Three free agent centers the St. Louis Blues should consider

Following the Kevin Hayes trade, the St. Louis Blues are down one center on their roster. To fill that void, the Blues should consider signing three free agent centers.

What the Blues have now determines what they need

Before the trade, Hayes was designated as a third-line center. On a presumed depth chart for the upcoming season, Robert Thomas would be the first-line center. Pavel Buchnevich would be the second-line center. Hayes would have been the third-line center. Oskar Sundqvist would be the fourth-line center. Brayden Schenn, Zachary Bolduc and Nikita Alexandrov are other centering options.

The Hayes trade creates a void, but there could be others as well. It’s unclear at this point whether the Blues will convert Buchnevich to center. Buchnevich could also play his usual position on the wing.

The Blues should address this issue by looking for a center who can play on the second or third line. If Buchnevich ends up playing on the wing, the center they sign will then be able to move to the second line and Schenn will be moved to the third line center position.

To recap, the Blues need a second/third line center.

What does the ceiling allow?

The Hayes trade freed up an additional $3.5 million on the Blues’ cap. They have just over $16 million to spend in free agency this year. The Blues have a few restricted free agents whose new salaries will count on that $16 million. As such, the Blues probably won’t spend $8 million on a center. Yes, this means that our dreams of Steven Stamkos or Jake Guentzel in the Blues jersey will have to remain dreams for the moment.

The price of a second/third line center depends on how the free agent market plays out. There is no set amount that we should expect a team to spend on a second/third line center. That being said, it is safe to assume that the contract for a second/third line center will be somewhere between $4 million and $6 million.

Three free agent centers the Blues should watch

This list will not be listed in any specific order.

Elias Lindholm

Lindholm is a former 40-goal scorer who regularly scored between 50 and 60 points per season without difficulty. The numbers have dipped slightly in recent seasons, but Lindholm has always been a productive player. During last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Vancouver Canucks, Lindholm scored five goals in 13 games and totaled ten points. Lindholm’s performance was considered one of the main reasons the Canucks advanced to the second round.

Lindholm would fit in as the Blues’ second-line center. He would also be an asset on the power play.

What would the contract look like?

Lindholm had a cap hit of $4.85 million last season. Even if he wanted a raise, the Blues could still offer him a deal between $4 million and $6 million. A three-year deal with an average annual payout of $5.5 million seems reasonable to both sides.

Tyler Johnson

Don’t let the $5 million salary cap fool you. Johnson received this contract from the Tampa Bay Lightning. At the time of the contract, Johnson was scoring close to 50 points per season. When he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, his numbers began to drop. Injuries were also an issue during his time in Chicago.

Johnson bounced back last season, however. He scored 17 goals and collected 31 points. He showed he had the potential to become an asset to a team’s offense.

Unlike Lindholm, Johnson may not fit on the Blues’ second line, but he would certainly fit on the third line. If he were to succeed offensively, he could be promoted.

What would the contract look like?

The Blues are expected to offer Johnson a two-year contract worth $3.5 million. This is a good deal for Johnson. It’s not the money he was making before, but he’s also not the player he was when he got that contract. Johnson would also have the opportunity to play with playmakers like Jordan Kyrou and Brandon Saad. If Johnson produces, he could earn himself a bigger contract in two seasons. Additionally, the Blues would gain an offensive asset in these two seasons.

Chandler Stephenson

This is the most interesting name on the list of available centers. Any team looking to sign Stephenson will ask itself, “Which Stephenson are we going to get?” In three seasons with the Washington Capitals, Stephenson didn’t score more than six goals in a season. In his last three seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, Stephenson scored no fewer than 16 goals. Is Stephenson’s success a result of his maturity in the NHL or a result of being on a better offensive team? It’s a fair question.

It would be a risky move for the Blues, but they should consider dealing Stephenson. He has a track record of recent success, both in the regular season and the playoffs. During Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup campaign, Stephenson recorded 20 points in 22 games.

Stephenson could play as the Blues’ second-line center. It would be interesting to see him play alongside Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbors or Jordan Kyrou.

What would the contract look like?

Stephenson’s latest contract came before his breakout season with Vegas. As such, his cap hit will be over $2.75 million. However, the Blues could still afford a contract with him. A three-year contract worth $5.50, the same as Lindholm offered, would seem reasonable for both sides.

Blues need No. 2 center

There are other centers on the market that the Blues could consider instead of those three. Regardless of who they pursue, the Blues need to find someone who could play as a second-line center or who could fill another role while someone else slides into that role.

General manager Doug Armstrong made great strides in reshaping the team by trading Hayes. It will be interesting to see what comes next.

Main photo credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports