Canes had Leivo last season and he didn't make the roster, why do this now?

Bortuzzo won't be traded but they look solid

I think the Blues could get more for Mikkola, not sure Washington is a fit for him.

They need to go diving for some defensemen who are undervalued, don't have a clear path to the majors on their current team, or could be pried away from a team in win now.

Heinola (WPG), Brannstrom (OTT), Walsh (NJD), Jones (NYR), Niemla (TOR), Grans (LAK), maybe someone like Fabbro or Foote though I'm not convinced they're much more than they currently are.

I'm obviously not the first to say this, but the strategy of "commit to middle of the road veterans with middle of the road skill for high-ish money at the expense of younger (Dunn, Walman) or high skill (Pietrangelo) players" is not working. They'll need to do more in the offseason, but a good chunk of the teams I noted are contenders, they could even start now. None of those guys are likely to be top pairing material, but a lot of them have something to prove and Heinola and Walsh would probably be in the NHL now if they were on the Blues just based on the current roster. Taking gambles on those players could pay pretty quick dividends.

I'd be more interested in deadline packages that include young defensemen over deadline packages that include young forwards (especially wingers) because middle six wingers are a dime a dozen these days and the Blues have quite a few of those types in the system already.

Definitely need a fresh defense but it's going to take some time to turn things over IMO. If they can get some young pieces to fill in soon I'd be all for it.

Rangers accept.

Shoot higher on that Barbashev return