Blues Drouin Buyout Confirmed
St. Louis Blues Buy Out Jonathan Drouin's Contract to Boost Youth Movement and Cap Space
Key Points
Drouin appeared in 9 Blues games after the deadline trade, recording 1 goal and 3 points, underscoring why he wasn’t able to lock into a longer-term role in St. Louis.
This buyout marks the first NHL buyout of the 2026 summer window, with the buyout deadline set for 5 p.m. ET today as the Blues pursue a youth-forward retool.
Blues converted assets from the Brayden Schenn deal into a younger core – turning that package into two first-round picks, a third-rounder, a goalie prospect, and a bit of veteran depth, to accommodate McMichael and McTavish.
Colorado Avalanche previously gave Drouin 93 points in 122 games; with Colorado's cap moves this offseason, there remains some speculative interest in a one-year, low-cost reunion with Drouin as a potential forward option.
The St. Louis Blues made the first NHL buyout of the 2026 offseason official on Monday morning, placing 31-year-old forward Jonathan Drouin on unconditional waivers to buy out the final year of his contract, according to Reuters. The move wipes a $4 million cap hit from the books, replacing it with a two-year dead-cap charge of $1.33 million per season through 2027-28, per Pro Hockey Rumors.
Drouin appeared in just 9 games after arriving in St. Louis at the March trade deadline, posting 1 goal and 3 points. The buyout window closes at 5 p.m. ET today, formally ending his brief stint with the Blues.
Schenn Trade Dominoes Land on Drouin
Drouin's departure is a direct result of the Brayden Schenn trade in March. The Blues sent their captain to the New York Islanders and received Drouin plus draft assets as salary ballast. St. Louis was focused on extracting futures — specifically two first-round picks and a goalie prospect — to speed up a rebuild, according to Pro Hockey Rumors.
Drouin was never meant to be a long-term piece. He was absorbed to make the salary math work. Once the Blues added Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish this month, there was simply no room for a $4 million veteran in the top nine, per Eyes on Isles.
Blues Trade for Youth, Clear Cap in One Week
The Blues moved fast this month. On June 23, they traded Jordan Kyrou to Washington for Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick. Three days later, they sent the 15th and 29th picks to Anaheim to get 23-year-old center Mason McTavish. The roster was suddenly younger — and crowded.
The Drouin buyout saves St. Louis $2.67 million in cap space for 2026-27, according to Pro Hockey Rumors. That room is expected to help the Blues lock up McMichael on a long-term deal. The core now runs through Robert Thomas, Jake Neighbours, McMichael, and McTavish — all under 26.
Drouin Heads to Free Agency With Avalanche Interest
Drouin, who turns 32 this season, has told his agent he plans to keep playing. His best hockey came in Colorado, where he put up 93 points in 122 games alongside Nathan MacKinnon. That track record makes him attractive to teams hunting for cheap offensive depth.
The Colorado Avalanche are the most talked-about landing spot. Colorado recently cleared cap space by moving on from Valeri Nichushkin and Ross Colton. A short, low-cost reunion in Denver is viewed as a realistic outcome, according to Eyes on Isles. Teams like Utah HC and the Nashville Predators are also expected to take a look.
Blues Close the Book on Their Championship Era
The buyout is more than a cap move. It is the final step in St. Louis leaving behind its 2019 Stanley Cup identity. The Blues have now converted the aging Brayden Schenn into McMichael, McTavish, and a stack of high draft picks. The team enters 2026-27 as one of the youngest forward groups in the Western Conference.
Incoming general manager Alexander Steen, who takes over July 1, built this blueprint around high-compete youth. The Blues will carry small amounts of dead cap through 2028 — a standard cost under current CBA rules for players over 26, according to Pro Hockey Rumors. For St. Louis, it is a price worth paying to reset the roster clock.
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