The St. Louis Blues entered free agency on July 1 with big expectations to add key pieces to the lineup to ensure they return to the playoffs again in 2026. General manager Doug Armstrong made three simple additions: trading Zachary Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Logan Mailloux, signing Nick Bjugstad to a two-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.75 million, and signing forward Pius Suter to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4.125 million. Here’s a look at how they will affect the team.
Bolduc for Mailloux Trade: B+
The Mailloux trade is a decent one. The Blues got a young defenseman and made some room in their lineup for other young forwards, such as Dalibor Dvorsky or Otto Stenberg. The Blues also had a lot of bad luck with defensemen ahead of the 2024-25 season. Defenseman Torey Krug suffered a challenging diagnosis of pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle, which required surgery and rehabilitation and sidelined him for all of last season. In May, Armstrong offered more bad news, saying Krug was not expected to play again.
It makes sense why the Blues would get Mailloux, given the uncertainty of whether Krug will return. On the Blues’ side, this was a smart move, as they try to fill an unfortunate gap in their lineup while also adding more youth to their defensive core alongside Philip Broberg and Tyler Tucker.
Related: Blues Sign Pius Suter to 2-Year Contract
Performance-wise, the Blues had a lot of luck, getting two defensemen last season in Broberg and Cam Fowler, who have worked out well. Broberg was a big part of the Blues’ success at the beginning of last season, and Fowler had a tremendous playoff run, leading the team in points during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They should expect the same success with Mailloux in the lineup.
The only thing to worry about here is experience. Bolduc has played more games and produced more offense at his position. He has played 97 career NHL games, recording 45 points, while Mailloux has only played eight games for five points, which is not bad for eight games, but does prevent this trade from getting a higher grade.
Nick Bjugstad Two-Year Deal: C+
The Blues suffered significant blows to their lineup in 2024-25, making it hard to find a rhythm. With injuries upfront and on the blue line, they only had defensive depth to bolster the lineup. On offense, they were missing Dylan Holloway during the playoffs, with barely anyone to…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…