St. Louis Blues trying to acquire former top 10 pick to help save their season
Things have not gone according to plan for the St Louis Blues this season. They have only won four of their first twelve games and sit in last place in a competitive Central Division. It was only last year that the Blues had forty nine wins and one hundred nine points. A few players have come and gone but the roster remains similar to last season.
It could be close to desperation for general manager Doug Armstrong and the St. Louis Blues. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman thinks that St Louis is in the market for a defenseman and also a forward who can provide this group with some energy and scoring touch. Freidman thinks even Nick Ritchie from Arizona might be a good fit. Ritchie has six goals and two assists in Arizona this year.
St Louis also does not have a lot to work with in terms if cap space either and that is where a forward like Ritchie could come into play. His salary is only at 2.5 million this year. Otherwise St. Louis would have to send money the other way in a trade to create cap flexibility for themselves.
Also interesting to note that Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko are in the last year of their contracts and would become unrestricted free agents if St. Louis does not extend the two veteran forwards. If the Blues can't turn things around quickly perhaps major changes are headed their way.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/532257.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) looks on against Team Sweden in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/532130.webp "Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) looks on against Team Sweden in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
