The St. Louis Blues made a quietly meaningful move this week, claiming 23‑year‑old center Jack Finley off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. On paper, it’s a depth transaction. In practice, it’s a bet on size, structure, and long‑term roster identity.
Finley is a 6’6”, right‑shot center who plays a low‑event, defensively responsible game. He’s not going to drive offense or push pace, but he wins draws, uses his reach well, and plays within structure, all traits the Blues have leaned on heavily in their bottom six.
Jack Finley first NHL goal! 💪
— NHL (@NHL) November 16, 2025
What a shift by the @TBLightning's big fourth line! pic.twitter.com/15vvRBe4TV
He’s also on a team‑friendly contract: three years at a $775,000 cap hit, with St. Louis holding his rights through the 2027–28 season. That’s cost‑controlled depth at a position where the Blues have been thin.
Finley’s NHL production so far is modest with three points in 23 games this season but that’s not why he was claimed. The Blues now have a young, big‑frame center who can stabilize a fourth line, kill cycles, and give them a different look down the middle.
With fellow fourth liners like Alexei Toropchenko (26) and Nathan Walker (32) already signed through 2027–28, the Blues have their flanks locked in. What they’ve lacked is a young, cost‑controlled center to anchor that group. Finley gives them exactly that.
And there’s a potential fit brewing in Springfield:
Dylan Peterson, another big-bodied forward (6’4”, 192 lbs), has been trending upward. A Finley–Peterson pairing could become a long‑term fourth‑line identity for the organization.
This isn’t a headline‑grabbing move. But it’s the kind of roster shaping that matters over an 82‑game season — and potentially for years to come.
Deep Dive: Why the Blues Targeted Jack Finley and How He Fits the Long‑Term Blueprint
The Blues didn’t claim Jack Finley because of what he is today.
They claimed him because of what he could be in the structure they’re building.
1. Contract, Control, and Why Timing Matters