Thread Starter
mike
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
There's no guarantees because you never know what a GM really wants or how they value players, but I think it's a pretty even trade. Oshie > Sutter, but many GMs would look at the fact that both have identical career high goals (21) and that Sutter has the reputation (unearned) of being a defensive shutdown center who can score goals in big situations. If that's a priority for STL (and especially if they're thinking of moving Berglund or Backes), then the Oshie/Sutter part makes some sense.
To the extent that even old fashioned GMs who aren't stats-savvy know that Oshie is better, that's where the rest of the trade rounds it out. Bennett may or may not end up being the better player eventually, but he's got more pedigree and NHL experience than Rattie right now. A change of scenery might be good for him. Rattie was coached by HCMJ in juniors and wouldn't surprise me if he were a target for the Pens given that his shooter's mentality probably meshes with Sid/Geno better than Bennett's pass-first mentality. St. Louis also gets a mid-level prospect and a decent pick to sweeten the deal.
Am I saying they'd make it if GMJR proposed it? Who knows, but it's not crazy to think they would. Don't forget Kunitz could be the bait instead of Sutter, or Dumoulin instead of Bennett. Depends what the Blues are looking for.