Blues Rumors: 2 Forwards Not Expected Back Next Season

The St Louis Blues are looking to re-tool on the fly this summer while also shifting some of their focus to internal growth. The Blues have some high-end prospects who are pushing for more NHL minutes and it sounds like a couple of veteran forwards could feel the brunt of the team's direction.

Pending free-agent forwards Sammy Blais and Kasperi Kapanen have not receive any contract offers from GM Doug Armstrong. With free agency looming, the Blues GM admitted he's going to let them test the market:

We're going to let them test the market and we'll see what's there. We haven't closed the doors on anyone.

Blais, 28, recorded just one goal and seven points in 57 games last season. He was acquired in 2022-23 from the New York Rangers and unfortunately couldn't find the same success as he had the previous season when he posted 20 points in 31 games. Blais made $1 million against the cap last season and may have to settle for the league minimum this summer or even a two-way deal.

Kapanen, 27, has bounced around a little bit since being a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2014. Last season with the Blues, the speedy winger six goals and 22 points in 73 games. His best season came back in 2018-19 as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs when Kapanen put up 44 points in 78 games. He earned $3.2 million per season on his last contract.

Armstrong and the Blues enter the 2024 offseason with $15.9 million in cap space and have a number of prime trade candidates including one of their veteran defensemen or goaltender Jordan Binnington.