Blues add potential transfer deadline chips in Faksa, Suter – The Hockey Writers –

The St. Louis Blues haven’t made any major moves this summer. The most impactful move general manager Doug Armstrong has made so far was signing Pavel Buchnevich to a new six-year contract. But he’s also made some small moves that could hint at his plans for the team in 2024-25. In two cases, Radek Faksa and Ryan Suter, he brought in former Dallas Stars players who could become trade chips at the deadline. It may feel a little early to be talking about the deadline, but for a team that appears to be in the midst of a rebuilding frenzy, these two additions could be smart moves to build a brighter future for the franchise.

Faksa’s Penalty Kill ability

The first addition, Czech Radek Faksa, came via trade. The Stars moved the final season of Faksa’s five-year, $16.25 million contract to the Blues to save salary cap space — even though Faksa’s deal was once a huge value to Dallas. All the Blues had to give up were the ever-ethereal “future considerations.” Armstrong essentially added a player in free agency. But the low purchase price does not do justice to the valuable player the Blues added.

Faksa has never really been a points producer, but he has built a reputation as one of the most valuable bottom-six forwards in the league due to his high-level defensive play. He has received Selke Trophy votes in four different seasons. And despite a mediocre performance last season, he still stifled chances against the Stars at an extremely high level. In fact, he had an elite “role player” season in 2023-24. Still, the Stars decided they simply couldn’t afford to keep his contract on the roster and moved him to the Blues.

Faksa isn’t a player who likely has a long-term future with the Blues, given his age and their goal of building a younger core. Armstrong could use one asset (his salary cap space) to set himself up for a big opportunity at the deadline. Many teams would value a reliable penalty killer with tons of playoff experience, and Faksa fits that bill better than almost anyone else in the league. The Blues could easily eat half of his contract and sell him for futures when the time is right.

Suter’s veteran presence

The addition of 39-year-old defenseman Suter attracted attention earlier this week, though it immediately made more sense in light of news of Torey Krug’s injury. Still, with other left-handed defensemen already on the roster, such as Tyler Tucker and Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Suter makes the most sense as a potential deadline chip for Armstrong to play with.

Related: Krug Injury News Creates Questions, Opportunities For The Blues

Suter didn’t have a great season, but that perception is largely colored by his postseason. During the regular season, he was still a defender who was largely positive in expected goals against (xGA) prevention and scoring attempts. Yes, his best seasons are behind him, but Suter won’t just be chasing milestones in 2024-25. He’ll be looking to prove he’s still got gas in the tank, and he’ll likely want another shot at the Stanley Cup come the playoffs.

Despite a poor showing in this year’s postseason, some teams will surely value Suter’s veteran leadership in a depth role as the deadline approaches. Armstrong will have an easy opportunity to take advantage of a league-minimum free agent contract and turn Suter into a future asset, especially if he looks strong up to that point in the season.

Asset management

While Suter and Faksa spent many seasons as division rivals with the Blues, they could play a major role in the franchise’s future. No, neither will be the most sought-after piece at the deadline. But teams will want both players. And if the Blues are no longer a serious playoff contender, either trade is a no-brainer for Armstrong. The players would likely yield mid-round picks. But they’re still valuable future pieces. Both additions were smart moves by the general manager to potentially create value for ex-Nihilo and strengthen the future of his franchise.