Blues Crush Seattle, Spark Trade Talk
The St. Louis Blues crushed Seattle 5-1, sparking trade block discussions as the NHL trade deadline approaches. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks fell 4-2 to Nashville post-Olympic break with Bedard looking sharp but lacking support, and Levshunov/Burakovsky struggling.
With the March 6 trade deadline looming, the Blues' front office is actively listening to offers for several core players. General Manager Doug Armstrong is known for setting a high asking price, having already rejected initial offers for players like Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko. Defenseman Justin Faulk is considered one of the most likely Blues players to be moved, given the strong market for right-handed defensemen. Goalie Jordan Binnington is also drawing interest from teams like the Canadiens, Senators, and Flyers, despite a challenging season with a 3.60 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage. Winger Jordan Kyrou, who carries an $8.125 million cap hit through 2030-31, has also been central to trade discussions. Reports suggest Kyrou, who holds a full no-trade clause, would be willing to waive it for a contending team. For the Blackhawks, the loss came in their first game back after a 21-day Olympic break. The team had struggled heading into the break, with just one win in their previous seven games, leaving them 10 points out of a playoff spot. Connor Bedard's goal against Nashville marked his 24th of the season, setting a new career high. He ended the night with five shots on goal in over 21 minutes of ice time. On the season, Bedard has tallied 53 points in 44 games. Rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov's giveaway directly led to Nashville's opening goal. The costly mistake came after he was made a healthy scratch for three games before the Olympic break in an effort to reset his play.
