3 Blues Players Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

The St. Louis Blues were looking to sell at the trade deadline, but the team ended up standing pat as they didn't see offers they liked and the team now just sits four points out of a playoff spot. This is a mediocre team that will be stuck in the middle if there aren't changes made, so that's exactly what will happen before next season.

Kasperi Kapanen

Kasperi Kapanen was a waiver claim last season that worked out nicely down the stretch after a number of players were traded, but has been much less effective this season. He has too high of a cap hit for what he brings to the table, and the Blues will be wanting younger, more promising players to fill the bottom-six next season over someone like Kapanen. He only has five goals in 60 games after eight in 23 with the Blues last season. The team will be parting ways with him in free agency as he's a UFA.

Marco Scandella

The defense of the Blues is very packed and the team can't offload any of the top-four it seems. So while those players hold down positions on the roster, the Blues have been having some of their younger defensemen break into the league, leaving no room for someone expendable like Marco Scandella. The veteran has played 59 games this season, but is currently a healthy scratch and players like Scott Perunovich, Matthew Kessel, and Tyler Tucker will stick around and play more. It is another easy exit with Scandella being a UFA after the season.

Jakub Vrana

It hasn't worked out in St. Louis for Jakub Vrana after a strong end to the season in 2022-23 as well. In one more game played than last season, Vrana has eight fewer goals and eight fewer points. He has spent the majority of the season in the AHL, where he has done well, but won't be getting the call back up. It just hasn't worked out between the two sides beyond the ice either. Since his contract is finally ending, the Blues can shed his cap hit.