The St. Louis Blues are on the edge of a major precipice this season. The club is one losing streak away from its season going down the drain. That discussion has prompted pundits to declare which players could be on the trade block on one point or another.
One player that’s been consistently in Blues trade rumors is Jordan Kyrou. The major talk was that Kyrou could go to the Montreal Canadiens this past summer. The Habs were looking to add to their top six, and Kyrou was a main target.
However, the Habs made a huge splash for Noah Dobson. The talk between the Blues and Habs turned into the 1-for-1 Logan Mailloux-Zack Bolduc swap.
Fast-forward to late December, and Kyrou remains in St. Louis. While he’s getting decent attention, trading him has gotten much harder. The major hurdle in trading Kyrou lies with his full no-trade clause.
That’s a bummer, as Kyrou would have to approve any trade the Blues want to make involving him. But that’s not the only reason why Kyrou would be practically untradeable this season. As insider Chris Johnston noted in a December 19 piece in The Athletic:
“Trading Kyrou is a whole lot more complicated now that he’s got a massive say in the process courtesy of his no-trade clause. A down year production-wise doesn’t help things, either. As a result, if a deal like this were to ever happen, it’s far more likely to go down in the offseason. That allows more suitors to enter the conversation and would give the player time to make a decision.”
As such, the Blues may not be able to move Kyrou in an in-season trade. If it happens, the move could come in the offseason.
Teams Interested in Landing Kyrou
So, which teams could be looking to make a push for Kyrou? While a move is hardly imminent, The Athletic ventured to speculate these teams as potential trade partners for the Blues: Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, and New Jersey Devils.
The Senators make sense. The chatter is that GM Steve Staios is kicking the tires on anyone who might be available. If the right deal emerges, the Senators could be a destination for Kyrou.
The Devils are another club looking to add. The need depth in their middle-six, with Kyrou being a potential fit. The Devils would need to clear cap space. So, the Blues might be able to take a contract or two back.
Lastly, the Canucks don’t seem the likeliest destination. They restocked following the Quinn Hughes trade. Still, if Kyrou was a realistic option, it wouldn’t be tough to envisage him landing on the West Coast.
What Could Blues Realistically Get for Kyrou?
As for the return the Blues could get for Kyrou, the outlook is no bueno. The Athletic summed it up by stating:
“An established player of similar stature. Though this could also end up as a future-focused deal, Kyrou seems more likely to be involved in a traditional hockey trade.”
That statement means that, short of dumping Kyrou for a fourth-round pick, the Blues would get someone similar to hit. That situation could entail a large contract for a veteran player trending downward. It could be a defenseman needing a change of scenery or a forward who’s seen better days.
Ultimately, a Kyrou trade won’t be happening any time soon. If it does happen in-season, it could be closer to the trade deadline.
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