Blues Trade Rumors: 4 Players Generating Major Interest At The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The St. Louis Blues are shaping up to be one of the NHL’s biggest sellers at the 2026 trade deadline. Sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, GM Doug Armstrong, who is in his final season before Alex Steen takes over, appears ready to dismantle what remains of the team’s core and begin stockpiling assets for the franchise’s next phase.

Let’s break down the four Blues players generating the most trade interest heading into Friday’s deadline.

1. Robert Thomas, C

Robert Thomas is the crown jewel of St. Louis’ trade market, and the asking price is astronomical. The 26-year-old center has averaged nearly a point per game over the past five seasons, and his $8.125 million cap hit through 2030-31 is considered team-friendly for a talent of his caliber.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Buffalo Sabres were the frontrunners, with talks going “the distance” before stalling. Buffalo wasn’t willing to meet the steep ask of a four-asset package. 

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun suggested the price is too steep for the Canadiens as well, leaving Detroit, Boston, and Utah as the top suitors with the trade deadline just 24 hours away. The Red Wings have the best odds to land Thomas at the deadline but no deal has been reported yet.

With no urgency to deal him, Armstrong can afford to wait. If the right offer doesn’t come, Thomas stays.

2. Jordan Binnington, G

Perhaps the most dramatic storyline of deadline week. Just days ago, Binnington was barely on the trade radar, but sentiment has shifted sharply. 

NHL Network’s Brian Lawton said he “feels like a move is a foregone conclusion,” and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman echoed that view. The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford offered a counterpoint, saying a source felt a deal before the deadline “didn’t seem likely” and could slide to summer.

Binnington’s numbers this season are rough: 8-18-6 with a 3.61 GAA and .867 SV%. 

But his résumé is hard to dismiss. 

He won the Cup in 2019, backstopped Canada to the 4 Nations title in 2025, and posted a .917 SV% at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

The case for him is simple: put a real team in front of him and you get a proven playoff goalie at $6 million, expiring after next season. 

Montreal has the best odds to land Binnington, while Vegas and Ottawa are the most cited fits, though a 16-team no-trade list complicates Armstrong’s options.

3. Justin Faulk, D

With Buffalo having already landed Parayko, Faulk now has a wide-open market — and it’s a competitive one. Boston, Detroit, Montreal, Dallas, and Utah are all in the mix, and the consensus among insiders is that if anyone moves before 3 p.m. Friday, it’s Faulk.

The Bruins stand out as the most aggressive suitor. Per James Murphy of rg.org, GM Don Sweeney has been in ongoing talks with Armstrong for over a month and Boston is “actively targeting” Faulk after missing out on Rasmus Andersson earlier in the season. The Bruins have the draft capital to make a compelling offer. Detroit remains firmly in play as well, with cap space to spare.

One team that won’t be landing Faulk is Edmonton. 

The Oilers have been connected to right-shot defenseman help all season, and Faulk checks those boxes. 

But Friedman threw cold water on that fit this week, saying “unless St. Louis is willing to retain, it’s extremely difficult for them to do Faulk” given Edmonton’s cap constraints. Armstrong retaining salary would lower the return, so don’t expect that pairing to happen.

On the ice, the soon-to-be 34-year-old has been St. Louis’s best defenseman all season. He has produced 32 points in 60 games, strong two-way play, and an even goal differential on the ice despite the team’s ugly overall numbers. His $6.5 million deal expires after next season, making him a clean rental for any contender.

4. Jordan Kyrou, RW

Of the four names on this list, Kyrou is the most complex situation and potentially the most valuable long-term asset Armstrong has to offer.

Multiple insiders have reported that both the player and the organization are open to a move. 

The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta said he’d “be surprised if Kyrou was a member of the Blues next season,” and Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos wrote that there is a sense from both sides that a change of scenery might be best for everyone. Friedman has confirmed the Blues are actively entertaining offers.

The main issue is that a deal won’t come cheap. Kyrou carries the same $8.125 million cap hit as Thomas through 2030, and Armstrong won’t sell low. 

Washington has emerged as a prominent suitor with cap space to work with. The Islanders have been linked with a package built around top prospects, and Seattle and Montreal were connected earlier in the season. 

This season has been a down year, with 13 goals and 32 points in 47 games. However, Kyrou has topped 30 goals in three straight full seasons and was scorching hot before the Olympic break with five goals and 12 points in eight games.

Whether this moves by the deadline or gets pushed to summer is genuinely uncertain. Either way, the Blues are clearly open for business — and Kyrou could be the most franchise-altering deal of them all.