BREAKING NEWS: St Louis blues NHL Rumours: Buyout Candidate for the St. Louis Blues…….. View more

 “Buyout or Trade?” – Blues Rethink Defense

Reports suggest the Blues are eyeing a buyout of veteran defenseman Torey Krug as a strategic move to clear cap space and send a message after he leveraged his no-trade clause . Doing so would spread the penalty over six years at roughly $333K–$2.33M/year—more manageable than keeping him at full salary

 Mid-Season Trade Talking: Schenn, Binnington & Co.

Even at the March 7 deadline, St. Louis flirted with moving:

• Brayden Schenn (captain, $6.5M AAV, 3 years left) was actively shopped; teams like Toronto, Vancouver, Jets, and Chicago—who could use a physical center—showed interest
• Jordan Binnington, Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Colton Parayko also appeared on Sportsnet’s top-5 “players for sale” list
• GM Doug Armstrong stressed it wasn’t a fire sale, but that he’d listen to offers for one or two big pieces

That cautious approach paid dividends: a franchise-record 12-game win streak down the stretch, keeping them in the playoff mix and stalling big moves .

Captain Schenn: On the Edge This Summer?

After the season, chatter resurfaced:

• Schenn, pivotal in the playoff push, embraces the Blues but admits business can change things
• On July 1, his full no-trade clause shifts to a 15-team list—opening more trade flexibility

Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic flagged Schenn as a potential summer trade candidate, especially if St. Louis pivots toward youth and affordability

 What’s Next for St. Louis?

1. Krug Buyout

• Likely the most immediate “breaking” story—will they press the button this offseason?
• If executed, it frees cap room (~$2M/year) but stings from a fan-retention standpoint.

2. Schenn’s Future

• Home this season, but with his NTC easing up, expect serious offers this summer.
• Blues could trade him if they get elite prospects and cap relief in return.

3. Other Trade Chips

• Binnington, Parayko, Buchnevich, Kyrou—each carries trade value and varying team importance.
• Diversify either through depth retooling or bring in blue-chip assets if sold.

 Final Take

• A Krug buyout feels imminent—signals change and gives cap flexibility.
• The Schenn saga will dominate summer headlines:
  • Stay → veteran leadership & stability
  • Leave → massive return opp and youth infusion

Bottom line: No full-scale fire sale, but smart moves ahead—likely a Krug exit and possibly Schenn providing cornerstones for whatever comes next.

Let me know if you’d like full breakdowns of buyout cap mechanics, what teams might line up to bid for Schenn, or a player-by-player asset valuation!