St. Louis Blues: Do Fans Need To Lower Trade Expectations?
By Todd Panula
The first big trade of the offseason has gone down, coming out of the Windy City. Does it signal that the St. Louis Blues and their fans should lower expectations of a return haul?
The Chicago Blackhawks have made a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes in the first big deal of the offseason. In a move that is most likely to free up cap space, the ‘Hawks sent Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell to the Hurricanes for a second-round pick this summer and a third-round pick in 2017. So draft picks is all they get in return for productive players?
In the grand scheme of things, this was clearly a salary dump. Bickell was set to make $4.5 million with a $4 million hit on the cap. Teravainen was thrown in as the extra chip to sweeten the deal as he will earn under $1 million and will only be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2017.
Before getting into the St. Louis Blues aspect of this, who in their right mind gave Bickell that much money? He earned more than Troy Brouwer and as much as David Backes for a fraction of the production. His career year was 17 goals and 37 points. We thought the Blues had some bad contracts, but c’mon
Even knowing it is a salary dump, the trade might make Blues fans uneasy as to what they should expect in return should they trade off anyone really, but Kevin Shattenkirk in particular.
The rumors have been going full steam about potential Shattenkirk deals. Some have him going to Boston. Others had him heading up north to the Oilers.
Regardless of where he was going, most fans (myself included) figured to be bringing back an NHL player in return. The idea of picking up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Taylor Hall was enough to make one salivate. At the very least most had thought that trade might pull in an NHL ready player if the Blues traded up in this year’s draft.
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Now, it’s not quite as clear cut. Admittedly it is not a pure apples to apples comparison. You’re discussing a raw, young talent in Teravainen and a third or fourth line player (in terms of production) in Bickell, compared to Shattenkirk who has top two talent and is at least a top four defenseman.
However, Teravainen is the one that throws me off here. If it was Bickell for a draft pick, no big deal. Teravainen might not develop any further than he has, but in his first true year in the NHL he had 13 goals, 37 points and was a good fit on a really good offensive team. That only returns a draft pick and not even a first rounder?
Again, the situations are not mirrors of each other. The Blues are likely looking to move up in the first round or get back a player. Chicago is not looking to pick up salary as getting rid of money was their entire goal.
Still, it makes one rethink things. Contracts have a way of snowballing, so can trades do the same thing? Will teams now come to the Blues and say their first round picks are off the table or they’re only willing to part with prospects/projects?
It may change nothing. Shattenkirk may still be valued at a certain level and those teams may still pay what we want. Perhaps I’m overvaluing Teravainen and this is only what this trade would be worth to anyone.
Next: Free Agents the Blues Should Consider Part III
This recent development is enough to make one pause though. Many were more than ready to have 22 out the door by the draft. Now, the prospect of him staying if it means a better haul later on seems more plausible.
Moving up in the draft is one thing, but the time for the Blues to be trading for picks should be done. Someone like Shattenkirk should return more than a second round pick or a pick in future years. The market decides though and now the waters seem a little muddier.