirds’ playoff run.
The Blues are looking to rebuild a more aggressive and competitive bottom-six, with the potential of moving on from pending UFA Oskar Sundqvist and demand more consistency from players like Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker. Dubé’s two-way capabilities, center versatility, and recent scoring touch at the AHL level make him a low-risk, experienced option that fits the emphasis on grit and scoring upside.
For a Blues team in transition, remaining focused on nurturing younger talent like Jimmy Snuggerudand Dalibor Dvorsky while remaining competitive, adding a proven NHL veteran on a likely bargain deal provides valuable depth and flexibility without significant cap commitment.
While nothing is finalized until contracts are signed, Dubé’s strong performance in Springfield has clearly caught the attention of Blues management as they prepare for the Steen-led offseason. More updates are expected in the coming weeks as free agency approaches.
Blues Sign Georgii Romanov To Two-Year Extension
The St. Louis Blues took care of a free agent this afternoon, re-upping goaltender Georgii Romanov on a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal carries an AAV of $875k at the NHL level.
Undrafted out of Russia, Romanov was picked out by the Sharks in 2023, signing an entry level contract. Despite playing in just three KHL games to that point, otherwise holding the crease in the VHL, the 6’5″ netminder played in 29 games for the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL in 2023-24 and even made two NHL appearances, allowing just one goal in 59 minutes.
Continuing to get a share of starts for the Barracuda in the following season, alongside Yaroslav Askarov, Romanov posted a solid .905 save percentage. The young Russian was again thrust into the highest level, as the fifth goaltender to spend time in San Jose’s crease during the 2024-25 campaign. Romanov lost all six of his starts, not coming away with a win, but had a solid 3.89 goals-against-average facing a barrage on the 50-loss team, numbers on par with NHL mainstays of the time, Vítek Vaněček and Alexander Georgiev.
With Askarov expectedly taking the spotlight, Romanov departed San Jose last summer, settling for a PTO with the Devils. Not landing a contract, he was then scooped up by St. Louis in October. Taking 28 games as opposed to Vadim Zherenko‘s 42 for the Springfield Thunderbirds, Romanov rewarded the organization with tremendous play in the postseason, getting hot with a .939 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 playoff games.
As Zherenko is a group six free agent this summer, Romanov’s path to #1 for the Thunderbirds and third in the organization is wide open. At age 26, he has flashed enough potential to have real late-blooming NHL upside, and Blues fans should expect him to make his debut with the club at some point next season. As the franchise navigates their youth movement, possibly moving on from Jordan Binnington, the Russian’s continued progression could soften the blow of losing Colten Ellis on waivers to Buffalo.
Blues Sign Zach Dean, Dylan Peterson To One-Year Extensions
The St. Louis Blues announced that a pair of young forwards – Zach Dean and Dylan Peterson – have each been signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Dean is a client of Matthew Oates of O2K Worldwide Management Group, while Peterson is repped by Randy Robitaille of Edge Sports Management.
Peterson, 24, was a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Dean, 23, was also a pending RFA but did not have arbitration rights. The contracts signed today are both players’ first deals outside the entry-level system.
The financial terms of each contract were not officially disclosed, but were reported by PuckPedia. According to the platform, Peterson’s deal carries an $850K NHL salary, $100K AHL salary, and a $125K guarantee for its one-year term. Dean’s deal carries an $850K NHL salary and a $95K AHL salary, and does not have a guaranteed sum beyond that $95K minor-league salary.
For Peterson, this deal represents a small pay cut, something that is not uncommon for players leaving the entry-level system who have not yet established themselves as NHL players or high-level AHL depth. He took home $172.5K last season ($80K AHL salary plus a $92.5K signing bonus) which is slightly above the $125K guarantee on this deal, though he could exceed that guarantee if he manages to get into some NHL games.
The 6’4″, 203-pound center set a career-high in scoring at the AHL level in 2025-26, putting up 12 goals and 24 points in 57 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds.
He played a bottom-six center role for the team and was a secondary part of the Thunderbirds’ penalty-killing rotation, so it does not seem as though he is truly likely to make a push to win an NHL spot in the fall.
But he could conceivably play his way into being a candidate for a call-up if the Blues have any injuries in their bottom-six, which would therefore position him to exceed the guarantee on this contract. Set to turn 25 in January, next season is an important one for the 2020 third-round pick.
In Dean’s case, this contract is actually a modest pay bump compared to what he earned in 2025-26. A 2021 first-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, Dean signed his entry-level deal in December of that season.
Since entry-level deals only have three years of signing bonus – but his deal slid for its first two seasons – Dean has spent the last two years playing on his entry-level contract but without a signing bonus. As a result, while Peterson took home $172.5K last season, Dean was only entitled to his $80K AHL salary. Therefore, the $95K AHL salary on the contract signed today is a small pay raise.
It hasn’t been the easiest road for Dean, 23, in his time in pro hockey. A hard-nosed 6’0″, 176-pound forward, Dean hasn’t been able to translate the offense he displayed at the QMJHL level to the pro game. He scored 70 points in 50 regular-season games in his final season for the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques, and had 26 points in 13 playoff games. But since turning pro, he has just 32 points in 96 AHL games.
