NHL Rumors: Metropolitan Division Team Linked To Jordan Kyrou Trade

The New York Islanders spent the weeks leading up to the March 6 trade deadline pursuing Jordan Kyrou, and the talks collapsed at the exact moment they got serious.

Per Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, St. Louis insisted on defensive prospect Kashawn Aitcheson, the 17th overall pick from the 2025 draft, as the centerpiece of any deal.

The Islanders backed out immediately.

Now, the conversation is widely expected to resume this summer with New York and the Blues both in different positions than they were three months ago.

Why the Islanders Want Kyrou

The case for Kyrou on Long Island has not changed since Darche first picked up the phone in February.

The Islanders ranked 21st in the league in offense and 31st in power play percentage, a combination that makes adding a proven 30-goal scorer with term the fit for their club that's available.

Kyrou is 28 years old, a three-time 30-goal scorer, and is signed through 2030-31 at $8.125 million per year.

Nick Kypreos: It’s a lot more likely Jordan Kyrou will be traded this summer than most other players on the Blues’ roster - Sportsnet (5/27)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 4, 2026

He has 365 points in 467 career games.

His speed specifically fits the Islanders' developing transition game, and his power play history with the Blues is the exact capability Darche's roster is missing.

Per Rosner's reporting at the deadline, Darche called on both Kyrou and Robert Thomas during the same period.

Why the Blues Would Move Him

Kyrou had a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, recording 18 goals and 46 points in 72 games, and was a healthy scratch on multiple occasions.

Incoming GM Alexander Steen takes over July 1, inheriting a roster in full rebuild mode and a Kyrou situation that Doug Armstrong left without resolution.

John Buccigross: Jordan Kyrou in my mind is gone, there's no chance he's a Blue opening night, that's my opinion - Frankly Hockey (6/4)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 6, 2026

With the Blues shifting toward a younger core, moving Kyrou for a package of picks and prospects makes sense for a team that does not need him in the short-term and would benefit from the asset return.

The three first-round picks St. Louis holds in the 2026 draft give them flexibility, but a premium defensive prospect alongside additional draft capital is the kind of return that accelerates the rebuild a lot.

Photo Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images