Blues continuing to listen, but being patient — The Fourth Period

The St. Louis Blues have been at the centre of trade speculation for most of the season due to their subpar performance, thus far.

Blues GM Doug Armstrong has been active in terms of taking calls from other clubs, but he has only pulled the trigger on two minor moves to date.

In an interview with Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Armstrong acknowledged he’s been engaged in trade discussions, but cautioned that bigger moves are more likely to occur closer to the March 6, 2026, trade deadline.

“Teams are starting to kick tires and starting to ask where we’re at, and we’re saying, ‘We’re certainly not pleased with where we’re at. What are your ideas?’” Armstrong said. “Historically, you look when trades happen, they don’t happen right now. The meat of what teams do is closer to the deadline.

“If it made sense today, we would do it today, but a lot of it is, ‘Well, I’m not there yet, but keep me in the loop.’ They’re setting the table for when you’re actually going to do it.”

The holiday roster freeze runs Dec. 19 to 27, upon which there is another trade freeze during the Winter Olympic break from Feb. 4 to 24, 2026.

Some teams may try to get business done ahead of the Olympic break, as the trade deadline is just two weeks after that break ends.

Armstrong acknowledged that he is open to trading just about anyone from his club, as long as it is for the betterment of the franchise.

“I also want to make sure everyone is aware, too, that my loyalty is to the St. Louis Blues more than anything else,” he said. “It’s to the organization. It’s to the fanbase. More than the owners or anyone else, my loyalty is to the Blues. I’m going to do whatever I think is right for Blues.”

Veterans Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk, both of whom own a 15-team no-trade list as part of their respective contracts, have generated the most attention, but the Blues are open to listening on multiple players, including goalie Jordan Binnington.

“If he gets to a point where he’s playing his best and we’re not there and he comes to me, or we go to him, I understand. That’s part of the business,” Armstrong said. “I don’t view Binnington any different than I view other guys that I’ve worked with for a long time. Our job is to listen to how other people view us and view them, and respond to that.”

The Blues aren’t interested in giving their talent away, and admitted he would like to add players in their early-20s, but is open to whatever comes across his desk.

A major move may not be imminent, but the Blues are expected to remain active between now and the trade deadline.