LOS ANGELES – The New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues are apparently each testing the market on key pieces of their core.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche is doing his due diligence on 25-year-old defenseman Noah Dobson, who is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
And there is word that the Blues are one of those teams that have inquired -- "poked around" -- about the D-man, and general manager Doug Armstrong is quietly seeing what the market is for 27-year-old Jordan Kyrou, who is entering the third season of an eight-year deal worth $8.125 million, per PuckPedia.
His full no-trade clause kicks in July 1, and there is no indication – yet – that the two are tied together.
Both are talented players, but each provides an obstacle for his respective organization.
Dobson, who recorded just 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 71 games, is now a year removed from his 70-point campaign. He and his agency have given the Islanders their number, per industry sources. They can either match that number – the price tag is closer to $10 million than the $11 million that was initially reported – or they can move him.
Ironically enough, Kyrou reached the 70-point mark this past season, the third time he’s done so in his seven-year NHL career. He recorded 36 goals, one short of his career high, and 34 assists in 82 games.
There is no indication the Blues are willing to move Kyrou, more so listening to see what teams would offer for him before making the full commitment of the remainder of his contract, which includes five years of a full no-trade and the final year of a modified 15-team no-trade list.
Kyrou and Robert Thomas signed matching eight-year contracts July 13, 2022.
Here’s Armstrong on Monday when asked about Kyrou’s no-trade kicking in July 1.
“It’s just part of the process,” he said. “When you’re signing contracts to young players that you think are going to be in your top four forwards or top three D, it’s just standard. They don’t sign it without that. Dates come and go in our business. Whether it’s a no-trade clause kicking in or a trade deadline or whatever. It is what it is.”
While Kyrou is under contract, a long-term deal that includes a full no-trade clause, the Blues have just north of $15.5 million in available cap space and would welcome the chance to get younger on their backend.
Although the Blues have no defensemen coming off the books, Justin Faulk and Nick Leddy aren’t getting any younger.
They would have to move out a veteran or two (Faulk and/or Leddy would be obvious choices) to make the dollars make sense, and not saying that a Dobson-for-Kyrou (or more) swap has been discussed, but it makes for an intriguing option for either side.
The only reason the Blues would even consider something if they deal Kyrou is the leverage they’d lose on July 1, so the clock is ticking on whatever decision they make.
If the Blues are interested in Dobson, he would provide a coveted right-hand defenseman and would be a 1A/1B type with Colton Parayko, play lots of minutes, and be an instant power-play quarterback, so it makes sense for them to inquire.
For the Islanders, moving Dobson for a top-six forward who can play alongside Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat – or either one if Barzal is moved back to center – is critical, especially with the Islanders not having the necessary cap space to upgrade that position in free agency.
For the Blues, the only way they would part with Kyrou is if they were upgrading at his position. Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson’s name has been mentioned as well as a potential trade candidate. Would a Kyrou-for-Robertson trade make sense?
A trade would work out financially for both sides, as the Islanders could fit Kyrou’s $8.13 million on the books if they don’t have to pay Dobson. St. Louis would have north of $23 million in available cap space and could fit Dobson’s price and term.
The question is, how eager are the Blues to move Kyrou, and how eager are the Islanders to move Dobson?
The expectation is that, by Friday, there will be more clarity on how the Islanders are going to proceed with Dobson.
The Buffalo Sabres are looking for a right-side defenseman to pair with Owen Power and could move pending restricted free agent forward J.J. Peterka.
The Utah Mammoth, who are shopping the fourth overall pick, could use a Dobson as well – a potential trade that would likely allow the Islanders to draft Long Island native James Hagens.
Right now on the Kyrou front, it’s more smoke than fire, but with their belief in 2022 first-round pick Jimmy Snuggerud and how he was utilized in his early stages of his NHL career, the organization feels he has the tools to be an offensive weapon and someone who showed an uncanny willingness to play a solid 200-foot game.
Stay tuned.
The Hockey News St. Louis Blues site editor Lou Korac contributed to this report.
