Team: 2017-18 St. Louis Blues

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 25, 2017

Published: Sep. 25, 2017

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I'm no fan of a player who admits quitting on their team. I am also no fan of dumping a lot of prospect value for a guy who could walk in 2 years. Its shocking that it has come to this point for me, but with 3 significant injuries, I'm willing to go this route. And sorry Colorado, you can't have Parayko. The depth chart below shows exactly why this would never be possible, even for Mackinnon. Hell even for McDavid.

The biggest change for the team is that this trade forces Tage Thompson into a full time roll.

That being said, with this proposal, STL manages its long-term contention window with short-term options. As Steen returns from injury, Kostin is sent to AHL (or sent before 10th game - alternating with Blais to manage games played during this time if needed). When Fabbri returns, Blais is returned to AHL. Ideally, Fabbri gets some time as 3C until Berglund returns. When Berglund returns, Megan assigned to AHL. Don't worry Megan, Stastny will miss 15 games and you'll be back. When Boowemeister returns Prosser is sent to AHL, Bortuzzo takes the brunt of press box duties - no benefit to Walman to sit.

This solidifies the STL line up for 2 years and allows Fabbri some time at 3C so a decision can be made on the future.

If another center is injured in this time-frame, Adam Musil is the first call up. If another winger is injured Beau Bennett (long-term) or Jordan Kyrou (short-term, <10g) gets the call. If a defenseman is injured Jordan Schmaltz.

As for Colorado: if you can do better than the value of this proposal, by all means, do that. I doubt that is going to happen.

If this happened, STL becomes very dependent on offense. The team you've all watched win 3-2 will no longer exist. Now its 7-3 - them or us. The team must use speed instead of the fore-check to generate offense.