The Blues looked dead in the water on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars, down 3-0 with just 17 minutes left in the game. However, the Blues mounted an unexpected comeback - led by Captain Brayden Schenn. Following Robby Fabbri's first goal of the season at 3:15 to get the Blues on the board, Schenn scored twice on two beautiful wrist shots from the slot to tie the game late in the third. While the Stars would end up winning in regulation, this performance from Schenn isn't for nothing - his recent offensive resurgence could end up meaning much more to the organization than most are accounting for.
The Captain Stepping Up
Schenn has been under some scrutiny this season for his poor statistical play and lack of offensive contribution. Coming into this week, he had a +/- of -25, which was the worst on the team, and had just 19 points on 9 goals and 10 assists. Everyone expected more out of him, and it makes his $6.5 million AAV contract a difficult one to justify. Given the Blues' eagerness to move Schenn before the trade deadline, this lack of production and high price tag make Schenn a hard sell. At a time when the Blues need to acquire as much as they can to build around their young core, this bodes poorly for the organization's future.
Thankfully, the Blues Captain has had a big week, and it may make a difference for the Blues moving forward. In just two games, Schenn has moved to the top of the team in goals scored this season at 12. He scored goals in some very clutch moments, proving his worth to teams beyond just his numbers.
On The Trade Block
It's been widely reported that Brayden Schenn is very likely going to be traded by the Blues before the trade deadline this season. While it will definitely be sad to see Schenn go, the logic in moving him is sound. Schenn's age and cap hit just aren't aligned with the team's goals in the coming years, and they should absolutely try to get as much as they can out of him to help aid them in this new chapter of Blues hockey.
With Schenn playing his best hockey of the year right now, the return he may garner is likely as high as it will ever be. This increased return will play a big role in Doug Armstrong and Alex Steen's vision for the future of the organization, and we can only hope it will lead to a fast-tracked retool and a Blues team that can contend for a Cup sooner rather than later.