The St. Louis Blues completed a significant trade, one that could be the opening salvo for the long-awaited sell-off.
The chatter surrounding the Blues has been focused on bigger names like Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Binnington. But the fact of the matter is that roster overhauls don’t necessarily start with a massive move.
Often, one seemingly minor trade could be the lynchpin that opens the floodgates.
As my colleague Justin Bonhard reported, the Blues traded Nick Bjugstad for a depth forward in Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional fourth-rounder. That’s not a bad return for a player like Bjugstad, who is essentially a fourth-liner.
For the New Jersey Devils, the deal is about adding depth to their forward group. They’ve been dealing with injuries. So, this deal makes sense for them.
In the broader context of things, this trade means the Blues are serious about cleaning up their roster. Fans could expect chatter about potential moves in the coming weeks. Once the rosters unfreeze after the Olympics, a flurry of trades could hit the wire leading up to the trade deadline.
Could major trade be on the horizon for Blues?
The biggest question at this point has to be: Could there be a major trade on the horizon for the Blues?
The answer is hard to predict. The chatter has swirled around just about everyone on the roster. Despite not being able to predict who might be next, there might be a hint to consider.
The recent Artemi Panarin trade took a major name off the market. That situation means that teams looking for scoring help could now pivot to the Blues. That situation could mean someone like Jordan Kyrou now gets more attention. The same could go for Brayden Schenn and Robert Thomas.
Now, it’s worth noting that the price tag on all these players is astronomical. They won’t come cheap for whoever wants them. And that’s a good thing, considering the Blues aren’t holding a fire sale. They are looking to trade pieces for reasonable returns. Otherwise, the Blues are just better off holding their position.
The Bjugstad trade was pretty much about the Devils looking for low-hanging fruit. But as far as going after someone like Schenn, Thomas, or Kyrou, the deal will likely be much bigger. So, it remains to be seen what, if anything, the Blues do leading up to the trade deadline.