The Daily Goal Horn

St. Louis players return from the 2026 Olympics with performances that GM Doug Armstrong couldn't have scripted better, fueling talk around their Central Division push. Bleedin' Blue insiders note how key Blues reps medaled or stood tall, easing deadline pressures amid roster freeze lifts. This glow could solidify their wildcard hunt if they channel that gold-medal grit back into NHL rinks.

St. Louis clings to 28th place with a battered roster and whispers of a full teardown before March 6. Doug Armstrong faces calls to shop vets like Schenn, Faulk, and Kyrou while prospects like Dvorsky dazzle post-Olympics and Snuggerud fights back from injury. Armstrong's choice now shapes whether they chase a top draft pick like McKenna or salvage pride in the final stretch.

The trade freeze lifts and GMs waste no time dialing up their lists, with Blue Jackets boss Don Waddell drawing a line in the sand against rental UFAs despite their playoff push. Jordan Kyrou's no-trade clause hangs over St. Louis like a storm cloud, while whispers of ready-to-go deals flood front offices from Calgary to Philly. As the March 6 deadline looms just 12 days away, contenders circle sellers like Flyers eyeing Ristolainen retention plays and Avalanche shopping for center depth.

Patrik Laine and Robert Thomas dominate the latest trade predictor as GMs scramble post-Olympics with the freeze lifted and deadline fever building. Front offices whisper about NTC waivers and sky-high asking prices, especially for St. Louis' prized center who's dodging questions like a pro. Deals simmer behind closed doors, poised to reshape contenders before March 6, and one wrong move could derail a playoff push.

The Minnesota Wild made a splash acquiring Quinn Hughes from Vancouver back in December, but early returns suggest one star defenseman won't be enough to compete with Dallas or Colorado in the playoffs. With the trade deadline just two weeks away and the Olympic roster freeze lifting today, GM Bill Guerin is already circling potential targets like Vincent Trocheck and Robert Thomas to address the team's glaring need at center.

Fans keep pitching wild Blues trades like sending Binnington to Montreal or Robert Thomas to Minnesota, and with St. Louis scraping the standings' bottom, GM Doug Armstrong listens to every angle. Thomas holds a full no-trade clause and an $8.125 million cap hit through his eight-year deal, but whispers say he might waive it for the right fit while the Blues demand a king's ransom.