The St. Louis Blues placed Jonathan Drouin on unconditional waivers Tuesday to execute a buyout that trims their 2026-27 cap hit by $2.67 million.
Cap Relief Mechanics
Drouin carried a $4 million cap hit with one year remaining on his two-year deal when acquired from the Islanders. The buyout spreads $2.67 million in remaining salary over two seasons at $1.333 million each, according to PuckPedia calculations.
This structure saves the Blues exactly $2.666 million against the 2026-27 ceiling while creating a smaller $1.333 million charge in 2027-28. The team therefore gains meaningful flexibility without a one-time lump sum.
Other clubs had 24 hours to claim Drouin and assume the existing contract, but clearance converts him to unrestricted free agency before July 1. No team claimed the 31-year-old winger.
The move aligns with the Blues’ deadline acquisition of Drouin in the Brayden Schenn trade on March 6, after which he recorded one goal and three points in nine games.
Performance Context
Drouin finished the 2025-26 season with four goals and 20 assists in 64 games split between Colorado and St. Louis. His 24 points represented a decline from the 37 points he posted in 43 games during 2024-25 with the Avalanche.
Earlier production included 56 points in 79 games in 2023-24 and career totals of 398 points in 671 NHL contests. The third-overall pick from 2013 never exceeded 58 games or 29 points during four seasons in Montreal.
The Blues accepted the remaining year of his contract at the trade deadline despite the injury history that limited Drouin to 43 games the prior season. The buyout now erases that obligation.
Roster and Offseason Outlook
By clearing Drouin the Blues create both cap space and a roster opening ahead of unrestricted free agency. The $2.67 million savings can support additions without exceeding the salary cap.
The decision avoids carrying a declining 31-year-old forward into a season where younger or more productive options may become available. Two years of reduced charges remain manageable within projected budgets.
St. Louis now enters July with documented cap flexibility that directly results from executing the buyout before the new league year begins.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.