By Nestor Quixtan
The St. Louis Blues head into the 2025-26 season with a solid lineup, looking to take the next step in their playoff quest. The club has done a great job of locking up their younger players while bringing in talented veterans to balance the load.However, the Blues have about $625K in cap space and could face a cap crunch moving forward. The club may need to sacrifice a contract at one point or another. The Blues鈥 current salary cap allocation does not take Torey Krug鈥檚 contract into account.But the Blues will eventually run into trouble as they look to re-sign several RFAs. So, here鈥檚 a look at the three weakest links the St. Louis Blues must move on from.3 weakest links St. Louis Blues should promptly get rid of#3 Alexei ToropchenkoThe Blues may choose to shed Toropchenko’s cap hit moving forward – Source: ImagnAlexei Toropchenko has size and plays a solid game. However, he doesn鈥檛 score much. That鈥檚 something that may not sit well moving forward. Toropchenko will be a UFA next season after signing a one-year, $1.7 million deal this offseason.Unless Toropchenko can improve on his four goals and 17 points in 79 games from last season, the Blues may opt to move on from the 6鈥6鈥 winger.#2 Alexandre TexierTexier could be sacrificed to make room for other players – Source: ImagnAlexandre Texier is entering the second year of a two-year deal with a $2.1 million cap hit. He scored six goals and 11 points in 31 games last season, playing a middle-six role.Given his cap hit, the Blues may think twice about holding onto Texier. The club could cut ties with him as other prospects begin to push their way into the lineup. Players like Otto Stenberg and Dalibor Dvorsky could push to get a lineup spot as soon as 2026.#1 Cam FowlerCam Fowler could be a cap casualty despite his great play – Source: ImagnCam Fowler was a great trade deadline acquisition for the St. Louis Blues this past season. The 33-year-old is a solid veteran blue liner and provides depth to a talented blue line. However, Fowler鈥檚 $4 million cap hit, even after retention from the Anaheim Ducks, could get in the way of the team re-signing RFAs like Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux.So, there鈥檚 a chance the St. Louis Blues may have to cut ties with the veteran Fowler. While the Blues would miss his leadership and play on the ice, he could become the biggest cap casualty in St. Louis.