The St. Louis Blues have placed defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers, a strategic move that may help alleviate their crowded defensive lineup. Leddy, who is 34 years old, is in the final year of his contract with a $4 million cap hit, of which he is set to earn $3 million in salary this upcoming season. His placement on waivers comes after the Blues acquired Logan Mailloux from Montreal, bringing their number of projected defensemen to eight.
If another team claims Leddy, they would take on his entire contract. If he goes unclaimed, Leddy will continue to be a part of the Blues’ roster. It’s important to note that this waiver placement is not a precursor to a buyout, as that window has already closed.
The upcoming NHL season’s timeline necessitates that any waivers-eligible player needing to be sent to the AHL must be waived within the designated “playing season waiver period.” This window opens 12 days before the start of the season, suggesting that if Leddy remains on the Blues’ roster until then, he would need to be waived again should the team wish to send him to their AHL affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Leddy has a no-trade clause that lists 16 teams, potentially complicating his ability to be traded directly. This situation might indicate why the Blues opted to place him on waivers rather than pursue a trade. Should he clear waivers, Leddy may face a decision similar to that of forward Brandon Saad, who last season chose to terminate his contract after going unclaimed, sacrificing over $5 million to sign with Vegas as a free agent.
The Blues are managing their salary cap effectively; even with their current roster situation, they are roughly $750,000 under the $95.5 million salary cap. Placing Torey Krug on long-term injured reserve could free up an additional $6.5 million in space.
Acquired in March 2022 from Detroit for a second-round draft pick and two players, Leddy has since played 211 games with the Blues, recording nine goals and 55 assists while primarily partnering with Colton Parayko. His time spent injured last season limited his impact, averaging just over 14 minutes of ice time during the playoffs against Winnipeg.
With the arrival of Philip Broberg last summer and Tyler Tucker emerging as a third-pairing option, the Blues are now faced with some tough decisions regarding their defensive pairings. Current projections suggest that the defensive line could remain composed of Fowler-Parayko and Broberg-Faulk, while Tucker competes for a role alongside Mailloux, leaving Matthew Kessel as the seventh defenseman.
General manager Doug Armstrong previously acknowledged the team’s need to assess their blue line situation in light of recent changes. With a lot of movement possible before the season starts, the Blues appear poised for strategic adjustments that could strengthen their roster. This shows a commitment to making well-considered moves that could enhance their competitive edge in the upcoming NHL season.