Pre-Thoughts:
So, basically the goal here is to make St. Louis a competitive team. I feel as though there is no reason for them to not be a good team with the great core group they have. Tank, ROR, Schwartz, Perron, not to mention Parayko, Edmundson, and Dunn on the blueline makes for one of the best core groups leaguewide in my opinion.
So why is it that they've been struggling, even with the improvements they made in the offseason. I think what most as well as myself chalk it up to is lack of scoring depth, and of course the brutally inconsistent goaltending they've gotten from Allen. In a few short moves, I believe I'll create a team that could definitely be competing come playoff team and into next season.
Trade Thoughts:
So obviously the big move here is around Allen and Quick. You may be thinking this isn't a good move for St. Louis, but it really is. Quick's contract does look ominous, yes, but keep in mind it's only 1 million and change less than Allen's. However, term is where it may get dicey. Quick has 5 more years left on his deal, which doesn't look good especially with his recent injury history. My thinking is that for a team that wants to compete in this universe, he's a good fit. He has tons of big-time experience, and I think the current-day Blues are similar to the Kings in their heyday.
The other parts of this deal are simple enough. St. Louis tacks on a bit extra in order to compensate for any difference between Allen and Quick. They also add Trevor Lewis in the deal, who is on a pretty cheap deal and is a solid bottom 6 guy on any team, especially a would-be contender.
The second deal I'm making is in an effort to shore up the depth for any potential playoff run, as the Blues secondary scoring has been notoriously lacking this season and even last season. In this deal, I have them picking up Nick Bjugstad and Bogdan Kiselevich from Florida.
I strategically picked these two as they are both conveniently plopped in the top 50 on TSN's Trade Bait list. I also feel that they would be good fits for a contender Blues squad.
Bjugstad has struggled in the points department this season, but that's partly to do with Florida's struggling offense as a whole. I feel like on a team like St. Louis, he'd make for a great piece in their top 9. The good thing about Bjugstad is that he's also controlled for another year, so St. Louis could hold onto him for next season as well. Kiselevich isn't a guy that jumps off the page, but he's been stellar defensively this season, and is still on his first-year deal. The Blues' defense has at times been shaky this season, so Bogdan would provide a solid option defensively down the road and into the playoffs.
The third deal they make is strictly to clear a roster spot, and that's moving Carl Gunnarsson for a late pick. There are a few teams I could see this happening with, but I picked the Islanders just as a partial-contender that could use defensive depth.
I put quite a bit of time into this, and I'm curious to hear all your thoughts. Especially Blues fans, whether that be good or bad, let me know.
I like the idea of trading for Quick. Maybe Allen, Fabbri and a second round pick could get him. Not too interested in Bjugstad as we have cheaper depth players in the minors and are looking to get faster. Thomas, Kyrou, etc are bringing speed.
Potentially could see us shipping Maroon off for a late round pick as well.
Not so sure LA takes that deal. I personally don't think Florida would take that either.
Hard to say. Quick's contract would be great to get off their hands, not to mention LA is pretty notorious for turning meh goalies into decent goalies (see Campbell and Petersen). I feel like they could definitely get something out of Allen. I don't feel like Lewis is too valuable either. Adding Schmaltz is also nice because having just lost Muzzin, they could use a young guy to potentially prove something.
I like the idea of trading for Quick. Maybe Allen, Fabbri and a second round pick could get him. Not too interested in Bjugstad as we have cheaper depth players in the minors and are looking to get faster. Thomas, Kyrou, etc are bringing speed.
Potentially could see us shipping Maroon off for a late round pick as well.
I was tempted to trade Maroon somewhere too and have Fabbri up instead but decided against it. Figured they could use a guy like him in a playoff series.
If the Blues can get any takers for Schmaltz, that would be a bonus. He's got nowhere to play with the big team.
That was definitely part of my thought process. St. Louis is a pretty deep defensive team, leaving Schmaltz in the dark. With Muzzin now gone, Schmaltz could definitely have a good opportunity to prove himself as a full-time NHLer in Los Angeles
That was definitely part of my thought process. St. Louis is a pretty deep defensive team, leaving Schmaltz in the dark. With Muzzin now gone, Schmaltz could definitely have a good opportunity to prove himself as a full-time NHLer in Los Angeles
Schmaltz also needs a change of scenery. He was placed on waivers earlier this year, and no team took him for free. I'm not sure why any team would then trade anything for him when they could have had him for nothing.
Schmaltz also needs a change of scenery. He was placed on waivers earlier this year, and no team took him for free. I'm not sure why any team would then trade anything for him when they could have had him for nothing.
For sure. I used him in that deal to even out some of the value between Quick and Allen which mind you isn't much
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