In September of last year, Dean entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, returning to the ice in January. While his efforts as a bottom-six forward helped the Thunderbirds pull off playoff upsets of the Charlotte Checkers and Providence Bruins, two of the AHL’s top five regular-season teams, his 17 points across 48 regular season and playoff contests suggests he still has to develop his game before he can become an NHL player.
NL's ZSC Lions Hire Claude Julien As Head Coach
- According to a report out of Switzerland, longtime NHL coach Claude Julien has been hired by the NL’s ZSC Lions as the team’s next head coach. A former Stanley Cup champion with the Boston Bruins in 2011, Julien has spent the last few years as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues. Outside of his lengthy coaching career in North America, Julien briefly served as a senior advisor for the NL’s HC Ambrì-Piotta in the 2022-23 season.
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Blues Hire Mikko Koivu As European Consultant
- Long-time captain for the Minnesota Wild, Mikko Koivu, is returning to the Central Division — just not with Minnesota. According to a team announcement, the St. Louis Blues have hired Koivu to serve as a European development consultant. The Blues’ press release indicated that Koviu will assist with development plans for European prospects drafted by St. Louis. He has been working as an assistant and development coach for the Finnish Liiga’s TPS, alongside his older brother, Saku Koivu.
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St. Louis Blues May Hire Vaclav Prospal
- After spending the last three years with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, former player Václav Prospal may be headed to the NHL for the first time in his coaching career. On his 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated that Prospal may join the St. Louis Blues next season as an assistant coach. The last time we worked in the NHL was in the 2013-14 season when he served as a professional scout for the New York Rangers.
[SOURCE LINK]
Blues Sign Will Cranley To One-Year Extension
The St. Louis Blues have signed goaltender Will Cranley to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Cranley spent last season as the third-string netminder for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. He has slowly risen the ranks of the pro circuit since making his ECHL debut in 2023, three years after the Blues selected him in the sixth-round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Cranley racked up six wins and a .892 save percentage in 10 AHL games last season. He posted much more encouraging numbers in the ECHL, where he totaled 14 wins and a .915 Sv% in 18 games during the regular season. Despite those strong numbers, Cranley was not included in Florida’s race to the ECHL’s Eastern Conference Finals. While that limited his postseason appearances to part of one start with Springfield, it also served as a small bode of confidence in Cranley’s spot in the AHL.
After racking up 34 wins and a .896 save percentage in 74 career ECHL games, Cranley seems well-set for a full-time promotion next season. He will compete with Vadim Zherenko and Georgi Romanov for starts in Springfield’s crease. Zherenko posted the best statline of the bunch last season, with 17 wins and a .902 Sv% in 42 games. Romanov recorded nine wins and a .896 Sv% in 28 games. His numbers should be surmountable for the 24-year-old Cranley, though Zherenko appears set to hold onto the starting role for the foreseeable future.
Leo Lööf Signing With Liiga Club Ilves
A St. Louis Blues prospect is taking his talents back to Scandinavia.
As first reported by Mike Meyer of STL Sports Central, defenseman Leo Loof is signing a two-year contract with Ilves in Finland for the 2026-27 season. According to the club’s press release, the 24-year-old defenseman will return to his former club, where he previously spent two seasons before his journey to North America.
Loof finished his 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring six points in 47 regular-season games played with Springfield. He did not dress during their Calder Cup playoff run, which ended via an 8-1 Game 5 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The former third-round pick in 2020 spent three seasons under the St. Louis Blues organization on a three-year entry-level contract signed back in 2023 that paid him $2.6MM ($867,500 AAV). The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Swede did not see an NHL debut, playing all three of those ELC seasons with the Thunderbirds for a total of 168 AHL games.
Leading into the 2020 NHL Draft, Loof was profiled as a tough player in his own end, who was efficient in his poise and ability to make strong reads on a play and deliver heavy hits. His accolades before coming across the pond included Bronze Medals with Ilves and the Swedish World Juniors team. He also won a Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze in 2020 and was considered the J18 Best U18 Defenseman while scoring the most points (12) by a defenseman in the J18 Allsvenskan in 2018-19.
The former 88th overall pick was in a logjam in comparison to other left-handed defensemen in the Blues system. St. Louis already extended Philip Broberg through 2032 at $48MM ($8MM AAV), Cam Fowler through 2030 at $18.3MM ($6.1MM AAV), as well as Tyler Tucker, who has a year left at $925,000. Among his counterparts in the pool, ELCs were signed by Lukas Fischer, at age 19, in late March, and Colin Ralph put ink to paper out of Michigan State in early April. Already in the AHL, Theo Lindstein and Michael Buchinger both played more games than Loof this past season.
New general manager Alexander Steen will inherit three selections in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, where some prominent defensemen could potentially be available for the taking, who would rank high among their prospect pool if selected. St. Louis could use those picks to take a defenseman at either the guaranteed 11th or 15th overall picks (Colorado’s standing to be determined). As the Blues look to build back into playoff contention out of their fifth-place finish in the Central Division, they currently carry $15.7MM in cap space.