The St. Louis Blues pulled off a blockbuster deal in the lead-up to the NHL trade deadline. The Blues agreed to a deal with the New York Islanders that sent former captain Brayden Schenn to Long Island.
The Blues and Islanders had been talking trade for a while. But it wasn’t until Friday that the two clubs finally agreed on a deal.
When everything was said and done, it was Schenn that landed, not Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou as had been rumored.
On the whole, the deal was a home run for the Islanders. For the Blues, well, they barely get a pass. The only reason the Blues didn’t fail this trade was because of the pieces they got in the deal.
Right off the bat, we can give this deal a C. Let's see why.
Trade grade for Brayden Schenn deal
Jonathan Drouin
Drouin was a cap dump in this trade. He signed a two-year deal in the offseason after the Colorado Avalanche failed to re-sign him after last year. He had been a reclamation project for the Avalanche, but found a home there.
In Long Island, Drouin did not live up to expectations. He wasn’t quite the player that the Islanders had hoped for this season. He’s managed just three goals and 21 points in 55 games. So, his $4 million cap hit had to go to make the money on Schenn work.
The Blues failed to get a more serviceable roster player from the Islanders, making this part of the deal an F.
Marcus Gidlof
This part of the deal gets a D. The Blues had reportedly been seeking one of the Islanders’ better prospects, such as Danny Nelson, Cole Eiserman, Isaiah George, or Kashawn Aitcheson. Any one of those would have been a better choice.
However, the Blues accepted a Swedish goalie who was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old is currently playing with Leksands of the Swedish league. In 24 games, he’s got a 2.84 GAA and an .896 SV%. Those aren’t exactly the most impressive numbers to be certain.
But the reason why this part isn’t a fail is because the Gidlof could turn into something. He got the size to be an elite goalie a 6'7". Plus, if the Blues are serious about trading Jordan Binnington, they’ll need someone who can step in and support Joel Hofer. That someone could be Gidlof.
2026 third-round pick
This pick originally belonged to the New Jersey Devils. The Isles got in the Ondrej Palat trade. This pick could actually turn into something. If the Devils finish low enough in the standings, this pick could be more like a late second-rounder.
So, there’s a chance it could turn into something. That’s why it gets a C.
2026 first-round pick
This pick would be an A if not for the fact that it originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche. The Islanders got it in the Brock Nelson trade last year. If the Avalanche make it to at least the Western Conference Final, it could be at least 28th or higher.
That’s why this pick gets a B. A first-rounder is a first-rounder. There have been some fantastic late first-rounders that have gone on to become solid NHLers. So, there might be something there for the Blues to consider.
All told, this deal could look much better if Jonathan Drouin finds the game he had in Colorado. It wouldn’t be wild to assume that he might have a chip on his shoulder. He’s under contract for one more season. So, keeping Drouin around wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
Let’s see how this deal turns out. However, a full grade won’t likely come until several years down the line.