The St. Louis Blues have plenty of decisions to make with the trade deadline approaching. The biggest one is whether to deal away Kevin Shattenkirk at his peak value or stand pat on the defenseman going into the summer while the team makes a run at the cup.
Shattenkirk has already proven himself to be one of the best defensemen in the league. He may even be among the elite. If not for injuries, he would definitely be in the mix for Norris Trophy consideration.
Unfortunately for the Blues, that means a big payday is coming. Now Shattenkirk is still under contract through the 2016-17 season, but many assume the Blues will not be able to afford him. So, that means huge decisions are on the table for GM Doug Armstrong.
Does he try to trade Shattenkirk now and risk spoiling a potential Stanley Cup team? Does he wait until the summer and hope more suitors line up? Do the Blues keep him until his contract runs out and risk getting nothing? The team might be unable to draw interest, afterall. Or do they make enough moves to get the wiggle room needed to keep Shattenkirk on the payroll?
All are viable options with benefits and drawbacks. However, losing a player of his caliber doesn’t come off as the smart decision. Therefor, here are the top five players that could be moved in order to keep ShatDueces.
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