St. Louis Blues fans should just encourage me to talk about how bad this hockey team is. I can be superstitious, and every time it seems like I criticize them, they play better hockey. And that’s been the case as of late, with the bland Blues clocking in at a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games.
While they weren’t that bad last season, they also weren’t as close to contending for a wild card berth, either. That said, it won’t surprise me when this team ends up buying at the trade deadline IF they’re still well within range for a wild card as the week progresses.
But the Blues are also in a bit of a scenario. If and when they buy at the trade deadline, they need to be careful. This is still a team in ‘retooling mode,’ and they can’t mess up that retool just so they can play in the postseason. That would be a shortsighted move.
So, what do they do? Why not ‘buy’ in on a rental or two at a bargain price? If they can do that, then the Blues don’t need to give up any big-name players at the deadline. Instead, trading away draft picks and mid-tier but high-potential prospects will do the trick. Now, let’s check out a few players who should be on their radar.
Joel Armia, Canadiens
Hey, the Blues may be bland in the offensive zone, having racked up just 176 goals, good for a middle-of-the-road 18th in the NHL. That said, Joel Armia’s never been a points producer, with just 24 of them and 10 goals scored as of Monday afternoon.
But Armia is a seasoned veteran who knows a thing or two about what it takes to sneak into the Stanley Cup Final, something he did with the Habs in 2020-21. He’s also a solid middle-six winger who could even log some fourth-line minutes in a place like Arch City. And, given his at least moderate production for someone who could wind up on the fourth line, I’d take him if the price was right.
No, I wouldn’t trade much more than a mid-round pick and a high-potential prospect for Armia, and I doubt most general managers in the league would give up that much. But, he would add value as a depth scorer, and it’s something the Blues need more of if they’re serious about transforming into true playoff contenders this season.
Another aspect about Armia’s game I like this year is that he’s become a physical player again, after seemingly losing that edge for the past couple of seasons. This season, he’s got 78 body checks, and while the Blues haven’t been bad in the physicality department, with 24.2 hits per game this season, any physical player is welcome this time of the year.
Jordan Greenway, Sabres
Speaking of physicality, Jordan Greenway has been an absolute tank this year, having logged 72 body checks in just 24 games. Yeah, do the math, and that’s three hits per contest, something that will turn the heads of quite a few general managers looking for a big hitter.
Had Greenway been healthy all year, he’d be hanging around the 180-hit mark, guaranteed, and when you add his 6’6, 230 lb frame to the fold, it adds in the intimidation factor. Yeah, it’s hockey so nobody’s truly intimidated, right? Trust me, they’ll think twice when they see someone of Greenway’s size coming, ready and willing to jam them into the boards.
Like all three names on this list, Greenway isn’t much of a points producer, and that’s even the case by fourth-line standards. Still, he adds value because, as a winger who’s made his living shutting down plays of opponents, his presence will give the Blues more opportunities with the puck and it’s something they desperately need.
Of the three players on this list, adding Greenway may come at a more significant cost, probably a second-round pick and a solid prospect. But still, he’s in the prime of his career and wouldn’t cost a ton of money to re-sign. Meaning he could be more than a rental piece for the Blues.
David Savard, Canadiens
Yeah, I may as well have named this article, 3 rentals from the Atlantic the Blues should acquire at the deadline, right? Anyway, if the Blues want a defenseman who can help them stop a few more shots from getting to the net, David Savard’s their guy.
Savard has made a living on blocking shots throughout his NHL career, and while he’s well into his 30’s these days, he’s still stopped 133 shots from potentially reaching the goaltender. He’s also someone who will grind it out on the third pairing. He won’t do much in points contribution, but that’s not why the Blues would benefit from Savard.
His Canadiens haven’t been a great hockey team since he arrived in Quebec for the 2021-22 season, but they’ve been okay defensively when he’s on the ice. At even strength, Savard’s logged an on-ice save percentage of over 90.0, and in the past three seasons, he’s watched 60 or fewer goals find twine in that same situation.
Overall, Savard’s not somebody who will give you much, if any, help in the offensive zone. His Corsi For is a meager 42.2 percent, and he’s only taking 41.4 percent of his faceoffs in the offensive zone. Still, the Blues need help on the other end of the ice, and it’s where Savard can be very, very valuable.