The St. Louis Blues had a busy offseason, there’s no question about it. But as any productivity expert will tell you, there’s a difference between being busy and being effective.
That’s what we’re trying to glean here.
The Blues seemingly transformed a sour season into multiple chances to improve the team. So, the question begs: Did Alex Steen make the right moves in his first offseason at the helm in St. Louis?
Trading Jordan Kyrou was a good call
The biggest trade of the offseason had to be Jordan Kyrou. It was the sort of move that had to happen, considering just how much his name had been in trade talk over the last year or so. Yes, the Blues will be losing a player who once notched three straight 30-goal seasons.
And while the Washington Capitals will be hoping that last year was just a blip on the radar screen, the fact is that the Blues did well to move Kyrou when they did.
Kyrou turned into three pieces, with Connor McMichael being the most immediate one to help. The most compelling part of this trade has to be Milton Gastrin. If he turns into a serviceable NHL center, the Blues might have well fleeced the Capitals.
As for the first-round pick, Maddox Dagenais may become a steal. There is still a long way before we can assess if the selection worked out. But if it does, and especially if Kyrou doesn’t really work out, the Blues would have made the Capitals look foolish.
Brandon Carlo trade is iffy at best
Acquiring Brandon Carlo was an iffy move at best. The 29-year-old is coming off an injury-plagued season. But you can see the logic here. A reunion with Jim Montgomery could help Carlo get back on track. And if he does, the two third-rounders would look like a joke of a price to pay.
Even if Carlo doesn’t work out, and there’s enough reason to think that could be the case, the deal won’t be quite so awful. Carlo is an impending UFA. So, there isn’t a commitment there beyond this season.
We’ll have to keep this move on hold before passing a final judgment. It’s a toss-up right now, as this trade could go either way.
Mason McTavish was a worthwhile gamble
The Blues weaponized two of their four first-round picks in the Mason McTavish trade. The move made sense for the Blues. After trading Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders, there was a spot open for a second-line center.
That’s McTavish’s role now.
Yes, there are questions about McTavish’s long-term viability following a tough year in Anaheim. But that situation could have been more the team’s fault than the player’s. The Ducks and McTavish drew out contract negotiations last summer to the point where the 23-year-old missed time at training camp. That likely impacted his play, and, well, the Ducks felt he was expendable.
The Blues now have a former third-overall pick in the second year of a six-year deal carrying a $7 million cap hit. Given what the Ducks were forced to fork over for Leo Carlsson this summer, McTavish’s cap hit looks like a drop in the bucket.
This deal has plenty of potential, and if it works out, it could make all the difference for the Blues moving forward.
Blues played the right cards this summer
Overall, we can conclude that the Blues played the right cards this summer. While we didn’t get into free-agent signings and the McMichael extension, it’s tough to see these moves go horribly wrong for St. Louis.
All three trades could blow up in a massive blaze, of course. McTavish could prove the Ducks were right to trade him, Carlo could be pretty much done, and Kyrou could have a renaissance in Washington.
Be that as it may, it’s hard to see the Blues fail. The moves were good, so the only thing left to see is how they translate on the ice.
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