Breaking: Saint Louis Blues closing in on deal to sign 27 year old forward on free agency.

When July 1st arrives, free agency will open. The St. Louis Blues, like any other team, will look for a low-risk, high-reward talent. Yakov Trenin might be that player.

Trenin has appeared in 299 NHL games with the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. The Russian native has scored 48 goals and provided 34 assists.

Trenin’s highest single-season goal total is 17 in 2021-22. However, Trenin has the ability to accomplish more.

Trenin played in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League before to his NHL debut in 2019-20. Trenin scored more than 25 goals, assisted more than 35 times, and had more than 60 points in each of his three seasons in the league.

In spite of the difference in competition between the QMJHL anf the NHL, there is reason to believe Trenin can offer more to a NHL team. He has a documented good work ethic, and even at a young age in his career, Trenin was sought after and acquired by the Avalanche at the 2024 Trade Deadline.

If Trenin remains the player he has always been, he still provides significant value to any NHL team.

The Blues’ front lines are in question as the free agency period approaches. There is talk that Pavel Buchnevich will move to the second-line center position to fill a vacancy. However, doing so would free up space on the wing.

Trenin could move into that wing position, or if someone else was promoted, he could fill the vacancy in the bottom six.

Trenin would fit right into the Blues roster for this season. While the team will undoubtedly want to give their young prospects like Zach Dean and Zachary Bolduc opportunities to be in the lineup (or in Dean and Bolduc’s case, an opportunity to REMAIN) in the lineup, if a young player has trouble, Trenin could be someone who slides into that role to fill the void.

Furthermore, an injury to any forward would create the need for a player like Trenin to fill in.

Trenin could become closer to the player he was in the QMJHL, He could just be the player he has been with the Predators and Avalanche. Regardless, this is the kind of player the Blues need to be bring in.

The Blues are not in a spot to contend for a Stanley Cup, but General Manager Doug Armstrong wants to keep the team competitive while building for the future. Bringing in Trenin checks both boxes.

Furthermore, Trenin has been a player of interest to teams. Trenin could wind up being traded by Armstrong at the trade deadline for future assets. Trenin could face the same fate as Noel Acciari, who was brought in by the Blues but then traded.

It’s simple. Trenin would be a low-risk, high-reward signing. So, why not, Doug Armstrong?