The St. Louis Blues are looking ahead to the 2025-26 season. Part of the process to prepare for the next season is evaluating the unrestricted free agents. What did they provide for the team? Should they be brought back? Today, we are going take a look to the two UFAs on the Blues and analyze their role and potential future with the Blues.
Blues UFA Situation
Short List
The Blues only have two players who are UFAs. Forward Radek Faska, who the Blues acquired via trade last summer, and defenceman Ryan Suter, who the Blues signed last summer, are eligible for free agents.
What Faksa Brought to the Blues
The Blues acquired Faksa with the idea that he could be a depth centre on a team in the middle of a retool. Should the Blues season start to trend the wrong direction, Faksa could be moved for assets at the trade deadline.
As it turns out, Faksa was the centre for a very energetic and productive for the Blues. The “WTF” line, Faksa, Alexey Toropchenko, and Nathan Walker provided a boost to the Blues lineup. In their seven-game series in the playoffs, the line contributed with five goals, including a game-winning goal in Game 6.
In 70 regular-season games, Faksa scored five goals. He did miss time with injury.
Should the Blues Re-sign Faksa?
Faksa’s cap hit last season was $3.25 million. Coming off two seasons where his offensive production has dipped, one can assume Faksa will make no more than that in free agency. The Blues will likely have the money if they want to re-sign, especially considering defenceman Torey Krug is likely to remain on long-term injured reserve.
It makes sense for the Blues to bring back Faksa. For starters, doing so would keep an electric line together that the Blues were even comfortable sending out to start playoff games. Furthermore, there is no one in the Blues system who Faksa would be blocking if he were on the roster. Even with Dylan Holloway returning from injury and the inclusion of Jimmy Snuggerud, there is still room for Faksa.
Here are possible line combinations for next season to show Faksa still fits:
Pavel Buchnevich – Robert Thomas – Jake Neighbours
Holloway – Brayden Schenn – Jordan Kyrou
Snuggerud – Oskar Sundqvist – Zachary Bolduc
Walker – Faksa – Toropchenko
Extras: Alexandre Texier, Dalibor Dvorsky
Of course, these players could be switched around. The point of this was just to show that there is room for Faksa and no one is being blocked. The Blues are not going to out Dvorsky on a line with Walker and Toropchenko. That line does not match Dvorsky’s capabilities.
At 31-years old, the Blues should look to extend Faksa for no more than two years. The player Faksa is now still brings a lot of value to the Blues, as shown last season.
What Suter Brought to the Blues?
The Blues signed Suter to make up for the loss of Krug’s veteran presence. The Blues had a mixture of young and old defenceman. Suter fit right and helped mentor young defenceman like Philip Broberg and Tyler Tucker, as well as be a positive force on the Blues.
Suter only recorded 15 points this season. While those are not eye-popping numbers, Suter was a consistent presence on defence, playing in all 82 regular-season games.
Should the Blues Re-Sign Suter?
Philip Broberg, Nick Leddy, Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Tyler Tucker, and Matthew Kessel are all defenceman who will be in the mix for spots in the lineup next season. We can say with certainty that Broberg, Leddy, Parayko, Faulk, and Fowler will take up five of the six spots. That leaves one spot for at least three players, as some other players could emerge in training camp.
Suter is interested in returning to the Blues. He could be someone who comes in and out of the lineup depending on the needs of the team. Tucker is someone who will look to take the next steps in the NHL next season and Kessel can be another right-handed shot in a defensive core that does not have many. Suter can continue that role he played last season, but with the understanding that he may not be in as many games. At around $775,000, that is not a bad contract for the Blues either.
However, we are going to suggest the Blues not re-sign Suter. For starters, the defenceman is 40-years old. Age is going to catch up to him eventually. Furthermore, Suter has not yet one a Stanley Cup and has not gotten close in his career. He deserves the opportunity to go to a team with better chances to win the Cup. Suter may not see it that way, but if the Blues choose to part ways with him, then he might as well go that direction.
Furthermore, the Blues need to see what they have in Tucker. Tucker was having a good playoff series until he was injured. Tucker’s career-high in games played is 38. Next year is the season to get a look at what he can provide in a full-time role.
Summary
There is a case to be made for the Blues to re-sign both Faksa and Suter. However, it may make more sense for the Blues to only re-sign Faksa and let Suter walk. Remember, while the Blues sped up their retool this season, they are still looking to evaluate their young talent.
Main Photo: James Carey Lauder- Imagn Images
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