The St. Louis Blues have just one player heading to arbitration, Connor McMichael.

Typically, NHL teams and players can avoid meeting with an arbitrator by signing an extension before the deadline. Players file for arbitration to speed up the process of negotiating an extension.

But in some cases, if a deal cannot be reached, going to arbitration can yield a balanced outcome. 

If the Blues do not come to terms with McMichael within the next two weeks, they’ll be set for their arbitration date on July 25, according to puckpedia.com.

By filing for arbitration, players become eligible for a maximum of a two-year contract, but those one year away from becoming unrestricted free agents can only be awarded a one-year contract. 

The arbitration process is completed by the team and the player, who present their case for the contract’s price tag. More often than not, the team low-balls, while the player puts an unrealistic price. An arbitrator is used to help find the middle ground based on production, age and the term, whether it’s one year or two. 

For the Blues, avoiding arbitration is critical. Providing McMichael with the opportunity to sign a short-term contract and allowing him to walk into free agency as a UFA is risky, as they could lose him for free or be forced to trade him before he becomes a UFA.

The 25-year-old is a versatile forward, capable of playing on the wing or up the middle. He’s coming off a down season in 2025-26, but he is one year removed from a 26-goal, 57-point campaign. 

Adding McMichael to the lineup brings balance, so locking him into a contract that will take him into his 30s is a must. 

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