While there’s a good chance St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn will stay in Gateway City, it doesn’t mean his name won’t float around the rumor mill. Schenn is an older player on a team that’s retooling, so if general manager Doug Armstrong got a deal that would further assist the Blues in their retooling effort, don’t think he won’t send Schenn packing.
Still, it’s hard to see Schenn leaving a team that, despite its retool, could use some guidance. Yeah, it means another lost season for the accomplished center, but hey, there’s a lot of value in sticking around so the next generation can bring a Cup back to the Lou.
But let’s embark on a brainstorming mission and assume the Blues are shopping Schenn. Where’s he ending up? There are three teams that can use his services for both similar and different reasons.
Two of those listed are some of the biggest surprises in the NHL, but they’re far from complete teams. Another group was at least going to make things interesting, but they too could use another dose of experience.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators have got to find someone who can help provide depth scoring and perhaps even sidle in the top six. Right now, they’re 20th in the league in scoring, and with such good goaltending and defensive play, it’s easy to pinpoint what’s been carrying the Sens through this dream season.
While Schenn’s a 20-goal scorer these days in a best-case scenario, he’d still help Ottawa cruise above the 2.9 goals/game mark, which equals 157 goals scored at the moment. Yeah, it’s one-and-done for this hockey team if they’re lucky enough to forge their way into the playoffs. And you know what else they lack? Sound experience.
Currently, Ottawa has an average age of 27.9, so Schenn injects some much-needed guidance for both this group and its rookie coach, Travis Green. Their shooting percentage at 5-on-5 is an abysmal 6.3 percent, and while Schenn’s not a miracle worker here, his on-ice shooting percentage in that same situation in Arch City is 9.1 percent.
That said, there’s a sound chance the Sens scoring prowess will sail a little of the way north. Yeah, they’ll need more than just Schenn, but experience and some serviceable scoring will help Ottawa get to a place they haven’t been to in a while.
Los Angeles Kings
As with the Senators, the Kings just don’t put up enough goals to be considered legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup. Plus, this is a team whose championship window could close quickly, as they always seem to be a very up-and-down group.
Brayden Schenn brings that ‘championship experience’ to the puzzle, or at least he’s another name who does. Overall, Schenn’s presence in the City of Angels would serve a pair of functions. For one, he’d provide supplementary scoring and likely help transform the Kings into at least a respectable group when they have the puck.
For another, he’d make their greatest strength, goals allowed, where they’re first in the league with just 134 pucks getting past the goaltender, stronger. Schenn’s shown throughout his long career he’s unafraid of landing body checks (142 hits this season) and shutting down plays, and that makes him a strong asset when playing defense.
Plus, it’d be a bit of a full circle for Schenn, as he debuted with the Kings back in 2009-10 and ended up playing nine full games with the club. Most came in the 2010-11 season, so there’s a bit of a sentimental factor involved here, too. And finally, there’s a good chance the Kings will be willing to give up some generous compensation near the deadline.
Minnesota Wild
Yep, we’re rolling with a division rival as the third and final team. One reason the Wild are on this list is no different from the two teams mentioned above: They need help busting into the top half of the field in goal-scoring.
But the Wild are yet another team that has plenty of need for some guidance outside the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury, who’s well into his final campaign, as nobody expected them to contend to the same extent that they had through the first two-thirds of the season.
Another reason I penned Schenn to the Wild has to do with the fact that Minnesota has a hard time winning draws. Their faceoff win percentage is a measly 47.0 as a team, and only one player taking draws regularly is over the 50.0 percent mark.
The Wild can also stand to be more physical, as a team that’s landed just 1,064 body checks through 56 games. While that’s not the worst number I’ve seen, playoff hockey demands more, and Schenn will help that cause.