The St. Louis Blues have important decisions to make about the future of their roster and franchise in 2018-19. One of the biggest might involve Brayden Schenn.
In the normal scope of professional sports, the team usually makes whatever decision regarding personnel they feel is best and the player has to deal with it. The St. Louis Blues might be wise to take a different tact regarding one Brayden Schenn.
For those that are not aware, the NHL trade deadline is fast approaching. In fact, the deadline is less than a month away with it falling on Monday, February 25.
The Blues have an unlucky number of games between now and then, with 13 following the All-Star break. However, that is ample time to get a handle on if there is a real turnaround with this team and also ample time to have a sit down with Schenn.
The reason, I propose, you talk to Schenn instead of just making a rash decision is because he can still fit on this team if he chooses. You do not know if he might choose that unless you ask.
The main reason the Blues are likely pursuing a trade of Schenn to another team is he is their most viable/easily dealt asset. Just about everyone else you might want to trade away has some sort of a no-trade clause, to one degree or another.
So, Schenn would get the biggest return with the least hassle in doing so. Is it really in your best interest to deal him away though?
Without a second-half resurgence, Schenn is on pace for 49 points. That would be the lowest total he’s had since 2014-15.
His career has been on the upswing ever since 2013-14, when he jumped from 26 points to 41. His totals went up every season until this one.
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Yes, that makes his value higher, but St. Louis consistently gets rid of players only for them to find success elsewhere. Do we want to do it with Schenn too?
There is a question burning in my head over many of the players involved in trade rumors from St. Louis, Schenn in particular. Are we willing to roll the dice on this being the start of a downward trend, which is what you’d be doing if you deal Schenn or Alex Pietrangelo? Or, do you accept that this is just an aberration and figure there will be a bounce-back with tweaks and a new coach?
The fan in me hopes they will say this was just one bad year and it will get better next year. The business side figures you have to make changes now and Schenn is your best bet.
One of the biggest reasons Schenn is likely to go, beyond his value, is the logjam the Blues have up the middle.
Their current best player, Ryan O’Reilly, is under contract four more years after this. Robert Thomas has shown enough that he is likely the team’s second line center going into 2019-20. Barring any sudden changes, you also have Tyler Bozak on the roster for at least two more seasons too.
That is where this discussion with Schenn comes in. The Blues have to ask if he would accept playing on the wing.
Schenn has shown he can flourish on the wing. He was predominantly used on the outside in Philadelphia and still managed to score more than 50 points.
The issue became Schenn was frustrated with his usage and wanted to be a center. He let this be known publicly, which works fine in Philly, but doesn’t go over as well in a mid-market like St. Louis. Also, with all the locker room issues the team currently has, they don’t need a player with Schenn’s talents pouting over positioning.
So, while I am normally the kind of guy that says a player should do what is asked of him and do it to the best of their ability, in this case, I would rather they ask. If Schenn is willing to put ego aside and move out to the wing, it’s a big win for the Blues and they could entertain the idea of keeping him.
He already has good chemistry with Jaden Schwartz, this season’s lack of production not withstanding, so it would be a shame to waste that due to wanting to be labeled as a center. He showed how well he could perform by scoring 70 points in his first year here as well. Even if that number was just a blip, he’s capable of getting you 50-60 points, which is more than fine for a top-six winger.
Schenn has also been one of the few players that plays with emotion during this dull 2018-19 season. There are plenty of games when it has not been there, but you can say that about every single player outside of O’Reilly. At least Schenn is hitting opponents – second on the team and first for forwards in that category – and occasionally dropping the gloves to stand up for his teammates.
That is the kind of player you should want to keep around and not toss aside because he is the only one with a contract that will let you trade him.
On the flip side, you should ask if he is willing to do so so you can know if there will be issues. If he is hell-bent on being a center, then it is almost impossible for him to fit into this team’s plans going forward. Knowing that, you can go out there and get the best deal possible, knowing all parties are on the same page and it’s not a lightning bolt from the blue.
In the end, Schenn’s days in the Note are likely numbered. However, I am one of those that hopes the team finds a way to keep him since the two players they have added the last two offseasons have been their best leaders.
The “in thing” these days is to plan for the future, but the future is always an unknown. Why send away a known commodity unless you absolutely have to?
So, the Blues need to have a sit-down and find out if he is willing to be a winger. If so, keep 10 in that locker stall.