Blues lock up Connor McMichael with a six-year deal

The St. Louis Blues haven't have a chance to watch Connor McMichael suit up in uniform during the regular season, but the team's management already knows this much: It wasn't about to let him sniff free agency. 

Connor McMichael signs new six-year contract with Blues

After acquiring the 25-year-old forward on June 23 from the Washington Capitals in a trade for Jordan Kyrou, the Blues announced Thursday that they have signed McMichael to a six-year, $40.5 million contract that will come with an average annual salary cap hit of $6.75 million and prevents him from going through salary arbitration.

McMichael seems to be elated with the trade to St. Louis.

"I'm super-excited," McMichael said after the trade, per NHL.com. "I think one of the first things I did when I found out is checked the Blues roster and got familiar with the guys. From what I saw, there's going to be a lot of years where we can be competitive. It's a team that's looking to build and get better and better each year. There's quite a few guys the same age as me, so that's real exciting. I'm already familiar with a few guys as well. I'm really happy to be a Blue.

"Last year was a bit of a down year for me. The assists were still there, but the goal scoring, not so much. That's definitely something I pride myself in. I like to get into the dirty areas per se, and find the soft spots and find the back of the net. I think I'm a well-rounded player that's going to be able to score and set guys up."

Blues make a substantial investment in Connor McMichael

For someone who has not yet played a game in St. Louis, it’s a substantial investment. But the math tells you they’re not paying for what McMichael has achieved. They’re paying for who they expect him to be soon.

McMichael has quickly developed into one of the NHL's more dependable young forwards. He has appeared in at least 78 games in each of the last three seasons, a level of durability every team covets. His offensive game has also trended in the right direction.

After recording a mere 18 points in the 2022-23 season, McMichael popped off for 26 goals and 57 points in 2024-25. McMichael's production took a step back last season with a 46-point outing, but he still took on increased responsibility and proved he wasn't a one-season wonder.

That's likely what caught the Blues' attention.

Finding players in their mid-20s who can score, stay healthy and continue improving isn't easy. When teams believe they've found one, waiting rarely works in their favor. Another productive season could have pushed McMichael's price even higher, especially with the salary cap continuing to rise.

Instead, St. Louis acted now.

Connor McMichael is a big part of Blues' long-term future

The extension also says plenty about the organization's view of the Kyrou trade. McMichael wasn't simply another piece included to balance the deal. The Blues see him as someone capable of becoming part of their core over the next several seasons.

Whether he reaches another level offensively remains to be seen, but locking him up before he ever played a game in St. Louis removes any doubt about the club's confidence. For a franchise trying to build a younger nucleus without taking a step backward, that's a gamble the Blues clearly felt was worth making.