NHL Rumours: St. Louis Blues and offer sheets

The NHL offseason is heating up, and sources indicate that the St. Louis Blues may be preparing to make waves with a bold strategy involving offer sheets—a rare but powerful tool for acquiring restricted free agents (RFAs).

According to multiple insiders, Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong is exploring the possibility of targeting key young talent across the league by extending offer sheets to RFAs, a move that hasn’t been widely used in recent seasons due to its controversial nature and the steep compensation involved.

The Blues are in a transitional phase, with a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent. After missing the playoffs this past season, management is under pressure to retool the roster without entering a full rebuild. Using offer sheets could allow the Blues to add top-end talent without giving up immediate roster players, albeit at the cost of future draft picks.

Several RFAs around the league could draw their interest, including:

Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes) – a versatile forward with high upside

Alexis Lafrenière (New York Rangers) – if negotiations stall, his name may surface

Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators) – less likely but rumored to be on Armstrong’s radar if talks with Ottawa go sideways

Offer sheets are uncommon due to the potential for retaliation and strained relationships among GMs. However, Armstrong has never shied away from bold moves in the past, and the Blues’ current cap space combined with a solid prospect pool makes this an intriguing window for aggressive tactics.

Capologists around the league suggest that if the Blues want to be serious contenders in 2025–26, they need a high-impact forward or a top-four defenseman—both roles that could be filled via offer sheets.

With the NHL Entry Draft and free agency just weeks away, watch for signs of the Blues clearing more cap space or making exploratory calls. While nothing is official yet, the whispers are growing louder: the St. Louis Blues might just be the team willing to break

the RFA code this summer.