The big trades were the Nazem Kadri and Conor Garland trade, at least on deadline day. The other interesting note was the two moves the St. Louis Blues made, trading Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders and Justin Faulk to the St. Louis Blues. Both trades weren’t blockbusters but they are significant and impacted three teams, none more important than the Blues.
Blues Are Retooling or Trying at Least
The big moves the Blues made were the Faulk and Schenn trades. The Blues didn’t move Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, or Jordan Binnington, three players many anticipated would get dealt, yet they remained, and because they aren’t rentals, they can be with the team for a few years as well and a part of a quick turnaround. It tells you that they are retooling and not rebuilding.
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The Blues might revisit this in the offseason, especially with the surplus of draft capital they’ve added since the trade deadline, and decide to make some big trades but for now, this team will try to bounce back next season. Considering they made the playoffs a season back, there’s a chance that everything goes right next season with a similar group to go on a run again.
This Gives Next GM Options
With this being general manager (GM) Doug Armstrong’s last season at the helm, the Blues were in an interesting spot. It explains why they didn’t want to tear things down and likewise, why the Blues are still stuck in the middle. Now, with Alex Steen taking over, he has multiple routes in front of him.
If the Blues land a top-five pick and, more specifically, add Ivar Stenberg to their lineup, they will be ready to compete right away. With Thomas still centering the top line and the other veterans in the lineup, the Blues are in a good spot. Likewise, there’s still an open door on a rebuild if Steen doesn’t like where they are at, and they can trade the veterans who still have a high value.
The Islanders Make The Right Add at Deadline
The way the Islanders approached the trade deadline is the right way, given where they are in the standings. This team is a pleasant surprise and ahead of schedule. With Ilya Sorokin playing lights-out goaltending and Matthew Schaefer exceeding the hype, they are ahead of schedule. The Islanders didn’t need to do anything too crazy but they had to reward their players. Adding Schenn does that, since he can boost the offense and didn’t cost much either.
Yzerman Makes His Move
There was pressure on the Red Wings and GM Steve Yzerman to make a splash. Last season, he didn’t, and the players were frustrated, especially after Yzerman said they didn’t deserve a big move. This season, the team deserved to be rewards and he made a big move, even if it wasn’t a blockbuster.
The question is whether this will be enough. The Red Wings sit in third place in the Atlantic Division but only have a five-point cushion in the wild card race, so it’s no sure thing they’ll get in. And if they miss the playoffs, Yzerman must take the heat. The honeymoon with Yzerman and the trust in the “Yzerplan” is wearing thin, and there’s a lot of pressure for the Faulk add to be the missing piece to round out the roster.
Players Are The Big Winners
The other note on the Blues is the Colton Parayko trade, or more accurately, the move that never was. Players have no-trade clauses for reasons, and this deadline, GMs tried pressuring the players to move them. Parayko wouldn’t, while Faulk and Schenn, two staples of the team, chose where they went as well.
For the Blues, the question is whether this will backfire. The New Jersey Devils are experiencing the fallout now from malpractice in the past offseason, as it sends a message to the players that they aren’t wanted or preferred to be moved somewhere else. Other players on the Blues won’t forget the Parayko saga, and it puts Steen in a position where he must prove that he’s not like Armstrong and has the trust of the players.
