Why the St. Louis Blues Missed a Key Opportunity to Acquire Noah Dobson in 2025 NHL Offseason

Following a competitive regular season, the St. Louis Blues advanced to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs but faced elimination in the first round after losing Game 7 to the Winnipeg Jets. Although the team showed flashes of strength, they fell short of advancing further, prompting roster adjustments during the offseason. The Blues made several strategic signings, including two-year contracts for Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad to strengthen their middle and bottom lines. Additionally, they executed a trade to acquire defenseman Logan Mailloux from Montreal in exchange for forward Zack Bolduc, addressing specific team needs. Despite these moves, the Blues refrained from making a major splash in free agency, opting instead to rely on their emerging young talent and established stars. However, one notable opportunity they missed was acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson. The team was actively involved in the Dobson trade negotiations this summer, but he was ultimately traded to Montreal for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks. Dobson, a restricted free agent at the time, signed an eight-year, $76 million contract with the Canadiens. Dobson brings significant offensive upside, evidenced by ...