St. Louis Blues hire Vaclav Prospal, Greg Cronin as assistant coaches

 

The St. Louis Blues have hired Vaclav "Vinny" Prospal and Greg Cronin as assistant coaches for Jim Montgomery's coaching staff. Prospal and Cronin both signed multi-year contracts. Prospal, 51, spent the last 3 seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL's Rochester Americans. In each season the Americans reached the playoffs. Prospal was in charge of the forwards and power play for the Americans and will now do the same for the Blues. Last season, the Americans power play unit ranked 4th in the AHL and 1st in the East. 

As a player, Prospal played 16 seasons in the NHL (1996-2004, 2005-2013). Prospal played 1,108 games with 255 goals, 510 assists, 765 points, and a -57. In the playoffs, Prospal played 65 games with 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, and a -7. Prospal spent the most of his career (6 seasons) with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Cronin, 63, most recently spent 1 season as head coach with the Iowa Wild (2025-2026). Under Cronin, the Wild were 72-36-9. Before becoming the Wild head coach, Cronin was head coach for the Anaheim Ducks for 2 seasons (2023-2025). 

Overall, Cronin coached 164 games and was 62-87-15 with 139 points and a points percentage of .424. Cronin had his best season in 2024-2025. That season, the Ducks were 35-37-10 with 80 points and a points percentage of .488. The wins, points, and points percentage were all career highs for Cronin in his career as an NHL head coach. 

Cronin was fired by the Ducks on April 19, 2025, and replaced by Joel Quenneville. 

Cronin will be in charge of the Blues defensemen and penalty-kill unit. Cronin is reunited with Blues defenseman Cam Fowler. Both Cronin and Fowler know each other from the Ducks. 

On paper, both Prospal and Cronin seem to be great hires for Montgomery's coaching staff. 

St. Louis Blues re-sign Dylan Holloway

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed left wing Dylan Holloway to a five-year contract extension, worth $38.75 million. Holloway, 24, played 59 games with 22 goals, 29 assists, 51 points, and a plus 13 in 2025-2026. 

Holloway had his best season in 2024-2025. That season, Holloway played 77 games with 26 goals, 37 assists, 63 points, and a plus 21. The games, goals, assists, points, and plus mark were all career highs for Holloway. 

Overall, Holloway has played 4 NHL seasons. Holloway has played 225 games with 57 goals, 75 assists, 132 points, and a plus 33. In the playoffs, Holloway has played 26 games with 5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points, and a plus 5. 

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong did a great job getting Holloway signed to a long-term contract. Getting Holloway signed to a long-term contract was one of the Blues biggest needs this offseason. 

St. Louis Cardinals acquire Luis Peralta

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed LHP Luis Peralta off of waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Peralta, 25, is currently 0-2 with a 17.18 ERA, 6 games, 7.1 innings, 1 hold, 14 strikeouts, 13 walks, and a whip of 3.14 with Triple-A Albuquerque in 2026. 

In 2025, Peralta was 1-3 with a 9.47 ERA, 22 games, 1 hold, 19 innings, 16 strikeouts, 18 walks, and a whip of 2.32. The wins, games, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Peralta. 

Peralta had a career high (2) holds in 2024.

Overall, in the MLB, Peralta has played 2 MLB seasons. Peralta is 1-3 with a 6.03 ERA, 37 games, 3 holds, 31.1 innings, 30 strikeouts. 23 walks, and a whip of 1.79. 

In the minors, Peralta is currently in his 8th seasons. Peralta is 13-25 with a 4.95 ERA, 156 games, 45 starts, 12 holds, 8 saves, 320 innings, 436 strikeouts, 201 walks, and a whip of 1.52.

The Cardinals have assigned Peralta to Triple-A Memphis. The Cardinals 40-man roster now stands at 40.

In Peralta the Cardinals pick up a left-handed option for the bullpen. The Cardinals left-handed options took a hit when Packy Naughton got injured a few weeks back. 

Peralta is an interesting pick up if he can improve on a few things. His velocity is down a tiny bit (93.5 mile per hour). Back in 2024, Peralta's fastball was 95 miles per hour.

Peralta is the younger brother of New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. 

St. Louis Cardinals trade Nick Raquet

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded LHP Nick Raquet to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder/second baseman Brayden Smith. Raquet, 30, was 0-0 with 2 games, 2 innings, 1 strikeout, 1 walk, and a whip of 0.50 in 2025. Raquet made his MLB debut on September 8, 2025, at T-Mobile Park against the Seattle Mariners. 

In Triple-A Memphis, Raquet is currently 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, 2 games, 3 innings, 1 hold, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks, and whip of 1.00 in 2026. 

Overall, Raquet is currently in his 6th minor league season. Raquet is 36-33 with a 3.69 ERA, 137 games, 67 starts, 4 complete games, 1 shutout, 11 holds, 8 saves, 446 innings, 374 strikeouts, 139 walks, and a whip of 1.36.

Smith, 22, currently has 1 run with 1 stolen base, and 1 walk with High-A Frederick in 2026.

In 2025, Smith hit .200 with 7 runs, 11 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBI's, 3 stolen bases, and 12 walks with Single-A Delmarva.

Overall, Smith is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Smith has played 17 games with 8 runs, 11 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBI's, 4 stolen bases, 13 walks, and a .190 batting average.

Smith was drafted by the Orioles out of Oklahoma State in the 13th round of the 2025 MLB Draft.

The Cardinals had designated Raquet for assignment on April 5, 2026.  

