As the days until March 7, the NHL's spring trade deadline, creep closer, Blues captain Brayden Schenn has become somewhat of a commodity for an Eastern team looking for a bit more goalscoring plus some added toughness.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have continuously pushed for a deal for the 33-year-old Blues captain, who has 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 58 games this season. Schenn has also logged almost 150 hits on the season, making him a rather proficient hitter. That continues his previous hits totals from the last two seasons (169 in 2023/24; 149 in 2022/23), which is why Toronto is in the market for such a physical player that can also occasionally find the back of the net.
Just one problem
There's just one problem with a potential deal that sends Schenn to Toronto, however. First off, Schenn himself would have to agree with certain terms, and even if he did, the Leafs would have to shell out around $6.5 million to get him, as Schenn is currently under contract in St. Louis until at least the middle of 2028.
Additionally, this would be a hard deal to work out for both teams; St. Louis would lose another captain like they have in the past with Alex Pietrangelo and David Backes, while the Leafs could see Schenn's acquiring backfire if his play diminishes. And at age 33, Schenn only has a select few years left in his career anyway for his position, so Toronto might not even get one single good season out of the guy.
If Schenn were to make the move to Toronto, he'd likely find himself on only a 3rd-line spot as well, potentially replacing Max Domi while skating alongside Matthew Nies and Nick Robertson, only one of which is somewhat good statistically. If that didn't pan out, Schenn could be dropped into the Leafs' left-wing side, playing alongside superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. But wherever Schenn would land, if he did land with the team to begin with, it wouldn't be the best choice for either of the two parties involved.
Saving Grace?
Now, the one saving grace in a blockbuster deal like this is the Leafs' familiarity with Schenn. Head coach Craig Berube, who used to be the head coach before Drew Bannister took his job, was the Blues' Stanley Cup winning bench boss for Schenn during that fateful 2018/19 season. Could a potential reunion quell all the doubts experts have in this mock deal? Additionally, what if the Leafs also went after Brayden's older brother Luke, of the Nashville Predators?
Sure, he's 35, so he wouldn't have much intrinsic value either, like Brayden, but if they could get one decent at best season out of him, you could make that a winning case. And Nashville knows a thing or two about getting older star players, with their last offseason scoring Tampa Bay Lightning legend Steven Stamkos and the Vegas Golden Knights' equivalent, Johnathan Marchessault.
Wherever Schenn goes or if he doesn't go by that March 7 deadline, one thing's for sure- the NHL trade season will still be as hot as ever.