Plan B for the St. Louis Blues Following Bowen Byram Signing

The St. Louis Blues had been pursuing defenceman Bowen Byram to bolster their defensive depth. However, Byram re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres, meaning the defenceman is off the market, at least for now. The Blues now turn to their plan B, but what is it?

Blues Plan B

Knowing general manager Doug Armstrong and future general manager Alexander Steen, there are multiple plan B’s. Armstrong does not operate without various options at his disposal. We saw an example of this earlier this summer. The Blues were seeking to add a number-two centre to their lineup and were reportedly interested in Mikael Granlund. When that did not work out, Armstrong pivoted and signed Pius Suter.

Given the evidence, it can be assumed Armstrong has multiple ideas. What could those be?

Pursue Byram Again

Byram’s new deal only goes for two seasons. The Sabres could be using this season to gauge whether they can see signs of turning things around, with Byram as the main piece of their defence. Should things not improve, they may consider relocating Byram to acquire assets. As a result, this could put the Blues right back in the Byram market. As we have previously discussed, the Blues would need to unload Justin Faulk‘s contract and likely would need to give up someone like Jake Neighbours.

If a trade did not happen until next summer, the Blues would have additional cap space, as Mathieu Joseph, Oskar Sundqvist, and possibly Cam Fowler will be off the salary cap after this coming season.

Extend Fowler

Fowler joined the Blues in December and was one of the team’s best defenceman. Fowler helped the Blue Note return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022. Furthermore, Fowler had an impressive performance in Game 3 of the team’s first-round series, recording a goal and four assists in a convincing Blues victory. 

At 34 years old, Fowler remains a highly effective puck-moving defenceman, posting strong minutes while maintaining composure under pressure, a trait the Blues need given the youth on their defence.

Fowler’s skating ability remains his most significant asset, allowing him to exit the zone cleanly and join the rush. This past season, Fowler averaged just under 22 minutes per game, playing in all situations, and demonstrated durability and reliability. The Blues struggled with defensive lapses and turnovers in critical moments, and retaining Fowler helps minimize these issues.

Additionally, Fowler brings leadership and playoff experience, qualities that are invaluable for a Blues team trying to return to contender status while continuing their retool. His continued presence would support the development of young defencemen like Tyler Tucker and Logan Mailloux, while providing additional support to defensive prospects like Theo Lindstein. At the same time, Fowler can continue to provide a strong presence alongside Faulk or Colton Parayko.

Byram or Fowler Checks an Important Box

The Blues lack depth on the left side. Adding Byram or extending Fowler would help solidify their left side and avoid putting another defenceman in an unfamiliar situation. 

Is One More Likely?

Because this is Armstrong we are talking about, the same man who once said, “We need that killer instinct. You need to take the knife and jam it through their eye into their brain and kill them,” anything could be on the table. The plan B Armstrong chooses may not be one we have discussed today. 

However, it does seem likely that any move the Blues make will be about solidifying the left side of their defence. The Mailloux trade earlier in the summer helped solidify the right side; now they will look to do the same to the left side.