After winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in their 52 year history, the Blues’ offseason was cut to just two months.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, St. Louis played 28 games, tying an NHL record. Their free agents included restricted players, forward Ivan Barbashev, defenseman Joel Edmundson, goalie Jordan Binnington, and forwards Oskar Sundqvist, Robby Fabbri and Zach Sanford. The forward acquired from Washington for Shattenkirk, Sanford, was re-signed to a two-year, $3 million deal. Robby Fabbri was then kept around on a one-year, $900,000 pact. The rookie goalie Jordan Binnington struck up a two-year, $8.8 million extension. Third line forward Sundqvist agreed to a four-year, $11 million deal. Edmundson went to arbitration for his salary, and the arbitrator decided on a $3.1 million salary for the upcoming season. Barbashev was the last domino to fall, agreeing to a two-year, $2.95 extension after threatening to go to the KHL. 

“Usually after a team wins a championship, lots of top players leave in the offseason. But with the Blues, they have been able to keep their top players while improving with young talent coming up,” senior Ethan Seymore said.

The game seven hero Patrick Maroon was the only player to leave the Blues this offseason. He agreed to a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had the best regular season in NHL history a year ago. 

“It’s tough to see Maroon leave the team after his heroics in the playoffs, but I feel confident in players stepping up to fill the void,” senior Jacob Justice said.

Kilm Kostin fits the physicality of Maroon, as the 20-year old is over 6’ 6” tall. Jordan Kyrou is also a candidate to fill in with Maroon gone.

“Kostin is a force to be reckoned with. I’d hate to be up against him with the game on the line,” senior Britt Schriber said.