Carl Gunnarsson
The last name that Anderson looked at for interest by the Islanders was Carl Gunnarsson. Any Blues fan will tell you that is a little bit shocking.
Like Bouwmeester, if someone is interested and gives you a fair deal, you have to take it. I actually warmed up to Gunnarsson this past season, but his numbers and style of play were still nothing you could not live without.
The main issue with getting rid of either Bouwmeester or Gunnarsson is that the Blues defensive prospects have yet to prove they can handle the league. We’ve seen spurts, but the guys in the wings have not grabbed the brass ring like Colton Parayko or Edmundson.
The trade of Gunnarsson also might not be quite as beneficial. It clears up a roster space, but would only save the team $2.9 million.
Every little bit in the bucket helps, but that’s not quite on the level of a Bouwmeester deal.
On the flip side, Gunnarsson’s loss wouldn’t impact the team heavily. He’s steady, but he has never played more than 72 games with the Blues, either due to injury or simply being a scratch.
But, again, are you willing to roll the dice on some defensive prospects that looked shaky at best? There would be no guarantee you’d get a defender in return.
Even so, Gunnarsson is not a keeper if you’re going to get something good for him. Even if it is a prospect and a pick, that might be worth it, and that’s coming from someone tired of making deals for the future.