Quoting: Bloodykisame
A top 4 defenceman is avg annual is 5m+ considering even the 4th's a 3rd usually is around 6-6.5 soo skejs contract is great. He has been good this year but people have the expectation of him being the next mcdonagh who was a number 1 claim he is bad even when he is good. Its been proven NYR have the 3rd worst d core defensively in the league. That return is insane for st louis. Geoergiev is a starting goale at age 24 and has show a ceiling of an elite goalie.
When you said "solid 3rd defenseman" I thought you were implying that he was a third pairing defenseman, who would not be worth 5.25million. That said, I don't agree that he's a #3 defenseman at all. His play has been awful defensively and mediocre to fine offensively. I certainly wouldn't rather have him as a #3 than Vince Dunn, who is our current #3, as he's better, younger, and cheaper that Skjei. So think what you want, but he's not a meaningful improvement to this team and we do not need another #3 defenseman. And again, his play has been awful so I don't even think he's a #3 defenseman and his contract is 100% a bad one unless he turns it around. Which maybe he does, but he can do that on the Rangers and not here.
Georgiev is fine but the Blues already have two good goalies in the system, including the reigning Canadian WJ net minder in Joel Hofer who is looking plenty elite. Really don't need Georgiev too, just creates an unnecessary logjam like the one the Rangers have right now. Georgiev's ceiling is what it is, but there's no room for him here in the future, which means he would need to be an upgrade in net right now to be worth it for us. Unfortunately, he's been outplayed by Allen this year and Allen's already been around this team so I'd rather just ride with Allen-Binnington for the next two years and replace from within then.
Point being, this supposed "insane" return for St. Louis is essentially valueless to us, especially considering what we're shipping back. Thanks but no thanks.