With a few trades that brought in Mathieu Joseph, Alexandre Texier, and Radek Faksa, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong may just be beginning. Fans can anticipate more moves in the coming weeks.
“Before the season begins, every NHL team must submit its ‘Opening Day Playing Roster,’ which cannot exceed 23 players and must include a minimum of 20 players, with 18 skaters and two goaltenders,” states NHL Hockey Operations.
Currently, the St. Louis Blues have complied with the NHL’s requirements for their Opening Day Playing Roster.
Given that it’s still early in the offseason, GM Doug Armstrong is likely not finished making moves. It is expected that he will continue to refine the roster and potentially add more new players.
The St. Louis Blues have already acquired Mathieu Joseph, Alexandre Texier, and Radek Faksa through separate trades. Additionally, Armstrong has secured Pierre-Olivier Joseph as a new addition via free agency.
St. Louis Blues: Could top prospects secure full-time roles?
Following the conclusion of the development camp on July 3rd, local St. Louis hockey analysts have suggested that Dalibor Dvorsky and potentially Zack Bolduc could realistically earn spots on the opening-day roster.
The potential addition of Dvorsky is eagerly anticipated by many Blues fans, as he is currently considered the organization’s most valuable prospect and is expected to significantly bolster the team’s scoring capabilities.
Fans have already caught glimpses of Zack Bolduc and Zach Dean in a limited number of games towards the end of the 2023-24 season. Bolduc seems to have the edge over Dean in securing a permanent roster spot, though this situation could evolve.
With several promising prospects vying for full-time NHL roles, it’s reasonable to anticipate further trades or transactions, particularly involving forwards. Could the Blues make additional trades? Might there be movements within the current roster? Could Armstrong opt for contract releases or buyouts?
It’s premature to speculate at this stage, but given the current roster dynamics, ongoing changes are expected, especially if Dvorsky or Bolduc are to secure full-time positions.