St. Louis Blues trade Brayden Schenn

The St. Louis Blues have traded center Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders for left wing Jonathan Drouin, goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof, a 2026 1st-round pick, and a 2026 3rd-round pick. Schenn, 34, currently has played 61 games with 12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points, and a -23 in 2025-2026. 

Schenn has been an All-Star 1 time: (2017-2018). 

In 2018-2019, Schenn helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup.

Schenn had his best season in 2022-2023. That season, Schenn played 82 games with 21 goals, 44 assists, 65 points, and a -27. The assists and points were both career highs for Schenn.

In 2017-2018, Schenn had a career high (28) goals. 

Overall, Schenn is currently in his 17th NHL season. Schenn has played 1,083 games with 290 goals, 423 assists, 713 points, and a -66. In the playoffs, Schenn has played 82 games with 13 goals, 30 assists, 43 points, and a -19.

 

Drouin, 30, currently has played 55 games with 3 goals, 18 assists, 21 points, and a -3 in 2025-2026. 

Drouin had his best season in 2023-2024, with the Colorado Avalanche. That season, Drouin played 79 games with 19 goals, 37 assists, 56 points, and a plus 12. The assists, points, and plus mark were all career highs for Drouin. 

In 2016-2017, with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Drouin had a career high (21) goals. 

Overall, Drouin is currently in his 12th NHL season. Drouin has played 662 games with 110 goals, 285 assists, 395 points, and a -73. In the playoffs, Drouin has played 43 games with 6 goals, 21 assists, 27 points, and a -11. 

Gidolf, 20, currently has played 24 games and is 9-15 with 4 shutouts, a .896 save percentage, and a 2.84 goals-against average with Leksands IF in 2025-2026. 

The Blues get a good return for Schenn. They got more draft picks and Drouin. Drouin makes $4 million next season. There's a chance that Drouin could be a trade chip at some point next season. 

St. Louis Blues trade Justin Faulk

The St. Louis Blues have traded defenseman Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings for defenseman Justin Holl, left wing Dmitri Buchelnikov, a 2026 1st-round pick, and a 2026 3rd-round pick. Faulk, 33, currently has played 61 games with 11 goals, 21 assists, 32 points, and a -3 in 2025-2026. 

Faulk has been an All-Star 3 times: (2014-2015, 2015-2016, and a 2016-2017). 

Faulk had his best season in 2022-2023. That season, Faulk played 82 games with 11 goals, 39 assists, 50 points, and a -4. The assists and points were both career highs for Faulk. 

In 2016-2017, Faulk had a career high (17) goals. 

Overall, Faulk is currently in his 15th NHL season. Faulk has played 1,041 games with 141 goals, 349 assists, 490 points, and a -69. In the playoffs, Faulk has played 45 games with 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points, and a plus 4. 
 

Holl, 34, currently has played 41 games with 2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points, and a plus 19 with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) in 2025-2026. 

Holl had his best season in 2021-2022, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. That season, Holl played 69 games with 3 goals, 20 assists, 23 points, and a plus 14. The goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Holl. 

Overall, Holl has played 8 NHL seasons. Holl has played 396 games with 13 goals, 82 assists, 95 points, and a plus 59. In the playoffs, Holl has played 25 games with 3 assists, 3 points, and a -3. 

Buchelnikov, 22, currently has played 38 games with 13 goals, 10 assists, and 23 points with CSKA Moscow (KHL) in 2025-2026. 

Buchelnikov had his best season in 2024-2025, with Balashikha Vityaz. That season, Buchelnikov played 65 games with 15 goals, 39 assists, 54 points, and a -6. The games, goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Buchelnikov in his KHL career. 

The Red Wings drafted Buchelnikov in the 2nd-round (52nd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.

The Blues got a pretty good return for Faulk with two good draft picks. Holl can either stay in the AHL or be used as depth. Holl can be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Buchelnikov could good building piece for the Blues future. 

St. Louis Cardinals Extend Oliver Marmol

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed manager Oliver Marmol to a two-year contract extension. The contract includes a team option for 2029. Marmol, 39. led the Cardinals to a record of 78-84 with a .481 winning percentage in 2025. 

Marmol had his best season in 2022. That season, Marmol was 93-69 with a .574 winning percentage. The wins and winning percentage were both career highs for Marmol in his managerial career. 

Overall, Marmol has managed 4 seasons. Marmol has managed 648 games and is 325-323 with a winning percentage of .502. In the playoffs, Marmol is 0-2. 

Fans might not be excited about this move.  If fans set back and think for a bit, the move makes sense. The Cardinals are in a rebuild right? If I recall correctly, they are. What big name manager would want to manage in a rebuild? Probably no big-name manager. The move also gives Chaim Bloom more time to evaluate Marmol with a young roster. Marmol does well with young players, too. Players also like Marmol. You try to get the team ready to win first. Then, if Marmol proves he can't be successful with a team that can win, you look for an upgrade at manager. If Marmol were to be fired now, you'd just get someone similar to him with no MLB managing experience. Then fans would complain about that manager when he has the same issues due to not being able to win. 

Do fans realize that the last two seasons the Cardinals have performed better than their records should have been based on run differential? In 2024, the Cardinals were 83-79. The Cardinals should have been 76-86. The Cardinals were 78-84 in 2025. The Cardinals should have been 74-88. So, the last two seasons the Cardinals have 11 more wins than expected. Who should get credit for that happening? Can you say the front office has helped Marmol? 

If Marmol was so bad as a manager as fans think, then why does he have a better winning percentage than Tony La Russa did in his first 4 seasons as a Cardinals manager? Can someone explain that to me? La Russa even had more talent to work with than Marmol has had. 

In the National League, Marmol is the 3rd longest-tenured manager behind Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks).