When a $65 million player gets healthy-scratched, the NHL rumor mill doesn’t just whisper; it screams. That’s exactly what’s happening with St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou. His benching during the 3-0 win against Buffalo wasn’t just a message; it was a flare gun shot into the night sky, and every GM in the league saw it.
This isn’t just a blip. As NHL insider Darren Dreger noted, Kyrou was “involved in trade speculation in the offseason.” Dreger’s comments about Kyrou’s lagging “work commitment” as the Blues stumble are particularly damning. With just 8 points in 14 games and a dreadful -8 rating, the “change of scenery” narrative is in full effect.
Enter the Detroit Red Wings. A rumor is making the rounds proposing a blockbuster:
- Red Wings get: Jordan Kyrou
- Blues get: Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, William Wallinder, Andrew Copp, 2026 1st-round pick, 2028 3rd-round pick
Let’s be blunt: as an analyst who watches these teams daily, this specific trade is pure fantasy.
Why This Blockbuster Trade Proposal Makes No Sense
This proposal isn’t just an overpay; it’s a structural nightmare. First, Andrew Copp has a full no-trade clause. He dictates where he goes, and it’s highly unlikely he’d waive it to be a salary-matching piece in a deal for a struggling St. Louis team.
Second, the value is astronomical for a player who was just benched for lack of effort. Steve Yzerman isn’t sending two top-tier prospects (Brandsegg-Nygård and Wallinder), a 1st-round pick, and taking on Kyrou’s $8.125M cap hit while also convincing Copp to move. That’s not a trade; it’s a lopsided fantasy league offer. Detroit is trying to build a contender, not empty the cupboards for a player on decline, no matter how high his ceiling.
What Would a Realistic Kyrou Trade Look Like?
The idea of Kyrou to Detroit isn’t crazy. Yzerman needs high-end scoring, and Kyrou has it. The Blues need defensive prospects and cap flexibility. But a realistic deal would have to be centered differently.
Would the Blues be interested in a package built around a young roster defenseman from Detroit’s surplus? Would they retain salary on Kyrou to increase the return? A one-for-one swap or a deal involving fewer, more targeted pieces is far more likely than the kitchen-sink proposal floating around.
The healthy scratch is a clear sign that the frustration between Kyrou and the Blues organization is at a boiling point. A trade is absolutely possible. But fans of both the St.Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings should take a deep breath and ignore proposals like this one. They’re built for clicks, not for the ice.
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