Underwhelming return for the Blues, but I agree that a third party likely would have to help to retain. Would probably be pretty expensive as it's a lot of money $7.5M over two seasons. Might have to part with a 1st almost for that alone. It's the equivalent of dumping a player with a $3.75M cap hit for two years. Don't think a team is willing to pay a 1st for VT at this moment.

As Pens fan, I'd love to see this happen. Tarasenko is damaged goods and the Isles are giving up solid futures.

I really don't think this is necessary

The Blues aren't going to get anything good for Tarasenko. He's a gamble at this point and an expensive one. Retention to some degree will be necessary, so teams won't have to pay extra for retention.

Bolduc is a very solid prospect and Bellows, while not great, could probably be a solid 4th liner, but Bolduc is the prize here. If I'm STL I'm seriously considering this. With all the other signings they made this year, freeing up half of Tank lets them fill out any holes.

The Blues have Mikkola and Perunovich on the left side with Krug and Scandella there as well. The path for Bolduc would be, let's say not the easiest.

Was thinking the Blues could throw Sanford and Isles would include maybe a 2nd at a team to retain.

Perunovich can play right side, he did in college anyways. Scandella is nothing more than a bottom pairing guy anymore and could be a buyout candidate in a few years or moved eventually. If Perunovich needs to play LHD and develops like he is projected Krug could be moved in a few years if it came down to it. Bolduc adds the size that the Blues are currently lacking on LD

Bolduc is 20 years old, so he's still a year or two away from making is way in and of all the type of prospects you'd want a lot of, it's impact dmen.

I won't pretend to know much about Mikkola or Perunovich, but just taking a quick look, Mikkola is already 25 and a 5th round pick. He's entering his prime years and looks like his ceiling is likely a depth guy. Perunovich definitely looks like he has potential, but when you have the ability, you play the numbers game and load up on prospects like this in case the others don't work out.

And look, I'm not saying another team might have pieces that make more sense, but I think the value of a deal like this is the type of deal STL should jump at.

That's a nice solution to the problem. Isles get VT, Blues free up $9.5M and third party gets a nice pick and Sanford that either can be kept or flipped for a good return as well.

there’s no room for Sanford in the lineup. Tbh the only way Tarasenko to the isles works is in a 1 for 1 with Josh Bailey with some picks involved. Other than that I can’t see the isles having any interest. Trotz isn’t going to take clutterbuck or Martin off the 4th line and Wahlstrom isn’t coming out of the lineup to accomodate Tarasenko

Sanford wouldn't go to the Isles though. Also Clutterbuck is still on the 4th line here. Martin turns into the extra guy. Injuries happen

Also, to be fair, I don't see this happening. Just showing that it still could work

Ah ok I misread. I would be fine with making a Martin the 13 F, but Trotz is obsessed with that line for whatever reason and he isn’t breaking them up. That’s why Bailey would have to go in the trade. Palmieri just signed and Wahlstrom isn’t going anywhere so that’s why he’d be the obvious player to go.

The real question is: who's paying the 1st for all that retention? I think that's where this falls apart. But otherwise, it's an interesting idea.

Compared to the Ladd deal, I could see Sanford, Isles 2nd (COL), and maybe a late round pick working.